Xantia V6 in France...

[xantia_v6]

For a change of scenery, we have moved to Malta for a while.

We have been here a couple of weeks, and it is a nice place to live.

The biggest problem from my point of view is that cars are very expensive here and the models that I would like to own are practically non-existent.

As an example, a 2005 Peugeot 406 1.6 with no frills and a bit tatty has an asking price of €4,000. I can't give the prices of any hydraulic Citroens, because there aren't any (OK I have seen one Xantia 1.8, but it wasn't for sale).

There are still a few "old" cars on the road here, 1960s and 70s family cars like Hillman Hunters, Mk1 Escorts etc, but nothing Citroen until you get to Xsaras and C4s. Peugeots from about 2000-on seem to be quite popular on the streets, but there are very few for sale.

One of the reasons for the car demographics is that annual registration taxes increase with CO2 emissions and with vehicle age, so that although annual tax for a modern small car is maybe €350 pa, for a 10 year year or older car with an averagely efficient engine it is typically €1100 pa, until the car gets to 30 years old, when it drops back to €100. I hope that there are lots of 90s cars tucked away in barns waiting for the tax to come down.

So I am looking around, but really not seeing anything that I would like to buy.

It is easy to import a car from the UK, but transport is about €700, plus an import tax which starts at about €1500 and gets bigger with the value of the vehicle (€2500 for a 2010 C5 Exclusive 2.0 HDI).

It is a pity that our nice cars are parked elsewhere...

[myglaren]

Bagheera!
Inspired by vintage racing cars from the 30's this racing green pedal car is a lovingly created replica that will inspire and delight young drivers.

No tax and very economical with regards to fuel. Two Weetabix a day

[white exec]

Spent time in Malta in the 80s and the 90s. Fascinating place.

There was then a 40% import tax on new cars, hence the huge number of old cars kept running no-matter-what. Tiny workshops worked through the night on bodywork and engine transplants and repairs. Loads of old Bedford trucks and buses on the roads.

The secondhand price you quote for the 2005 Peugeot is about what you'd expect to pay here in Spain. Cars for "a few hundred" just aren't available here, with even 15 year old 4x4s going for €10k+.

See the Maltese are still shooting anything that flies over their island (and I don't mean planes). When we paused to watch a group of shooters in a hide on Gozo, they pointed their guns at us. Gruesome.

[xantia_v6]

Spent time in Malta in the 80s and the 90s. Fascinating place.

There was then a 40% import tax on new cars, hence the huge number of old cars kept running no-matter-what. Tiny workshops worked through the night on bodywork and engine transplants and repairs. Loads of old Bedford trucks and buses on the roads.

They still have the high taxes, but the high annual registration tax (and scrappage schemes) mean that older cars disappear rapidly to be replaced by used imports of small Toyotas etc. from Japan.

I did think of importing this...



But I don't think that we could survive summer without aircon.

[Hell Razor5543]

Spent time in Malta in the 80s and the 90s. Fascinating place.

There was then a 40% import tax on new cars, hence the huge number of old cars kept running no-matter-what. Tiny workshops worked through the night on bodywork and engine transplants and repairs. Loads of old Bedford trucks and buses on the roads.

They still have the high taxes, but the high annual registration tax (and scrappage schemes) mean that older cars disappear rapidly to be replaced by used imports of small Toyotas etc. from Japan.

I did think of importing this...



But I don't think that we could survive summer without aircon.

When is summer (or winter) in Malta?

[xantia_v6]

When is summer (or winter) in Malta?

Summer is June to September. In July and Auguast the average daily high is over 30 degrees, with temperatures near 40 not uncommon.
I did see an early C5 today!

[CitroJim]

Just like Cyprus then for weather... Lovely..

I've always wanted to visit Malta. I have a belief, maybe incorrect, that the two islands have much the same sort of atmosphere and feeling, both having been British...

[Stickyfinger]

Code: Select all

both having been British "protectorates"

, they were never really British Jim even if both took on board the basic Laws and Rghts l as a basis for there way of life

[CitroJim]

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both having been British "protectorates"

, they were never really British Jim even if both took on board the basic Laws and Rghts l as a basis for there way of life

No, that's very true Alasdair... Cyprus, the Southern bit at least, is very uniquely Cypriot but having said that, all ex-British possessions I've visited have all had a feeling in common along with their own unique identity. Can't really describe it but I've been to enough to formulate it...

[Stickyfinger]

I totally agree Jim, due to being built on a solid and fair foundation that can (if they want it) transfer to any society.

[xantia_v6]

Code: Select all

both having been British "protectorates"

, they were never really British Jim even if both took on board the basic Laws and Rghts l as a basis for there way of life

Malta is quite British, but the British probably don't see it, they only see the differences.

[xantia_v6]

Back on topic...

I have decided to do the impractical and uneconomic thing and I have bought a Xantia V6 in the UK, which I intend to drive back to Malta next week.

The car is he one that currently belongs to the wife of user rolyh on this forum. It is a well cared for Mk1, and a car that deserves a good home. It certainly won't see any more salted roads in Malta, but it will see more than its fair share of dust.

I think I can safely say that it will be the only Xantia V6 on the island. When getting insurance quotes, there is general disbelief that there was a Xantia with an engine bigger than 2 litres.

I will post more details and photos next week.

The car is rather overdue a timing belt change, so I will do that at Jim's place before driving down.

I am currently ordering a few spare parts that I know it will need in the near future. One is a rear silencer. there are some offered on ebay and Amazon, can anybody recognise which of these have good silencing (I know that some are under-damped and boomy):

1. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182058701159? ... EBIDX%3AIT
2. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... AKKF2E5TP0
3. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Xanti ... xyOlhS-L9n
4. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Xanti ... SwEgVWSyIs
5. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Xanti ... SwBahU3Jn0

[CitroJim]

Excellent stuff Mike

As for silencers, in my experience all of the ones in the link are of dubious quality in construction but the ones I've had sounded OK..

What I have found is the mounting rods are generally out of alignment and need a bit of bending to make them line up properly. One I had broke at the weld when i tried bending it..

Also, many of these have misaligned tailpipes and that's visible in at least one of them in the links... If the tailpipes are badly misaligned they look terrible on the car...

I'd personally go for item 1...

[superloopy]

Was that the silver v6 located penrith?

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

[xantia_v6]

Was that the silver v6 located penrith?

Its silver, but has lived for many years in Cambridgeshire. For 5 years I worked near where it lived and must have walked past the house several times and driven past, but never saw it.

A slight change of plan... Although I had intended to drive/ferry it to Malta, the ferry timetables conspire against me and it would be really awkward on the days that I need to travel, so I will probably ship it RORO Southampton to Valletta, which takes about 2 weeks.