Faults:

Electrics crashed in first two months.

Excessive brake disk wear fist three years (since fixed).

Head gasket needed replacement after 70,000k.

General Comments:

This car is the best to drive I have experienced. Don't look to it for sporty handling and, with the standard 2 litre engine, performance is sluggish, but the handling is totally dependable and the ride on Citroen's oleo-pneumatic suspension is out of this world. Because of age I have now traded the car in and have not found anything on the market today of a similar size with a better ride.

Xantias have a bad reputation for reliability and I believe it is essential to have it serviced by a specialist in Citroens because of the touchy proprietary technology. I can only say that, while the assembly quality wasn't high by Japanese standards, I have had nine years of mostly trouble free, and very enjoyable motoring from it.

Subjective, I know, but I also think it is still one of the most attractive body shapes on the road.

If you can find a good one and have access to an experienced Citroen service agent I would have no hesitation in recommending.

Faults:

Wiper motor ball joint -220000 miles

Alternator bearing rumble- 225000 miles.

General Comments:

A very good car to have, not to be bought if you go to a main dealer because even they do not know what they are doing half the time and you end up paying through the nose.

Not to be bought if you do not comprehend how the car functions, there is nothing worse than listening to someone whine on how the car leaks, its heavy on front tyres or the suspension is hard.

It's a very easy car to work on and so simple to fix and a car that will last for ages providing you service it properly and know what you are doing.

It it very comfortable, best car is a turbo diesel estate vsx with leather interior.

The ride is very comfortable and the engines long lasting, I would recommend the xantia to anyone that has more than 2 brain cells to rub together.

Faults:

Clutch ceased shortly after purchase.

Had 4 or 5 new clips and a new cable put on as a result.

Niggling Electrical Faults, like Bitron Sensor telling the car it's overheating when it isn't, and the Air Bag light flashing sporadically. Also, the cabin blowers (heaters) have died.

General Comments:

Despite the faults (which could be expected on an old car) have only praise for this thing, much better than the Fiesta for all, but running costs.

Handling seems decent, and for a 1.8 it goes quite well.

Inside, its comfortable for 4 adults, and bearable with 5.

Clutch cables are notorious on these, as Citroen put a plastic clip on the linkage. There is a company that do metal clips so if yours keeps breaking, this is a good option.

Boot space is immense (i have the estate), and the rear seat fold flat for about 1600 litres of space (practically a van).

Suspension gives one of the best rides I've even seen in terms of comfort, although mine creaks oddly when it levels itself.

Here in the UK it costs about £50 - £55 to fill up (65 litre tank) and I can get 300 - 350 miles out of it with 95RON.