BUYING GUIDE
The Xantia was designed to be less eccentric than its predecessors yet retain their charismatic Hydropneumatic systems, and it succeeded
I f you want a CX but need a Mondeo, buy a Xantia. Citroën built over 1.3 million of them in eight years of production. It was easier to own than earlier Hydropneumatic models yet retained their ride comfort and light control inputs.
When launched, it was criticised for being bland compared to those previous cars but that was also partly the point. Judged now, in the car’s 30th anniversary year, the styling is more distinctive than its rivals and has aged well, especially in Mk2 form. It still looks slightly avant-garde, as a Citroën should, without being too challenging. Those same critics loved the driving experience, the comfort and the build quality.
Xantias were offered in an array of models, but only two body styles: a five-door hatch and an estate. Mid-range diesels were the big UK sellers; company cars, which then became commuting tools or taxis because of their famously parsimonious fuel consumption and reliability. High-mileage examples have gradually disappeared, although it’s not uncommon for a Xantia to cover 300,000 miles.
Finding a good one is now quite difficult although petrol cars seem to be more numerous. The super high-tech, roll-free Activa 2-litre Turbo which, when fitted with the right tyres, offers ‘better’ cornering than many supercars, was never available with the V6 in RHD and does not come up for sale often. The luxurious and surprisingly quick V6 Exclusive isn’t much more common. Both of these two halo models use components that can be difficult to find, although European websites can be very useful.
INSPECT THE SUNROOF
Most Xantias have a sunroof and the drains can get clogged, promoting rust. The pipes which run from the sunroof corners along the roof and into the drains can also perish necessitating a complex removal that can’t be avoided because, when they fail, the floor will fill up with water.
LOOK FOR A SAGGING REARR
On the test drive, if one end of the car is very stiff and bobblesbbles like a 911 then the suspension spheres probably need renewing – easy and not expensive. Check that the car has been serviced by someone who understands Citroëns. If the vendor says, ‘I fill it with brake fluid, it’s the same stuff,’ run! If the car is constantly trying to go up or down at the back, the ride height sensor may have seized; lubricating and then working it usually fixes it.
LOOK FOR RUST
The Xantia is a steel monocoque car and, although it does not rust as badly as its ’70s ancestors, it’s not immune t
