Would it be reasonable to suggest you may not keep the car for long as it's a short term contract? Or are you after a "keeper"?
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You can do much better than an XM, especially an auto. Hydractive suspension, plus auto box, plus Citroen equals a car which costs much more than you think. It's an appealing design but an impractical choice.
Don't look beyond the usual suspects at that price unless you're thinking of paying £3k plus lord knows how much in bills. Mondeos, Vectras, late Cavaliers, Hondas or Toyotas are where it's at if you want value for money plus day-in, day-out reliability.
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Probably a 'keeper' rather than a disposable motor. Forgot about the hydractive suspension; do Xantia's have the Hydractive suspension or are they sensible?
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Agree with late Cavalier (not early Vectras, too many \"issues\") and Honda Accords are proving to be remarkably good value for money. Don\'t ignore the Primera.
I ask about \"keeper\" or not as this may influence your decision on residuals. Out of the above, the Accord is probably the best bet on residuals (and a 96 onwards 1.8 will give reasonable mpg and most of the depreciation will be behind it). Mondeos at £3k are two a penny so you could find something reasonable, but avoid the TD like the plague. Primeras handle superbly and are pretty well equiped. You will get a lot of Primera for your money.
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When I was looking for a car to do 25k miles a year, I asked my mate, who works for Honda, about Accords of the age you'll be looking at, because they looked great value. I still remember word-for-word what he said,"Dull, dreary but b***** reliable." I think this was a totally fair assessment. The Coupes and possibly estates (can't remember to be sure) are built in USA and are totally different cars from the saloons, much higher insurance and more difficult for spares. I'd avoid.
I ended up buying a Mondeo by the way, which is great. My other preference was for a Primera, which I'd enjoyed as a Co. car in a previous life. Mondeos far more common tho.
I'd disagree about avoiding Mondeo TD's. They are far from new-tech, but seem to last well and be quite reliable. I've driven a few for long distances and once up to speed they're not bad at all. Airport taxi man I use occasionally has one and it was at 280000 last time I travelled with him and he's well pleased.
Hope this is of some help
Andy
ps. All that I'd avoid like the plague is anything French or Italian - overcomplicated and unreliable. However, the best motorway mile-muncher I drove was my 1996 company Laguna, when it worked!
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There's loads of taxi Xantias, if they were unreliable they'd avoid them like the plague, the same goes for TD Mondeos. I do an hour-ish a day in my petrol Xantia, when the bike is off the road, and it's been fine, 33mpg. I bought with 92,000 on the clock and it's now at 111,000. My old BX was very reliable at 147,000, it was the regularly breaking clutch cables that made me sell it.
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Go with your instincts, buy the Xantia.... I bought mine at the beginning of Nov (95TD with 72k miles) for £1450. Have put 8k miles on it since - had to have a new wheel bearing a couple of weeks ago, but apart from that not a murmur from it (death knell now sounding loudly in the background). It's comfortable, economical, fast enough (most of the time!), handles better than most other cars I have driven (including Foci that are supposed to be the bench mark), very very quiet (I haven't quite got used to driving a car that doesn't have any squeaks or rattles), has the best (hydropneumatic) ride for motorway cruising. Avoid anything that doesn't feel right, and has hydractive suspension (button by the handbrake), and you're laughing.
No, on second thoughts buy one of those boring mainstream motors, and leave the cheap Xantias for me.... :-))))
3k might even get you an HDi at a push....
Richard
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Sorry Doug, but surely a car whcih regularly breaks clutch cables is unreliable?
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It started to break them towards the end, after I'd had the clutch renewed, it ended up pulling the cable holder out, the other side of the firewall from the pedals. I should have complained to the garage, but I was fed up and fancied a change. I had 30,000 trouble-free miles from it.
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Sorry guys, I have to disagree with the knockers. I've had two of these and never had a moment's problem with them. Cit's magic carpet ride makes the motorway miles fly by and 2.1 TD is very economical.
Suspension isn't hydractive, just normal Cit oleohydraulic stuff - the same as any Xantia in the price range.
Rob Govier bought one and (I think) is still enjoying it.
Any costs from an independent specialist will be cheaper than the likes of Vx will throw at you.
Go for it!
Terry
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