Xsara

[hammy]

So myself and 'er indoors' attended Rustival recently with the 2CV Dolly and my Dacia Duster as a replacement for not having anything shitter to bring.  (Daewoo Espero sold and Trabant 601S not currently roadworthy).  What we definately didn't set out to do was buy more shite.

Which is precisely why we ended up coming back with more shite.

May I present our 2002 Citroen Xsara estate 1.6 LX.  Approximately 23 years old with 87k on the clock and full service history - a folder of main dealer bills going right back to day 1, meticulous history!  Sadly the supplying dealer Bellamy's of South London are no longer in business. 

Anyway it's replaced a gutless 1.4 Peugeot 207 which had been our running about car, and handy Bristol ULEZ car as the Duster isn't.  With two large dogs its handy to have such a capacious 2nd car. 

I'd like to put a set of alloys on it, those rather tasteful 5 spokes that were fitted to plusher trip levels, or possibly some of the later VTS wheels. Any leads on these would be welcome.  Artwork for the Bellemy's transfer too - as its been peeled off by a subsequent owner. 

 

[hammy]

I'm also after the internal trim panel for the boot.  Ours is missing but these things are seriously rare now so if anybody ever hears of one being broken up at a scrappy then give me a shout. 

[ProgRocker]

Trés bon!

Back in 2002 when I wanted to change my car a salesman tried to tempt me with a pre-facelifted 1.6 LX hatchback in green or blue (can't remember). 

[beko1987]

Ha, I've just read your post on the Facebook group then looked here and it's the same car! Nice, hello!

I owned a hdi estate for 5 lovely years until Feb this year, their very comfy things!

Mine had the boot trim thrown in the boot when I sold it, all the clips broke and no matter what chinesium replacement clips I bought it kept falling off. I left it off in the end, as if I slept in it on an airbed my feet could fit in that square hole for extra length 😂

Very easy and cheap to work on too! Check the suspension, and the P bushes that hold the back of the front lower arms on. Mine was very worn which I didn't notice until the wheel physically moved with a bar on a wheel nut and I feel I missed out on some good ride quality I didn't know I was missing (until the final few days when I did know and suddenly could feel the wheel moving about under the car 😂)

[beko1987]

Just noticed your armrest cover is present, is it present AND unbroken? That's quite rare, mine was broken sadly.

Mind out for the door looms cracking too... If your windows or central locking ever stop working don't pull the dash apart, check the door looms! (I had both sides of the front over the years to repair)

[hammy]

2 hours ago, beko1987 said:

Just noticed your armrest cover is present, is it present AND unbroken? That's quite rare, mine was broken sadly.

Mind out for the door looms cracking too... If your windows or central locking ever stop working don't pull the dash apart, check the door looms! (I had both sides of the front over the years to repair)

Not only that, but its still got the tonneau cover for the boot too, plus the load net.  Both of which I gather are now made of Unobtainium.

[beko1987]

19 minutes ago, hammy said:

Not only that, but its still got the tonneau cover for the boot too, plus the load net.  Both of which I gather are now made of Unobtainium.

Nice! Mine had the net which was quite useful on occasion but a faff to put up and down. I had to buy a load cover from ebay though which luckily wasn't too expensive!

Their a big feeling car without being nix (being a zx mk3). If a modern fiesta can fit through the gap you'll fly through 😂 That caused some alarm the first few trips I did to work in the new car after 5 years of knowing my limits 😬

[hammy]

Had the Xsara up on a mates ramp today. It's incredible underneath, really clean for it's age.  Took the opportunity to give it a good coating of Lanoguard.

I've also picked up some VTS Speedlines, although they've got the wrong size tyres on so I'll need to sort that. 

 

 

[hammy]

Turns out these PSA centreless wheels are a bitch to balance. Took an age to find a local supplier who can do it. 

Anyway, it's looking better on its new VTS wheels.

[carlo]

Really like these, they're possibly the last properly "French" feeling car in handling and ride, before electronic PAS and shitty suspensions took over.  I would love an SX 2.0 automatic but there's probably only one or two left.

[artdjones]

They are good cars, but the styling was pretty poor. It being a copy of the Renault 19 that had come out 8 years before. It managed to look a lot more dowdy than the ZX it replaced.