'99 Xantia still top of the Swedish "elk test"

skog77 · Post by **skog77** » 25 Jun 2010, 11:48

No idea what i'm on about?

For 30 years the Swedish magazine "World of technology" as put cars through the elk test. Max passengers, max weight, and then they send the cars down the track to simulate an emergency high speed maneuver to avoid the "elk". This is the test where they turned over the Merc A-class.

Still on top today, 5kph faster than a 2008 Audi R8 is the 99 Xantia Activa.

http://www.teknikensvarld.se/algtest-sn ... /index.xml

In fact no-one are even close. 3kph down to the closest car, a Porsche 996 GT2 is pretty good for an 11 year old french family saloon.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 25 Jun 2010, 19:46

Thats doesnt surprise me, it being the Activa version.

It should be a standard test in the UK in my opinion. Look what happened with the Nemo recently. There are many cars with high centres of gravity, especially as the need for owning a 4x4 seems to be increasing with most people and MPVs are in favour over a family saloon.

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 25 Jun 2010, 23:41

What happened with the Nemo recently? The in-laws have just bought one!

James

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 25 Jun 2010, 23:42

Nemo Elk Test

That happened

Nice to see the Activa coming out on top of some rather more exotic metal....I just wish I could drive and enjoy mine

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 26 Jun 2010, 00:17

Just found it Toby! Scary stuff. Well, it will be when the in-laws see it.

I'm not sure ESC is the solution. Well, it is A solution, but it's not addressing the root cause! I doubt many Nemo drivers have got the patience to reach such speeds in one anyway... Sensible driving (i.e. for the conditions) will go a long way. Just watched the Tube video of Tiff testing ESP on a frozen lake. Very impressive, but who should be driving around obstacles at 70mph on a frozen lake?

As for enjoying the Activa, I totally agree. It's difficult to enjoy any spirited (but careful) driving on the roads nowadays.
James

addo · Post by **addo** » 26 Jun 2010, 00:28

There's the space still, here, but laws are becoming so draconian it's not funny.

I reckon the elk test on a regular Xantia estate might show how much plough-straight-ahead understeer they have!

Is the Activa test on video - couldn't find it?

Cheers, Adam.

howiedean · Post by **howiedean** » 26 Jun 2010, 01:26

addo wrote:There's the space still, here, but laws are becoming so draconian it's not funny.

I reckon the elk test on a regular Xantia estate might show how much plough-straight-ahead understeer they have!

Is the Activa test on video - couldn't find it?

Cheers, Adam.

Hmmmm - I once had a scary moment (cold dark night) in a Xantia HDI estate, when during a left hand bend the rear started to overtake the front.

I then over corrected twice before the damn thing would go in a straight line. Ah well you learn from your mistakes.....

Not an elk test but how about this: Activa Drift

Howie

citroenesque · Post by **citroenesque** » 26 Jun 2010, 13:57

Fantastic drift...

KP · Post by KP » 28 Jun 2010, 08:30

Thats a sweet V6 drifter there still makes me smile

I agree with the Activa bits above, can't wait to sort mine out

as the roads near where i live are amaxing other than the bits where they do the cheap resurfacing where they stick some bitumen type stuff down and cover it in crunched up bits of concrete

Post by **CitroJim** » 28 Jun 2010, 17:20

howiedean wrote: Not an elk test but how about this: Activa Drift

Dear god in heaven above! That's impressive

Enjoyed that immensely...

KP wrote:can't wait to sort mine out

You must be missing it terribly Will

What's the current progress?

I've been using my old silver Activa ("Rattiva") as my daily runabout for a couple of weeks now and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. She may look a bit (well a lot) dog-eared but she drives magnificently and even better since I replaced her drop-link. It's been something of a revelation to me as it's the first Activa I've really been able to properly enjoy. I can never properly enjoy my red one because it's in far too good a condition and every time I take it out I'm terrified of damaging it, even to the extent of wearing the high gloss on the wooden gear knob...

No such worries with Rattiva

Robyn was amazed today when several times I parked it in the midst of thronging car parks whereas I normally choose a space somewhere quiet and out of the way.

Bar the fuel consumption, a good Activa is serious fun and those early ones like yours and Rattiva seem somehow to be even more fun than the later ones... For me, to drive a car that you're not overly worried about inflicting wear and tear on is a bit of a new experience and long may it continue; I'm really enjoying it

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 28 Jun 2010, 20:53

Well im sure even a Nemo can get up to 60-70 if the road is long enough!

But yes, in theory, keeping a good distance and being aware of what is going on around you should see you avoid any major swerving which would induce that type of behaviour. However you can not always predict what will happen on the roads and id be a little worried to buy one.

ESP does usually cure the problem, as the video shows. Which is why a lot of cars now come with it as standard. It was an addition made to the A-class and the smart - which also had narrow front tyres to lower grip levels resulting in the car understeering before it had enough grip to roll. C1s and the range also have a type of cornering stability program.

Not an elk test but this does rather show how good a car could be:

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 28 Jun 2010, 21:56

I don't know if it's just on my end, but that video runs slowly?

Here's a slightly longer clip with Tiff Needell explaining what's in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=2DN9Rbs8V88

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 28 Jun 2010, 22:29

My post above doesn't seem to be posting properly...

So here it is again:

I don't know if it's just on my end, but that video runs slowly?

Here's a slightly longer clip with Tiff Needell explaining what's in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=2DN9Rbs8V88

Post by **xantia_v6** » 29 Jun 2010, 06:31

Dommo wrote:My post above doesn't seem to be posting properly... So here it is again:

I don't know if it's just on my end, but that video runs slowly?

Here's a slightly longer clipwith Tiff Needell explaining what's in the video.

I was going to point out your empty posts, but the text becomes visible when the URL code is fixed (The PHBB syntax was wrong, and it barfs on the youtube url format you used, but an acceptable format is available from the "embed" button on youtube).

I presume that XM just has hyroactive2, and it does rather better than I expected.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 29 Jun 2010, 10:38

xantia_v6 wrote: I presume that XM just has hyroactive2, and it does rather better than I expected.

Looks to be an early S1 Xm, so it will have hydractive1.

Its really amasing what a system it is, just look how the Ford copes, or doesnt, the Xm was really a a break through in technology, its a shame it didnt catch on more than it did.

Id like to see a modern car against that, as modern cars do handle better than older ones, but with the comprimise in ride quality. I very much doubt it would remain as composed as the Xm however.