Classic or Crock

[Dieselman]

Is the Xm going to be a classic or a crock?

What did Top Gear think.

Follow the link, watch section 2 from 3m 10s.



http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-gea ... 718801.htm

[steelcityuk]

Sorry DM but I hate Top Gear with such a passion I won't watch it or take any notice of what they think. A great show turned to ego w*****ing.

Will you be going to the CXM?

Steve.

[casalingua]

The link didn´t quite work for me...did they think it a crock? I expect they did.

[casalingua]

I got it work. So, Hammond likes the XM. Normally I think Hammond is an idiot. And since he likes the XM I must also be an idiot. Or else I disregard the whole thing. I didn´t like the way the audience jeered though. I fear that in popular British culture the XM is in that class of car that contains the Allegro and Princess. That´s a bit of a pity, really. Once a car gets into that category it´s hard to extricate it.

[Peter.N.]

Top gear is not a real world car show but it is sometimes entertaining, I do though seem to remember clarkson some years ago saying that the 3.0 litre estate was the best thing since sliced bread - and they sold about three, so not to be taken seriously. I think the XM is becoming a classic but only rust free examples which puts them in almost in the same class as hens teeth, I certainly don't think either of mine will make it.

Peter

[Dean]

Yes top gear loved the xm, both quentin wilson and Jeremy clarkson raved about the xm when it was released and still do but dispite this sales figures were low for obvious reasons.

Classic? im not so sure, not in this country anyway, it will never attain the status of the great british classics such as truimph or ford mainly because people dont know how they work and even now parts can be tricky to find for some models. I think peter is correct and it doesnt seem to matter what engine they have, good low miles low rust examples make ok money but most languish for banger money, simple fact is the xm scares peole.

D

[Peter.N.]

....not nearly as much as modern cars scare me

[casalingua]

The difficulty the XM has is that its appeal is very cerebral. Most people can see a CX, DS, MG or most Jaguars look "nice." An XM looks distinctive but not overtly lovely. Secondarily is that as the reviews show, the car really didn´t do any one thing singlularly well. It´s paraodoxical that such an idiosyncratic design is so average when it comes to measurable parameters. The Ford Granada was roomier in the back, the 605 was more refined, the Jaguar XJ was more aristocratic, the BMW faster and better handling.

So few XMs remain that by the time they ever gain that respect that comes with seniority, it will be hard to buy one and awareness will remain low, keeping demand down. There are other cars that are equally "rare" but which people know about; an Alfa Spider or Giulia saloon spring to mind.

This was one of the reasons I spent that time putting the reviews up on Wikipedia. People can´t judge a car if they can´t read about it.

Incidentally, there is a middle ground between classic and crock. The XM will be there alongside obscurities like the Lancia 2000 saloon, Alfa Romeo 2600 and Bristol 611.

[Ciaran]

While on the subject of the TV and XMs, spotted this yesterday

[youtube]VumrpkL6RS0[/youtube]

4:10 - 4:12 out his driver's window on the opposite side of the road, blink and you'll miss it

[robert_e_smart]

Eagle eyed!