The C5 (Mk1 Phase 2 3.0 v6 Exclusive) is already gone. Luckily, a fellow Citroen enthusiast wanted it, and hopefully he will put it back on the road.
Anyway, hiding my frustration behind a smile, wanted to ask your opinions on converting my Xantia to manual to put it back on the road. The Xantia in question is a 1997 X1 VSX 2.0i 8v with the 4HP14 box. I found a crashed manual 1998 VSX, even with the same power seats as mine. So the plan is now to purchase it for spares, and convert mine to manual.
I haven't driven a manual since around 20 years ago, except for limited drives on relatives' cars or rentals. My last manual car was a Doğan S, which is basically a glorified FIAT 131 in a different suit. It had a 96hp SOHC 1.6l engine (possibly a descendant of the Supermirafiori). Compared with the modern manuals like the 2015+ Tipo, 2010-ish Astra H 1.6, and similar, I remember the Doğan S having a heavy clutch pedal, but a gradual bite zone, making it easy to launch against hills without handbrake (though sub-1000kg kerb weight must have helped, it's been 20+ years so my memory is a bit faded). In comparison, I found the more modern manuals "vague" in terms of bite point/zone, and a bit more challenging to launch, despite the much lighter clutch pedals.
How would those who drive a manual (and possibly a low power petrol, as the diesels and higher power engines would have a hydraulic clutch) Xantia describe it? I am particularly interested in those with the cable operated clutch. I'll be doing around 30-40 stop-and-go cycles in a 40km route daily during the school year. Is the clutch pedal too heavy? Is it easy to "feel" the bite? Is the engine responsive enough (versus the modern engines that usually have a lag, even for the NA ones) for easy launches?
Or would it be like a more modern manual with a hydraulic clutch, and I am losing my edge, given that I was 25 years old back when I drove the manual Doğan S and I am now 45 years old?
As for the conversion itself, I intend to put the two cars side by side, and the shop that will carry out the work said they could do it. I'll be replacing the clutch kit, installing a brand new clutch cable, and possibly some "sleeves" around the clutch mechanism according to my readings. Of course, the mounts, shafts, sensors, and likely the instrument panel will be replaced, as well as the pedal box and anything that touches the clutch and gear shift lever mechanisms.
