Xantia Replacement - RESOLVED

[vulgalour]

I'm really annoyed about this and I'm considering selling/swapping it.  The last car that was brilliant but ruined my back was the Ledbury Maestro, but that could wreck my back more comprehensively in half the miles, the Xantia I can tolerate for a good bit longer.  There's a lot more Pros than Cons with this car.

 

Pros:

turbo diesel

estate car

tow bar

roof rack

excellent rust proofing

brilliant suspension

runs on veg

decent stereo

 

Cons:

hurts my back on journeys of 100 miles and up

 

The quandary is that I've put a good bit of effort and cash into the Xantia now and it *is* hands-down the best car I've owned so I need a replacement to be an equal to this.  That's a tall order, especially since we recently fitted a brand new clutch which makes driving it that much nicer.

 

For the short term I'm going to put up with it, I don't have any choice.  The Corsa is kinder on my back but it's bad on my knees in round town traffic, it's also not as practical so wouldn't be a sensible replacement at this moment in time.  Thing is, what to go for?  My back is always my problem with a car, I've got a fairly well curved spine and there's history of back problems so the seats have to be right for me and that can be very difficult.  Going older and softer on the seats has always been the solution to this and it's telling that the newer the cars I've driven the harder they've been on my back.

 

My short-list for Xantia replacement are:

Volvo 240 estate (did they do a decent towing diesel?)

Citroen BX estate

 

My requirements for a replacement:

> pre-1995

> diesel engine, or very good mpg petrol.  Torque more important than speed.  Veg power a bonus

> estate car

> tow bar already fitted

> no rot, surface rust okay

> not more than 150k on the clock

> Can be bought for what the Xantia would sell for.

> soft seats (preferred, 240 seats aren't exactly soft but they fit me)

> large steering wheel

> cloth or velour interior only

 

I'm thinking the Xantia is conservatively worth £600 given the work put into it and it's overall condition.

[Lacquer Peel]

Change the seats?

[vulgalour]

Is probably the sensible option.  I have an awkward relationship with the Xantia anyway.  It's a brilliant car, it really is, but it's never quite been what I want it to be.  Changing the seats isn't going to alter that, in fact it'll probably make me like it less for having mismatched front and rear seats.

[Pillock]

This.

 

What you're saying is the only thing wrong with the car is the drivers seat. What's the chances then of finding a car with a good seat, that also has a new clutch, no rust, looked after, big loadspace.....

 

Get a seat that suits you by sitting in loads of cars at a "proper" scrapyard - get a rubbish Xantia seat. Chop base off, fit to comfy seat, win. It's fully reversible if you keep the original seat.

 

Edit: aaah, you jumped in quick with more cons so not quite the perfect solution.

[Lacquer Peel]

As are 940 seats.

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/volvo/volvo-940-td-turbo-diesel-estate-6-cyl-2.4-d24tic/1093521113

 

LP DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE.

[vulgalour]

850s don't fit  Neither do 740s and I LOVE 740s!

 

Seating position is a problem in almost every car I've owned, the Princess and BX being the only ones that got it fully right for me.  I could go chopping and changing the seat base about but as mentioned above, not an ideal solution and may not work anyway.  I'd rather get a car that fits out-the-box if at all possible.  Obviously it's my fault for being a funny shape.

[vulgalour]

940s also don't fit.  I have tried them and been massively disappointed.

[vulgalour]

Got me thinking now about what does and doesn't fit.

 

Does fit:

Citroen C15

Citroen Saxo

Peugeot 106

VW Polo Mk2 (but only with the massive standard Wolfsburg steering wheel)

Ford Sierra Mk2

Ford Escort Mk2

Ford Fiesta mk3-5

Austin Princess

Austin Maestro (early models)

Austin Montego

Vauxhall Corsa B and C

Volvo 240

 

Doesn't fit:

Austin/Rover Metro/100

Austin/Rover Mini

Volvo 740, 760, 940, S70

Ford Mondeo (known up to and including mk4)

Ford Cortina Mk2-5 (not tried a mk1, moot point anyway)

Fiats.  All of them.  Sadface.

Alfa Romeo 156, 146, Spider (probably all the rest, in fact)

VW Polo 6N

VW Golf Mk1-4

Austin/Rover Maestro (late model seats = bad, early seats fine)

Vauxhall Omega

 

 

I have tried a lot of cars.

[skattrd]

Would Pug 405 seats fit in a Xantia? failing that get a 405, the seats are gr9.3

[derskine]

Volvo 240s and good fuel economy simply don't go.

Personally I would just change the seats, it'll work fine and should be easy enough.

[vulgalour]

I've never tried a 405.  You have reminded me that I'm good with 305 seats, had forgotten all about those.

 

Sadly yes, my old 240 saloon was lucky if it got 28mpg on a run.  It was such a nice car in every other regard, even though it was only one step from the scrapyard, I loved it long time.

[Bobthebeard]

Citroen XM? Apologies if already considered/dismissed.

[derskine]

I'd love one - but can't afford to run one at this stage.

Have you considered a 340? The seats are quite similar and you could see 40mpg from a 1.4/35mpg from a 1.7.

[vulgalour]

Likewise, the XM is out down to cost.  I've not tried one yet but I bet I'd be comfortable.  Ideally I'd want the really big engined one, in white and estate flavour, but I cannot keep up with the expenses that a £600 XM would throw at me.

[Station]

I know this has been mentioned but - Citroen XM.

 

 

One of the best cars I've owned - unfortunately, left out due to stupid ebay purchase.

 

Look at the seats, man! Also, rake/reach adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable seat, and goes all the way back. They are not misleadingly comfy, it's effortless driving it over distances, and the best thing is when stuck doing 2mph in traffic on the M6, you just put it in first and the low gears just cruise along at about 200rpm.

 

 

[Bobthebeard]

Likewise, the XM is out down to cost. I've not tried one yet but I bet I'd be comfortable. Ideally I'd want the really big engined one, in white and estate flavour, but I cannot keep up with the expenses that a £600 XM would throw at me.

Probably very true, but as someone who suffers from back and sciatica stuff, the XM I had back in the late 90's was utterly and totally comfortable. Even when driven to France and back in a weekend. Just saying like...

[vulgalour]

Great, now I want an XM more than usual.  THANKS GUYZ

[Partridge]

My Dad suffers big time with his back, and always says that lots of adjustment helped him as much as how comfy the seat itself was. How about a high spec e34 Touring diesel? Not a very common car but most survivors seem to be diesel.

 

Back pain is the pits, and having to sack something off because of it must be a real pisser.

 

Hope this helped, anyway.

[vulgalour]

Because BMW made their seats from bricks and mortar I have never, ever, ever been comfortable in any BMW I've ever sat in.  I do agree a lot of adjustment really helps, just not when the seats are harder than a hard thing.

[Bobthebeard]

Not wishing to influence you in any way Vulg, but an XM is the way to go for comfortable miles. Maybe not ideal as a daily driver due to inherent Citroenness, but when up and running nothing beats 'em for comfort. Had four of them in the '90's Nothing too bad or expensive went wrong tbh. Although they were fairly* young at that point.

[Partridge]

I've only ever sat in sporty versions of BMWs and didn't know the others were just as bad.

 YT

I know you said pre '95 but how about a Rover 75 Tourer? Those seats have ULL UR SQUISH. All Rovers. The seats in my 800 are mega soft and comfy - would an 800 diesel fastback fit the bill? Not estates but a lot of load room.

[vulgalour]

Yes, I like Rover 75s very much.  I particularly like the estates.  Actually, now you mention it I'm trying to remember why they're not on my short list, I reckon they could be the one exception to the age thing.

 

I have never had the opportunity to drive an 800, I've been driven in a couple and they're nice but they're not me.  They should be, but they're not.

[Honey Badger]

Take the money you would spend on a new car and pay someone to fix your princess.

 

Then you have a car with comfortable seats.

 

Problem solved.

 

 

As someone who suffers from a shed load of back issues whatever you buy make sure it has heated seats, the heat going into your back as you drive keeps your muscles from seizing up, I know Id struggle to get out the car at work without heated seats, I even use them during the Summer.

 

Unfortunately Heated seats only come fitted to big wafty barges which results in high petrol costs, certainly the seats in my Accord are lovely but the fuel costs are quite high. 

 

Why are you only looking at replacing the useful Xantia and not getting rid of the scabby Corsa out of interest?

[jonathan_dyane]

Just so you know my Xantia wrecked my back until I fitted a replacement seat from a Peugeot 406 which fitted straight on to the Xantia seat subframe) and which I found far superior.

[jonathan_dyane]

Mind, +1 for swapping it for an XM TD, best seats evah, even in the base models.

[vulgalour]

I can't have heated seats, they always make me feel like I've wet myself.

 

So it looks like so far the Xantia is staying with different seats or I'm getting an XM.  Sounds perfectly sensible to me.

 

The Corsa is going to be sold on.  I haven't got a use for it, but I want to do right by it.  The only reason it isn't up for sale right now is that I want to finish cleaning the interior, sorting the paint (cold weather is making that impossible lately) and the starter motor first so it's in tip top condition.  It's not costing me anything to keep sat around and while I've invested a bit of cash in it, that was done when I had it spare.  Buying that Corsa probably stopped me doing something rash like going out and buying a £200 XM.

[Fabergé Greggs]

Since my BX has done your mileage limit and back, it's out!

 

There's a couple of tasty sounding xm's advertised in the citroen car club magazine, I'll take a snap when I'm home.

[Bobthebeard]

"Buying that Corsa probably stopped me doing something rash like going out and buying a £200 XM."

 

A £200 XM would be silly.... A £600 XM on the other hand..... Mmmmmmm.

😄

[mrbenn]

I can't have heated seats, they always make me feel like I've wet myself.

 

Thanks goodness, thought that was just me. I properly have to check and everything.

[Bobthebeard]

Thanks goodness, thought that was just me. I properly have to check and everything.

Mrs Beards Accord has heated seats.... Certainly a mixed blessing in the ' eek, have I just followed through' department.