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Sept 11, 2005 14:57:32 GMT
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OK guys, any of you have any experience of these Gallic delights? Quality motorway mile-muncher OR a credit-card-destroying disaster waiting to happen? We've been thinking about getting a slightly larger family chugga for a while now, (provoked by the slightly larger family)... also I think it HAS to be a diesel this time around - cheaper to run plus in the event of a full-on fuel crisis you can run 'em on vegetable oil / cherryade / sweat collected off the fat lass who works in the chippy etc. These Xantia's seem to fit the bill perfectly - compared with the equivalent turbo-diesel Mongdeo or Vectrar they're an absolute steal... I'm looking at the very last-of-the-line ones (1999/2000) with moderate mileages - good move or foolish mistake?? thanks! Nick
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Last Edit: Sept 11, 2005 14:58:27 GMT by arthurbrown
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Sept 11, 2005 15:27:20 GMT
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Right. You can stop this nonsense right now!!! My Experience of these things is that it was unreliable and the driving position was terrible! I don't fancy my chances in a crash neither.....thats why they're so cheap. If you have to, I'd look at a similarly aged Mazda 626, toyota Avensis or Honda Accord. bbbbbrrrr...I feel all dirty now.
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Sept 11, 2005 15:27:37 GMT
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Peugeot 405!!
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Sept 11, 2005 15:47:24 GMT
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weve had one for 9 years non turbo bought with 70k now done 120k
only things wrong in that time susp pipe along rear of engine (£11 quid off shitroen)
and the remote plipper died (100 quid)
apart from that service and diesel job done
cos of the suspension they tow well too
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
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Sept 11, 2005 15:52:02 GMT
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The first almost reliable modern Citroen!
100,000 mini cab owners can't be wrong, go diesel, go diesel!!
Dull car though! Did they ever sell any of the 3 litre V6 ones? They maust have been quick!
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This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
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Sept 11, 2005 16:23:59 GMT
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Decent enough car. Actually cheap to maintain if you do the work yourself. Spheres are around 20 quid a pop and take a couple of minutes to change. Not a fan of the handling of them myself though and personally would go for a 405 or 406 or even a mondeo.
One thing though the HDI engined ones cant run veggie oil neither can most electronically injected diesels. Ordinary 1.9 turbo D`s can though
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Sept 11, 2005 17:57:12 GMT
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If you can find one, go for a RWD Volvo diesel, a 240 for maximum retroness although you'll have more luck finding a 940. Practical, reliable, and in the event of a fuel crisis those things will run thousands of miles on p*ss! ;D ;D ;D
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Sept 11, 2005 18:25:19 GMT
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Interesting split of opinion.
Datsuncherry: The 626 / Avensis / Accord options sound tempting. But they appear to be MEGA rare in diesel chugga forms. So rare I could only find one suitable example: An Accord. And that was fooked.
Skodanorman: 405's are about as ancient as they get. They came out before you were born, mi laddo!! I'd have difficulty convincing SWMBO that it was a sensible purchase.
Rev 9: My missus? In a Volvo? You must be joking mate! She has major issues with space awareness at parking speeds. She could potentially demolish the house with one of those!!
So I've plopped a reasonable bid on a 406. OK, so not a hatchback, but all the other boxes are ticked. Let's see what happens, eh....
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Sept 11, 2005 18:28:33 GMT
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;D ;D Ah well, I tried. It's been a while since done any Volvo indoctrination, I couldn't help it! ;D ;D ;D
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Sept 11, 2005 19:24:34 GMT
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405 is more retro than 406...but 406 is just as good...hope it isn't the 90bhp diesel!!
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Sept 11, 2005 19:45:18 GMT
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My mate has just purchased a mitsubishi carisma.... to say he's only 20ish it's a bit of an old git mobile BUT it's a diseasel, it's top of the line with leather trim, crooze control, cd changer etc, it's pretty pokey and it's not too offensive looking. however the best bit is it's 18 months old and it set him back all of £5k..... so by my reckoning you could pick up a 2000 for about 47p.
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Never trust a man Who names himself Trevor. Or one day you might find He's not a real drug dealer.
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Sept 11, 2005 20:55:13 GMT
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Hmmm, if it were me, I'd steer clear of a Xantia. I have no reason to say this other than I just don't like them. How about a VW Passat? OK they go for a bit more than your average Frenchie but they're built to last and go on forever
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Sept 11, 2005 22:45:40 GMT
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I almost like this one...a bit Max Power maybe, but shaving and lowering is a step in the right direction.
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GrumpyOldMan
Part of things
Addicted to unreliable cars ?!
Posts: 182
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Sept 11, 2005 22:51:20 GMT
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Judging from my experience with petrol Xantias, they are very reliable if properly maintained and as long as you regularly inspect a couple of known weak points (eg. front top mounts) you won't get any unpleasant surprises.
People think they're complicated cars, but If you do a bit of homework (manuals, forums etc.) DIY maintenance is very easy, and most parts can be bought cheaply.
I would certainly buy one ! But then again I drive a BX, so I am a bit biased :-D
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Sept 11, 2005 23:52:46 GMT
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Nick, the thing you have to remember about the Volvo is that if the missus does prang it, it'll come out a darn site better than the other car
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Sept 12, 2005 8:24:19 GMT
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I think his worry is that the 'other car' will be the house and that the Volvo will still come off better :/
Passat? Grey-on-steels like a certain one on the R-R stand at RCS?
*n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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Sept 12, 2005 11:49:48 GMT
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Generally, French cars because of thier high depreciation make great second-hand buys - Citroens especially it seems.
Personally though I would prefer a 405/406 over a Xantia, simply because they look more handsome. I've driven a mate's late model 405 D turbo and it drives really nice with crisp nicely weighted steering, I was also impressed with the general quality feel of the car - certainly better than the smaller models.
Biggest bargain french motor must be the Xsara VTS - these are cheap cheap - but are (I believe) based on the highly regarded Pug 306 GTi6 which command more ££s
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Sept 12, 2005 18:37:38 GMT
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my twopeneth worth , i had a p plate xantia td for about a year and i loved it to bits bought for 365 quid it did me for a good year travelling the length and breadth of the land and was super comfy and 55 to the gallonish . then the sus pump started to curse word up and that was v scary. how about no p.a.s no servo brakes and slammed sus all of a sudden with no warning.eeeek!!. in its defence the missus was using it for a collections job so it was stopping and starting about 20 times an hour for 5 hours at a time. hard work on all componants. the bloke i sold it to used it narmally and it was fine after that. so to sum up, what the f**k was i talking about?
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"quote hairnet"
I'm not paying nine pound for a pi$$!
[/quote]
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Sept 12, 2005 19:00:29 GMT
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Hmm. The evidence against seems to be stacking up. The Xantia I had my eye on has gone anyhow now. All the rest I've seen have been dogs. Comes down to these two now: mega-cheap 406 Xsara diesel. The fella wants £1400, which at first seems cheap, but is actually £200 over book for something that isn't mint...... Anyone want to buy an Astra?
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Last Edit: Sept 12, 2005 19:07:33 GMT by arthurbrown
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Sept 12, 2005 19:24:26 GMT
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I have an inherent distrust of French cars... they just look like they're gonna go wrong...
I'd seriously consider a Passat - you might have to get one a couple of years older for the same money but they're rock solid and are nice to drive. I must have driven about a hundred of them in my time as a driver for the car auctions. The dealers love 'em too. I found the Xantia driving position to be 'orrible. But then I'm a lanky git! ;D
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Last Edit: Sept 12, 2005 19:24:56 GMT by BenzBoy
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