1996 Citroen Xantia Dimension review from UK and Ireland

Apart from replacing the normal things that wear on any car - tyres, windscreen wipers, bulbs and exhaust bits etc, nothing - repeat NOTHING has ever gone wrong with this car.

I thought this unblemished record had become tarnished some 2,000 miles ago. Although she started as normal and idled perfectly, power was down and she struggled uphill. I checked everything, compression was good and even across all cylinders, there were no inlet leaks and no electrical gremlins. The problem turned out to be a collapsed monolith in the catalytic converter, (it had done 120,000 miles so no criticism) so the lambda sensor was giving duff information to the engine management system. I fitted a new cat. and my hat hit the back seat the first time I touched the gas pedal. Since then she has performed like a new car.

This car has been an absolute joy to own and to drive.

The engine is quiet and responsive, burns no oil and starts first time EVERY time.

The ride is 'magic carpet' smooth with the Activa suspension stiffening when cornering hard.

The air con has never been touched and still works perfectly.

Parts are cheap and readily available.

Interior is comfortable and easy to maintain.

In the recent wet weather the hydro-pneumatic suspension has been a godsend in that I have put her on high lift and have been able to tiptoe through deep flood water and not even get the body wet.

I admit to being a bit of a Citroen freak, (I currently own five different models), it's not that I collect them, I just find I cannot bring myself to let them go when I get a new one. Logically I know that they are just so much metal and rubber, but these cars are like nothing else on the roads and have such quirkiness and personality that they almost become one of the family.