Some form of Citroen wanted

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:53 pm

I spoke to my dad last night, and he offered me an interest-free loan to get a decent car until the insurance claim is settled. We're thinking around £500-£700.

Choices:

1. I kinda like the ZX that I'm punting about in at the moment but it is a little basic and a little tired. Also the boot's a bit small and my girlfriend doesn't currently have the strength in her shoulders to park it because of her whiplash. So: a late, low mileage, top-of-the-range estate, with power steering, preferably with 1.9TD engine. I'd accept another hatch if it was a Volcane and in exceptional condition.

2. Some form of XM. Condition and history more important than age or spec. Got to be automatic because I don't have three legs (anyone who's driven a manual XM will know what I mean). Hatchback - I think the estates are really ugly.

3. Some form of Xantia. Not sure about this as I've never even been in one, but I'm tempted by relative youth and low prices compared to XMs.

4. Another BX. It would have to be pretty special though; either a mint Mk 1 TRS Auto like Snoopy, or a last-of-the-line TZD Turbo. Nothing else will do. I love 'em, but after owning three I'm just thinking about something a bit different.

Keep your eyes open for me and let me know if you see any of these!

Post by **docchevron** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:06 pm

All options sound good. Except option 3.

Delete this from your consciousness at once!

I'll keep my ears open for ya mate.

I'm doing a good line in 16v's at the mo....

Ooh, have you considered Jezzie's black valver with air?

I kinda still am, even though I REALLY dont need another black valver...
Bloody nice car though.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:32 pm

Hmm XMs are ok if your good with spanners, if your not like me then I would advise caution!

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:39 pm

Actually, Doc, since I posted I've been getting insurance quotes from Confused.com and the Xant pretty much rules itself out. I put in a 2.0 VSX that's on sale locally and it's a fair bit more than the next cheapest (the XM).

I was expecting it to laugh in my face when I put a valver in, but it actually gives an acceptable price. Hm. What about running costs? Will a valver be a lot more expensive to maintain than a standard BX, fuel consumption aside? Air is tempting...

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:47 pm

I've just arranged to go and view this XM on Saturday. It didn't sell on ebay (he was overambitious with the starting bid) but it is still available.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:00 pm

Early XMs had electrical gremlins I understand, caused by cheap components and inferior earthing, BUT if this car has been fully maintained since 1993 and the auto box has been maintained I don't see why this shouldn't be a good candidate. The suspension is Hydractive II as opposed to the later, (better?) Hydractive III, but I really don't know what difference that makes!

!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:17 pm

Aren't Medway (Charlotte on here) selling an XM at a good price? Be worth asking her/the company to see what they have in I would think.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:01 pm

I reckon there's just 3 things wrong about that XM.

1, it's petrol.
2. it's auto.
3. the price.

If you're looking for a petrol XM, I'd be getting a much newer one cos they're for nowt.
I really like auto boxes. but they seem to have a bad habit of failing on XM's especially after they've just been sold

And 500quid for a J Reg petrol, well, it's just too much.

Take a look under the engine compartment, if it's still got it's drip tray underneath, it could be ok, but if it's missing, look closely at the pipes you can see.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:06 pm

You must be be a welathy man stuart if yoru considering buying a old petrol Xm, nice mileage etc but the upkeep on that will be expensive I bet,

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:39 pm

I'm with Ken on the Petrol bit. And the price - to an extent. Less so on the auto as I've been doing my own bit of research phoning garages (four Citroen, four or five independent), owners (now five) and - importantly - independent Citroen specialists (four of them) and the overwhelming consensus is - IF the car is well maintained and the gearbox has been serviced with the correct fluid there should be no reason not to trust it (as much as any on an old car). The problems seem to arise from poor maintenance and high mileage and later models. As I was considering an XM for a while I did ask lots of questions.

BUT that's not to say the font of knowledge that this Forum represents cannot challenge this view. I keep an open mind.

Honestly, given there are doubts about the XM auto why not either go manual OR buy a different car. Then the whole thing becomes merely academic. The latter is the decision I've made.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:49 pm

If nobody minds my wading in here I may be able to offer some
Xm/Xantia advice should anyone need it!! I know it's not strictly
a Bx thread but these are STILL interesting Citroens and it doesn't
hurt to have an example of each you know!!

For my sins I literally have a shedload of Xm's and a load of (I'll wisper
it...

) Xantiae! All good cars and I would highly recommend them as
a daily alternative to a more special AND cherished Cx, Bx, GSA or 2CV...

The issue regarding autoboxes failing is well discussed on the relevant
forums for BOTH Xantia and Xm's with them usually packing in at about
120k miles. The autobox is great for chuntering nose to tail to and fro
work so I realise the appeal. I NEVER THOUGHT I'D ADMIT THIS, and it
probably shows I've grown old prematurely, but the autobox is very
relaxing and almost a pleasure to drive instead of a manual equivalent
for my daily commute. That said, I'll still manage to find excuses to
drive my CX GTi Turbo2 to work regularly...

The Xantia is a much heavier and therefore slower but consequently
more substantial car compared to the Bx. If I were totally honest, I'd
say the Bx feels a little fragile/under protected for me, especially as it
can be driven harder and is very chuckable and on a par with the good
old GS/A. There is less 'soul' in a Xantia and it's relatively quirk free,
though it's just SO competent/faithful and reliable with few vices it easily
becomes indispensable and a VERY practical daily car - certainly more
so than an XM, though an Xm can easily be used for sole daily use car too!

I've been astounded by an Xm 2.0i base spec H plate saloon that's taken
EVERYTHING thrown at it in it's stride and it even towed another Xm on a
car transporter without objection - I guess down to it being a pre cat car.
A very likeable car and actually quite distinctive and unusual on the roads
today in the same way a smart Bx stands out now.

If you need to pick the remains of my poor addled brains for advice on
buying an Xm, Xantia or even a CX (there's been a good few recently
on ebay) I'm your man! My dabblings with Bx's is actually the exact
opposite and I haven't had the time yet to get my head around a
recently acquired 16v...

I'll no doubt be back asking questions about Bx's soon!

All the best,
Andrew

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:21 pm

My friend has a 2i petrol XM.

It is nice and comfy with individuality that exceeds that of the BX,
but it is a thirsty car.
More thirsty than a BX16V. Because of the weight and being a smallish size motor for the car, it has to be worked quite hard all the time.

There is reasonable room around the engine for working, but overall it is not an easy car to work on. Electrical gremlins are standard, and not easy to cure.

But they do cost nearly nothing to buy, so you have money left for the fuel.
But not enough left to pay someone else to fix it- so you have to do most of that yourself.

Mike

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:53 pm

Andrew, r u a mechanic by trade or just nuts about citroens?

Welcome to the club by the way. Never driven an xm or xantia, so cant comment on whether their anygood or not, but have driven my dads cx.

The xm is certainly a proper citroen, but has unfortunately inherited the stigma of big bad citroen, some of which may be true??? still would like one, one day though. Xantia's, hmm, not many on here like em, & i tend to go with what the guy's who have mechanical knowledge say about them.

I agree with your comments about them & they are dirt cheap for what you get, but is it easy to find a good un though?? My local garage did say that out of all the citroens they have worked on, the xantia is the lemon in the range with an array of problems, but thats just one opinion of course.

I personally quite like the look of them, but probably wont bother myself, unless someone on here sorts one out 100% & decided to pass it on....

Anyway, enough of my whittling on.....

Post up some pics of your collection.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:53 pm

I'm a self confessed Citroen addict that doesn't know when to call it a day
and just run the ONE car!!

I've run most of them from the 70's era apart from the expensive stuff like
Sm's and D's and have retained a load in various states of disarray along
the way - hence the barns!! It's been out of enthusiasm for them I've
learnt to spanner through the foibles/quirks and hassles they manage
to throw my way, and by default now I cover my bases by running several
(very expensively I'll admit) at any one given moment in time. I'm totally
alcohol intolerant and don't smoke so Citroens are my addiction!!

I still REALLY love owning the GS/GSA, Cx which I caught the Citroen bug
with in my early driving days, so I understand the resistance Bx'ers feel
to Xantiae as I felt the same when the Bx phased in and replaced
the GSA and the Xm for the Cx. I never forgave the Xm for actually
replacing the Cx for a good few years too!!

They're all highly individual cars and each DOES have a character that is
head and shoulders over/above other alternatives and I find my allegiance
flips from one particular model to another although the Cx will ALWAYS be
the top boy:

In shame, I'll admit I haven't got a good picture of my late Bx 16v as
it's been stored in a barn with a load of other cars and space is so tight
you can't actually stand back enough to see much or take pics!!

One comment I'd make about the Xantias mechanicals, is they're a near
identical arrangement to the Bx, so I'm not sure what Xantia specific
criticisms could be made in this area. Sure, front strut top design is very
poor on the Xantia with little rust protection allowing the bent bonnet
syndrome - probably the worst single aspect of Xantia ownership and
a heater matrix is a full dash out job without any shortcuts or dodges!

The BIG plus point is the decent rust protection which allows the Xantia to
easily endure the coming months of darkness and duff weather conditions
with a package that is still very Citroen in it's easy cross country gait while
the Bx etc is safe under cover hiding until the weather improves once
more!!

All the best,
Andrew

Post by **docchevron** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:17 am

stuart_hedges wrote: I was expecting it to laugh in my face when I put a valver in, but it actually gives an acceptable price. Hm. What about running costs? Will a valver be a lot more expensive to maintain than a standard BX, fuel consumption aside? Air is tempting...

Fuel is not too bad. If you're careful high thirties are in reach.
I got 42MPG a few times out of mine, but it makes such a nice noise "on tick" it doesn't get driven carefully too often.

As for general servicing, no it's no more expensive than any other petrol powered car.
At base, it's just a BX witha go very fast engine, and Jezzie's is a lovely example, leather, air, shiny. Had I not just bought another one, and I had somewhere away from cow's to keep it, that car would be in the fleet by now.