Xantia v Pug 405........

[Rocket88]

After due consideration, have decided a disaeasel version of one of these is the compromise between comfort  / reliability / economy..............., now on the hunt for the best one I can find.............

[dugong]

TOO MUCH CORRUPTING RUBBER IN THE SUSPENSION PEUGEOTS ARE CHEAP IT RUINED CITROEN NOT A PROPER CITROEN SOMETHING ABOUT 2CV CHASSIS MIGHT PASS MOT BBL BBL BBL

[dollywobbler]

I think you're probably right. Seek out an NA dizzler auto for maximum waft. And slowness. 

[Lacquer Peel]

The 405 has a better ride/handling balance, is a lot lighter, simpler and drives like a LWB 205.

 

I like Xantias but I don't think I could deal with replacing the hydraulic pipes on one again.

[DVee8]

I put this in the ebay thread

 

It looks a nice one.I know it's not a xantia but.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-BX-1-9-TXD-Manual-Reliable-Modern-Classic-/221627571400?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item339a085cc8

 

[Cavcraft]

{COUGH}

[sierraman]

405 less to go wrong. Then again its French so...

[320touring]

Live a little, let some green into your life..

[dugong]

Bit of a liability, BXs [runs].

[Cavcraft]

[Vince70]

I've had both over the years and both the Xantia and 405 are well screwed together it's really just down to if you prefer spheres or a conventional suspension set up..

 

The brakes on a Xantia though do feel a bit more grabby if that makes sense...

 

But on the plus side the Xantia has a bar going above and across the passenger side of the dash for the front seat occupants to hang onto while feeling seasick due to knackered spheres.

[hairnet]

the nicest one you find of either

 

how about now?

[Junkman]

Can't comment on the Xantia, but for a brief period, I had a 405 and a BX simultaneously. Although the BX is obviously the quirkier and more interesting car,

the 405 is simply better and easier to live with.

The 405 might be a tad dull, but it's on balance one of the best cars I ever owned. It just doesn't have any real weaknesses.

It's also bigger than it appears to be. It's quite a barge, actually.

We had four 405s so far, and each of them provided faithful service. Periodically, we replaced them with more eccentric stuff, which in the end never really

worked for us. The current 405 is here to stay. You'd be hard pressed to find a car that is matter of factly superior for the money.

[The Moog]

I sold my xantia to be replaced by same engined 405 -19td

 

Xantia is a tool, it does a job and well. Its decently equipped and rides nicely. But it doesn't steal your heart.

 

The 405 does, to the point where I have been having filthy thoughts about doing a full restoration on it.

 

You can chuck it about, it handles much better than the xantia. I look forward to driving it. Done 13k in my 405 since march loved every bit of it.

 

Head - xantia

Heart - 405

Wallet - xud

[carlo]

Can't comment on the Xantia, but for a brief period, I had a 405 and a BX simultaneously. Although the BX is obviously the quirkier and more interesting car,

the 405 is simply better and easier to live with.

The 405 might be a tad dull, but it's on balance one of the best cars I ever owned. It just doesn't have any real weaknesses.

It's also bigger than it appears to be. It's quite a barge, actually.

We had four 405s so far, and each of them provided faithful service. Periodically, we replaced them with more eccentric stuff, which in the end never really

worked for us. The current 405 is here to stay. You'd be hard pressed to find a car that is matter of factly superior for the money.

 

Hear hear

[dollywobbler]

Really, the Xantia sits alongside the 406 rather than the 405, so I wouldn't rule one of those out. Unless it's green...

 

I imagine an early HDi 406 is a jolly nice tool. They were a much better looking car pre-facelift, so perhaps a 2.1 turbo diesel would tick the boxes. It really is a FAR nicer engine than the earlier 1.7/1.9 turbo diesel. 

[Cavcraft]

I bet the HDi is ace but a veg friendly pump is always a better option IMHO. I do like the 405s but the Xantia is a much nicer ride.

 

Not that I'm biased or have ulterior motives.

[Junkman]

If the Xantia is a nicer ride, that it must be a lot better than the BX, since the BX's ride is worse than the Peugeot's.

[dugong]

HELLO I WISH TO RUN A CHIP SHOP

[Cavcraft]

The obvious answer there is that you haven't driven a decent BX. I have quite a few of both, more Citroens though, and there is no way the 405 is a nicer ride. A decently sphered BX is about the most comfortable relaxing drive you'll ever find.

[Junkman]

So is the 405, with the added bonus that there is one liquid less to worry about.

My BX was completely re-sphered and re-bushed when I got it.

Like with all liquid suspended Citroens I've ever been in, the ride was disappointing in so far, that it was not superior to a conventionally sprung car,

which manifests the pointlessness of the concept.

[Junkman]

HELLO I WISH TO RUN A CHIP SHOP

 

Citroen H, or Peugeot J?

[dugong]

Whatever will go over the scales, please. I'm fed up.

[Junkman]

With what? Shite, or life?

[dollywobbler]

So is the 405, with the added bonus that there is one liquid less to worry about.

My BX was completely re-sphered and re-bushed when I got it.

Like with all liquid suspended Citroens I've ever been in, the ride was disappointing in so far, that it was not superior to a conventionally sprung car,

which manifests the pointlessness of the concept.

 

It isn't a system without faults, that's for sure. My XM is pretty good (I think the spheres are a bit tired) but it still thumps over potholes. It must be a Citroen thing as 2CVs don't have liquid suspension, yet still thump over potholes. The rest of the time though, I find hydro utterly superb in the way it makes roads uncannily smooth. In just the way a Daihatsu Sirion doesn't. Like a Mini, that revealed to be bumps in the road that I didn't realise were there.

 

It has to be said though, the current C5 on coils is one of the most comfortable cars I've ever driven, run pretty close by a Jaguar X300. 

[Andrew353w]

The Xantia's a WINNA if it's set up properly. Get the spheres & LHM fluid checked & changed if needed (much cheaper & easier to do than shocks & springs) and you'll have the best ride on tarmac! Mine gets thrown into bends that lesser cars would slide out of, but the Xantia stays glued to the road like a limpet on acid! Michelins on each corner help, too!

 

There are places in the UK I can recommend to carry out repairs at reasonable costs (but I don't know any garages on Jersey!)

[dugong]

With what? Shite, or life?

Either is good.

[forddeliveryboy]

I'd have a 405 over a Xantia, anyday, if there was no caravan or big boat towing, no regular taxi work or no heavy carbooting every weekend.

 

It's elegant, the real thing (unlike a Citroen with 99% Peugeot bits), feels well put-together and is just one of those cars which works satisfyingly well - it's totally right in almost every way. A Xantia is a 406 with spheres and trailing arms grafted on. I'd choose a 405 over a 406 anyday, too - it's lighter and less oppressif
 

There's something slightly Soviet about Citroens made by Peugeot - difficult to put a finger on it, but one feels an all-embracing, mean, bean-counting totalitarian arm embracing you. Which isn't to say BX or Xantias or C5s aren't great cars - they are, but I would buy one only if it was inexpensive. Whereas a Traction, DS or CX could do serious damage to my bank account, if it had any money in it and if I weren't able to rebuild one myself.

 

 

PS Dugong - you're so right about all that wubber!

[barrett]

If the Xantia is a nicer ride, that it must be a lot better than the BX, since the BX's ride is worse than the Peugeot's.

YOU ARE INCORRECT, SIR!

[Andrew353w]

I'd have a 405 over a Xantia, anyday. A Traction, DS or CX could do serious damage to my bank account, if it had any money in it and if I weren't able to rebuild one myself.

 

I'd commit a serious crime to drive this, and I challenge anyone who says they wouldn't to be a liar!