1993 Citroen Xantia Reviews - Page 2 of 6

Front Accumulator Sphere losing pressure.

Front Height Corrector bust (£210 to fix)

Rear suspension very slow to rise needs sorting out.

Exhaust blown.

Temperature sensor and bypass air valve replaced.

ABS Sensor failed.

Both front Drive Shaft Gaiters have split.

Loses about 3/4l of oil a month.

Firstly the good points.

I have only ever driven one car with better brakes than this, and that was a Ferrari.

Very spacious, nice trim and controls (Steering wheel radio controls)

Looks different, you're making a statement by purchasing this car.

Suspension, although troublesome, is the smoothest I've ever experienced and make road humps disappear.

And now for the bad points...

Petrol consumption is terrible, the best I ever get out of it is about 22 mpg.

No-one, but Citreon dealers want to touch the suspension and so can get very expensive.

Engine management doesn't seem up to par.

A bit sluggish for a 2.0i.

One wheel bearing wore out.

Engine kept overheating - cause not determined before I sold the car!

Various unidentified leaks which could not be traced and which were not severe.

Hydraulic pump hissed. This normally happens on old Citroens and did not indicate a problem!

Bodywork was in good condition but bumpers were patchy at best - again, common on old Xantias.

Although not fast by any stretch of the imagination, this is the most enjoyable and entertaining car I have owned.

The ride was like a dream come true - solid, comfortable as all hell, and the hydraulic suspension made it feel like the car was riding on a cloud.

The interior was extremely tidy, a lovely grey which complemented the metallic green body. I sank into the seats and never wanted to get up. Ridiculously easy to keep clean both inside and out, this is a car my friends and family were proud to be seen in.

Running costs were low. I only got 37mpg on average as I have got a heavy right foot, but even I managed 45mpg a few times. The minor faults were cheap to fix, no major repairs were needed and I didn't own the car for long enough to require a service.

The handling was absolutely spot on; tight, responsive steering really got my herat pounding, which meant that I knew I wanted this car after the first mile of my test drive.

This Xantia seems designed for B-roads. There was very little body roll despite the car sharing a technology platform with the 406, a car noted for immense body roll on the less powerful models.

The spec level was good: all electric windows, air con and a decent 6-speaker sound system.

Being only 21 when I bought this car (my first), I enjoyed a great deal of cred - my mates all drove ordinary, crappy Escorts and Fiestas while I chose a much more mature and distinctive vehicle.

Delightfully oddball in style, which enough character to mark it apart from the rest of the motor brigade, the Xantia makes a fantastic alternative choice.

Nothing major so far, the lever which adjusts the seat height recently broke, and the seats and steering wheel are showing signs of wear. The stereo was not working when I acquired the car.

Fantastic drive, really smooth gear changes and the driving position is very comfortable. Big boot space and a flap in the back seats for putting long items in without going through the process of putting the seats down.

Despite the excess mileage the engine is showing no signs of wear, no black smoke out of the exhaust or excess fuel consumption.

The low parking suspension is also useful for loading the roof rack!