"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
12/03/2015 at 16:24 • Filed to: None
7
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"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
12/03/2015 at 16:24 • Filed to: None | 7
| 32 |
I made an appointment for a test-drive in a ‘97 Citroën Xantia Activa V6. I’m longing for one of those cars, but that whole Activa 10-sphere active suspension system with many hard to get parts scares me.
The Xantia Activa doesn’t have the (reliable) 6-sphere hydropneumatic suspension system the normal Xantia has. No. It’s got the 10-sphere active suspension system that prevents roll of any kind, and as a result makes this family car faster in quick turns than
any
other car of similar vintage, including hard core sports cars. Unlike the 6-sphere system the 10-sphere suspension system is, well, exotic.
The car I’ve made an appointment for has had maintenance and all, but the critical parts (including timing belt) might not have all that much life in them any more. It’s cheap at €1k and mileage is low-ish at 200k km, but still.
(this red one is the actual car)
I’m looking for a car for the Carbagerun. An old banger rally in winter conditions through the Germany, the Swiss Alps, Italy, France and ending in Andorra. I thought the Xantia Activa would be a great oddball choice.
I’m chickening out.
So, while I haven’t cancelled the appointment I have made another one. For tomorrow. For a Mitsubishi Galant wagon. For €500. With a slushbox, and an i4.
Oppo, I feel bad.
Land_Yacht_225
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:32 |
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This is the most beautiful thing I have seen all day.
Jobjoris
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:32 |
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You should feel bad. Because you want that Activa.
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:35 |
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You know you want the Activa.
Also, imagine if you bought the Activa and then it performed PERFECTLY the entire trip? Think of the bragging rights! :D
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duurtlang
> Jobjoris
12/03/2015 at 16:35 |
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I do. I really, really do. But for the purpose I’m buying it I do feel I should buy something disposable. Activas should be
cherished
.
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duurtlang
> Land_Yacht_225
12/03/2015 at 16:35 |
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And there are more where those came from
MonkeePuzzle
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:37 |
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wagon and reliability, that’d be my choice for an epic rally
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duurtlang
> MonkeePuzzle
12/03/2015 at 16:38 |
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The Mitsubishi is a rational choice. A bit too rational in my opinion.
Jagvar
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:42 |
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It’s my DD in wagon form! I saw one when I was in London back in 2004. I can’t remember exactly where it’s called Galant and where it’s called Legnum.
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duurtlang
> RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/03/2015 at 16:42 |
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I’m sure it’ll be fine. The regular Xantia is a reliable car if maintained (this one is), as is the V6 drive train in this one. I fear for the Activa-specific parts of the suspension though. If I were to buy the Activa I’d keep it. For other epic road trips. The Mitsubishi would probably be treated more as an appliance.
At the moment I’ve got 2 appointments. The Mitsubishi tomorrow, Citroën Saturday. If the Mitsubshi is in good condition I just have to buy it. If it’s not, I’ll have a look at the Xantia Activa.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:45 |
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You’ve made a terrible mistake.
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duurtlang
> Jagvar
12/03/2015 at 16:49 |
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Do you have those blue
suede
shoes
seats as well?
AndyG_UK
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:50 |
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One of my friends had a Xantia Active years ago, am sure it wasn’t a V6 though, 2.0turbo seems to ring a bell. Was a lovely car and the best ride of anything I have ever rode in, though I was sick down of the side of it once when travelling at very high speed on a bumpy motorway (I was very drunk, he was sober!).
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duurtlang
> AndyG_UK
12/03/2015 at 16:53 |
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I don’t believe they sold the Activa V6 in the UK. They did offer the Activa Turbo CT, with like you mentioned a 2.0 turbo. CT stood for
c
onstant
t
orque I believe.
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MonkeePuzzle
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:56 |
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think of all the spares you can carry in that wagon area, then you can drive like an irrational fool with your hair on fire. THAT’s why you should pick it, so you can be irrational in a different way
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AndyG_UK
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 16:59 |
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That would make sense then, as I said great car, very well equipped for a mid 90’s car too, oh and it was the same colour as the one in your pic as well.
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duurtlang
> MonkeePuzzle
12/03/2015 at 17:03 |
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Yes, but but huge hatchback...
counterpoint
I’ll probably do exactly as you say though.
Cé hé sin
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 17:09 |
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No. Just no. That’s too many green spheres. You’ve gor principale rear left, principale rear right and then an additionelle rear to say nothing of an SC-CAR rear and an SC-MAC. That’s way too many to deal with.
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duurtlang
> Cé hé sin
12/03/2015 at 17:10 |
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And that’s not all of them either.
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Cé hé sin
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 17:12 |
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Yes, logically there should be five more at the other end. Logic does not necessarily mean the same for Citroen as for the rest of us though (actually it has 10 so there must be five forward)
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MonkeePuzzle
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 17:13 |
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how pretty, I assume the €1000 purchase price includes all the custom fit luggage? :P
ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 17:17 |
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Wait...
Those free spheres are _supposed_ to be there?
I thought that car had a nasty infection of some kind.
Carry on then.
Spoon II
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 17:18 |
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That wagon does look mighty fine though! ...all it needs is an engine swap!
kanadanmajava1
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 17:29 |
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The Garbagerun cars tend to look so awfully modified that I would guess that most are parted after the event is over. It would a bit sad to see Activa end its life on such. You might know better about their usual fate.
My friend has a TCT Activa. I have driven with it during our track day sessions. It’s very fast and nice car. But the suspension system is annoyingly complicated and a lot of components are Activa specific and not available anywhere. The front suspension top mounts and the Activa suspension cylinders are among these.
I’m visiting France in February and I have been thinking about bringing some fun car back. Activa is among my list of possible candidates. I have got a quite long way back home so buying an Activa is a bit of gamble for me too...
itschrome
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 18:08 |
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I will never own another car with an “Active” or “Self leveling” suspension again, short of a magnetic setup. having gone through the woes of CVRSS with cadillac, twice, I refuse! Sure it was great when it works. How ever good bless your bank account when it comes time for replacement. Last time I checked (if you can even buy the parts any more) it was $900 in parts alone per corner for my 2002 SLS... Magnaride parts where more than half the price! WTF! but my god the ride, nothing else feels like it. except maybe that Citroën!
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Jagvar
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 18:16 |
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Nah, mine is a boring shade of gray.
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 21:16 |
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As its not my money, I’m going to play devil’s advocate and recommend you get the Xantia.
twochevrons
> duurtlang
12/03/2015 at 22:13 |
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Banger rallies have always had a bit of an appeal to me, but I agree that the Activa wouldn’t be a wise choice for such a purpose, though maybe a fun one ;). Though, if it were a few years older, we’d be having a very serious talk about getting it shipped over to me! I really miss my Xantia, and you can’t get much better than the V6 Activa.
I’ve actually been meaning to get in touch; I’m having a car shipped to me from New Zealand, and wondered if you had any suggestions about getting it prepared for shipping.
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> duurtlang
12/04/2015 at 06:22 |
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Which car will you feel bad about pulling the handbrake on a snow-covered corner and drifting slowly but inexorably into a snow-drift?
There is something quite liberating about driving a car you literally do not care about...
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duurtlang
> BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/04/2015 at 09:15 |
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You are right. That’s why I pulled the trigger, and actually bought the Galant this afternoon. It will need a bit of attention, but it’s a €500 car with over a month of inspection left and a second set of alloys. I’m back at work today, but there’s a review coming up this weekend.
Tohru
> duurtlang
12/05/2015 at 12:00 |
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So take the motor, trans, and front suspension out of the front of the wagon and put them in the back of the wagon. mid-engine, RWD Mitsu wagon.
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duurtlang
> Tohru
12/05/2015 at 12:04 |
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Meh. I’d rather get another Mitsubishi donor and create a twin engine AWD Mitsu wagon.
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Tohru
> duurtlang
12/05/2015 at 12:12 |
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Do it.
It’ll be the Euro equivalent of the Mrolla.
Front half is an automatic Corolla FX16, back half is a 5-speed AW11 MR2.