Citroen XM - was JohnK's steed

[320touring]

Based on the number of words penned in its honour on the blog- I think this may be inconveniencing his bank balance for a while to come:)

[nacho man]

Whats the release date for dollywobbler drives edition 16 'the xm' ?

[Lankytim]

Hey, DW. XMs have plug and play towbar wiring, there shouldnt be any scotchlocks.

[Richard]

Only if the person who fitted the towbar bought the cable to plug into it.

[dollywobbler]

Indeed. Clearly someone didn't. Wonder if I could still get a plug-and-play loom and whether that would actually work? Quite miffed though as I even went to the trouble of soldering my joints.

[forddeliveryboy]

If it's still exciting you a year on

 

Then something has gone wrong somewhere.

 

 

Isn't that the huge problem with modern cars, loserone? They hold your attention long enough for some easily-fed motoring journalist to write what the manufacturer wants to hear and for the test drive round the block. Which is why there's such passion for more interesting stuff as we read on this forum.

 

Something like an XM has the ability to hold an owner's affection for slightly longer than the norm, either enjoying a semi-active suspension which alters its springing and damping (how many others can you think of which do this?) or sorting out neglect and making it work properly again.

 

Any other machine with a suspension capable of this is either a Formula 1 car or something pretty exotic. Hydractive isn't perfect but for £375 it's beyond a bargain.

 

[dollywobbler]

I'm still loving it, that's for sure. Over 240 miles covered on this little trip and stupid handbrake aside (it is also too weak for the Peak District) I just adore the way it eat miles. Wafty yet taught. Back home tomorrow, possibly via a specialist visit.

[stuboy]

never driven an xm... but a diseasel xantia

[dugong]

I have driven this car at 20 mph while wearing a hat. It was great.

[dollywobbler]

With a hairy man in the boot. Don't forget that bit.

 

I R HOME

 

Getting on for 600 miles covered in this car since Wednesday - must be a bit of a shock for it after a few months of slumber! It's absolutely astonishing. Comfortable, quiet, decent stereo, economical and dirt cheap. Chaseracer - I need some payment details for the strut top I collected. Need to get it fitted now.

 

During the trip, the remote central locking has fixed itself and today, the ABS has been behaving too. The only issue has been a slightly loose wiper arm (because I failed to tighten the nut sufficiently after adjusting it). Oh, and the speedometer briefly jammed on 55mph on the A14, but only briefly.

[320touring]

hurrah!

 

sounds like a trip with just the right amount of adventure:)

[STUNO]

That little trip seems to prove that being used is the best fixer for a car.

[Lankytim]

I find mine randomly breaks and fixes itself all the time. Must be a feature of the XM.

[loserone]

Isn't that the huge problem with modern cars, loserone? They hold your attention long enough for some easily-fed motoring journalist to write what the manufacturer wants to hear and for the test drive round the block. Which is why there's such passion for more interesting stuff as we read on this forum.

 

Yes! I agree and I think it's pretty shameful that my household has only two cars which are both 12 year old washing machines.  I've been yearning for something - anything - more interesting since KevFromWales left bits of Eunos Roadster in my garden (anyone want some daisies?).  Striking a balance between something which can hold an attention span and can also meet our other requirements (e.g. 20k a year with minimal back-street servicing) naturally means that often the most interesting cars and projects must be considered out of our reach - and being reasonably conservative ('c') I'm yet to experience the delight of citrobatics and any number of other things I've read about on here.  That's not to say I don't want to, though.

 

 

I'm still loving it, that's for sure. 

It shows, and your shared experience pleases me and I'm sure many others who read about it here, on ClassicHub, Twitter, FB and elsewhere.  But give it time (and money) and the opportunity to try another car you've wanted for a long time and write about it, and I'm sure you'll swap it for something else, and we'll all enjoy reading about that, too.  You've got the bug, and that's a good thing!

 

More pictures of XM being practical please; filled with logs going up hills in the snow, that sort of thing.  Top shiting!

[DSdriver]

That little trip seems to prove that being used is the best fixer for a car.

How true, Citroens hate being ignored and tend to have a hissyfit if left for a while. I went outside today and checked the tyre pressures on the XM (which I still haven't driven since it came back from Paul Clifford garage) and found that the remote unlocking button on the key fob wasn't working. Of course my multimeter is on the boat so I couldn't test the batteries which I thought I had replaced recently, nor could I find the spare batteries I am sure I have somewhere. Ho hum, god help me when I really get old.

[dollywobbler]

Sadly, I failed to get photos of the XM yesterday transporting five people, lots of cameras and all of my bedding. I think photos do exist of me sitting in the boot using it as a tracking car though. Practical motor that's for sure.

[dollywobbler]

Here's a photo from the roadtrip. I have updated my Blog with further details. What a machine.

[twosmoke300]

Shouldnt that blanket be in a Honda ?

[dollywobbler]

It amused me to have it in the XM. Especially when cruising through Newtown. Listening to Deftones.

[dugong]

Sadly, I failed to get photos of the XM yesterday transporting five people, lots of cameras and all of my bedding. I think photos do exist of me sitting in the boot using it as a tracking car though. Practical motor that's for sure.

[Partridge]

One for the calender?

[Noel Tidybeard]

when my father had his bx 1.4 flight he used to send us out on "errands" with his car- it was jolly good fun doing citrobatics whilst waiting for traffic lights especially watch the faces of the car behind

used to like the way if you put lever in low and stand on brake pedal it dumps the fluid to bring car down from high v quickly

[chaseracer]

used to like the way if you put lever in low and stand on brake pedal it dumps the fluid to bring car down from high v quickly

 

STANCE YO.

[dollywobbler]

Now available as a crappy video.

[dugong]

Y U RETAIN JUMP CUTS?

Still a boss video, mind.

[dollywobbler]

BECAUSE I R AMATUR. Also, mainly can't be arsed. Editing video tends to push my poor laptop to its limits.

[Junkman]

Now available as a crappy video.

 

I expected a B&W silent movie.

 

I IZ DISAPPOINT!

[hairnet]

happy haircut

 

can they be chipped like vag?

[dollywobbler]

No. There's nowt to chip. They will run on chip fat though.

[Skizzer]

BECAUSE I R AMATUR. Also, mainly can't be arsed. Editing video tends to push my poor laptop to its limits.

 

  Go on, admit it - you didn't do any other camera angles to intercut because nothing can persuade you out of the driving seat.  It's a joy to see a chap so in love with his car