BX TZD v Xantia 1.9TD Acceleration

[ecohouse1]

Noticed that the Xantia is a bit of a slug for standing start acceleration compared to my old BX TZD (or at least how I remember it) It just feels much heavier and lumbering by comparison. It does however feel very smooth & powerful cruising at 60/70 with mountains of torque.

Is my observation correct in others opinion who have driven both? I take it the BX was a lighter (although more fragile) machine? I notice that the Xantis seems better bolted together and less prone to rust.

[spider]

Cannot remember the last time I drove a BX if at all actually ( ! ) , although if its any help, similar things were said about the 405TD vs 406TD.

Same case I expect older lighter car possibly with less emission restrictions vs newer slightly heavier car with 'EU friendly' pump settings.

[bxzx16v]

My old Bx Tzd wasn't a patch on the Xantia we had at the time and felt a bit gutless compared. It might just have been the one I had but I much prefered the Xantia in everyway , I do recall driving a Bx 1.9 non turbo diesel , what a sluggish horror that was.

Mark

[tim leech]

My old Bx Tzd wasn't a patch on the Xantia we had at the time and felt a bit gutless compared. It might just have been the one I had but I much prefered the Xantia in everyway , I do recall driving a Bx 1.9 non turbo diesel , what a sluggish horror that was.

Mark

Hmm sounds like the BX wasnt set up right then as they do go very well, a T/D BX should show a clean pair of heels to a Xantia 1.9TD or HDi 90, which is down the weight difference between the motors (about 200kgs I think). The 1.9D is no ball of fire but if you keep the revs up will hussle along quite well and shouldnt be much slower than a TD Xant.

I freely admit that Xantias seem to rust less and feel better screwed together than the old BX, but with a fair few foiables and reliablity problems which you get with more modern tecnology when it gets old and worn.

If you want a slug you should try a Xantia 1.9D AUTO! which has a 0-60 of something like 19 seconds!

[Peter.N.]

The TD BX was the original diesel 'hot hatch' the performance was quite amazing mainly due to its lack of weight. The wife had a TZD estate for some years and when we changed it for a ZX TD she was most dissapointed with the acceleration, she used to be able to pull out onto the Axminster bypass in front of quite fast moving traffic which she couldn't do any more. My own experience from driving them both bore that out.

When the Xantia replaced the BX many people were dissapointed with both the performance and fuel consumption. A well sorted BX td is a very fast although not substantial car.

Peter

[tim leech]

Even now 20 years since its hayday the BX TD is a great car to drive if they oily bits are sorted, sadly they have mostly done lots of miles and starting to get a bit tatty and baggy, but to drive a real mile muncher with surprising performance. Build quality is no worse than most 80s cars (better than some in cases).

Quite a few guys in the BXC run one for a while and get used to them, swop to something a bit newer but often go back as a blend of performance, economy and comfort they are some act to follow. Of course buy a dog and you'll hate it!

[rory_perrett]

Had a BX TZD Estate, a 1.9TD Xantia Hatch, a 2.1TD Xantia Hatch and currently a Xantia HDi 110 hatch. The BX was the best for performance, with the HDi 2nd, the 2.1TD 3rd and the 1.9TD in 4th by a fair way. Not much to choose between the 2.1 and HDi.

[Dippy]

Some years hence ( Pre - PC , Mobiles , speed Camera's etc ) I used to periodically amuse myself on my boring motorway commute by timing myself for appx 3 miles on a substantial motorway climb .

This was performed at @ 10.pm and I always ensured there was no other traffic in front of me ( common then )

Using roadside references ( rather than differing car's odometers ) to measure the distance this " J'amuse Bouche "
as Mr Clarkson would utter , was performed pedal to the metal from a 70 mph start using either 4th or 5th Gears over the entire run - a mental note was made of these " timings " before commiting them to paper on arrival Home.

Ahem , Not wishing to publish the terminal velocities reached , suffice to say that my " testing " became so regular that unbeknown to myself this was failing to amuse the local F - Troop ( Motorway Police) who's patience finally expired and they gave me a tug , I was very lucky to escape with a right royal rollocking !

Many cars were used in my Jovials over the years , and I forget the recorded ( now lost ) figures .

The last two vehicles I "tested" always stuck in my mind though........

My 2.8i capri - JAG298Y and My Bx DTR ( G358KUM)

Without wishing to bore anyone further I was Gobsmacked to find that the Bx DTR, under those conditions , left the Capri for dead

A colleague had a later Bx TZD which I drove , then He ( driving my Capri ) tried to catch me up the same hill , He could not

Different story on the flat , but these are real - world conditions.

Great motor that Bx.

[citronut]

lets see how the XANT rust's when it gets as old as the BX,
in there day they saw the compatition off hands down regarding lack of rust, and just about everything elss,

regards malcolm

[wotwot]

Sorry dippy u have to publish now,it will give us all something to do late at nite when bored.
Must beat dippys time and speed lol.

[wotwot]

Sorry forgot to mention my bx experiences,
bx non turbo and you could get it to hustle but only with heavy foot and long gear changes .
scabbie my current xantia TD is a bit of a slug in comparison.
Although about 400 miles till the 200.000 milestone still cruises nicely at 73 mph (satnav speed) that is.
She has developed a bit of a drone vibration so may get stripped and weighed in soon.

[evilclive]

The acceleration is the bit I missed most moving from a BX turbo to a Xantia HDi. Being only a 90 and a somewhat bigger car is most of it, but the BX did feel better too. Whether people behind agreed as they probably couldn't see where they were going any more is a different matter

[bxzx16v]

^^^ ^^^

Mark

[Dippy]

My old Bx Tzd wasn't a patch on the Xantia we had at the time and felt a bit gutless compared. It might just have been the one I had but I much prefered the Xantia in everyway , I do recall driving a Bx 1.9 non turbo diesel , what a sluggish horror that was.

Mark

It's all relevant I suppose , one company I worked for had a small fleet of new pug 305 vans which were brilliant - then . Some years later I ( briefly ) owned a 405 1.9D estate which as Mark says could frighten you to death trying to pull out of a road junction etc.

I remember the TZD being superb , not suffering as much turbo - lag as my DTR. Some years later a friend had a nice xanty 2.1 TD which was effortless to drive , floating along on waves of torque.

[Dippy]

Sorry dippy u have to publish now,it will give us all something to do late at nite when bored.
Must beat dippys time and speed lol.

I can't remember the figures now , it was never a speed test as such - more an uphill pulling power - maintaining speed contest , and it was a long time ago when life in general was much less frenetic.

Happy memories with the Capri , steer it with the gas pedal ....