Mad old Citroens...
Discussion
So, RoverP6B's 22-year-old son, who does not yet drive but is looking forward to when he can afford to do so, has been exploring what he would like to have as his first car. Clearly, it has to be cheap. However, according to him, it also has to be large, spacious, practical and to prioritise ride quality above all else. Consequently, he is one of few of his age to be found drooling over Citroen XMs.
His question is... are there any experienced PHers who can recommend whether to go for an XM, a Xantia or a first-gen C5? He quite likes the current C5's looks but these are at present too pricey and hydraulically-suspended ones too difficult to find. He's fond of the XM but worries that it will be a rust/reliability nightmare. He admires the Xantia but is concerned about long term reliability and its poor crash safety (2 stars EuroNCAP). The C5 is by far the safest, but also the ugliest... decisions, decisions!
His question is... are there any experienced PHers who can recommend whether to go for an XM, a Xantia or a first-gen C5? He quite likes the current C5's looks but these are at present too pricey and hydraulically-suspended ones too difficult to find. He's fond of the XM but worries that it will be a rust/reliability nightmare. He admires the Xantia but is concerned about long term reliability and its poor crash safety (2 stars EuroNCAP). The C5 is by far the safest, but also the ugliest... decisions, decisions!
I have owned an XM and two C5s.
The XM was the most comfortable and the best to drive, but I don't think any of its 14 previous owners looked after it that well and things were always going wrong with it.
My first C5 was a 2004 2.0 HDI VTR. It was 3 years old with 65k on the clock when I bought it from auction. It did 42mpg when I drove, and 51 with my wife driving. The only problems occurred after the 90k service. The Citroen main dealer forgot to secure the handbrake cables after changing the brake pads, so the handbrake failed soon after. I spun and crashed the car quite spectacularly on the M40 and was able to walk away from a 70mph accident totally unhurt.
My second C5 was a 2.2 Exclusive. It was bought as a Citroen Approved used car, and had to go back to the dealer 6 times in the first 6 weeks of ownership, mainly due to suspension problems. It was fine once the inital issues were sorted, but was thirstier on fuel - it would normally do 34mpg.
Therefore I would recommend your son gets the C5. It might be ugly but you can't see the car once you're inside it. It is also very safe. Get it serviced by an independent specialist, and he should be fine.
The XM was the most comfortable and the best to drive, but I don't think any of its 14 previous owners looked after it that well and things were always going wrong with it.
My first C5 was a 2004 2.0 HDI VTR. It was 3 years old with 65k on the clock when I bought it from auction. It did 42mpg when I drove, and 51 with my wife driving. The only problems occurred after the 90k service. The Citroen main dealer forgot to secure the handbrake cables after changing the brake pads, so the handbrake failed soon after. I spun and crashed the car quite spectacularly on the M40 and was able to walk away from a 70mph accident totally unhurt.
My second C5 was a 2.2 Exclusive. It was bought as a Citroen Approved used car, and had to go back to the dealer 6 times in the first 6 weeks of ownership, mainly due to suspension problems. It was fine once the inital issues were sorted, but was thirstier on fuel - it would normally do 34mpg.
Therefore I would recommend your son gets the C5. It might be ugly but you can't see the car once you're inside it. It is also very safe. Get it serviced by an independent specialist, and he should be fine.
He's saying now that the C5 sounds like the best idea from the POV of dependability and safety. Would definitely be a petrol - if he bought a diesel I'd disown him - not that there's a risk of that as he seriously dislikes diesels too. What he says he would really like is the V6 with LPG conversion... personally, I think front wheel drive and non-inline sixes are tantamount to heresy, but whatever!
My Grandad had an Xantia when they were new, and to this day still says it's the best car he has ever had, and that's after having a load of German made cars since.
He was an hospital equipment engineer for Drager and used to travel up and down the country with a boot full of parts. I just used to like raising the suspension when he wasn't looking.
He was an hospital equipment engineer for Drager and used to travel up and down the country with a boot full of parts. I just used to like raising the suspension when he wasn't looking.
If you get a v6 and need any bits i have one in my yard i'm robbing for my 2.0hdi,it's only done about 80,000 i think.
RoverP6B said:
He's saying now that the C5 sounds like the best idea from the POV of dependability and safety. Would definitely be a petrol - if he bought a diesel I'd disown him - not that there's a risk of that as he seriously dislikes diesels too. What he says he would really like is the V6 with LPG conversion... personally, I think front wheel drive and non-inline sixes are tantamount to heresy, but whatever!
While the XM is of more modern construction, its genes are still owe much to the CX and DS; in other words remarkably rugged old nails that can conjure up a unique driving experience.
Having never owned a C5 I couldn't comment on one but asthetically an XM is (to me) vastly more interesting and, given the likely age of the vehicle your son would be looking at, there would be very little in it reliability wise.
XMs don't rust much in my experience - some of the panels (though not all) are galvanised. Niggly little electrical things happen and the main concern with the suspension is the condition of the pipework.
Your son is not alone in fancying an elderly French mistress - I had my first CX at 22 and went through a succession of futher CXs, BXs and XMs. Whatever else I had been driving I rarely tired of getting behind the wheel of a big Citroen.
The one Xantia I had was not a patch on any of them.
Having never owned a C5 I couldn't comment on one but asthetically an XM is (to me) vastly more interesting and, given the likely age of the vehicle your son would be looking at, there would be very little in it reliability wise.
XMs don't rust much in my experience - some of the panels (though not all) are galvanised. Niggly little electrical things happen and the main concern with the suspension is the condition of the pipework.
Your son is not alone in fancying an elderly French mistress - I had my first CX at 22 and went through a succession of futher CXs, BXs and XMs. Whatever else I had been driving I rarely tired of getting behind the wheel of a big Citroen.
The one Xantia I had was not a patch on any of them.
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