Cheap Xantia

[noflame]

You are thinking of the SM- Beautiful car with Citroen DS running gear, and Maserati engine. Long low body, close to the ground and a glass panel over the front of the car.
Citroen bought into Maserati to get themselves some decent sporting engines, and a lot of Maseratis had Citroen braking systems, I believe.
Once you have got used to the brakes on a hydropneumatic Citroen, anything else is downright scarey to drive!!

 

[ninebob]

Just been checking out the "andyspares" forum link - some really useful info in there, thanks! It'll definitely be my first port of call if any other "issues" crop up.

I have been told about a small independent Citroen specialist a fair bit closer to me than westroen spheres. I'll give them a shout tomorrow and see if they can match the deal.

If not then it looks like I'm having a day out to Manchester! Put the kettle on, SS....

 

[noflame]

was this it?
http://www.citroen.mb.ca/citroenet/html/s/sm1.htm

 

[securespark]

Yeah, sorry to come in Kipling late on this one.

I would go with what some said about the spheres, they can get tired at 100K +.

westroen are good. Also, Paris Autos, another M/cr based citroen specialist.

Also, I know a really good one-man-band who does Citroen in S Manchester - he did a clutch for a third of the price of MD. But it's a long way if you're not local.

Yes, DON't take it to a MD. My Xantia was a 96P TD estate and had warranty, so needed MD service. Needless to say, every time it came back with a bill in excess of 200 sovs...

Also, there was a lot of warranty work, including lower suspension arms at the front, whose bushes wore at 36K, causing the car to drift to the right while driving in France.

The most ridiculous scenario was: I bought the car with 7K. At 12K the infamous "OHSH1TWHATDOIDONOW" Stop light came on.

Rang dealer. It's OK, I was told. Bring it in the morning.

Went down next morning (Total mileage in the meantime 18 miles) to be told the front pads had worn down and scored the discs. Needed new discs and pads they reckoned.

I argued with them that in that case, the warning system was effed, as it had completely failed to warn me before the damage was done, and I wanted them to replace all necessary components and I would pay for WAT.

They wouldn't have it, so I rang HO in Slough and they agreed to pay for the discs, while I paid for the pads.

That car was a bad example, my previous citroen, a BX 19RD hatch was sweet. Never went wrong apart from a hydraulic hose blowing off. 90K, then written off by a Mr R Sole pulling out without looking.

I miss that car, and if I'm ever rich, will buy another to relive some good times.

Julie said when we got the Skoda that she would never even sniff at another Xantia again.

So what's she drving now?

A 99T Xantia 1.8 LX bought 18m ago with 22K for 3000!!

Never say never, folks!!

Simon - I'll put the kettle on.........

 

[chambsesf]

Don't recall a Lancia with DS suspension, although I always liked (and would love to be able to get hold of one if I had the wherewithall) the Citroen SM, which was a long, low and wide 2-door coupe with a Maserati V6 engine and hydropneumatics (suspension, brakes, steering) courtesy of Citroen, together with the inner-headlamps that were linked to the steering and could 'see' around corners (like the later DS21's and 23's).

By the way, have you seen the TV ad for the new Citroen C4, which transforms into a big robot (like a transformer.....)??

 

[chambsesf]

Don't recall a Lancia with DS suspension, although I always liked (and would love to be able to get hold of one if I had the wherewithall) the Citroen SM, which was a long, low and wide 2-door coupe with a Maserati V6 engine and hydropneumatics (suspension, brakes, steering) courtesy of Citroen, together with the inner-headlamps that were linked to the steering and could 'see' around corners (like the later DS21's and 23's).

By the way, have you seen the TV ad for the new Citroen C4, which transforms into a big robot (like a transformer.....)??

Sorry - what I need to do is not reply to posts on page 1 without looking at page 2.....................

 

[AdamW]

Yes, you are all right, Maserati not Lancia Citroen SM. Looks a bit odd on that website, but I guarantee you that if you see a mint one, in the metal, you will instinctively reach for your chequebook pocket with one hand and clutch "yourself" with the other. Well, maybe that is taking it a bit far, but it is a seriously beautiful car.

According to noflame's link, 190bhp, 228kph (about 140mph), back in 1973. Not bad. Not supercar fast even then (1974 Lambo Countach did 194mph) but is still pretty impressive. I would have one, but the ones I can find on the internet are in the £10K-£12K bracket. Which for me would mean using it as a daily driver, which kinda defeats the object of a prized classic car! And I would be totally paranoid about a stone smashing that glass panel!

I've seen the new C4 advert, is very good, wonder if the creators of "Transformers" are getting intellectual property fees for it?

 

[Quick Fit]

Price is about right for a non hydractive non diesel- the diesels fetch more because they go on for ever with little maintenance.
FORUM_ID=3[/url]

Fuel and oil filter + the diesel oil needs to be changed more often than a
petrol engine, So unless you do loads of miles a week a diesel can work
out more than petrol.
Quick Fit

 

[dabaldie]

i have a C5 with the hydractive.
The ride is great and really usefull to be able to lower it to load heavy stuff... but....
it tends to dance around on the suspension for a few mins after parking, also if you put the ' go go gadget wheels' up to go over a speed bump, (or dead badger) the car is almost undriveable.. its like driving a jelly on wheels.

citroen recommend suspension service at 120,000 although my local dealer says only if it feels like it needs it. and at 117,000 its as good as new.

 

[ninebob]

also if you put the ' go go gadget wheels' up to go over a speed bump, (or dead badger) the car is almost undriveable.. its like driving a jelly on wheels.

Not sure about the new ones (C5 etc) but the manual on my Xantia clearly stated that the raised and lowered positions were not for use whilst the car was in motion...

 

[dabaldie]

the New C5's can be driven at up to 10mph on the low setting, 20mph on the medium high and 10mph on the super high. In fact the 'clever ' computer (another thing to go wrong) in the C5 automatically resets the height when you exceed these speeds.
also of note is the ride height drops about 40mm when doing over 55mph (for efficiency apparently)... its a clever idea... but as i said , some thing else to go wrong.
if you look at a C5 being driven normally they actually look quite high, but if one overtakes you on the dual carriageway (dont have motorways here in cornwall) they look quite low.
neat.

and park one next to a local boy racer on the lowest setting.. they actually look jealous!

 

[AdamW]

also if you put the ' go go gadget wheels' up to go over a speed bump, (or dead badger) the car is almost undriveable.. its like driving a jelly on wheels.

Not sure about the new ones (C5 etc) but the manual on my Xantia clearly stated that the raised and lowered positions were not for use whilst the car was in motion...

I love that, go-go-gadget wheels!

Adjustable ride-height only when stationary would be a bit of a waste of the technology surely? Good to see that the C5 (in addition to being an electric tricycle) can adjust "on the move".

There are cars that have hydraulic suspension that is adjustable on the move, just look at the videos on this website!