Gypo's will be the culprit for spiriting the burgundy Xm into the ether as DM says.
It really pains me to say this but sadly it'll be already shreaded over a few acres of
Industrial Estate or already on the boat to China. The scumbags don't have to work
an honest days' living when you and I have stuff they steal in broad daylight without
any recourse to the law or the downside consequences.
Bastards. Anyhow, looking forwards and the new interesting slant taken in this thread
re: alternative replacement Citroens. In total honest truth I haven't had much
Bx'ing experience though do lave a late phase2 16V so cannot speak with much
authority on these - never really did a lot for me when the GS and Cx were as
easily available/affordable back then.
But wow, an Activa!
They're good they are!
Yes, OK, I do own several so am totally biased. Anyhow...
THEY'RE VERY RARE!! about 1100 of all versions ever registered as RHD, the s2 being
the hardest to find - 234 made it into the UK.
The Activa with hydractive and extras is a truly remarkable car and vastly underrated
and these are usually run into the ground without the correct level of understanding
and enthusiast ownership - most are likely treated as a trim level like an SRi etc
and the 'trick' suspension is lost on many 3rd and 4th owners who like the 2.0i turbo
engine and "suffer" the weird Citroen bits.
Check the front and rear rams for the ARCS aren't leaking although there are now
dodges and fixes to workaround these expensive failure parts. Speak to Jim at
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk
That all said, for heavens sake get a Cx quick before Clarkson runs them ALL off a cliff...
Yes, they can rust, so do Xm's contrary to common perception. But, what's a minor bit
of fraying about the edges when you're sat in one driving it!
I have to say, tonight I've driven a pair of my Xantiae (one an Activa, the other a TD estate),
an XM 2.1TD saloon and a CX GTi T2 and the Cx is the only one that totally captivates and
gives a mental high; I'm still buzzing. The others (barring the Activa) aren't remotely engaging
to drive and a bit stodgy and staid. It's in the steering and the brakes and the ride...
And the looks. The Xm is crisp and smart, yes, svelte too but the Cx is the prettier girlfriend
that gets ALL the looks and backwards glances. People stop and stare and ask questions about
mine - they ignore the Xm; many don't realise it's NOT a Xantia when I try to correct their
misconception.
Andrew
