Contemplating a Xantia

citroenesque · Unread post by **citroenesque** » 06 Jun 2011, 12:16

Hi

I am thinking about getting a Xantia. Reason being I want to be able to cruise happily for hours at 130kph-ish (with something left for overtaking etc) four-up plus luggage, with the air con on as necessary. It has to be relatively quiet and economical. Auto would be nice. I like white Xantias (especially the all-white Forté type) but that's by the by. I want a hatchback as opposed to the estate.

As it is my lovely BX TXD n/a 19diesel only fulfills one or two of the above points (it has air con and does 45mpg plus).

I can't afford to buy until next month or later, but what should I be looking for? Oh, and my budget's going to be a max of £1000 for a T&T'd good one.

My thoughts lead me to consider:
A V6 (but what about cost of maintenance and economy around town?)
2.0 16v
(what are the 1.8 16v's like?)
2.1 Turbo diesel (did they come with auto?)

Phil (I need educating in the ways of Xantia)

Unread post by **RichardW** » 06 Jun 2011, 12:21

HDi 110...no contest really - presumably you will be cruising at 130kph on the continent where DERV is cheaper

Downside is no auto, and £1k might be a tall order, but maybe not for a hatch.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 06 Jun 2011, 12:49

Unless the lack of an autobox is a showstopper Phil, I agree, the 110HDi or a 2.1TD. Sadly, neither came with autoboxes

For an auto there is only one real choice and that's the V6. It's relatively economical for a 3.0 auto and has the added advantage of cruise control.

Economy-wise I get around 27-32 from mine depending on use. The 2.0 Auto I believe returns similar but i understand it's no ball of fire in the performance stakes...

Everything on the V6 is bombproof except the gearbox

These can die around 120 to 150,000 miles but are repairable...

Get and HDi and see 55mpg in a pretty much bombproof package.

EDIT: £1k will get you a very good V6 if you shop around for one...

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 06 Jun 2011, 13:04

If saving money is what you're after, then no Xantia beats the economy of a 1.9TD running on veg. Some were even fitted with autoboxes.

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 06 Jun 2011, 13:40

Get a Xm again Phil

2.1 TD autos crop up regularly.

2.0 16Vs are very very nice, smooth, refined, and nice performance.

citroenesque · Unread post by **citroenesque** » 06 Jun 2011, 15:46

XM was on the list too.... but I've never had a Xantia... But you're right; might be a good choice. I know of a 2.5 locally... mmmm

I might find it hard to source an XM that was as clean as my green one too. How are the 2.5 diesels?

citroenesque · Unread post by **citroenesque** » 06 Jun 2011, 16:35

Was there a 90HDi Xantia? Actually I now know there was

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 06 Jun 2011, 17:17

Our ol' trusty is a HDi but even being only the 90BHP version it's still alright - the 110BHP would be better though.
Reliability is great too - it's never failed to start or leave us stranded.

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 06 Jun 2011, 17:19

A Xantia would be a good change. Similar looking but very different in the driving area, things are much better placed (in my opinion, no stretching back for the leccy window controls and internal door handles) and there is more of a logical conclusion to the old CX style dash on the S1s with all lighting controls and horn being on one stalk and wipers etc on the other. As apposed to (my XM at least) where the fogs and rear wipers are elsewhere.

Parts are much more widley available, you've got a very active forum of Xantia people, much better rust protection, wider variety of engines, aircon as standard from '97 LX upwards.

You haven't got the extra creature comforts, seating position is not as armchair like, bit more of a sporty tipped back seat with less leg support, not quiet enough room in the back for a game of cricket, more suited to a card game but most importantly, its not an XM - the ultimate 80s car

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 06 Jun 2011, 20:23

Id say a Xantia would be a very good choice. My choice for a daily driver Xantia would be a 2.0HDi 110, though the 90 is probably fine in the Xantia. However doing 80mph, with the AC on and a full load of luggage and passengers might be asking a lot from a 90 version. If you can find one, I would get the 110HDi Exclusive, I couldnt so I didn't

Or the 110 HDi SX, nice spec and quite available.

The 1.8s and 2.0s are quite available, seems a bit of a shame your looking now and not a few weeks ago as one very nice 2.0 16v Exclusive Auto was just sold on ebay by a forum member here (bartyman). The 1.8 and 2.0s are often lower milage than the diesels and cheaper too, quite often in very good condition too. There was a 1.8 with LPG from new, though that will be a rare car.

1.8 is around 115bhp I think and the 2.0 135. I find the 2.0 with a manual very economical (in an XM at least), the auto is slower and heavier on fuel but still a nice drive.

I prefer XMs to Xantias, they are more individual, have a far superior driving position, better seats etc. Though to drive they are two very very different cars. One thing to go against the XM is that the majority don't have air con, so finding one with it will limit your searches, where as the Xantia is easily available with AC, all S2s Xantias have it and a lot of the later S1s too.

As has been mentioned, Xantia parts are cheaper and easier to get hold of, Xantias are around in larger numbers so the right car will be easier to find.

I would certainly choose a Xantia as a daily driver, I would like a 2.0 110 or a 2.1TD, possibly a 1.9 but I doubt I would settle for a XUD actually, a HDi is the way to go for economy, refinement and drive - less torque peaky than the XUDs.

This might fit the bill nicely?

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 06 Jun 2011, 21:03

HDi 90s in the Xantia are at least OK, but no better.. Its a heavy body for 90 bhp really... same with the XUD really hence low 40's mpg from the XUD..

Anyway, my choice too DEFO the 110bhp Xantia Exclusive (I have one) with a tuning box.. easilly cruises at 90mph without even knowing it, as shes only dooing 3400rpm roughly... NOT EXACT FIGURES

The HDi is sooo much more refined and quiter, and much more eager too!

Paul

Unread post by **Dommo** » 06 Jun 2011, 21:50

I'm currently on my phone so this will be a short reply.

For cruising at that speed I find that the oil temperature of my 1.9TD reaches about 100 degrees, even in this country!

It isn't Particularly efficient at that speed either because the gearbox is too short, the HDi's run a longer box. I would definitely go for a HDi 110 (unless veg oil is definitely going to happen), it comes with an intercooler where the 90 doesn't (hence the power difference) and I'd say the intercooler would be necessary at that speed (should help keep oil temps down).

Unread post by **Dommo** » 06 Jun 2011, 21:52

Forgot to say, the longer box should also keep oil temperatures down!

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 06 Jun 2011, 22:19

When I took my 2.0HDi 110 C5 to france two years back I set the cruise to 135kph, the AC was obviously on, a full load of luggage (you would not believe how much stuff we took!) and 3 people, it did the long drive from the south of France to the channel tunnel very nicely, in fact effortlessly. I was left feeling extremely impressed with the car and it even returned 47MPG for the entire 3000 miles and 16 days away. So I can safely say that a 110 HDi would fit your needs well, in the slightly lighter Xantia it would be even better on fuel.

I find our 2.1TD XM with a Bosch pump rivals the HDi 110 for performance and gearing is very similar, however fuel economy is slightly down, to be expected though.

90s do seem more available than 110 Xantias, but wait and the right car will turn up.

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 06 Jun 2011, 22:42

Our workhorse is a 90BHP HDi Xantia Estate and it carries all manner of things and suffers a good bit of abuse - it never complains and just gets on with it. Just the other day there was a couple of old kitchens in the back of it...!

Aside from the workhorse we did previously use it all the time for long journeys such as going to Wales and Yorkshire - now the C6 does this. Talking of the C6, it really is a great long distance cruiser - step out after a three or four hour journey and it only feels like you've been going a short while - tomorrow it's being used to go down to Sandown Park and Wendesday up to Buxton. Relating this back to the Xantia, it still did these sort of journeys perfectly fine.

Can't beat a nice Xantia!