1991 Citroen XM V6 Sei review from UK and Ireland

Starter packed up (replacement packed up too!).

Rear windows dropped out (common fault - ropey plastic things to hold them on the winding cables)

Various bits of broken interior trim.

Ignition Control Module died (again common fault caused by it getting too hot)

Spheres need changing this year sometime (just wear and tear).

Various niggling electronic faults.

But don't let any of that put anyone off buying an XM. They really are fantastic in a number of ways.

Firstly, driving an XM is like riding a magic carpet! It is the only car on the road which can take speed humps at 50mph!

Secondly the V6 (mine's a 12 valve) engine is a peach, it pulls like a train from the off to 120mph. Needless to say I still haven't been brave enough to push it all the way to the claimed top end of 140ish!

The interior is just as radically styled as the exterior and if you like your gadgets and gizmos you will love this. Have you ever been in a car with an electric center arm-rest? No I am not joking!

Out on the open road the car is poised and balanced better than most cars of its class (and indeed size) and cruises effortlessly on the motorways and it is all to easy to exceed the speed limit by a considerable margin without noticing!

Fortunately the brakes on the car are fantastic, working, as they do, off the hydraulic system you can stop in about the length of a cigarette packet!

However, if you are the sort of person who expects everything to work perfectly, buy a Toyota. These cars do have faults. Indeed there are a lot of common ones, but few are serious and generally only require time and patience to correct.

That said, if you want comfort, style, grace, space, pace, performance, gadgets, gizmos, toys and something a bit different then buy one. Now!