Bidding on old xantia, has two problems.

atpbx · 12 Feb 2006 at 20:21

Im currently highest bidder on a 2000cc N reg xantia (only £155) to use to get to work.

It has two problems the seller says:

One, the suspension doenst pump up.
And two, the ABS light is on and stopping is a bit dubious, but its got a couple of months T&T on it so i figure, if i get it for a couple of hundred notes its a gamble i can take if i can get it sorted cheaply or just bang it straight back out again if i cant.

So whats the deal with the suspension? they recon they had a new part fitted and that sorted the problem, and it might "need adjusting"?
And what could be the ABS problem?

I'm half an hour from a Specialist Citroen breaker for bits and bobs, and the workshop at the depot will fit parts for me, i'm just after a rough idea how much i'm going to be looking at shelling out.

atpbx · 12 Feb 2006 at 20:36

What would be the most expensive reason?

atpbx · 12 Feb 2006 at 20:42

The only reason i'm bidding on it is:

A- I am a cheap skate when it comes to cars.
B- There is literaly NOTHING with less than a 180000 miles, thats working, has a valid MOT to drive it from the seller, thats less than 15 years old available at the minute for less than £500.
So if i get it for £200, that leaves me £300 notes to get it going, and im better off than buying a £500 wreck.
There was a nice Rover 620 on there for a buy it now of £550 but, it was an old rover.

As ive said, at the minute its £155 quid, with tax and MOT, so its less than a day at the football, less than a half decent graphics card, and more importantly, IF it can be fixed it saves me £4000 this year in diesel and rental on the truck (as i can reduce the lease from 50k to 35k)

atpbx · 12 Feb 2006 at 20:53

I suppose im in a fairly decent position with this:

I'm a fairly competant mechanic (although i've never even sat in a citroen let alone fixed one) it will not be my only means of transport so i have TIME to fix it once i know whats up with it.
It will give me something to do anyway.
Thanks for the input guys.

atpbx · 12 Feb 2006 at 21:19

Got it for the £155 in the end.
I had no intention of spending a huge amount, i can throw it away if its anything major at that price.
Its just the back that wont go up apparently.
Oh, its got a full service history as well supposedly, and 93K on the clock.

I should also add im only paying for half of it as me and my brother are both buying it and sharing the commuting costs.
So if it works out, ill be £3500 better off over the year (including running it).

atpbx · 18 Feb 2006 at 17:31

Got it back home.
We tried to get the suspension working at the guys house, but no avail, so had to drive it back on the stops.
That was interesting.
Suspension problem is seized height corrector, you get a bar and whack the rear height adjuster forward, and the car will go up, and go down, but no middle ground.
So tommorow will be spent, under the car, with a hammer, a crow bar, wd40 and a can of light grease trying to free it all up.
No idea about the ABS though, i'm going to have to pay someone to fix that.
Shifts for a barge as well.