To sell or not..xantia

shiney · Post by **shiney** » 29 Sep 2004, 19:14

Hi
I have a xantia sensation 1.9 TD. Just got the MOT for 12 months.
It's done 107K mileage.
I am in Negative equity to the tune of about £800.
To do it up to be reliable over the next 12 months it will cost around the 900£ mark, spheres, timing brake shoes.
I have a year left on the finance but am not sure how long the repairs that I know are due will last due to the high mileage.
I am temted to sell at a loss and get something a few years old.
If I do pay for the repairs How likely is the car to last from now on due to the high mileage? what is generally expected from the xantia?
I do around 2500 miles a month and need something reliable
Thanks for any advice

mseymour · Post by **mseymour** » 29 Sep 2004, 19:32

Ooooh tricky....
My philosophy is that it's almost always cheaper to keep a car on the road than buy another one.
You could get something cheap, but you may end up with a dog that still needs big bucks spending on it.On the other hand you could get a much newer car - but that won't save any money, it just might be a bit easier to budget.
Don't fall for the common mistake of thinking that buying a new car will save money, it almost definately won't.

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 29 Sep 2004, 19:35

107000? basically, thats nothing-theres a lot of life left in your car yet andyou should get quite a few more years from it!!!!
Its worth spending the money, but you could have a go yourself, as sphere changing is much easier than you think- do a search on the forum, and you will see how easy!
Basically you just need some form of sphere removal tool i.e. a big chain wrench or any of the umpteen home made versions you will find on here, and a fistfull of new spheres.
How do you know they actually need changing though, has the ride become a bit hard?
Brake pads ( there are no brake shoes-it's discs all round ) are dead easy- if you have a wheelbrace, jack, and a pair of pliers you can do it-just get a haynes book and follow the pictures!
I don't know what you mean by "timing", however-do you mean the cambelt needs doing?

AndyP · Post by **AndyP** » 29 Sep 2004, 20:21

Hmmm, sounds like just what I need at the moment !

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 29 Sep 2004, 20:49

My first Xantia has 152k on the clock and counting.
I had to do a clutch at 149k, that is the only big expensive job the car has had.

shiney · Post by **shiney** » 29 Sep 2004, 21:30

Thanks for that, something to think about.
timing = cam I don't think it has ever been done, nothing in the service record and I got it at 60k miles.
I was quoted £300 for spheres, very bumpy at present.
I was tempted to have a pop at the spheres myself reading posts on here but time is the problem and I am seriuosly un mechanical!
The sphere changers in Manchester look good but too far away for me anyone know of one in South Wales?
I wouldn't like to sell it privately without the belt being done or the purchaser knowing so I think i am leaning towrds keeping it
S

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 29 Sep 2004, 21:48

Can I just point out that if you have finance ( as opposed to a loan ) on the car, then it's not yours to sell !
My opinion would be to keep the car anyway, better the devil you know, and all that.
Spheres can be changed yourself for a £30 tool, about £2.50 in LHM, and about £20 per corner.
Fronts take approx 10 mins per side.
Rears up to 15 mins per side depending on how stuck on they are.
Brake pads take around 20 mins per corner, allow 30 mins because you're a first-timer !
Keep the xantia, I want another one having got rid of the last one, followed by a 405 ( quick, sporty but uncomfortable ) and now the ax ( great economy, small boot ).
Mat.

tomsheppard · Post by **tomsheppard** » 29 Sep 2004, 21:55

You would not be the first person we have guided through sphere changes. It does not take long and it is akin to changing a screw in lightbulb for complexity.
That will save you £200 for an hour's work.Read a few postings on the subject

Stuart McB · Post by **Stuart McB** » 29 Sep 2004, 22:25

The milage alone out weighs selling the car on. Only 107K, only just run in. Now I've never owned a Xantia or any Citroen with the fluid set up but I have seen loads of info and general guidence on this site. I would have a go my self, purchase a Haynes manual read it good and proper then ask on this site any questions then have a go. But if your really that daunted by the job there has to be a Cit specialist by you in South Wales. If not how far are you from Birmingham? Modern Citroen are good and prices are favorible. On my old ZX to have rear suspension rebuilt inc dampers and springs, service, timing belt with pump and oily bits came in at £350 inc vat. Now may sound a lot but the car was back in a day. So if you stop in the area over night your quids in.

Post by **martyhopkirk** » 29 Sep 2004, 23:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shiney

I was quoted £300 for spheres, very bumpy at present.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
depending on where you live there are a few specialists who will cahnge your spheres quite cheaply - got mine booked in to westeron in manchester - £25 a sphere - fitted (and im a total numpty when dealing with mechanical bits)

davethewheel · Post by **davethewheel** » 30 Sep 2004, 04:04

better the devil you know, seriously though 107k on a xantia diesel is nothing mine is on 127k and the engine still feels like new, sphere change, brake pads and timing belt are just normal serviceable items and you could save money and do the sphere's and brakes yourself and maybe pay someone to do the timing belt, if you decide to do somework yourself there id plenty of help on here.[:)]

shiney · Post by **shiney** » 30 Sep 2004, 19:34

I have decided to keep it based on the views here.
I am going to have a go at doing the spheres myself
I think I need to be aware there will be a fight to get them off and the new ones just screw on.
Could someone kindly post a sequqnce of steps to do it?
You are talking to a non mechanic here!
Thanks for all the advice.

tomsheppard · Post by **tomsheppard** » 30 Sep 2004, 19:39

Search for Sphere replacement on this forum. All will be explained in great detail.

davek-uk · Post by **davek-uk** » 01 Oct 2004, 14:43

At 107k I'd look to have the cam belt changed pretty soonish - it'll be on its original if you brought it at 60k and haven't had it changed yourself. It's supposed to be changed at 72k- and even that's an extension of the 50k Citroen originally recommended.