Dean's Activa/XM/V6 and now Talbot blog

[Citroenmad]

Thank goodness you have your Activa to bring you back to reality Dean

Do they sell Kias in america? I've no idea but it would explain the many bongs! Thankfully I think Kias have came a long way again since that Carens. Hideous Picanto aside, the rest of the range are not bad at all. No match for a Citroen of course!

[andmcit]

I always say to myself, should I feel p!ssed off about something on one of my cars,
ask to borrow a run in someone else's modern 'effirt' for reapplied perspective!
Driving the works Mazda 3 usually cures me after 2 minutes endurance. Do no
other car manufacturers bother fitting suspension and brakes that work onto
their cars then?

[Northern_Mike]

Thank goodness you have your Activa to bring you back to reality Dean

Do they sell Kias in america? I've no idea but it would explain the many bongs! Thankfully I think Kias have came a long way again since that Carens. Hideous Picanto aside, the rest of the range are not bad at all. No match for a Citroen of course!

Oi!!! My mum has an 11-plate Picanto. It was the last of the pre-vile facelift ones, so it's loaded with toys and she got it for £5200 new! It's actually a well built, solid little car and for her, it's perfect.

[Deanxm]

the Kia's brakes were actualy ok, they did tend to increase braking force without moving the pedal on initial application but so what, you get used to it, the seats were very comfy too as was the driving position, the steering was light and the clutch puts an Activa one to shame, im not a new car hater it just boggles the mind how you can release a car like this in this day an age and actualy find someone to buy it, its madness.

D

[Citroenmad]

Its the new Picanto I hate Mike, its very ugly

How can the Kias clutch better tha Activas Dean? I cant think of a better clutch than my Activas, light, very progessive, smooth.

[andmcit]

Clutch is lovely on my Activae too - that and the gearchange are aspects I like
over the v6 Xants actually when comparing one another's strengths and weaknesses...

[Deanxm]

The kias was light, and i mean light, like it wasnt attached to anything, the Activa clutch is light by normal standards but it has a solid feel to it, like its actualy doing something.

D

[Citroenmad]

the Activa clutch is light by normal standards but it has a solid feel to it, like its actualy doing something.

D

Sounds like the perfect clutch

[Northern_Mike]

the Activa clutch is light by normal standards but it has a solid feel to it, like its actualy doing something.

D

Sounds like the perfect clutch

Unlike the one in the V6, which today, I completely forgot was an auto . You just knew it was going to happen, I was even talking to DickieG about it happening on the way down from Jim's.

It's got damn good brakes and the ABS works a treat.

[DickieG]

Sounds like the perfect clutch

Unlike the one in the V6, which today, I completely forgot was an auto . You just knew it was going to happen, I was even talking to DickieG about it happening on the way down from Jim's.

It's got damn good brakes and the ABS works a treat.

Do you now need a new set of rear lights

[CitroJim]

Sounds like the perfect clutch

Unlike the one in the V6, which today, I completely forgot was an auto . You just knew it was going to happen, I was even talking to DickieG about it happening on the way down from Jim's.

It's got damn good brakes and the ABS works a treat.

Do you now need a new set of rear lights

I do the opposite, I get in the Activa, forget it has a clutch and wonder why the gears crunch...

Once I left a motorway and wondered why it was juddering so badly as I came to a halt at the roundabout at the end. I find leaving it in 5th and not dipping the clutch as you roll to a halt tends to cause that...

I've also tried to engage 'D' in the Activa by pressing on the brake pedal...

[Deanxm]

Its never happened to me but then i guess its the hazzard of having two cars the same with one being auto and the other manual, i can see how easily it could happen!.

I may have mentioned i have now started in my new position properly, free time is now extreemly limited as we are very busy in the winter and im having to get to grips with a lot of new stuff so leaving at 6am and getting home at 7pm 6 days a week is and will continue to be the routine for the next 3 months at least. The wifes maternity pay has also stopped and we made the decision that she will not be going back to work so Ellie can have mum around full time.
I have also got the company truck (Mazda BT50) back and it is now my company car, this leaves my poor Activa no more than a money eating drive ornament, i took it out on saturday to do some visits, drop the banking off in town and stop into work to finnish off some bits and its great fun, i really do like the car but its time it moved on asap so here are important bits.

Just taxed her for 6 months, MOT until march sometime (think its the end of march, may even be april), new ish tyres all round, new Bendix front pads just gone on along with new P bushes, the cat is rattling so i put a self tapper in to re secure the monolith but i have a spare (very good and oe) cat to go with her, an engine mount is gone (think its the gearbox end) again i have a very good oe one and a brand new aftermarket one which will go with her but i will try and get this done soon as it knocks sometimes on enthusiastic takeoff and is causing judder when pulling away.

The blog is here, you all know whats been done and now im looking for offers, PM me with one (dont let me down guys) i dont want to sell her as it is so dont compound the pain by making me go down the ebay road.
If you want more pictures or if there is anything you want to know about the car please ask here so they are answered for everybody.

Dont let a good Activa go to ebay...........................

EDIT the abs light is on now too, well it has been since just before cxm yes i know but i just dont have the time to mess about with cars now, A very nice man lexia'd it and its flagged up the n/s/f sensor, i dont know how expensive they are or if its the reluctor rather than the sensor and there is no way im going to have time to sort it out.

Thanks
Dean

[Citroenmad]

Good luck with the sale Dean and congrats on your new job role! Im sure the extra time will pay off

If I didn't have an Activa I would already have yours. Its a very good example and anyone thinking of owning an Activa should buy this one. Perhaps the styling mods might put some off, but they shouldn't, it can all be returned to standard if needed.

[Deanxm]

yes it could be but it will require a rear bumper, new cat back exhaust, a set of wheels and smaller tyres plus some time.

Thanks anyway Chris, job news is great, not so good for my hobbies and loves though

D

[CitroJim]

Thanks anyway Chris, job news is great, not so good for my hobbies and loves though

That's the downside Dean but as long as when you come home from work you leave work at work and really enjoy your loves when you're home then no worries. Just don't still try to do it when you're in your fifties - take it from one who knows

Work hard and long now to reap the benefit in the future - just make sure you do!

That's a great plan for mum to stay at home with Ellie - she's a very lucky girl