Citroen XM - was JohnK's steed

[Lukas]

Good to hear the XM is doing well!

 

And I am somewhat proud of you because you have kept it so long until now. Respect! 

 

One of the main german car bloggers (www.sandmanns-welt.de) has recently bought an old XM 2.5 TD with more than 300.000km on the clock and is very happy with it too.

Seem they are really great cars if you are brave enough and get one. 

 

I should think about it. 

[Lacquer Peel]

I don't think you'd have got on so well with a Rover 600, they have about 6mm of suspension travel at the front.

 

Would love an XM (2.5 TD estate please), and yours shows that they are reliable cars.

[DSdriver]

Yep, they are quite reliable for a modern car: once I'd sorted out the initial problems with mine it has* been quite trustworthy, the only replacement parts in the last twelve months being a battery and a screenwasher pump. In fact he old battery is still holding its charge sitting on the workshop floor but didn't seem to have enough oomph to start the car.

[dollywobbler]

Oh, forgot one disaster.* The bulb that illuminates the clock and (non-working) outdoor temp has blown. OMG!

[chaseracer]

^ SCRAP IT!!!!!!

[dollywobbler]

As today marks the anniversary of the collection capers, I did a bloggage to identify just why it is that I like this car so much. I'm not sure I found the answer...

 

http://wp.me/p1jtbd-Du

 

[chaseracer]

They ARE very likeable motors.

[dollywobbler]

Yup. I know it won't actually last forever, but I'm still enjoying it for now. Eventually, they'll go the same way as BXs - just no longer suitable for daily use due to corrosion in really nasty, hard-to-repair areas (like rear subframe mounts) and parts supply will be an issue. I do wonder what the future will be for me and shite. There's not much about younger than my XM that catches my eye. Not with combustion engines anyway...

[dugong]

You need something fit for a concert pianist, like a Peugeot 306 or something.

[dollywobbler]

You need something fit for a concert pianist, like a Peugeot 306 or something.

 

Been there, done that. That's the next challenge from the XM. After 40,000 miles, I was horrifically bored with the 306.

[dugong]

Been there, done that. That's the next challenge from the XM. After 40,000 miles, I was horrifically bored with the 306.

Yeah, Citroens of that era are massively* different, it's not as if they share major components or anything. VIEWS MAY VARY.

[Junkman]

After 4 miles, I was horrifically bored with the 306.

 

EFA.

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, Citroens of that era are massively* different, it's not as if they share major components or anything. VIEWS MAY VARY.

 

No hydro = dullness. Also, I'm a complete sap for looks. The XM is very box-ticky in this regard.

[dugong]

No hydro = dullness. Also, I'm a complete sap for looks. The XM is very box-ticky in this regard.

Hydropneumatic suspension isn't worth the misery and chin stroking pretension for me. The fact it's different doesn't make it better IMHO. Your XM is the most reliable example I'm aware of. It's also the least kit-laden; the two may be connected.

 

Speaking as someone whose immediate family members went through many, many HP Citroens (all of which failed to proceed spectacularly at some point, culminating in two XM V6s which were utter dogs) I want to get it, but can't. But don't let me stop you, I get less Autoshite by the day, if I ever was in the first place. Sorry.

 

EFA.

But ZXs (which you were seriously considering at one point) are the same f*cking car! I never understood how people could massively rate one PSA car from this era over another - a bit like those tedious souls in Audi A3s that sneer at Skoda Octavias. Er, if you say so. Crack on.

[dollywobbler]

Hydropneumatic suspension isn't worth the misery and chin stroking pretension for me. The fact it's different doesn't make it better IMHO. Your XM is the most reliable example I'm aware of. It's also the least kit-laden; the two may be connected.

 

 

You don't have a beard. You need one of those for maximum chin stroking potential. I know where you're coming from though. The Dyane is better over a lot of surfaces (albeit my XM still needs spheres sorting out). As for misery, just how much hydro misery have I had in my many years of hydro Cits? One massive failure on a 300,000 mile BX as I recall. 

 

I do reckon going povo spec was a wise move though. Heater controls that still use a cable rather than buttons and OMG FRENCH ELECTRIC motors. I've still got hydractive suspension though. 

[Junkman]

But ZXs (which you were seriously considering at one point) are the same f*cking car! I never understood how people could massively rate one PSA car from this era over another - a bit like those tedious souls in Audi A3s that sneer at Skoda Octavias. Er, if you say so. Crack on.

 

The ZX isn't 1% as awful to look at as the lethally goppingly styled 306. I could not sustain to regularly look at a 306 parked in my front garden, whereas with the exact same car in ZX flavour I wouldn't have that issue. I frankly don't give too big a shit about whether a car is good or not, or technically this or that. First and foremost, I must be able to look at it without my aesthetic enjoyment being disturbed.

[dollywobbler]

I must disagree. To me, the facelifted 306 (the first facelift, not the horribly blingy headlamp one) is one of the most attractive hatchbacks of all time. Can't compete with an original, chrome-wheeltrim Renault 5 I grant you.

 

The ZX has a nice arse, but the front end is an absolute yawnathon. Plus, it's dangerously short of wipers.

[beko1987]

 

The ZX has a nice arse, but the front end is an absolute yawnathon. Plus, it's dangerously short of wipers.

Mine's never seemed short of wipers, infact the single one seems to clear the screen better than my old XM, mainly because the xm's wipers were a bit slower and lethargic, whereas the single one has to move faster to wipe at a sensible pace, so flicks faster.

[dollywobbler]

It's the huge unswept area top right of the windscreen that always annoyed me.

[Junkman]

What's going on beyond the top right of my windscreen is none of my business anyway.

[dollywobbler]

You don't live in hilly, rural parts. That's why. 

[HMC]

Time flies! How does the length of this ownership stint compare to those of the bxs'?

[FakeConcern]

Wondering if I should admit to liking my C4 VTS more than my XM V6 in every respect except being able to pretend I’m an architect.

[mouseflakes]

First and foremost, I must be able to look at it without my aesthetic enjoyment being disturbed.

I put up with ten years of aesthetic discomfort with our old Saxo. Then I suddenly began to like it.

[stripped fred]

I enjoy updates like this. It's like an Autoshite 'our cars' feature and let's me sample cars I would like to own but don't without spending my own money. I like your enthusiasm for the XM dollywobbler. It is a striking car with interesting engineering solutions that stands out from the crowd. I hope it continues to give you reliable, enjoyable service.

[dollywobbler]

Time flies! How does the length of this ownership stint compare to those of the bxs'?

 

My first BX in 1999 lasted six months. My second in 2005 lasted eight weeks, but I somehow managed to do 4000 miles in it (a 16 valve too!). My third was the Green Tiger. I think I had it for 18 months, then sold it to a friend, then another six months, then Vulgalour. The BX Mk1 came next, and was with me for 14 months, though it took me three months to get it on the road. Then came the silver TXD that Barrett has now. I thought it was great - a proper forever car. I sold it after six months. Then there was the awful 300k-mile red TZD estate. Three months. Then I decided to go back to no-blow with the RD estate that FPB7 now has. That lasted a few months and then I decided I'd had enough of BXs. It took me quite a long time to decide they weren't for me.

[beko1987]

It's the huge unswept area top right of the windscreen that always annoyed me.

Bigger wiper blades is the answer! I use a vauxhall meriva blade (and one of those did a vauxhall and broke after a year and a half...)

 

But I do often yearn for another xm, 2.1td in manual flavour, leather or cloth, im not fussed. No air con though, thats just asking for trouble. One day...

[dugong]

Wondering if I should admit to liking my C4 VTS more than my XM V6 in every respect except being able to pretend I’m an architect.

I fancy trying a C4 VTS outside of GT5; I have chronically excellent liability insurance (not that that's important). If I bring my farty diesel C4, can I have a go of yours? Or do you want a go in an MGF or Isuzu Piazza?

[forddeliveryboy]

I've enjoyed reading the various posts on the XM, dw. Bit scary that I'm a year older in such a short time! Get those pipes greased up for winter and replace the spheres asap, even if just the most knackered set!

[dollywobbler]

I've changed the rear outers. The centre sphere is seized solid though. To get a better swing at it, I need to drop the exhaust and spare wheel carrier (which is seized in place). It's been filed under CBA for now. I do need to get underneath before winter though. I've spotted some surface rot in the boot floor...