Later model Xantia's

Scottland · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:29

Does anyone (possibily Fox or mattpc) know if the later model (99 onwards) Xantia's had the same supension setup as the earlier ones; i.e. Hydraulics, Sphere's etc.

Reason being, my parents are looking at these and 406's HDi for <£2500. And were wondering if this was the case.

TIA

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:32

All Xantia's with the exception of the VSX, Exclusive and Activa have the same suspension setup from August 1994 until replacement in 2001.

The VSX and Exclusive have Hydractive (II?) suspension - which gives a comfort and sport option for the suspension, controlled by a computer. This means these models have additional spheres.

The Activa is more complex again - it has Active Roll Control System which, when it works, means the car corners completely flat.

Xantia II is the Xantia you should be looking for really - 1998 onwards. Although still capable cars, the original Xantia's are rapidly descending into banger territory, most look quite tatty now, and it's more and more difficult to find one where the previous owner actually looked after it.

But never fear, Xantia II's are readily available from about a grand. Just do your homework and don't buy a duffer.

Scottland · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:33

[TW]Fox said:
All Xantia's with the exception of the VSX, Exclusive and Activa have the same suspension setup from August 1994 until replacement in 2001.

The VSX and Exclusive have Hydractive (II?) suspension - which gives a comfort and sport option for the suspension, controlled by a computer. This means these models have additional spheres.

The Activa is more complex again - it has Active Roll Control System which, when it works, means the car corners completely flat.

Cool, thats what I wanted to know. Cheers

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:34

The ideal specification, combining lack of hassle with high spec, would be an SX. You don't get computer trickery and additional spheres, but you do get electric windows front and rear, velour interior, alloys, rear spoiler, climate control, remote central locking, rain sensing wipers, etc.

atpbx · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:35

Im sure it depends on what spec car it is the more expensive models come with the floaty suspension and the cheap ones didnt.

Bah Fox beat me, and i also should have said "more expensive floaty suspension"

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:36

atpbx said:
Im sure it depends on what spec car it is the more expensive models come with the floaty suspension and the cheap ones didnt.

ALL Xantia's have hydraulic suspension. The differences are as I detailed above.

Scottland · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:36

[TW]Fox said:
The ideal specification, combining lack of hassle with high spec, would be an SX. You don't get computer trickery and additional spheres, but you do get electric windows front and rear, velour interior, alloys, rear spoiler, climate control, remote central locking, rain sensing wipers, etc.

Thats actually what we've seen locally - bit pricey though (£2995).

What about the spec on the Forte's are the equivalent to the LX's or somewhere inbetween?

Also, do the later ones have the manual height adjuster?

atpbx · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:37

[TW]Fox said:
ALL Xantia's have hydraulic suspension. The differences are as I detailed above.

check my edit dude.

mattpc · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:38

Nothing to add really other than these suspension systems are not as scary as people think. A set of spheres on normal Xantias can be had for £150 with a three year warranty and the price includes labour so it's hardly an expensive system to run. Have you heard that you will lose brakes if the car goes wrong? Not true- Xantias have an accumulator sphere thats function is essentially to make sure that the brakes still work if the car stalls or the engine stops for any other reason.

If by any chance (i know it's unlikely) your parents are still in the running for a Xantia I would be most happy to give you a few tips on what to look for when viewing.

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:39

Scottland said:
What about the spec on the Forte's are the equivalent to the LX's or somewhere inbetween?

I *think* so but it's been a while since i looked at Xantia's - Desire II is the 'equivilent' special edition to SX I believe?

Also, do the later ones have the manual height adjuster?

Yes they all do, wasn't until the C5 that the manual adjustment was binned.

There is no need to pay £3k for a Xantia.

mattpc · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:39

By the way Scotland, try and persuade your parents to buy the 110bhp Xantia. The extra power makes a big difference and they are more economical apparently. The main technical difference is that the 110bhp models have an intercooler.

Scottland · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:47

We've had a Xantia in the past ('93 1.9TD, had it for 8 years) and are reasonably famliar with the suspension setup of the older ones, but weren't sure where the ground lay with the newer ones.
The hydraulic setup isn't putting them off it, but it's just something they want to bare in mind, as they'll be towing a caravan with it (dont worry it'll be in France & Spain

) it might actually be more of an advantage.

And yes, £3k is a lot but its about 2 mins from work and I was going to have a poke around it and see what condition it was in.

mattpc said:
By the way Scotland, try and persuade your parents to buy the 110bhp Xantia. The extra power makes a big difference and they are more economical apparently. The main technical difference is that the 110bhp models have an intercooler.

Yeah, I've got the same engine in my 307

mattpc · 6 Mar 2006 at 20:20

Fair enough matey! The HDI Xantias should be cheaper than the equiv 406. I imagine the 110 xantia would be great for towing. I know the old 2.1td used to win the carvan club awards etc! "Tower of the year"

Scottland · 6 Mar 2006 at 20:31

mattpc said:
Fair enough matey! The HDI Xantias should be cheaper than the equiv 406. I imagine the 110 xantia would be great for towing. I know the old 2.1td used to win the carvan club awards etc! "Tower of the year"

There's not *that* much in it actually, although there are loads about with starship mileage on. I think it'll come down to locallity really as they cba travelling hundreds of miles to save a few hundred quid, and I can see their point.

This is what I'll be having a nose at on my way into work. I reckon for If you could get it for £2200 it would be a good deal, depending on condition etc.

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2006 at 20:33

Uncanny how similar that looks to mine which went for... £200 a year ago

Scottland · 6 Mar 2006 at 20:36

[TW]Fox said:
Uncanny how similar that looks to mine which went for... £200 a year ago

Actually, yeah it does

Although I got £400 for mine, and it needed word doing on it

Your's had 150+ on it though didn't it? They'll be trapsing all over Europe in it so dont want *that* many miles on it

[TW]Fox · 6 Mar 2006 at 20:36

166k

mattpc · 6 Mar 2006 at 20:59

That one in the autotrader ad looked nice but since the mileage is not listed I would guess that its probably high! I think when Xantia buying you need to be particularly patient and wait for a good one. I find that when Xantia buying the good ones usually get snapped up straight away and the dogs hang around like a bad smell. The trick is to get on the autotrader website early on thursday morning when the ads change over and look then.

Scottland · 6 Mar 2006 at 21:04

mattpc said:
That one in the autotrader ad looked nice but since the mileage is not listed I would guess that its probably high! I think when Xantia buying you need to be particularly patient and wait for a good one. I find that when Xantia buying the good ones usually get snapped up straight away and the dogs hang around like a bad smell. The trick is to get on the autotrader website early on thursday morning when the ads change over and look then.

Yeah, I saw a bargain HDi Exclusive go for £1100 on eBay a few weeks back. Their position is that they don't mind spending money, so long as it's a good one. They're not specifially out for a 'bargain'

Also, Autotrader website is updated on the fly isn't it? I put mine up for sale there last week and it was up on the website within 10-15 mins? Co-incidentally it was a Thursday though

mattpc · 6 Mar 2006 at 23:12

I could be wrong m8, it's a while since I bought a car off there. I would be a little wary of a 2.0 hdi exclusive for £1100. Unless it was a starship miler it would surely be worth more than that which begs the question why is it this cheap and has it been maintained properly? I was offered a 2.0 HDI exclusive for £1750 with 150k on the clock but it had no history so I went for my 2.0 sx 135k for £1290 instead. (this was a year ago). My car has full history so I at least know what work has or has not been done.