Comments: 1-15, 16-21
The oil pump leaks oil only had it 1 day and it had 191,011km.
Gas for the air condonditioning has gone the same day I borrowed it at 191,002km.
This is only a borrowed car so don't know what other things have gone wrong with it.
This car is a very bad car not only because it's a french car, but also because it's a Citroen. French cars are know for breaking down and having bad parts also when the car breaks down the parts are very expensive. Other know French cars like Peugeot and Renault are also very bad. Some of the things it has in it like hydraulic lifting is not needed also the electronic seats is only a insult to human kind as it makes life even more easy. Like I said before the parts to hydraulic lifting cost a lot and also to the electronic seats.
Sounds like the owner not the car that is bad.
Not all french cars are that bad at. So that is a really silly generalization. Problems sounds more like neglect than anything else.
I agree with the first comment. You borrow a about 200000 km car and the air conditioning does not work after 1 km... did it work before?? and the oil pump, was it perfect 2 km before. "All French cars are bad, especially Citroën". Then why not buy a excellent Polish vehicle like the Solidarnosc 000??
The reviewer of the borrowed Citroen really has no valid argument to make. I would suggest that the reviewer is feeling pique toward French cars in general and doesn't really have anything constructive to say or anything of real value to any prospective purchasers. It is difficult to take such reviews seriously at all. The 'facts' as given only serve to highlight the majority of positive feedback on this vehicle.
Now on my 4th XM. First one was a 2.1 litre diesel, unfortunately written off in an accident at 135,000 miles. 2nd car was a 3.0 V6, bought at 106,000 miles and sold at 140,000 miles. The other two are 2.0 litre petrol turbos... one just scrapped off at 174,000 miles; the other is a low mileage example (48,000) which I am treating gently... since they are becoming hard to get hold of. Having driven to the moon in terms of distance in these cars I can possibly claim to make a more valid critique of this particular model's strengths and weaknesses. If you treat them right and service them properly they are still one of the best rides on the road. None of the bits peculiar to citroen have ever given much trouble... there have been the usual french minor electric problems, leaking radiators/hoses, clutch cables going, a few spheres changed... all things you expect on high mileage cars bought cheaply. Never had any engine problems, but there again I don't thrash them and change the oil on schedule. Very comfortable cars, much underrated, don't rust, very safe in an accident, still look unusual/classy nearly 20 years after they came out. Not the fastest car in the world and not for boy racers, but a car in which you arrive having always enjoyed the trip. If you like your motoring bland, buy a mondeo!
All excellent comments, except the first one, sadly.
I've owned 4 Citroens in my life - 2 x Visa II (Club and Super E), BX 19D (1984), BX 19TRD (1987), have driven one XM in my time, and am getting ready to buy a '95 XM, 2.1TD.
I've put close to 1 million kilometers on these 4 cars, and would challenge any manufacturer to be able to say they've had a customer like that. I've had only one minor issue with my Visa II Super E, BXs were FLAWLESS!
Like someone said - don't like Citroen? Buy a Mondeo!
I too agree with most of above. It's a matter of weighing the positive benefits of Citroen design against questionable build quality, esp. electrics in my experience.
Having owned two XMs (and various other Citoens - see below) it seems to me that the XM was the first modern big Citroen successfully to combine fundamental originality of design with general usability and 'feel' to rival more conventional cars. In that way it differed from its two predecessors, the DS and CX.
My Citroen ownership over the years (chronological - can't guarantee I've remembered every one) is:
1) DS23 Safari (great in every way except a bit heavy on fuel)
2) Ami Super (a bit rough, forgivable as it cost only about 100GBP)
3) Dyane (best forgotten, bought in a hurry, sold immediately because totally rusted underneath)
4) SM EFI (fantastic, I still have it, only 25k miles from new, rides better than DS and XM)
5) BX19RD Estate (great - did 96k completely trouble free miles)
6) BXTZD Estate (nice, but somehow not as endearing as the 19RD; ride not as good)
7) XM Mk1 24V V6 (super dynamically, great luxury, but engine blew up (cam chain tensioner) ; learnt subsequently that this was a rogue engine design and that they all blow up - unlike the later and rare v. late Mk.2 quad-cam 24v)
8) Visa Gti (late model with bigger valves - great car with wonderful handling, more fun than nearly any of 30+ cars I've owned, MUCH better than a Peugeot 205Gti)
9) BX19D Estate (another one - just as good as the first, a great, economical, comfortable workhorse)
10) XM2.1SED (my current everyday car - I love it; just been to Italy and back for the 2nd time; did 940miles on 1 tankful - admittedly with gentle driving though it included a bit of Alpine stuff)
I've also driven a GS and a CX and thought them great, especially the former.
A point about XM handling and ride - it's a superb combination, but you don't get its 'chuckable' handling for nothing. The ride, though superb compared with most other comparable cars, is simply not as good as the earlier DS/SM/CX. This surprised me when I first drove my XM24v over sleeping policemen - its absorption was nowhere near as good as my SM, but on the other hand the handling really is better overall than the SM. It's certainly more conventional and chuckable, to use that word again, with much less body roll and none of the extreme steering sensitivity that still takes a little getting used to when I drive my SM after a few months' gap.
What a shame the XM wasn't built by BMW or Mercedes - but thereagain, if it was, people like me couldn't afford one...
I have recently purchased a low mileage Citroen XM Mk2 2.0 CT turbo VSX with 35 thousand miles. Unfortunately my previous experience with the XM has been in the form of well used garage loan cars, and I now realise didn’t do the car justice, perhaps as is the case with the example cited by the Polish originator of this thread.
The ride is generally superb, particularly at speed, combing as it does excellent damping with plenty of suspension travel, maintaining the typical and distinctive Citroen softness. At low speed it deals with sharp bumps rather more competently than the CX.
The engine is generally quiet and flexible, although being a 2.0 turbo, it is not as tractable as I would ideally like. The automatic gear box is mostly smooth, but changes can be detected unlike some other luxury cars I have driven, notably a Lexus and the Citroen CX 2.5 automatic that I also own. Performance is fine for me, although I am not a ‘push on’ driver and so am not the best judge of this.
Other positives: 1. The seats are very comfortable especially for long journeys. 2. The ergonomics are generally pretty good, although it is too easy to hit the indicator stalk when moving the cruise control lever. 3. Excellent and versatile luggage space and roomy interior. 4. Considerably more solid than previous Citroens, as exemplified by the door shut.
Dislikes: 1. The XM does feel more ordinary to drive, and lacks the attractiveness of previous big Citroens (CX, SM, DS, Traction Avant). 2. The steering is rather ordinary (same system as BX) and consequently the car lacks the remarkable manoeuvrability of the CX. 3. The interior design, although it works well, lacks the distinctiveness of the CX. In particular it is so black – I wish it had some colour. At least the dash is fairly low, adding to the sense of spaciousness. (I wouldn’t want to be without the pushbutton climate controls as, to my mind, they do lift the interior a little). 4. The handbrake arrangement doesn’t bother me as I have an automatic, but it has in manual cars I have driven. 5. The dot matrix display doesn't work-I understand this is typical of the breed. (Does anyone know where working examples can be found?)
Overall, I am very happy with the XM, it is a better car than I anticipated and it feels distinctive to drive, although perhaps not distinctive enough. I only wish that there were more low mileage unspoiled examples available. Most I see look pretty tired.
I am only 20 and have had a Ford Fiesta (was a bout 20 years old, I was only 17)
But the main line up, a ZX 1.4 Reflex J-Reg (lovely, but stalled frequently anytime, but managed to sort it. a ZX 1.9d Temptation R-Reg with 100,000 on the clock, I added 40,000 in a year and though I always seemed to be working on the car it was little niggles and inexpensive things, but I have nothing better to do at the weekend.
And the best one, only had it 2 months now... a Citroen Xantia 1.9td SX with 108,000 on the clock now, sadly the Air Con doesn't work, but I'm eventually trying to get that sorted, but I have found my soul mate hehehe.
Maybe next year when I've added 40,000 on it I'm quite interested in an Xm, but not entirely sure if I will have the money to support it, but it's a dream car for me to have.
Hopefully the chap on the original post will read this... how can you slate a car that you borrowed and have no idea how well its been looked after, like a previous post its not constructive for someone whos new to citroens... and lets hope it really doesn't put anyone off.
I really enjoy getting into the Xantia and if I don't get an Xm next year then I will try my best to get a newer Xantia VSX model... oh yeahhhhh.
Theres no other manufacturer that I'm interested in one little bit...I've been converted to Citroens its as simple as that.
I wished that the original did not come from my homeland. What always surprised me is that most people there do drive ugly VW's with no suspension on the worst roads in Europe full of holes like after WW2. No wonder they are frustrated about driving and cars in general. They seem not to see the obvious that is to use Citroen cars for such severe road conditions.
And how can you say something about the car without testing it throughly? I can understand that. Most of the cars imported to Poland are wrecks, which are afterwards horribly maintained. The common opinion in Poland is that German cars are superb, don't break down etc. When you compare statistics with other manufacturers it is not true.
One thing is to be mentioned here however: Bad workshops and owners lacking in common sense can ruin your Citroen. The Citroen cars with their sophisticated technology are only kind to mechanics with brains.
I owned CX that was very reliable. I sold it because of engine wear after zyllions of km. Now I am about to buy a Citroen again, probably XM because it is probably the most reliable and cheap to maintain (common parts with Peugeot) car that Citroen produced. And all the reviews, but one seems to tell you the same things: luxurious, reliable and best for its price.
You must be joking, if it is the worst car you have even driven, then it is not a Citroen XM. I would never change it.
Hello.
I am 1 of the lucky (!) ones to be raised and transported in Citroen's. My father never wanted anything else and had: DS, GS. SM (still has it!!) several CX's, BX and now and Xm 3.0 V6 24v .Myself: Xantia 2.0i, and now: ' 92 XM 3.0 V6 and an '82 CX pallas (hobby car). As sais in previous messages a Citroen needs it's regular and on-time maintenance. They are great cars, at the time every model was made, engineering and ergonomics far ahead of time.
I am driving my Citroen's with pleasure and yes there are some arguments, weak electrical systems, timely checking of LHM levels etc. etc. best is to become member of a club or chat at forums, but most important: treat your lady well and give her new juices on time and every journey in your Citroen is much more pleasure then in any other brand; comfortable seats (specially CX, SM and XM) but remember: A Citroen will never be a Mercedes or a BMW.
Greetings.
A Citroen lover/driver!!
And a bmw will never be a citroen, I've driven both, and citreon beats it.
I own a citroen zantia 1.9td vsx and the xm. Both are fantastic cars. Occasionally theres a hiccup or two, but with regular maintenance they're both fine. These Citroens have character there shape and styling get a double look. Modern cars all appear to be the same general style and shape,,,,boring,,,,,. The only problem I seem to have at times is acquiring spares especially for the xm.
Hello I'm Lithuanian. I've got 4 Citroens, 3 XMs, two of them are 2.1TD, one 2.0T, and a Xantia 1.9td SX. They're really great cars, I love them. Get them serviced when you have to; don't wait and have the money for it.
Hydraulic suspension is really lovely and ga reat thing.
Now I've bought a Ford Tourneo Connect - it's horrible, but it's new.
Citroens are made with love, not like BMW or other cars... Just drive and enjoy, and when you have to go to have a service, go, don't wait.
The Citroen XM is a GREAT CAR. Very comfortable and brilliant on long journeys. If you keep on top of the maintenance then you will have no problems with it at all. My car is a 2.1 TD SED, I paid £750 for my vehicle and although it was dirty and untidy, after months of hard work it is a very distinctive & and beautiful car to behold. If you like design in a car, then the XM IS THE CAR FOR YOU. No it is not BMW OR MERCEDES, but it is a fine car to own and drive. If there are any other XM owners in the Canterbury area please get in touch.