I would no longer like to sell my Xantia to purchase a Maestro van

[vulgalour]

All the info: http://autoshite.com/topic/16607-le-bus-oignon-xantia-of-many-autoshiters-0205/

 

 

I have a Citroen Xantia Estate diesel with a Bosch pump.  It is very good, and I find it quite agreeable, however...

 

Panhard65 has an Austin Maestro van which is probably not as good, but better suited to my current requirements and which I would probably like more.  http://autoshite.com/topic/16902-maestro-van-still-for-sale-now-without-signage-%C2%A3350-drive-away/

 

However, all my disposable funds are tied up with the costs of moving house which is happening very soon and I can only free up extra capitol by selling the Xantia which is quite possibly the best car I've ever owned.

 

Good stuff:

Air conditioning - fully operational, very good

Electric windows all round, all working

Excellent suspension, I believe ruffgeezer replaced all the spheres

Xsara alloys that look like mini-torque thrusts

Locking wheel nuts, with key and wheel brace

Shiny paint!

Immobiliser and alarm, working properly

6 months tax from 1st June

MoT until November 2014

 

Not so good stuff:

Clutch is a bit heavy - nowhere near as bad as stripey BX, I don't really have an issue with it

Noisy front corner - probably balljoint, it's about £30 for balljoint, wheel bearing and drop link, I will repair this if I keep it.

Clock doesn't work

Steering wheel controls don't work

Bit of rust on arch-sill seam - doused in Kurust, hasn't got worse

Central locking can be a bit recalcitrant on passenger door, just lock/unlock on passenger door rather than drivers to get around this

Remote fob plipper can be a bit recalcitrant, but is normally fine.  I don't use it anyway, not used to remote stuff.

 

So that's where I am.  If someone is interesting in the veg friendly onion bus for the price (£350) of Panhard's Maestro I would appreciate you getting in touch.  The Maestro saves me hiring a van, allows me to tow the trailer we have, cuts my insurance in half and generally makes my life a hell of a lot easier.

 

 

 

 

**disclaimer:  If Corsaviour beats me to it, so be it.  Living with the Xantia will be no hardship to endure!  (just saw his post on another thread: http://autoshite.com/topic/17039-vehicle-hell/?p=577713 )

[ruffgeezer]

I can confirm that I replaced all 4 road spheres and I think the Acc sphere as they were utterly bolloxed when I got the car.

[vulgalour]

Over this past week this car has proven itself far too useful as an everything-vehicle and I am therefore withdrawing it from sale.  It's just too good at everything and manages to be a van, estate car, regular car and comfortable cheap transport far too competently for me to realistically want to part ways with it.

 

The pros of the Maestro van I was interested in are no longer enough to encourage me to purchase it, large and many though its charms are.  This decision has actually surprised me most of all and I shall endeavour to make this the finest (or at least cleanest) example of its type out there.

[Bren]

Over this past week this car has proven itself far too useful as an everything-vehicle and I am therefore withdrawing it from sale.  It's just too good at everything and manages to be a van, estate car, regular car and comfortable cheap transport far too competently for me to realistically want to part ways with it.

 

The pros of the Maestro van I was interested in are no longer enough to encourage me to purchase it, large and many though its charms are.  This decision has actually surprised me most of all and I shall endeavour to make this the finest (or at least cleanest) example of its type out there.

You have discovered what many of us already know - the xantia really is a superb car.

[155V6]

Really liking the Xsara wheels,are they 15 inch?

[vulgalour]

I think I was focusing too hard on its lack of Citroen-ness when I should have been focusing on its excellent abilities.

 

Yes, the Xsara alloys are 15".

[155V6]

 

 

Yes, the Xsara alloys are 15".

Thanks,might have to find a set for my Xantia then 

[barefoot]

Well done, Sir.

 

Maestro vans were fucking wank back in their day

and time hasn't had anything like long enough to gloss over their failings yet.

 

The swappage you proposed would have haunted you the rest of your days.

[Rusty_Rocket]

I wouldn't say they were that bad, even though I dislike the Maestro in general.

We still have a Perkins-equipped example at work that does 15k a year without too much complaint.  It's noisy sure, but has plenty of go and sips diesel (chip fat, naturally).

Mind you, the o/s back wheel fell off last year, rather the hub failed with no warning whatsoever and catapulted the whole assembly across the A20 

[MrDuke]

You have discovered what many of us already know - the xantia really is a superb car.

 

 

Word. I never imagined I'd be a sad fanboi for any particular marque or model (in fact I only bought mine as 2nd choice because I couldn't find a 405) but if I ever had to buy another 'modern' it would have to be a Xantia. The combination of reliability, practicality, economy, and general driving pleasure just cannot be matched by its contemporaries, or by the majority of other estates in its price range. I honestly believe that Citroen hit their peak with the Xantia & XM, and the fact that they've attracted such a cult following while still relatively young attests to their excellence.