The Xantia of Not Many Shitters

[Rust Collector]

17 minutes ago, CaptainBoom said:

Some belm has managed to bend their car on the only bit of 40mph road on the whole journey.

If only it was a blanket 20! Man wasn’t meant to travel at such heady speeds as 40 😅

No worries over the time, I’m always up late so it’s not a problem at all.

[Rust Collector]

45 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Should keep one incase you need a piss in a few hours and don't want to pull over... 

The Oasis bottle is the official bottle of the road!

[CaptainBoom]

1 minute ago, Rust Collector said:

The Oasis bottle is the official bottle of the road!

It really is… better proportioned, the only issue is at my age, capacity can be an issue. 

[CaptainBoom]

Green Hill Zone part 3

Bus is not a bus. Just managed to sliding doors onto this tram to Croydon, we are back on track (literally).

it’s just like Amsterdam innit?

tired 5/10
bladder 7/10
thoughts of moving greater than 5mph 9/10

[CaptainBoom]

Labyrinth Zone Part 1

Train 1/2

Wackgit Airport, smells like aero fuel. Obvs

A* photography GCSE material right there

pc = 0 thankfully.

[purplebargeken]

Ooooh.... collekshun happeningz.

[CaptainBoom]

Labyrinth Zone part 2

Train 2/2 achieved. My previous train was late running, with a very short connection time but they held the branch line train back for myself and one other passenger. Wouldn’t get that in That Lahndan! Said other passenger and I make up 2/3 of the passenger count though, so not many people were inconvenienced.
No photos you’ll be glad to hear. You can all imagine what an empty train going through dark countryside looks like.
 

[Rust Collector]

Pleasure to meet you this evening @CaptainBoom, may the Xantia of not many shiters carry you safely on your journeys!

[CaptainBoom]

Labyrinth Zone Part 3:

Slow update, I went to work after collecting the car and didn't have time to stop for 10 minutes until I (gladly) found a nook to sleep in.  I met @Rust Collectorwho is a 17.5/10 nice chap (would collect from again).  After a sighting lap of his manor to get used to the doseur assisted brakes (I didn't want to plant my nose on the windscreen the first time I used them in anger)I chugged back via Lewes for some refreshment and a nice waft home to roads pointing to London.  On the way back I engaged ULEZ cheat mode:

Opinions of an uneducated (and very tired) motoring philistine:

The Xantia is a nice thing.  It's geared a bit strange for a motorway cruiser (70mph comes up at 3400 rpm) but it is very comfortable, Lovely leather armchairs (with electric controls) cosset you over bumps.  Rear legroom is awesome.  All of the controls come easy to hand (except the gearstick, but I hadn't worked out how to move the seat forward, so that could be me).  I left the heater controls alone as I couldn't fathom them out, but the radio worked happily and the steering wheel controls were a nice treat.  Although trying to turn the volume up on Radio 2 involved me making a lash of it and retuning the radio to Radio 1.  Bad idea.  All in all, it's a tres jolie vehicle and it made the 70 mile journey effortlessly. 

Now, some sleep and limber up for the big trip tomorrow!

Big thanks to @Rust Collector for being very patient with my ever moving ETA at Seaford, as well as a good chat and a lift from the station.  Plus he breathed life into this car and resurrected it.

 

[CaptainBoom]

Marble Zone Part 1:

Collection mission, part trois.  Delivery to @purplebargeken

And we're off, bit of a delay from when I thought I'd leave, but the indicators did a Gallic shrug and went on strike.  A bit of wiggling with the indicator stalk and the beret wearing electrons have been persuaded to work with promises of a pay rise and some more Gauloises.

 

[purplebargeken]

Breath bated....

[Rust Collector]

3 hours ago, CaptainBoom said:

but the indicators did a Gallic shrug and went on strike

If they disappear on you again, press the hazard light button repeatedly - the feed for the stalk comes from that switch and I think the contact fouls up!

[beko1987]

It'll be fine, no one uses indicators in london

[purplebargeken]

Well, Fan has delivered the Xantia to my doorstep as promised. A brief natter, some liquid refreshment and he was dropped off at the local station to aid the return home via the Megabus from Liverpool.  A thoroughly decent chap. Hope you can have a little peek at Liverpool if you have the time. Chod speed Sir.

Once again a huge thank you to all the Shitters involved in the movement, resurrection, parts providing, MOTing and advice giving aspects of this whole event.  I doff my Internet hat and again  offer you all a huge thank you. I will be messaging the PO shortly to let him know his car has arrived and is being put into use.

I plan to give it a bit of a valeting over the next few days, it's not like I am short of potions and lotions...

A short jaunt to the station provided me with an idea as to how well it drives. What a nice experience. Its not quite as wafty as the C5 but hey, it's just fab anyway. In the real world who would notice.

Piccies to follow.

[CaptainBoom]

19 minutes ago, purplebargeken said:

Piccies to follow

Have one of mine, I gave it a wash and a rub down with The Sporting Life last night. I think the car detailing fraternity can sleep safe in their beds, I don’t recall being blindfolded, but I must have been.

Whistle stop tour of Liverpool completed, (I really need to return with the kids). Now waiting for the Megabus. 
@purplebargekenis a true gent, would drop off cars again to him 16.8/10.

[Zelandeth]

I'll have a dig around in the garage, but I *think* I may still have a tail light lens to replace that odd S1 one on the boot lid...it may have been chucked, I'll need to look.  If I find it, it's yours.

[CaptainBoom]

... and just got back home.  That was an epic trip!

[purplebargeken]

Excellent. How went it.

Used the car again this morning, smooth and silky, what a lovely drive.

[CaptainBoom]

2 hours ago, purplebargeken said:

How went it

I didn’t get to the Cavern sadly, I had fears of missing the coach, so I walked around the Liver building and saw the Titanic Memorial, (my extended family have a lot of nautical history, so it was worth the visit just for that). I will need to return and see as much of the city as I can with the kids. 

The coach back was hilarious, it was 30 minutes late getting in, and was an hour late by the time we got to Heathrow, the driver however, managed to catch up 20 minutes merely by zipping through every set of lights, he really wanted to get home! Thankfully I was in plenty of time for the last train home, it was staying awake that was the challenge. Thanks again for giving me a lift to the station and for being flexible with arrival time etc.

[purplebargeken]

Great piccies and glad you got home again mate. Yes, well worth a proper visit!!!

[purplebargeken]

Bit of an update.

Things wot I have done to the Xantia thus far.

Driven it. Drives really nicely. Very very punchy engine, really does shift. Gear change and clutch are sound. Brakes are ace.

Cleaned the interior shortly after getting it and it is a very, very comfy place to be. Those seats!

The PO was a real Citroen licker but dear God, he must have used every inch of the front bumper to park by. Jaysus.

The rear is similar but to a lesser degree.

The bonnet has been resprayed but not very well. It's the right colour but not very well applied.

The door mirror casings are a bit battered but work perfectly.

Scrapes on the drivers side doors lower panel. 

That headlining makes my entire mouth itch.

However, it is pretty frugal.  Nimble and punchy too. Starts on the button.

I have literally just checked fluid levels and lobbed pez in it.

Took me a while to find the button for the HRW lol. Interesting location.

Gave it a good scrub, compounding by hand and a polish. It looks 0.16 times better*. Rear spoiler needs a repaint.

Will I keep it long term?  Who knows. Maybe. Depends if something large, auto and wafty comes my way. You know what I'm like.

That front bumper and headlining though.... meh/urrrgh.

 

[purplebargeken]

Have been bombing around in the Xant and an enjoyable time has been had. All I have really done is give it a wash, bit of compounding and WD40'd the sticky petrol flap pin. 

It's been decent on juice, has a great stereo and it's comfy.

However, tomorrow will see it trundled up to Newcastle to join its new owner. Am looking forward to the journey.

 

[Schaefft]

Whoever bought this, we have to do a side-by-side photo comparison with my silver XM! Would be interesting to see how they compare behind the wheel.

[purplebargeken]

Heading off....

[andyberg]

Chod speed

[purplebargeken]

Chod delivery achieved despite godawful rain, average twat cameras and oodles of road works. Car didn't miss a beat. 

A Xantia is a genuinely decent car, comfy, peppy engine, well appointed and still stylish. 

10/10

[purplebargeken]

Train is making progress. Just left Huddersfield. Entire process poo count: nil. Pee count: 1. Pastie obtained from Newcastle Greggs: 4/10 as it was cold, so was Newcastle. Glazed doughnut 7/10. Bottle of Oasis (orange): 9/10.

Annoyance level of passengers: 1/10.

[Stinkwheel]

On 25/10/2023 at 08:50, Schaefft said:

Whoever bought this, we have to do a side-by-side photo comparison with my silver XM! Would be interesting to see how they compare behind the wheel.

As previous owners of several Xantias and XM's - very very different. They are both Citroens, they may have similar spec, apart from that, different beasts IMHO

[Schaefft]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

As previous owners of several Xantias and XM's - very very different. They are both Citroens, they may have similar spec, apart from that, different beasts IMHO

I'm generally interested in driving anything I can get my hands on, a Xantia would certainly be an interesting one!

[DSdriver]

I suppose a Xantia is next on my list of wafty Citroens having done all from the Traction Avant to the XM. I need to drink more whilst perusing Ebay.