Citroen XM Forum

A different Citroen for every occasion Andrew

andmcit wrote:Agree: on a day like today with the temperature ramped up you could succumb to heat exhaustion getting
into a car all leathered up!! Cloth is far nicer even if the chocolate drops off the icecream melt into it...

Andrew

I always hear these comments on cars with leather upholstery when I am in Europe.
I like my leather all XM just fine in a climate where summer temperatures rise to over 35 degrees C on a daily basis from the middle of July to the middle of September. Currently around 30. The XM has a perfectly working climate control system When I go for a long drive I sometimes put a bath towel on the seat. In winter the seat heating warms up instantly
I'm in my 11th year of leather XM Have had a couple of leather equipped domestic vehicles too. Give me leather anytime

I prefer leather too Jan, just suits the sleek character of the XM I think.

I was recently told by one recent passenger that the all black interior "makes it even more sinister than it already looks on the outside!" that made me laugh.

Ciarán

As far as the looks go, leather has a perceived exclusivity and in reality it doesn't ruin any car I have with it fitted,
although that said in preference, I would see it as a PLUS for a car NOT having leather fitted but the softer more
comfortable cloth. If you've sat in the sawtooth patterned velour seats of a CX GTi you'd know what I mean!!

Heaters in the seats have to be working to be of benefit, not much good when their elements start to break down.
Those chilly winter mornings can be as nasty with black leather as a hot sunny day...

Andrew

andmcit wrote:
Those chilly winter mornings can be as nasty with black leather as a hot sunny day...

Andrew

That's right --- which is why you want the nice beige leather I have in my presently resting estate !!

Mike.

Jan-hendrik wrote:I always hear these comments on cars with leather upholstery when I am in Europe.

Historically, Rolls-Royce used leather for the driver's chair as it was cheap, unattractive and durable, but high quality cloth upholstery for passengers. If you look at any of the Phantom IVs produced in the 1950s, those destined for HRH this or that had leather up front and cloth in the rear.

My and Andrew's preference for decent quality fabric just shows good breeding

That aside, I do feel that leather seats get hotter in the summer and colder in the winter than their cloth counterparts, though I grant you having kids with ice lollies and sticky fingers and motion sickness has changed my view somewhat!

I'm starting to prefer the velour option myself. When you actually stick to the leather, and have to recline the seat, and hold onto the steering wheel to remian upright so you can ventilate your back, it is a pain.

The leather looks fantastic, I love how it looks, its great when its not too hot, or too cold. Also a good way to prevent strong tobacco smells in the car as well.

But I prefer the velour in my 2.0Si, over the velour that was in my VSX, a longer pile height, just quality.

Hi All

I generally agree that fabric is a nicer option, but unfortunatley it can look less glamourous! The nicest seats I've had on an XM was in a Mk2 94/95 Mreg, and I think it only existed for that year, it was a mix of dark greys, heavy duty suede bolsters, and firm but very comfortable houndstooth velour seats (Tonys old V6). I also find acoustics far superior in a fabric interior, a much cosier environment; strangely the worst XM interior I've experienced was a Vreg VSX, they just seemed to strip out all of the nicest elements, and used the most unpleasant fabric, it was almost as if Citroen was punishing those who dared not opt for the Exclusive finish

Justin

2000/W 24v Silver & Black

If i was buying that i would have to go and have a good look over the car, as the sellers description doesnt quite add up in places.

Seems as though its done 4K miles since the rebuild and around 100Kish before? The engine and gearbox have done 40K? - Quite a rare find if so!

Seems a good price to me, if its as good as the seller says and is described correctly, then id pay that, £2Kish at the moment, thats an awful lot of car for the money in my opinion.

It does beg the question though, how bad was it before it had a total rebuild? Most Xms with 100K still look and drive well, so long as its looked after, maybe this was a neglected model. A car of that age and mileage should not really need a rebuild, if indeed its even had one.

I dont think black is a colour which suits the Xm well though, would look stunning in a nice maroon colour.

I can't help feeling there may be a nice car being undersold by a seller that hasn't made a particularly
good fist of it - my betting is WHM will be selling it on their lot in a weeks' time at £4995.

Davidcarne wrote:On 26-Jun-09 at 15:14:15 BST
As a precaution, I have replaced both rear tyres with new ones. The XM has just passed its MOT without any comment, other than this car is 'just like a new car'. Somebody is about to win an incredible and superb bargain.

2 hours to go so probably worth watching at £2151.99...

I like it but don't have 2.5k lying about spare.

Andrew