Advice please

citroenesque · Post by **citroenesque** » 21 Aug 2009, 18:49

I'm considering replacing our Fiat Ulysse within the next few months with something with chevrons on it... namely a C5 (probably 2.0HDi?) estate.

But I am also getting a voice in my ear telling me to check out the Skoda Octavia 1.8 turbo estate (not 4x4), (possibly) the Citroen the Xantia 2.1 TD VSX estate (if a good one can be found!) or the VW Sharan TDi...

So what I need is people's view on the C5, but also how it fares against the others mentioned above in the reliability and practicality stakes. Not too worried about petrol vs. diesel TBH as mileage is generally under 10 k per annum.

And am I right that Saab 9-5 and Volvo V70 estates are probably best left alone given the cost in repairing them if they go bang?

Trainman · Post by **Trainman** » 22 Aug 2009, 11:06

My 'old man' has a 51 C5 2.0 HDi SX estate, which he loves, he's used it for about every purpose you can think of, having a caravan and 3 Grandkids, you can probably image the abuse it gets. It got extremely high mileage, and I know that it has cost him more than £2000 in the 2 years he's had it, and that included buying it.

Post by **myglaren** » 22 Aug 2009, 11:22

I am reasonably pleased with mine but your dad got a very good deal there - mine cost twice that to buy and since then I've spend more than £2,000 on diesel alone (2½ years).
I have five kids and seven grandkids so mine gets a fair amount of abuse too, used every day by one or another of us.

Trainman · Post by **Trainman** » 22 Aug 2009, 11:41

Dad say's " the newness is wearing off now" but then it again it has done 360,000. The dealer I got my car couldn't believe when we showed him

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » 23 Aug 2009, 15:25

Xantias are still uber cheap Phil, mind you a C5 is very affordable. I would avoid a modern Saab as in my experience since GM took over they arent what they were plus the older Diesel engines arent the best.

Trainman · Post by **Trainman** » 25 Aug 2009, 20:07

Last word to the kids I think........

http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu33 ... 8_saab.jpg

citroenesque · Post by **citroenesque** » 25 Aug 2009, 22:29

Good one

I'm thinking XM now. How perverse is that?

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 25 Aug 2009, 22:41

Hey, there's nothing wrong with Xm's!?

Andrew

KP · Post by KP » 26 Aug 2009, 08:44

If you can find a decent XM 2.1td estate or saloon in exclusive guise with a bosch pump your onto a winner. they will last ages and you can save yourself a small fortune in fuel as well if your prepared to put a little effort into saving yourself major cash

They ar epretty solid from what i can tell, some areas do go rusty but all cits rust a tiny bit where they stone chip, are easy enough to work on as loads of space around the engines, quite safe i would say as lots of metal to crumple around you and take impacts but not as good as a c5 mind, and cruise very well at speed and will offer the best ride of the bunch as they are heavier than a xantia they float a little bit more-so due to hydro-dynamic laws and all that stuff

Go for the XM if you've got the cash and will keep it a while