Faults:
Offside indicator stayed lit all the time, so disabling the alarm turned this off.
Rear offside bearing very noisy, so had to be replaced. Being a car in today's world, this means an entire new hub at £90 before fitting, but the garage I bought from agreed to do this as part of the sale.
Stop warning light flickered on and off when test driving; simply LHM low. The garage had serviced and flushed the system, but not had topped up with the suspension in high mode, just in normal. Has not gone down since.
Front brake pads, but hey that's just normal, as was the hub etc.
Windscreen washer jets corroded over. Replaced for £2 from an online auction from someone breaking one. This is where to go for parts cheap; all the wee bits Citroen charge you the earth for.
Front brake hoses for MOT.
Link arm for MOT.
Failed MOT on rear suspension being too stiff. Required new spheres at the rear; £39 for brand new genuine Citroen parts from a Citroen dealer selling them off on a well known online auction group. My dealer told me £85 each inc VAT. I got 2 sealed new for my car for £39!!! Bargain; made it worthwhile replacing all DIY stuff.
General Comments:
I first got the car with the rear spheres done apparently, and I didn't realise it kept its height, but it just meant that it was stiff. This meant that you could compare the road handling to that of the Eurostar; it was like a sports car, had only 20% of its absorption in the rear shocks; so much fun, but the car felt on bumps like any old car. Didn't see the big deal with the shocks; have noticed they're a little better, but not like some make out, and that was it not working. New spheres on tomorrow; I can't wait.
The car has done what most UK people call high miles, but to that I'd say wake up; it's 1.9 and it's diesel, it can do 300 000 easy if you service it on time, and don't drive it like it's a sports car. Any car will last a long time if you know how to drive it!
To me, for this age, 1995, and the mileage, it had a decent service history. I'd say if you thinking about one to buy, you have to get one with a full history, nothing less, and in 1st class order. There are so many out there where I live, you can today get a 1996 1.9 TD with a full year's MoT etc like new 110% for £400, with around 85000 miles. That's so cheap, and you get the lot on a Xantia; all electrics, tinted windows, ABS, power steering, remote central locking, dead locks and 45-50 MPG.
This car to me has been a dream come true, but I am a mechanic and like working on cars. However I could see a non-mechanically minded person going insane with the little tiny problems, just rolling into Citroen every weekend, complaining about the bills.
A DIY mechanic, or a person who can open a bottle of Coke, can change the entire suspension spheres in an hour, with a max of £5 worth of tools. Why pay the french fat cats of Citroen for what us Brits can do in our spare time; they'll only waste the money on peace demos or new policies to hide behind.
To all those who complained about Xantia for things other than the clutch cable, which is a wee weak spot, why don't you go buy a pair of shoes; they might be more reliable than what is at end of day, a machine with thousands of moving parts. You have no idea how to use or look after another one. No one mentioned the fact it hasn't got an auto pilot to drive itself; shocking, what a bad car...
25th Jul 2007, 16:29
The problem with the Xantia is, people bad mouth them who no nothing about them.
You do get stupid silly little things that happen, but they are all fixable, with some thought and some DIY.
I've had 4 BXs, & now a Xant.
If you can find another make of car, with a ride that won't be beat bye a £50,000 car, move on to another make.
And most people don't know that top of the range, Audi, BMW, and Rolls Royce, use the same system.
But the plus point for the Xant diesel is 50mpg; beat that, for the size of the car.
Some words of advice. ie the clutch clip. There is no need to take the dash out, as the Haynes manual says. Do not go to rip off Citroen for parts; use GSF, who are UK wide.