Nyooo shite acquired!

[j-j]

And yes, obviously it's a shitroën, c'mon it's me!

 

Anyway, this was the traditional, legendary accidental eBay WIN. I took a sly bid on some shite I fancied but could do without, too far away, will go for too much bla bla. And of course, the listing ends while I'm at work AS USUAL so I punt a wee stupid, low bid via the old smart phone and later check up to see what silly amount (i.e. over £350) it went for some lucky begger slightly less poor than me got it no doubt.. only to get the: "you've won the item - pleeeeez PAY now" bit that you can get if you're not careful.

 

O kok, I don't need a 1993 Xantia Turdblow Diseasel...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI. ... SA:GB:1123

 

But! After realising that I'd won the thing for a full £70 less than my max and only bid, I reckoned it was a possible WIN(?) I arranged to go see the thing in South East Wales from Glasgow.

 

I felt a bit "O cock" about this and eventually plucked up the courage to call the owner. I mean hell, I don't want a NEG on my ebay account!!!!(don't actually care any more) Needn't have worried: the guy is all: "O you're coming really far, I'd not come that far for a £250 car - so you'll not get a black mark on your ebay if you don't wanna go through with...."

 

"hmm, could I ?"

 

I was really close to calling him on that get-out clause as I was waiting on news of a new job I'd applied for. My ultimatum was simple: I don't get the job, fuk the ebay mobile, Get the fuggar then well, I go get the fuggar after all!

 

Seems I got the job so hell, I'll go to Wales and get that silly Citroen.

 

At least, I'll go see it.....

 

I mean it's non committal after the nice bloke's offer..

 

I'd booked an easyjet to Bristol, took a bus and a train and soon I'm in Newport. Phone the guy, he picks me up in Newport in a Discovery and off to the actual valleys to see the blue Xantia Mk1.

 

It is in a shed. (that's a wide open goal for a slagging hahaha) The car is owned by the chap's recently deceased father. After checking out the usual things, the car was approved by me (staggering similarities to my 2005 GSA adventure where I went to see a GSA in Bristol with no return ticket....ended up taking that rot box so I could get home) on the grounds of: it was exactly as described in the listing - 3 crappy snaps notwithstanding, all the listed new parts were quite truely as stated: tyres etc, and though it is pretty old, it seemed cared-for and was rust free underneath and had MOT till April 2012. If I can get it to last till then at least, I feel I'd be WINning..

 

So I took the thing. Hell, it's a laff innit?

 

So, I'd timed this journey down to Newport to coincide with the Citroën CX, XM and Xantia rally near Milton Keynes. I took the Xant, after a test drive: goes like a train, nice light clutch, quiet, and everything works. The deal done I'm heading to the CXM & Xant rally for a laff and a piss up and on Sunday the long voyage Northville. Of course, the faggin thing performed flawlessly - noisy hydraulic pump but everything else checks out - cambelt and such look good and whole list of servicing over the last decade.

 

570-odd miles later and a single top up of Diesel, and I'm back in Glasgow. Not a hint of a problem. Electric windows all round, leccy sunroof and mirrors, remote locking, ABS, Powah steering plus the usual Citroen disks all round and dune buggy susnpension on a normal car. Negatives are a previous bump to the rear bumper that has shifter by 8mm on one side, and of course the clattery hydraulic pump. Bonus towbar with lectrix (not yet tested..)

 

This will be my winter car to give the decaying '77 CX a break and maybe I'll get to truly fix it up.

 

The Xantia polished up OK, it's a light metallic blue, similar to the CX - I seem to have a thing about old light blue shitters - I have a theory (mega unproved) after seeing a light blue metallic Mk1 Cavalier and a light blue Triumph that light blue is the most age - resistant paint colour as opposed to red cars and white that seem to die prematurely.. I just like light metallic bloo.

 

Anyway, a week later and here it is:

Still in Wales

In a Glasgow Tesco crap park

At the CXM&Xant rally

With a friend

With the CX, so different and yet so similar

Not bad for £250 snotter

 

Sorry if any pics come out mega large - will sort.

[RoadworkUK]

A job well jobbed! Nicely. I approve. And I always liked those wheeltrims, too.

[j-j]

Cheers Sir! those wheeltrims make a distinctive rattle that I recall from my yoof.

 

Just to clarify the mania of an early Xantia: there were bizillions of Xants and such around in the 90s and a fair few remaining through the early 2000s, but these Mk1 Xantias with the badge on the bonnet and the sinking suspension were only made for like 13 months and only seen as K or L reg. These are my faves. They also have bonus shite dipped headlights that were improved on the post '95 types. I don't mind though! If i need to see in the dark I'll just use the CX that has brilliant lights..

[trigger]

£250?!, Now that is proper shite motoring, It looks really tidy as well, Nice one!

[eddyramrod]

Top work j-j, well done!

[Spottedlaurel]

Looks a great buy, ideal for saving the CX from winter filth and with the bonus of a roadtrip thrown in. Good work!

[garycox]

Looks great, I haven't seen a Xantia that early for ages!

[j-j]

Cheers amigos, some of you might recall my epic Glasgow to Cornwall trip to get the red Mk1 BX back in 2009 and of course the CX was got in much the same manner back in 2005 from Stansted (conveniently near the airport!) so I'm making a bit of a habit of picking up old Cits from far away and driving them over 500 miles back shortly after first acquaintance! I'll admit I'm surprised at my rate of success - the CX and GSA were each driven back at a time where I had no breakdown cover for some clever reason..

 

When I got on the sleasyjet at Glasgow to Bristol, the bloke that sat next to me said he was going to Bristol to get a car (!) so the fug am II tell him so a good n flight conversation ensued. He was going down to get a VW Caddy. Need to get in touch to see how it went for him too.

[Cavcraft]

Cor, what a bargain. Looks like it's cleaned up nicely and should be a great town taxi. Top work sir.

[Shep Shepherd]

An absolutely stonking buy by the looks of it

[Guest Len H]

I like early Xantias too, looks a great buy.

I drove a similarly powered car from West Sussex to the central Highlands last weekend, that engine is ideal for munching miles (and veg). I'm surprised how it holds its own among ostensibly much torquier more powerful diesels on the motorway.

[boobydoo]

Coo! Haven't seen one of those for ages! Nice buy!

[Father Ted]

Top shite aquirage skillors young sir.

 

I like Xantias almost as much as I like BX's.

almost.

[RoadworkUK]

Aha, an excuse to post this:-

 

 

I've been near obsessed with this ever since I first saw it.

[dollywobbler]

Superb buy and story! I really, really do like these early Xantias. Such a sharp design. I'll be interested to see how you get on with it because my biggest fear is that I'd find one entirely dully (unless it was a V6).

 

Is it early enough to still have the 'sink when turned off' suspension? They ditched that fairly early in the Xantia's life. Big mistake!

[scooters]

great car mate and a top quality daily to save the CX!

 

should have a PSA Chodfest and Wimpey Burger at Harthill soon?

[scooters]

tempted......

 

got to be an early one with 'proper' suspension innit

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-CITROEN- ... 19c89138d6

 

vendor will give you a minimum £200 trade in on any old chod...£195 for one of these....bloody tempted...

 

do they have the Bosch pump?

[j-j]

Yes! this car was also noted when I looked at the blue one. I say go see it or something. I do wonder why the vendor is so keen to give scrap money for your trade in though? surely he'd make more weighing in the Xantia?

 

Yes, the 1.9 TD Manual has the Bosch pump