1999 Citroen Xantia LX Estate from UK and Ireland - Comments

The only problem I have experienced whilst owning the car was that I had to fit a new near exhaust box. Total cost £95.00.

This is a fast car - top speed in excess of 120 mph and acceleration to match.

The fuel economy is amazing, regularly returning 45 mpg in town and nearly 60 mpg on a run. Towing a caravan the car returns an average of 40 mpg.

The suspension has been extremely reliable and comfortable despite towing a caravan over hills and dales.

I have to agree, having owned and ran BX's for about 12 years my only alternative was the Xantia and I was fortunate enough to find a bargain HDi model (there are a few about now) with only 57k on the clock and 2 owners. The man I bought it from had used it to tow his large caravan, but decided to change it for a 4 wheel drive because the xantia hasn't got the traction going across fields!!!

I have only done about 5k in it so its early days. I thought my BX diesel was good, but these cars are brilliant and better than the 1.9TD unit which are slower by comparison.

The advantages are 12k servicing, twin airbags, 205 wide tyres, traffic master, Air con, economical 90hp version 45mpg (BX was only managing 38 because I had to thrash it)

mine came with towbar pre fitted. A lot of car for little money. Heavier car means it will sit happily at high speeds and ABS for stopping quickly - very happy here only wish I had done it sooner

My only complaint is the insurance! from £220/year 1.9TGD BX to £346 for the HDi.

I had a Honda Accord 2.0is prior to buying my X reg Xantia 2.0 HDI with 19,000 miles on the clock at a reasonable price. If I thought the Honda was a decent car, then the Xantia surpasses it in every way. I did try a used C5 before making my decision, but the Xantia held the edge, Citroen must have really refined this car over the years.

What a tow car, hauled my caravan from North of Scotland to the Czech Republic with a third of the fuel stops required by the Honda. It was often easy to forget that there was a caravan behind the car.

I really don't know why Citroen decided to go with the C5, apart from consumer hype. The late Xantia's are virtually bugless and could have been restyled with all the proven components to meet market hype.

No regrets.

I wrote the comment on 1st Mar 2004, 14:32 to add to that almost 4 years later.

The car I bought wasn't a 90hp as I had been told when I bought it, but a 110hp as I found out when ordering parts. I fitted a tuning kit after getting a speeding fine as an act of defiance and a K&N sports filter and it keeps up with 130hp VW and ford TDi's no problem.

I still have it and still going strong @116k, changed the spheres, front discs n pads. Just waiting a rear height corrector. On the whole I had hardly spent anything on it apart from a cat on the exhaust which was £300 and it runs like a dream

I bought a C5 (90hp) to replace it a couple of months ago, but wish I hadn't bothered, apart from the cheaper tax I think the xantia is a better car for handling although the C5 is more comfortable. I may sell the C5 and keep the xantia for a few more years, its worth virtually nothing, but still has many miles left in it.