Xantia

[mds141]

I know it's a XM forum, but I've been considering handing back my ds3 which is on a (expensive) PCP lease and getting a cheapish Xantia as a daily drive, thereby releasing more funds to spend on the BX and XM. Any tips when looking at Xantia's? I'm thinking rust, strut tops. Cheers Mark.

[robert_e_smart]

Hi Mark,

Pretty much the same buying Criteria as for a BX or XM. They are less prone to rust, but watch out for weak drivers door hinges (on the doors themselves). Also rock the drivers seat, as the floor where they mount is weak and prone to breaking around the screw mount in the floor, especially the front mount beside the centre console.

Estates are more likely to rust as is the Heuliez norm. Although series 2 hatches like to rust around the NSR quarter panel.

Strut tops and working hydractive if it has it as per Xm checks.

Heater matrix! Check the passengers foot well for signs of coolant dampening the carpet and smell of curry when heating is put to hot. Blower motors can also have bad wiring contacts and not work. If the heater matrix is bust, walk away! It sits behind the speedo clocks and is a pain to change.

[andmcit]

Definitely strut tops - biggest weakness now and most Xantiae (although s2's don't) seem to suffer badly.
As far as other rust goes, they seem to get random patches in the middle of the rear arches.

Other things to watch out for:
Heater matrix leak as this is a dash out x2 day job not as easy as an Xm cassette replacement!
leaky rack pinions seem to pop up now and then from watching the forum
wishbone bushes can make the sharpness of the handling go all wooly

There's not much else Xantia specific to panic about really. Coming from an Xm the Xant is really a far
easier less 'needy' car to keep on top of and they're actually very indispensible cars to have around. OK, not
the same as the DS3 unless you fancy an Activa or V6!!

There's a surprising limited availability of Xantiae as I've been looking around at everything available recently
on ebay etc and there's just 30 currently coming up on the 'cars' section listings and many aren't TD's. You'd
do worse than follow the wheeler dealings on FCF as it seems like there's plenty being swapped about the
place at the moment - Rattiva_Mike still has a HDi saloon available I believe.

[CitroJim]

Rattiva_Mike still has a HDi saloon available I believe.

I know that car very well - it was mine for nearly a year. It's a bit scruffy and had a hard life but in my care it got all done that it needed and Mike had had no bother with it at all in the few months he's had it. It's not perfect but not bad either...

I passed it on when I had a chance to get another V6 which was then involved in a swap with Citroenmad for a certain XM I have. Rattiva_Mike now has Citroenmad's V6 as he now has a very tidy HDi estate. That's how Xantias circulate around FCF members

Good Xantias, like XMs, are getting very thin on the ground. I recommend either a 110 HDi or a 2.1TD as the choice ones. The V6 can be surprisingly economical and very trouble-free and lovely too...

Watch too for rust in the sills in the rear door shuts where there's a seam.

Also watch for rusty PAS pinion supply pipes on S2s. They burst with increasing frequency now but still remain faultless on S1 cars.

Good Activas are now in rocking horse poo territory and can be a bit XM-like in their need for constant reassurance and TLC...

[Duke]

Mark - get a V6!

I remember you commenting on the sound when we drove you around the rally field at CXM...

[captainhaddock]

It is funny, but I have been looking for a good HDI xantia for years in Ireland. Never found a good one. During this search I coincidently came across an XM that my wife really wanted. I had never ever looked at XM's but that now seems to have been a mistake. Still, I kept watching out for a replacement for my- not- so- very- good- anymore- petrol xantia but the replacement came to be: another XM

[citroenxm]

Im finding another HIDDEN weakness on S2 Xantia hatchs, had it on two S2 cars.. At the back BEHIND the outer sill below the back doors, feel up behind the cill theres a FLAT section, Ive had two of these sections rust through lately...

Door jams a common rust area too, but not structual...

Dont worry about mileage too much on HDi's they take it with less to no issues more then an XUD..

[andmcit]

I don't quite get which section you're referring to Paul: are you talking about the
inboard side of the outer cill's lip that is seen running along the car as surely I'd
call this the inner cill? Rear door jambs are still seen as MOT failure points as the
corrosion is just within a foot of the bodyshell fastening / mounting point of the
ring for the rear door's striker catch.

Don't HDi's tend to like lift pumps at regular intervals?

[citroenxm]

The lift pumps go once but after replacement not again usually...

under the jamb rusty area behind the outer sill lip there's a flat section of the inner Cill...

[citroenmad]

You won't regret getting a Xantia Mark, they are superb cars and make very good workhorses. Even compared to modern cars they are a very nice drive.

I have just got a HDi Exclusive and I like it so much that its going to be my daily driver, my C5 is going. I'll no doubt get another XM, eventually, but the HDI Xantia is a very nice daily car.

As mentioned really, strut tops, heater matrix, rust on the sill/wing join in the rear door opening. You will know if you have found a rusty car quite early on, so check the mentioned places if so. On the whole, they hold up to rust well.

As Paul says, the HDi is good for many many miles, a good majority have well over 200K now and are still providing sterling service.