Buying & selling modern classlcs in the real world
‘I was missing the world’s comfiest suspension’
With values of big Citroëns rising, is this the cheapest way in?
After 25 years of owning Citroëns with 'that funny’ suspension, I waved farewell to my last one in 2022. I hope to have another CX or DS in the fleet in the future, but parts prices and specialist help now comes at a cost. It never used to be that way, but I suppose it happens as investors begin to take an interest. It kills the joy a bit, doesn’t it? It certainly has not been helped at all by the soaring cost of everything else else in life lately.
That said, if you do seek a car with the best suspension system in the world (and yes, I really do believe that), there are still some bargain models out there. The final hydropneumatic Citroën, the ‘X7’ C5 is quite affordable. Nicely made and, leaky steering rack aside, very reliable. You may recall I snapped up nine of the previous generation (2001- 2008) C5 in the last few years, all of which were scrapyard saves. They may look a bit gopping, but they’re immensely comfy and are now rising in value. Crucially, the C5 feels like a Citroën, as does a C6 (although beware of cheap examples of those), plus the Xantia and XM. While I grew up in the back of an XM, my dad having owned a few of them, I’ve only ever had experience of Xantia Activas – the top of the range model with zero-roll, fully active suspension. While there was little else to touch those cars in the bends, I always preferred the look of the Xantia Estate. So, six months after saying farewell to my DS and CX, I jumped at the chance of saving the Xantia you see here from ending up on the local scrap heap.
Bought new by a gentleman who gave up driving a few years ago, he handed the keys to his son who, soon after, parked it up with a hydraulic leak and a rusty sill. It had been gathering mould for a while until I swooped on it and gave it a new pipe, a set of tyres and dealt with a little corrosion. It’s an extraordinary survivor, fully loaded with heated leather etc. and a paperwork file, complete with original bill of sale. It’s got the best engine too – PSA’s tough-as-boots 2-litre HDi. Same engine as my Berlingo, but with an intercooler and some extra straight-line oomph.
It has certainly reminded me how brilliant hydropneumatic suspension is when compared to steel springs - honestly, I know I go on about it but this kind of ride composure m
