xantia estate hdi reliable motoring?

[stripped fred]

Hi, I've had a few Citroens including a couple of zx's and a bx. I'm thinking of changing my alfa 156 for a xantia mainly to gain reliability but also lower running costs. I've decided it's not economic to run a car in the £1.5 to £2k bracket as you then have to fix it when a big bill comes along such as my recent bill of £900 for a clutch and dmf. I can do a few jobs myself but not something like this. I'm looking to spend about £800 max. I figure then I can sell for spares or repair if a big bill comes along and it's not economic to fix. Another problem with the Alfa is that there are a fee weak points with my 2.4 20v model such as the gearbox synchro, driveshafts and water pump. It's also not that economical for a diesel. I struggle to get more than 38 when driving like a saint. Finally, it's hard to do jobs yourself as the engibe fills the engine bay. I was hoping a xantia might get a bit more to the gallon and be a good workhorse with easier diyability (if that's a word). Would appreciate any advice.

[richardmorris]

Hello and welcome. From what I've heard from my Citroen garage mechanics, they're great when they're working. But when they go wrong...

 

If you can find one you're probably better with a 1.9 turbo diesel engined one.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Xantias great. old Hdi`s shite. Will cause you upset. great when new but electrics don`t age well

[stripped fred]

Thanks for the reply. I think I'll try and do a bit more research especially the differences between the 1.9 and 2.0 diesel engines. I'm not put off by the suspension as i actually like the ability to raise and lower the car. It's more the electrics/sensors etc that i'd be concerned with. Also, as with any older car trying to find one that hasn't been neglected.

[stripped fred]

I think I posted my reply just as you did! Yes I'd be concerned about the electrics going wrong as I'm no autoele trician!

[D Spares & Tyres]

get youself a well looked after xantia and it will be the best car you ever had. just check for heavy clutch and head gaskets, everything else cheap to fix. And get some excercise ( citroen aerobics) . Every few days when you park up put suspension all the way up, then down then back to normal. Keeps all the sliders unseized.

[stripped fred]

This king about it must have been the same 1.9 engine as my ZX volcane. That had 90 bhp, think it was the xud engine? That never missed a beat.

[Andrew353w]

I LOOOVVVEEE my Citroën Xantia! It's a 2 litre hatchback automatic petrol one, and I get 30-36 MPG (last fill up was 34.9) from it. As for the suspension, I've learnt a great deal over the 5 years of ownership of the car and now understand the basics of the system, and together with a very good "old school" Citroën mechanic my car is the best car I've ever owned (and I've owned dozens of cars!) The ride is spectacularly smooth, the acceleration is great, the ability to swallow huge amounts of luggage is phenomenal and I can honestly say it has never let me down since I've owned it and that's over the 5 years and 60,000 miles I've done in it. French holidays, towing huge cars (not together!) and anything else I've asked of it it's always come up trumps! Only last week I cut the hedge down outside my house & moved all the bits (some hedge!) to the "recycling centre" (A.K.A. council dump) quite happily!

 

Routine servicing (brake pads, all filters, tyres, lights, cam belt etc) are all easy. I change the automatic fluid too, although you don't have to, and I have the suspension system checked out annually by the local Citroën garage and it's never had any problems. BUY ONE!!!

[D Spares & Tyres]

I think I posted my reply just as you did! Yes I'd be concerned about the electrics going wrong as I'm no autoele trician!

Sold quite a few HDi 206`s as I`m in the trade, they used to be great but now they are older they are a nightmare. XUD one of best engines ever though

[stripped fred]

I had a bx and I used to do that. I used to work on a fee building sites and liked the fact you could raise the suspension when the ground was uneven. Also I used to lower it slightly when on the motorway in the belief it made it more streamlined!

[2MB]

As stated, the XUD is a better bet than HDi for diy maintenence, uses slightly more fuel apparently but much less likely to bite you in the arse

[stripped fred]

Good advice on here! I think there's a lot of difference between one that's been looked after and one that's been passed around several people who've not bothered with much more than an oil change. I find that's the hardest part of looking for a good older car.

 

I'll be scouring the ads for a 1.9 model then to see what's about. I suppose 90bhp is OK as it has decent torque and I'm happy not to be racing along. Will be half the power of my Alfa but i don't mind that. I've lost confidence in it. On the right road it feels great and pulls like a train. I can't get over the fact it feels a bit fragile though.

[Mad Cyril]

I've just MOTd my '98 2.1TD again.
Straight pass, no advisories. That's the third year with the same story.
Done 24k in it over that time (now on 92k) and have honestly only spent £40 in repairs (two little bits of LHM pipe).

The best car I have ever bought without a doubt (but I did spend some time looking for a low owner, reasonable mileage, well serviced example).

 

A mate liked mine so much he bought one six months ago- a '99 HDi. He MOTd that last week with no issues too. He's managed 15k in 6 months with no issues (now on 93k). Apparently it pulls his caravan a treat too.

 

Good luck finding a decent estate though. In my experience they've all been through that 'cheap workhorse/ tow car' period and are on their last legs. I gave up looking and settled for a hatch.

[stripped fred]

I could manage with a hatch as I'm sure it still has more space than a 156 sportwagon!

 

I'd not thought of the 2.1 engine. I don't know a lot about that. Will have to look into it. Is it still an xud engine?

[Richard]

It's an XUD with a 12V head.

[D Spares & Tyres]

I could manage with a hatch as I'm sure it still has more space than a 156 sportwagon!

 

I'd not thought of the 2.1 engine. I don't know a lot about that. Will have to look into it. Is it still an xud engine?

Yes similar bottom end but more electrics to worry about including a fly by wire throttle...

[stripped fred]

I've just checked the luggage space on the infoweb and the xantia hatchback is quite a bit bigger than my 156 sportwagon and the estate is huge!

[Mad Cyril]

The 2.1 is an XUD11 apparently. It's 110hp and you never need to change down.

There's not a lot of them about and the Lucas Epic pump puts people off apparently but mines been spot on (no chance of chucking chip fat through it though).

[D Spares & Tyres]

I've just MOTd my '98 2.1TD again.

Straight pass, no advisories. That's the third year with the same story.

Done 24k in it over that time (now on 92k) and have honestly only spent £40 in repairs (two little bits of LHM pipe).

The best car I have ever bought without a doubt (but I did spend some time looking for a low owner, reasonable mileage, well serviced example).

 

A mate liked mine so much he bought one six months ago- a '99 HDi. He MOTd that last week with no issues too. He's managed 15k in 6 months with no issues (now on 93k). Apparently it pulls his caravan a treat too.

 

Good luck finding a decent estate though. In my experience they've all been through that 'cheap workhorse/ tow car' period and are on their last legs. I gave up looking and settled for a hatch.

Totally agree. I abused mine every day for a year, towed car trailers ( within legal weight limits obviously....) and had over half a tonne in it more than once.

 

Coudn`t bear to scrap it though so parked it in some mud for a year and then sold it yesterday to some chap who is going to restore it

[Bren]

XUD best - runs on veg and agricultural so you will never fall asleep at the wheel.

[stripped fred]

Still not worked out how to reply to show the post you're replying to yet!

 

I'll have a look round and see what's about. Condition, and the owner, more important than the exact engine or spec.

 

I tend to buy private as I don't care for dealers describing the car as excellent when it's obviously not although I know private owners can do this too. I'd rather know it's faults.

[D Spares & Tyres]

XUD best - runs on veg and agricultural so you will never fall asleep at the wheel.

unless the exhaust snaps just in front of the back box and the fumes find their way in

[steve_earwig]

Or an asteroid falls on it

[steve_earwig]

Still not worked out how to reply to show the post you're replying to yet!

 

 

Use the quote button Luke

[stripped fred]

XUD best - runs on veg and agricultural so you will never fall asleep at the wheel.

Just worked it out!

 

I don't mind an agricultural diesel. I seem to remember my ZX was pretty noisy and also my last car was a 2001 Audi with the 1.9pd engine and that was also quite noisy, especially when cold.

[stripped fred]

Just remembered my mate had a 406 with the 1.9 engine. He got about 280k out if it before it wasn't worth repairing but the engine was still OK.

[Lacquer Peel]

Vulgalour might be selling his very tidy Xantia TD estate.

 

Have you looked at Volvo 850/V70 TDis? I'm a recent convert to them, direct injection engine so good fuel consumption but limited electronic control and they are sturdy, sensibly built motor cars.

[vulgalour]

I don't have an hdi, I've got the earlier XUD and it's a good reliable car, Honda levels of it in fact.  DIY maintenance isn't easy though, the engine bay resembles a plate of spaghetti more than anything else and many things are inaccessible in that way modern cars are.  I do not like working on the Xantia.  However, this is balanced out by the fact that you don't really ever need to work on it, you just get in and go and it always gets on and does the job you want it to.

 

If you get one, try and get one either with fairly low miles (unlikely) or one that has recently had the clutch done.  Doing the clutch on a Xantia is not really a DIY job, it's pretty horrendous, and garages charge from £250-800 to get it done.  I only ended up DIYing the clutch with Mike because I couldn't afford to pay a garage to do it for me, if could have I definitely would have, no question about it.

 

Interiors are hard wearing, brakes are really good - though back brakes can be prone to not really working at all unless you're lugging stuff around a lot - paint is quite good and corrosion not really an issue at all.  Fuel economy wise you can expect 55mpg on the motorway, 35-40 around town and 25-30 when towing a trailer with a car on it form the 1.9 turbo diesel, you may get better from the hdi.  They have a real bonus of good sound-proofing and are surprisingly refined on the motorway and don't have the death-clatter of a BX diesel on first start (which I personally find a little disappointing).

 

It's not difficult to get a good Xantia for well under £1000 though they can be surprisingly expensive to insure.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Still not worked out how to reply to show the post you're replying to yet!

 

I'll have a look round and see what's about. Condition, and the owner, more important than the exact engine or spec.

 

I tend to buy private as I don't care for dealers describing the car as excellent when it's obviously not although I know private owners can do this too. I'd rather know it's faults.

Have you seen the cat D one on ebay at a dealer for £795? I want to email him and ask if its an error and should be £295

[stripped fred]

Vulgalour might be selling his very tidy Xantia TD estate.

 

Have you looked at Volvo 850/V70 TDis? I'm a recent convert to them, direct injection engine so good fuel consumption but limited electronic control and they are sturdy, sensibly built motor cars.

It's funny you should say that! I went to see one the other week. The only car I have looked at recently. It was only 2 miles from me. A 2005 185bhp D5 S model. Just shy of 200k miles, 2 owners last one for 7 years. A thoroughly nice, well looked after car with FSH. Excellent condition all round. Nice, decent owner too. I had just shelled out a LOT of money on mine mainly for the clutch and dmf. I was concerned as his was still on the original clutch and dmf. He wanted 2200 which was very reasonable. I hesitated though and then it had gone. I am partly kicking myself for not buying it. So to summarise, yes I like them a lot although not as cheap to buy as a xantia!