Out with the Rover idea, in with the Xsara VTS!

Nedved11

Nedved11

Nedved11

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Joined
5 Aug 2003
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Well from my previous post here I have given up on the idea of getting the Rover 214/216 as I thought I could do better, besides i wasn't really entertaining the idea of blown head gaskets :(

It seems to be the hip choice at the moment. Have been looking into the Xsara VTR and VTS and they are coming down in price, some bargains to be had! I have got some quotes from the insurers and the best I'm getting for a VTS is about £650 TPFT.

A few things to go wrong i hear with these cars mainly electrics, I willing to take the gamble, I think it will pay off. Since these are pretty much 306 GTi-6's, right? anyway why pay the inflated price for one?!

I have seen some mint VTR's for under £1500, the VTS's are little hard to come by but hoping to pick one up for a similar priced VTR.

Anyone had any experiences with these cars or Xsara's in general? How would you rate reliability etc...

Cheers
 
Nedved11 said:
A few things to go wrong i hear with these cars mainly electrics, I willing to take the gamble, I think it will pay off. Since these are pretty much 306 GTi-6's, right? anyway why pay the inflated price for one?!
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Exactly.
 
Do not under estimate the pace of a VRS / GTI6, lovely car.

My VR6 2.8 is more beastly, but the GTI6 would **** on it on track.
 
hmm out with the rover 214/216 where the going price is about £500, in with the xsara VTS/VTR where the going price is around 2k+ :s ?

Or was you thinking of bubble shape 200's?

Tom.
 
Dont forget the chocolate cambelt when you get one ;) Not a bad car, im slowly changing my opinion on them :)
 
I've had my Xsara for a year now (99 HDi), no major problems and just consumables needing replacing. My alarm is a bit sensitive and can go off if the car's on an incline and its windy, another common problem is the airbag connectors under the front seats getting disconnected.

If you haven't already, visit www.xsarasportsclub.com, have a look around and ask any more questions :).
 
Good luck finding one in a decent colour, you'll need it :D.

But they are very good value for money, its just there isn't many of them about.
 
I don't think the Xsara VTR has anything to do with the 306 GTI-6 at all. The Xsara VTS shares the same engine as the GTI-6 though. But you don't get the nice 6speed close ratio box in the VTS or the great handling of the 306.

That said value for money the VTS is a great car. My 306 GTI-6 is great, especially the engine, but I like my car for the all round package it is. Yes the electrics are pretty awful. I have some problems with mine at the moment :( As mentioned about the cam belt, get it changed every 30,000miles instead of the recommended 60,000miles!

You could also look at 306 XSI's They have a 2litre lump in them but only put out 130ish hp as opposed to the GTI-6 and VTS 167hp. I have no idea what power a VTR puts out though?? guessing similar to the XSI maybe.
 
Gixer said:
I don't think the Xsara VTR has anything to do with the 306 GTI-6 at all. The Xsara VTS shares the same engine as the GTI-6 though. But you don't get the nice 6speed close ratio box in the VTS or the great handling of the 306.
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The 306 and Xsara are mechanically identical save for the gearbox fitted to the GTi-6. Thats what they have to do with each other, they are pretty much the same car only the Xsara has a more modern interior as it was designed later, tends to have more kit, and costs half the price.

Of course the VTR isn't the same as the GTi-6, thats the point in the VTS.
 
Thats what I was trying to say though, I think Nedved11 thinks a VTR has the same engine as the GTI-6 when its only the VTS that does. I think I complicated it all the way I put it across.
 
[TW]Fox said:
The 306 and Xsara are mechanically identical save for the gearbox fitted to the GTi-6. Thats what they have to do with each other, they are pretty much the same car only the Xsara has a more modern interior as it was designed later, tends to have more kit, and costs half the price.
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The Xsara doesn't look as good though ;)
 
Neither are Aston DB9's, it's hardly the difference between a Hyundai Pony and a 406 Coupe, is it? The front end views are even pretty similar in terms of design cues.
 
306 still looks better :p Has closer ratios as well thanks to the 6th speed gearbox so it pulls better once over 60 and xsaras have **** colours :) Other than that, smashing car.
 
I'm not even going to enter this discussion bar...

"The VTS is a fine car so long as you can live with the god-awful looks! They're great if you're on a budget. I'd still take an older GTi6 over one any day of the week though. :)"

P.S - Suspension setup isn't the same ;)

Drive both, there are noticable difference if you ask me (I drove both before buying). Oh and I much prefer the GTi6's interior to that dodgy "curved" dash in the VTS. But anyway cars like the GTi6 / VTS are suppost to be the height of interior design, they're hot hatches you have fun in.
 
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TripleT said:
But anyway cars like the GTi6 / VTS are suppost to be the height of interior design, they're hot hatches you have fun in.
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Yet you expect them to be the height of *exterior* design and would pay double the money to acheive that? ;)
 
I have an 01 VTS (series 2), I was after a GTI-6 for ages but after looking at W reg ones for 5.5k with horrendous interiors I decided I could live with the looks of the Xsara for the extra I received. Those extras being:
01 car for 2k less
Auto Wipers
6CD changer
AC & Climate Control
Trip Computer
Steering Wheel Controls
Electric Everything
etc. etc.

In all, I took the gamble and so far it's been great. The car is quick, not uneconomical if driven sensibly (obviously is as thirsty as you drive it), it won't turn any heads but it is a good sleeper. Highly recommended ;) Oh, mine is Posi Blue, it's a lovely colour when cleaned up.
 
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