Spotted this XM on my travels...

[Citroenmad]

Yeah, I made the mistake of buying a green series 2 estate 2.1 manual.
150k and good straight body but within a day of first using it I managed
to burn out the clutch and swipe the front end off damaging the front
bumper, grille and lights... must be green cars being unlucky or
somesuch. Not sure what I'm going to do with it. I believe the engine
is good but may have iffy cooling.

Ah thats a shame, how did you manage to do that? The 2.1TD manual estates are quite rare models, does Peter.N not want it I didnt think you liked diesels Andrew, or estates

Yes, the L plate is a 2.0 TCT base i trim spec - how's about that!?
I love the colour and it's the reason I got the car.

Oh a TCT, it does sound very nice, is this one you use or is it stored? I like the interiors in the base models.

Sadly not at the moment, the red VSX was having some remedial surgery
required for an MOT attended to on it's front nearside footwell where the
whole outer skin has dissolved away as well as a pair of patches are needed
on the sill where some scumbag threw a brick at the screen - I've had to
park it off the road and SORN it whilst I plan my next move as it's going to
be expensive sorting it without MOT/insurance although I do have a spare screen.

The black Exclusive has a very unhelpful habit of shedding it's aux belt
at the most inopportune moment and is very unreliable as a consequence
despite a check out of pulleys and new correct length belt. Again, I'm really
awaiting the decent weather and perhaps more motivation to crack that one
although I'd like to get my KYAC (snapped off x2 wheels) normal towcar
2.0i TCT sorted first and if that's terminal the black Exclusive will HAVE
to get sorted. :X

I think the rust in the footwells is usually cuased by the drain hole in the scuttle panel being blocked. Water slowly leaks down and causes it to be kept wet. Ive seen this on a couple actually.

Is the black Exclusive a TCT too?

Have you made any more progress with your KYAC? Ive not checked on the Xm forum for a while now, i know you started to fix it.

Chris.

[andmcit]

The black Exclusive is an N plater 2.5. Something I bought last year but
haven't got round to yet as my attention has been concentrated on getting
KYAC (the 2.0i TCT Si) into working shape again. The rear trailing arm was
renewed no bother although a new lower nearside wishbone and hub went
together OK I feel the geometry is still out with a degree of lean out on the
top of the wheel as wel as tracking issues. I've driven it 40miles but it was
a deeply disappointing fraught journey and wasn't the car I know and love.
It could be the end of the car (40ishk miles) as I'm damned if I can see
any other damage on the front subframe.

I'll need to remeasure everything including getting the tracking right.



Andrew

[Deanxm]

Im sorry to hear about Kyac Andrew, i do really hope you get her sorted out again as it seems most of the work is done.

Chis i have come to really like that white 16v of yours, its no MK1 but she still looks damn nice, especialy on those wheels i think they made a big difference but then ive never liked the vsx trims. Are you still thinking of selling her? or was it just a thought?

D

[andmcit]

Ah thats a shame, how did you manage to do that?

It's a long story and still a tad embarrassing and unbelievably I tonked
it into the scenery the SAME day I damaged KYAC after nearly 20 years
of no accidents! I'll have to tell the tale one day.

I didn't think you liked diesels Andrew, or estates

I don't! Whenever I go near one I'm jinked and some calamity occurs.
Petrols don't seem to fragile in my hands - I do drive quite hard.

The 2.1TD manual estates are quite rare models, does Peter.N not want it

I had a momentary lapse of sanity on ebay and had just been ready all
this chatter on club-xm about how great 2.1's are! Actually I saw
the way it was going with KYAC and needed a legal big towcar to move
my transporter trailer so it had to be an Xm with a towbar. It doesn't
really tick any of my normal boxes being an estate or a diesel and yes it
IS an N plated manual box car which I'm sure could be right up Peter's
street and it's barely run it for his mileages too! Least I'll know where I
could find a home for it if I'm not going to fit the spare clutch kit I've got
though I may contemplate fitting it if it's no big hassle. I don't mind doing
clutches if they're not fancy hydraulic jobbies which I'm going to tackle
shortly on an Activa...

Oh a TCT, it does sound very nice, is this one you use or is it stored? I like the interiors in the base models.

Yes, it's stored as it was purchased off ebay to stop any boyracers gutting
the engine out as it's got a slightly slipping clutch. Too nice a car for
that, it's virtually mint but it's slightly losing a bit of lacquer on the driver's
front wing. The seats are the best of the bunch in an Xm as far as I'm
concerned - subjective topic here as some folk don't like them. I find their
'give' and soft velour and lower squab (due to no electric motors) best!

Surely the white one of yours is surely a better long term prospect as a
keeper than a C5 Chris?


Andrew

[Citroenmad]

Chis i have come to really like that white 16v of yours, its no MK1 but she still looks damn nice, especialy on those wheels i think they made a big difference but then ive never liked the vsx trims. Are you still thinking of selling her? or was it just a thought?

D

Well yes i think its time for it to move on now, its unfortunate and its a great car, but it gets very little use now and could do with a bit of tlc at the moment. Though id hate it to go to someone who wouldnt look after it and it end up seeing it on ebay for breaking at some point. Id rather keep it as a garden feature than see that.

Though we are over run with cars at the moment, we currenty have 10, i know that doesnt compare to Andrews but when we live almost in the centre of town and have them all at our house its very tight at the moment, though they are all hidden from view.

It does rarely get used, im the only one who drives it and then its usually just to give it a run out after its been stood for so long. I dont use it in the winter if i dont have to, so its been a few months since it was on the road, though it is always taxed and mot'd.

I had a momentary lapse of sanity on ebay and had just been ready all
this chatter on club-xm about how great 2.1's are! Actually I saw
the way it was going with KYAC and needed a legal big towcar to move
my transporter trailer so it had to be an Xm with a towbar. It doesn't
really tick any of my normal boxes being an estate or a diesel and yes it
IS an N plated manual box car which I'm sure could be right up Peter's
street and it's barely run it for his mileages too! Least I'll know where I
could find a home for it if I'm not going to fit the spare clutch kit I've got
though I may contemplate fitting it if it's no big hassle. I don't mind doing
clutches if they're not fancy hydraulic jobbies which I'm going to tackle
shortly on an Activa...

Surely the white one of yours is surely a better long term prospect as a
keeper than a C5 Chris?

Andrew

Its a shame about your KYAC Andrew, but dont give up on it, you have already done most of the work by the sounds of it. Seems there must be something else which is bent however. Its only done 40K miles? Thats certainly one to be keeping.

Ive got to say im not having fun with my C5 at the moment, i cant even use it as its leaking something everywhere, its just a bit of a headache at the moment when i should really be doing other things than constantly having to do things with a C5.

I love Xms and i have more time for them, they are far more simple and better cars in various ways than C5s. Really having second thoughts about C5s at the moment, yet again. I really seem to like them or hate them, depending on what they are doing and how i feel.

Id not really thought about keeping the 16v for me, though i suppose its always an option. An automatic would be brilliant for my crawl in and out of Newcastle centre in the rush hour traffic.