Citroen XM Forum

russ92xmsed wrote:Wonder if it is Practical Classics ?

AHA! I was right! looking forward to that then. Well done Will for allowing your SD to feature.


Totally agree Mark, they could have made the autoboxes change up to 3rd a bit quicker. That does frustrate me, especially around town. I must admit, the manual is a quicker drive far more spritely, but the auto is nice to just waft in.

I concede defeat Russ.

What was it you didn't like about the BX gearchange, Ian?

The manual can be a bit rubbery, especially when cold, but one of the joys of driving a manual is getting the shift spot on, in which case it is satisfying in its own right and actually not too bad. I've had far worse boxes and clutches that remove the knee cartilage. It is the lack of weight in the steering (and the odd feel of the wheel shape in my hands) that reduces the pleasure of gearchanges though - to be assertive about changing you have to have the car pointing where you want it and keeping in trim. The lack of weight does tend to mean the car is a bit too wandery.

Compared however to my experience of a 2.1 TD auto there is no contest - I can overtake cars at sensible speeds using the torque as I see fit, not a pretty antiquated autobox does.

White Exec wrote:What was it you didn't like about the BX gearchange, Ian?

It's hard to put my finger right on it, but it has a nasty, clunky feel. I've probably clocked up over 50,000 miles in several different BXs, and the gearchange always disappoints.

BX diesel clutches always seem to be quite heavy too, though the XM's was light enough - just not very easy to be smooth with.

I guess the battle between manual and auto is always going to be tricky, as neither is perfect.

Charles M wrote:The manual can be a bit rubbery, especially when cold, but one of the joys of driving a manual is getting the shift spot on, in which case it is satisfying in its own right and actually not too bad. I've had far worse boxes and clutches that remove the knee cartilage. It is the lack of weight in the steering (and the odd feel of the wheel shape in my hands) that reduces the pleasure of gearchanges though - to be assertive about changing you have to have the car pointing where you want it and keeping in trim. The lack of weight does tend to mean the car is a bit too wandery.

Compared however to my experience of a 2.1 TD auto there is no contest - I can overtake cars at sensible speeds using the torque as I see fit, not a pretty antiquated autobox does.

mmmmmm, you do have to be careful when overtaking, especially if you're fully laden. A going down a good hill usually helps!!

XM's, there really is no choice these days unless you want a shows only car.

Get a properly working 2.5 TD.
Getting past ceases to be a problem.
Hydraulic clutch is as light as any.
The alternative is a V6 where both manual and auto are good but do not run on chip fat.

John

John

I concur. Gear change smoothness only depends on you then...

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dollywobbler wrote: BX diesel clutches always seem to be quite heavy too, though the XM's was light enough -

That's what fitting a new 3 part, Valeo, clutch does.

Thought it was biting well! Did have one horrible moment when the editor slammed it for a shot, and I then couldn't get the height control to move again... Had great fun explaining the handbrake complexities as well.