Citroen XM Forum

Aha well, free speech and all that Jan!

I think the XM is far better in many regards too, but the Xant does have its merits, and is an excellent car too.

Ciarán

I agree,

The Xantia is a damn good car. But I prefer the XM over the Xantia.

Put it this way, I like my Activae and the XM's in equal amounts and they get used for different tasks.

Mind, I won't think anything of chucking my engine crane into the boot of a Xantia estate whereas the
idea wouldn't even be given consideration with any Xm so I guess this means the normal Xantiae are
more knockabout hacks whereas the Xm's are more "for best".

Andrew

I do prefer the XM over the Xantia, but cant deny that on both of the xantias I have had most of the equipment actualy functioned (and continue's to do so), something i cant say of the XM!
Somehthing else that im sure is just my Xm is that my Lx xantia rides a lot better! (and the brakes work )
I think the xantia is just better built.

(runs and hides)

My first Citroen was a Xantia Exclusive, I found the general build quality to be excellent, all the electrics worked and the sphere positions were much better from a maintenance point of view. However it was to me a Citroen Mondeo in that it didn't drive like a Citroen if you know what I mean.

Nice car for the 'average' motorist.

Steve.

However it was to me a Citroen Mondeo in that it didn't drive like a Citroen if you know what I mean.

I do

Nice car for the 'average' motorist.

steelcityuk wrote:My first Citroen was a Xantia Exclusive, I found the general build quality to be excellent, all the electrics worked and the sphere positions were much better from a maintenance point of view. However it was to me a Citroen Mondeo in that it didn't drive like a Citroen if you know what I mean.

Nice car for the 'average' motorist.

Steve.

Yeah that's how I consider the XM an Xantia too ... "Averageness"... Cr@p steering, "average" seats, "average" ride quality .... Eg: seats, the 25year old seats in my tired old CX are vastly (nigh on impossibly) better in every single way.... And at 25years of age show no signs of wear. The XM's are horrible quality with holes worn through the nasty "velour" part of the half leather seats.

The XM seats are adjustable in everyway known to man, the steering wheel moves in and out, up and down ... You could spend an hour fiddling with the driving position to never be close to the comfort of climbing into any CX made, and simply sliding the seat forward so you can push the pedals..... Everythings "fixed/non adjustable" in the CX .... But the thing is the "fixed" it in the right position. Everything is adjustable to the "not quite right" position in the XM with those lame @rse slllooooooooowwwww electric seats (fortunately the glow plugs take about the same time as winding the seat back after my wifes been driving it).

I wonder if the C6 will be something special if I can ever afford one. 'Cos I everything made after the CX sure seems souless and ordinary to me.

seeya,
Shane L.

Hi Shane.

To be vaguely fair to the XM, I think you are unlucky in having the half suede jobbies, which undoubtedly do suffer wear -- although personally I do think they are a superbly comfortable seat.I've yet to see an XM of any age with standard trim that looks anything other than new, seat wise. For really, really proper seats, Vauxhall Viscount to about 1970. For really junk seats, particularly given the image portrayed, countless Mercs -- I've seen numerous auction examples showing very marked seat wear inside four or five years.

Mike.

This is turning into the search for the impossible.
People come in a tremendous range of shapes and sizes.
Designing a seat that is a perfect fit for all without adjustment is well beyond present technology.
Arriving at a design at reasonable cost that with adjustment fits comfortably a high percentage of people is quite an achievement.
It would seem that Citroen with the CX and XM seats did far better than is typical for car manufacturers.
Towards the end of XM production they made a drivers seat upgrade that is exactly what Shane needs.
Seat position memory for two drivers.
Set the seat up as you want it with the position switches and setup is recorded in memory.
Find seat in wrong position when you come to drive so press button and seat moves to your chosen setup.
Similar system to the dipping mirror on selecting reverse.

John

As John says, cars are designed for an 'average' person, some manufacturers use a large 'average', some use a small 'average'. AFAIK only Volvo use real people instead of manequins for seat design, that why their seats are so comfortable.