Winter Shed - Citroen Xsara
Discussion
I have a 2023 Mercedes Benz Vito Crew Van as a company vehicle (very tax efficient and I use it as a car), a 2002 Mercedes C32 AMG, and a 2009 Audi A4 2.0 TDi S Line Quattro Avant. My employer is making ever increasing rumbling noises to staff about possible changes in tax rules with Crew Vans likely to become taxed as cars, with a possibility of drivers being retrospectively back taxed, so lots of colleagues have taken a pay rise and bought their own vehicles. I have taken my C32 off the road for the colder months as driving it is like wearing roller skates on a frozen lake, and I can only justify 15 mpg with my boot firmly down on a lovely sunny day. Which leaves my A4, which has an unsolved DPF issue.
Im my little World, all this provides the justification for a shed. I've been on the look out for either a Peugeot 306 diesel - having had three a long time ago and them all being fantastic - an Audi 80 TDi, Golf Mk3 or Mk4 TDi, Leon Mk1 TDi etc Quite happy to spend £1500-£2000 and ideally a non pov model with a recent MOT within an hours drive. I'll take a pay rise and 2/3 months pay increase will cover the purchase, plus I get to park it just slightly too close to my bosses Mercedes in the office car park.
There really aren't many pickings of the ilk I have been casually looking for, especially with a turbo diesel engine for a nice economical waft to work. but up pops a 2004 Citroen Xsara 2.0 HDi LX with a long mot, for £995. A quick HPI check (4 owners, most recent since 2013) and a dig into its MOT history (no advisories for rot) indicated it might be a reasonable example. Silver with nicer bigger wheels and air conditioning. I called the garage who reassured me they had taken it in part exchange, did a few minor bits to get through an MOT and where selling it with 'no warranty implied or given'.
I'm fully aware that dealers can't actually do this, unless they are selling into the trade, or as parts. However, I have kicked off about this in the past, which resulted in a seller taking a 1995 Audi S2 Avant off sale and refusing to sell it to me
He confirmed that the AC doesn't work, but the rest of the electrics are fine, and it has an invoice for a refurbished rear axle, apparently a common issue. So I've bought it, sight unseen, and paid for it. I'm collecting it on Wednesday morning. I'm sure it'll be fine. Can't go wrong with a freshly MOT'd car for under a grand, right
Here's some pics pinched from their Autotrader advert.
Im my little World, all this provides the justification for a shed. I've been on the look out for either a Peugeot 306 diesel - having had three a long time ago and them all being fantastic - an Audi 80 TDi, Golf Mk3 or Mk4 TDi, Leon Mk1 TDi etc Quite happy to spend £1500-£2000 and ideally a non pov model with a recent MOT within an hours drive. I'll take a pay rise and 2/3 months pay increase will cover the purchase, plus I get to park it just slightly too close to my bosses Mercedes in the office car park.
There really aren't many pickings of the ilk I have been casually looking for, especially with a turbo diesel engine for a nice economical waft to work. but up pops a 2004 Citroen Xsara 2.0 HDi LX with a long mot, for £995. A quick HPI check (4 owners, most recent since 2013) and a dig into its MOT history (no advisories for rot) indicated it might be a reasonable example. Silver with nicer bigger wheels and air conditioning. I called the garage who reassured me they had taken it in part exchange, did a few minor bits to get through an MOT and where selling it with 'no warranty implied or given'.
I'm fully aware that dealers can't actually do this, unless they are selling into the trade, or as parts. However, I have kicked off about this in the past, which resulted in a seller taking a 1995 Audi S2 Avant off sale and refusing to sell it to me
He confirmed that the AC doesn't work, but the rest of the electrics are fine, and it has an invoice for a refurbished rear axle, apparently a common issue. So I've bought it, sight unseen, and paid for it. I'm collecting it on Wednesday morning. I'm sure it'll be fine. Can't go wrong with a freshly MOT'd car for under a grand, right
Here's some pics pinched from their Autotrader advert.
I picked the Citroen up a couple of weeks ago, and drove it home around 25 miles. All seemed well, starts instantly, holds it fluids, pulls as expected, clutch and gear shifting quite pleasant. Few dings and scuffs, interior is lovely... back seat looks like it's never been sat in ! I had forgotten just how hard you have to push the throttle pedal on these old diesels !
It's since sat on my driveway, and I'm expecting to swap my insurance over soon. My employer has given me notice of change of contract so soon be time for my company vehicle and fuel card to go back
Here's a few pics I took when I got it home.
It's since sat on my driveway, and I'm expecting to swap my insurance over soon. My employer has given me notice of change of contract so soon be time for my company vehicle and fuel card to go back
Here's a few pics I took when I got it home.
Nice car! I've had a Xsara estate for the past 4 years now, a 2.0HDI. Their boring but reliable, mine's not put a foot wrong other than usual car things wearing out.
Mine cost me £150. It's quite nice when the kids jump all over it or we go somewhere filthy to not care much! Mind the wiring, the door loom wires are very thin and snap, I've had to repair both front doors and the boot before, and I wasn't the first in there for either. Bar that it's fine. No DPF, No dual mass flywheel, just a nice simple citroen ZX in a pretty frock with an engine powerful enough to flash 97% of cars out of the way on the motorway if so inclined!
Mine cost me £150. It's quite nice when the kids jump all over it or we go somewhere filthy to not care much! Mind the wiring, the door loom wires are very thin and snap, I've had to repair both front doors and the boot before, and I wasn't the first in there for either. Bar that it's fine. No DPF, No dual mass flywheel, just a nice simple citroen ZX in a pretty frock with an engine powerful enough to flash 97% of cars out of the way on the motorway if so inclined!
Just a small update ! I gave the car a good blast around over the Christmas break, and it has, thus far, refused to break down.
I therefore decided to treat it to some upgraded headlight bulbs as the existing ones are like candles, and a new gear shift gaiter. I took it to a local performance car specialist to have it remapped to 115 bhp/ 250 lbft, but they have informed me that it will be expensive due to the inability to map it via the OBD port.
First drive to work in it today and its now proudly wedged in the car park between my colleagues' EQA and and C class.
I therefore decided to treat it to some upgraded headlight bulbs as the existing ones are like candles, and a new gear shift gaiter. I took it to a local performance car specialist to have it remapped to 115 bhp/ 250 lbft, but they have informed me that it will be expensive due to the inability to map it via the OBD port.
First drive to work in it today and its now proudly wedged in the car park between my colleagues' EQA and and C class.
Nice. I had a ZX Turbo D back in the day. That was the XUD unit that predated the HDi.
Ran my Dad’s old 205 diesel prior to that and the extra power and torque in the ZX meant it was night and day in terms of performance. Would have considered a Xsara as a replacement for a ZX, but landed up in a new job with a 2001 Golf GT TDI. First car I had with a six speed ‘box.
Enjoy the Xsara!
Ran my Dad’s old 205 diesel prior to that and the extra power and torque in the ZX meant it was night and day in terms of performance. Would have considered a Xsara as a replacement for a ZX, but landed up in a new job with a 2001 Golf GT TDI. First car I had with a six speed ‘box.
Enjoy the Xsara!
Edited by Tractor Driver on Thursday 4th January 23:46
[quote=80quattro]
Audi has just had a force regen and service, hopefully sorted. ECU has been remapped but with the DPF intact.
May sound daft, but have you considered one of those aerosol DPF cleaners. I run a Fabia with a DPF and used one - Simply branded - before the MOT due to very infrequent, and generally short journeys since semi retirement - results were very clean emission's. All it required was removal of a pipe on the DPF pressure switch for applying the product. I watch YT videos by a guy called O'Riley who flushes professionally but shows before/after pressures across the DPF with some being heavily blocked or even stuck in limp mode.
I ran a Xsara HDI back in the day after a ZX N/A and a ZX T/D running on bio-diesel thanks to Bosch pump and not Lucas - great cars but all suffered minor electrical glitches.
Audi has just had a force regen and service, hopefully sorted. ECU has been remapped but with the DPF intact.
May sound daft, but have you considered one of those aerosol DPF cleaners. I run a Fabia with a DPF and used one - Simply branded - before the MOT due to very infrequent, and generally short journeys since semi retirement - results were very clean emission's. All it required was removal of a pipe on the DPF pressure switch for applying the product. I watch YT videos by a guy called O'Riley who flushes professionally but shows before/after pressures across the DPF with some being heavily blocked or even stuck in limp mode.
I ran a Xsara HDI back in the day after a ZX N/A and a ZX T/D running on bio-diesel thanks to Bosch pump and not Lucas - great cars but all suffered minor electrical glitches.
Edited by Fabia Greenline on Friday 5th January 15:51
80quattro said:
Just a small update ! I gave the car a good blast around over the Christmas break, and it has, thus far, refused to break down.
I therefore decided to treat it to some upgraded headlight bulbs as the existing ones are like candles, and a new gear shift gaiter. I took it to a local performance car specialist to have it remapped to 115 bhp/ 250 lbft, but they have informed me that it will be expensive due to the inability to map it via the OBD port.
First drive to work in it today and its now proudly wedged in the car park between my colleagues' EQA and and C class.
Speak to (Steve I think) at HDi tuning. He mapped my 306 Hdi remotely, and actually wasn't too difficult. I just bought an MPPS wire for £10, read the ECU, sent him the file and he sent it back and reuploaded it to the car. Felt a bit odd at the time but the map made a massive difference and economy improved quite a bit tooI therefore decided to treat it to some upgraded headlight bulbs as the existing ones are like candles, and a new gear shift gaiter. I took it to a local performance car specialist to have it remapped to 115 bhp/ 250 lbft, but they have informed me that it will be expensive due to the inability to map it via the OBD port.
First drive to work in it today and its now proudly wedged in the car park between my colleagues' EQA and and C class.
After my rough man maths resulted in the purchase of my Xsara - I've now sold it.
Leaving the work car scheme gave me roughly £360 ish after tax, so £360 x 6 months = £2,160
£1,000 winter shed budget - £1,000
6 months insurance and RFL - £295
Left me £865 for any spends on it with the rest towards diesel. Spends were a new windscreen washer pump - £25 and some front speakers, £35. The 'leftover' £805 added to the £600 selling price gave me £1,405 for diesel, £234 / month or approx 4 tanks of diesel.
Overall result is a 'free' car for 6 months, which is what I hoped to achieve.
I initially wanted a 306 HDi, but couldn't find one with a recent MOT for my grand budget but the Xsara was too good a buy to pass up, and came along at the right time.
What prompted the Xsara sale was a remaining 6 months MOT, so I didn't think I would struggle to find a home for it - buyer did a 250 mile round trip for it - plus me finding a 306 HDi for a grand !! Its a 2001 306 2.0 HDi Meridian SE estate, 140k miles, 19 stamps in the service book and initial impressions are its a sweet as a nut ! Happy days ! Hoping for free motoring for another 6 months - transferring the insurance policy for the remaining 6 months of the policy was £6 - so off to a good start.
Leaving the work car scheme gave me roughly £360 ish after tax, so £360 x 6 months = £2,160
£1,000 winter shed budget - £1,000
6 months insurance and RFL - £295
Left me £865 for any spends on it with the rest towards diesel. Spends were a new windscreen washer pump - £25 and some front speakers, £35. The 'leftover' £805 added to the £600 selling price gave me £1,405 for diesel, £234 / month or approx 4 tanks of diesel.
Overall result is a 'free' car for 6 months, which is what I hoped to achieve.
I initially wanted a 306 HDi, but couldn't find one with a recent MOT for my grand budget but the Xsara was too good a buy to pass up, and came along at the right time.
What prompted the Xsara sale was a remaining 6 months MOT, so I didn't think I would struggle to find a home for it - buyer did a 250 mile round trip for it - plus me finding a 306 HDi for a grand !! Its a 2001 306 2.0 HDi Meridian SE estate, 140k miles, 19 stamps in the service book and initial impressions are its a sweet as a nut ! Happy days ! Hoping for free motoring for another 6 months - transferring the insurance policy for the remaining 6 months of the policy was £6 - so off to a good start.
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