Xantia Comfort?

addo · Post by **addo** » 14 Oct 2010, 21:03

I've always understood sphere volume to play a large part in that aspect of ride comfort - going to a larger sphere gives you more compressible gas at the original pressure, same suface area.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 14 Oct 2010, 22:16

Hydropnumatic suspension is like that, beautiful ride over large undulations at speed but won't cope with small sharp bumps. My best XM gives a surperb ride on good roads but nearly shakes your teeth loose on the forest track I have to drive over to reach the road.

I have a BMW 5 series which are renowned for a good ride - and for a conventionally sprung vehicle they are not bad, it rides as well as the XM on the track but is rubbish compared with it on the road.

Peter

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 15 Oct 2010, 17:27

Thanks for this re-assuring post. I've had two Xantiae and on both thought that, while really good on good roads, did bump around a bit on less-good surfaces.

On my first car I did find, however, that changing the rear three spheres did improve things a bit.

XantiaDaveEire · Post by **XantiaDaveEire** » 15 Oct 2010, 17:49

rmunns wrote:Thanks for this re-assuring post. I've had two Xantiae and on both thought that, while really good on good roads, did bump around a bit on less-good surfaces.

On my first car I did find, however, that changing the rear three spheres did improve things a bit.

Its also put my mind to rest a little bit

addo · Post by **addo** » 15 Oct 2010, 22:42

Sphere changes - by default - introduce air, oddly enough a compressible gas at low pressure.

I believe that as we bed in a new sphere set, we gradually become accustomed to the air being purged from it, so the change in ride quality isn't "night and day" like when we go from flat to fully charged.

f00lzz · Post by **f00lzz** » 16 Oct 2010, 07:37

Peter.N. wrote:Hydropnumatic suspension is like that, beautiful ride over large undulations at speed but won't cope with small sharp bumps. My best XM gives a surperb ride on good roads but nearly shakes your teeth loose on the forest track I have to drive over to reach the road.

I have a BMW 5 series which are renowned for a good ride - and for a conventionally sprung vehicle they are not bad, it rides as well as the XM on the track but is rubbish compared with it on the road.

Peter

I must agree with you Peter, I currently run a 5 series as a daily workhorse and find the ride more than acceptable.. on the other hand the Xantia V6 is very good on motorways etc but the ride is spoilt around town with drain covers pot holes etc. Incidentally the Xantia has 'fresh' spheres all round with 'comfort' or non hydractive spheres on the corners and I shan't make that mistake again... a bit like sailing a ship!

Post by **Peter.N.** » 16 Oct 2010, 10:07

Hi Ian

My estate has comfort spheres which I find quite acceptable but on the hatch rear the ride is a bit nautical.

My 5 series is an estate with rear air suspension which I understand does make the ride harder and is only comparable with the XM over rough unmade roads, otherwise not nearly as good a ride.

Tyre type and pressures can have a marked effect on the ride, unless I am carrying a full load I tend to run mine a little underinflated which makes quite a difference at low speed, the figures given are assuming a full load. The BMW gives different pressures for fully and partly loaded and they are quite a bit different.

There is quite a variation in tread stiffness between different tyres, what I have done in the past is to get my local friendly tyre fitter to let me 'feel' the tyres on offer, hold them by the edge and press your thumbs into the center of the tread and see how much force is required to push it in.

Peter

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 16 Oct 2010, 20:49

Your right, tyres have a big effect on the ride and handling feel of a car.

I know someone with an XM who has over-pressured spheres all round and has their tyres very soft, this does give it an ocean liner like ride but i can't imagine its too good to drive or very safe with its very squidgy tyres.

Michelin often offer very soft sidewalls - hence Citroens being fitted with these as standard. I usually find that cheaper brands have very stiff sidewall, which along with the bad ride i would think also contributes to the awful grip as the tyre is unable to flex to the road.

I always run our cars tyres at the lower recommended pressure, sometimes one or two PSi less. I usually play around and see what works best, taking into account, ride, handling, feel and tyre wear. I find different tyres work better at different pressures.

Tyre pressures for the Xm are stated for an empty car and driver, there is an upper limit for loaded. Same with the C5s etc.