Comfort Wars: Xantia Vs Xm

Can anyone who's owned/driven both a Xantia and an XM enlighten me as to which is more comfortable in terms of seating, ride, noise and what have you? I've never even sat in a Xantia and I'm interested. I can't quite believe how many are for sale on eBay with low mileages and low prices.

It's seemingly another fine French car that offers exceptional levels of refinement - not to mention the ability to 'up' the ride further with modified sphere pressures - and all for less than the cost of an Xbox 360 and a handful of games!

I've never owned one but had the use of a brand new Hdi for a couple of days a few years back. I'm not sure if the later ones used Hydractive or not but the suspension was nice.

Andmcit did have a few, I don't know what he did with them.

We have had two xantias, a TD years and years ago and an activa (- thats an awsome car, if you find one, buy it!)

At the time when xantias were new id heard of a few people complaining about the seats, they had problems getting comfy. The suspension on the basics are not as soft as the XM.

I think im right in saying, that only the Xantia VSX (S1) and Exclusive (S2) have hydractive, the others do without the computer sports setting. All Xms have hydractive, so they handle better.

Early xantias and Xms dont have antisink, so they settle down to low when they are parked for a while. Bit of a pain really, having to let it lift up everytime you set off on a morning. Especially if you have parked over a curb!

I remember in 1994 my parents got a new xantia TD, my dad was dissapointed with the ride quality, saying it was not as soft as their old BX estate.

Xantias are/were popular cars, they are not as individual, rare or big as the XM, but i do like them. The Activa is fantastic, with its ARCS (Active Roll Control System). It does not roll at all, its outstanding! You also get a 2.0T petrol which is quite nice too.

I supose this is an XM forum, so its going to be biased, but dont be swapping your XM for a xantia, unless its an activa of course.

This post has been edited by Citroenmad on October 28, 2008 10:33 pm

I owned a Xantia 2.0 SX Estate for three years before I bought an XM, I'd say the Xantia was every bit as smooth as the XM, but the seats were harder and the seating position seemed to be higher.
When I first drove an XM I was a bit dissapointed as it didn't seem as smooth or quiet as the Xantia.
All that said, I've got used to the XM now and I much prefer the larger/more roomy interior and the big car feel.
I'm onto my fourth XM now, three have been S2 cars and one was an S1 car (not a pleasant experience, I would take a lot of persuading before I'd consider another S1 car).
I should also add that I've never experienced an XM with fully functioning suspension.........I'd be interested to know if anyone on here has.........

Paul.

Interesting! Why not?

I can't say there is anything wrong with my Xms suspension at all, its been very well looked after and everything works as it should. The spheres get regassed often, all the self leveling works fine as does the sports setting.

You must be a little unlucky to have had 4 Xms and none with fully operating suspension.

Or have i missed something

Hand on heart and the full truth...(As from how I see it, but you ALL may not agree, infact im sure you wont)

The Xantia IS built to a higher standard then the XM... this was forced on after the BX from the ever inforcing "Top notch build from Germany" theme, which ALL cars got compared to... so.. the Xantia, Yes better built compared to the BX OR XM, REMEMBER the XM was designed during BX years... so the XM has to be compared to that eira..

The Xantia borrowed its design OUTSIDE from the XM, but however, comming out half way through XM years was built better - its BLOODY obvious, the engine is better muted, and general overall build as far as squeaks and rattles go - well, were are they?

This of course, changed slightly with the S2 XM, so I think its only fair that the Xantia should be compared with the SERIES 2 XM only... these cars apparently were improved in quality squeaks and rattles, but I still beleve that it was not to the same standard as the Xantia.

The xantia was a larger mainstream car, and had to be better to sell..

One up for tha Xantia!

Comfort?? Well, that depends how LONG your legs are!

Xantia: BLOODY un comfortable seating, its too flat, and there fore leaves, for me at least, my feet at a very un comfortable angle, leading to crippling lower back pain, and the seat adjustment does NOT go high enough to compensate..
Seats? the lower squab under my bum, too short and not enough under leg/knee support, anyone whos owned a BX will know what I mean.. seats softness, I think IS about right HOWEVER, collapsing seats on high miles now getting common.

Driving experiance. Top notch.. the refinement helps that VERY much.. little engine noise etc etc...

The XM... I think for me, a PERFECT driving position!! the seat IS higher, seats a tad firmer and more comfortable, as I find the sub a bit longer!! Unfortunally, the cars spoilt by engine intrusion noise and on S1 cars LOTS of sqeakess/rattles..

The XM has a better ride due to the weight of the car when you get one with working electro valves etc etc...

The Xantia DOES NOT get wTASTIC car, and the prices for HDi's at least refelect this and seem to be holding out.. The D turbos have dropped out a bit. Not sure why.. the XUD was the best rated engine, and many good ones still out there, but has its faults... Petrols. Thirsty, but the V6 and Activas are AMAZING fun and a BIG SMILE to drive!

Well, slap me if ive gone off topic. but having driven a few of both, thats my findings!

Rgds
Paul

Id agree with the quality thing, Xantias are generally better built and have far less problems than the Xm. THat said the Xm is more complicated with its LCD displays and the likes.

Im 6ft 2" and the Xm is a much nicer driving position for me.

The S2 Xm did seem to catch it up a little, with interior quality and trim. My 96 XM has not rattles to speak of, the odd shudder from the parcel tray over very big dumps, but other than that its quiet.

Id like a S2 Xantia HDi, but they just dont have that 'something special' that the Xm does.

Some interesting responses, thank you. No I'm not about to jump ship

I find the XM very comfortable indeed. No squeaks either. Like Citroenmad I'm 6'2" and feel I have more than ample room: the driving position is near as dammit perfect and the seats are of a sofa-like softness you simply don't find in cars any more. Not quite as spongy as in the CX or DS but definitely 'of that ilk'.

It's also important for me to have bags of space around the dead pedal, and the XM offers this in spades. It's a noticeably better setup than in my S3 C5, the latter employing a strangely canted footrest that forces my ankle to adopt an unnatural angle and ache on longer journeys. Owning the XM has reminded me of how much I hate it, so I'm taking a screwdriver to the bloody thing this coming weekend!

For what it's worth, the C6 was the only car I could drive for 200 miles straight without needing to get out and get reacquainted with my legs every half hour. My last two Benzes had seats which made the entire right side of me - from my arse to my toes - completely numb. Very uncomfortable, and from reading forums quite a common complaint.

The interior of a Xantia always looked very C5-like - evocative of Citroen at its most drab, if I'm being honest - and from the sounds of things it retains many aspects of the S1 and S2 C5 that I never liked. Most particularly the flat and hard cushions and a seat height that makes you feel you're sitting on the car rather than in it.

Still unexplained is how last generation Xantias are going for more money than early C5s. I don't mind paying extra for a motor with the right history and mileage, but some of the cars I see on eBay and on Auto Trader - cars older and with much higher mileage than my XM - are priced at more than three times its value.

This post has been edited by ThwartedEfforts on October 29, 2008 12:01 am

Yep. Still have a fair few too - I highly rate the VSX/Exclusive/Activae!

Right where do I start - which is more comfortable in terms of seating, ride, noise!?

I actually find I fit the Xantia seat very comfortably with no aches or pains and am 5' 8"
with no issues about a flat short squab as critics of the day would attest! Xantia seats if
anything are softer with a lot more give than the Xm's as the bigger car's hard seat
covering has less give. The Activa's seats are very well sculpted and probably the best
Xantia seat to have. If anything the basic XM velour seat is nicer and you actually sit
lower in the seat as there's no motors, heater etc and it's just as hard wearing but offers
more give warmth on a cold day etc - certainly nearer the Xantia seat.

So Xantia seats are better for me - easily with an Activa cloth seat. I'm actually not the
biggest fan of leather even with heating elements in it!

The Ride is better on a hydractive Xantia too! The heavier Xm actually seems crashier;
this is all relative by the way and I'm comparing the impressions I get jumping from one
car into another in a haphazard fashion as I do daily. It goes without saying all/any will be
better to be in than the other dross found on the roads - I'm not biased - honest!!
Sure, the lower spec 'normal' hydropneumatic Xantia has a more wallowy ride and more roll
so less body control. Guess it really does depend how you drive though the hydractive has
more bases covered on both Xantia and Xm. The Xm is a comfortable car, no question and
I'm not criticising it, just for me the VSX Xantia is better in personal experience.

The noise. If anything I'm almost going to flip opposite previous posters here and say the
bigger car has the better insulated cabin from road/engine noise than the Xantia. Sure, the
build quality is high on the Xantia, but we're talking about noise and the bigger car is better
insulated from the outside world. I've never found any S1 Xm have squeaks and rattles!!
Don't believe me if you don't want to paul, and I can't abide driving a car that does have
them - I couldn't wait to fix the glovebox lid on one as it wouldn't stay shut, after which
peace reighned one more!

OK, but actually living with the car on a daily basis?

The Xm isn't a car that you grab by the scruff of the neck and hoon about the place in
for the very reason it's a long legged effortless BIG car whereas the Xantia feeds happily
on any scraps that are thrown at it and is probably the better all rounder. I found the other
day I wasn't enjoying hussling the Xm 2.0i TCT round the twisties home near me but the
Xantias (not mentioning the Activa yet ) lap it up! It must be mentioned here I own a
heap load of V6 Xm's both 12v and 24v and do adore them and have been known to blat
these about the neighborhood and even live to tell the tale of a real white knuckle ride
in a pal's XM V6 12v where it was hussled through de-restricted country roads at 11/10ths
and it was phenomenal - just NOT how I drive and I couldn't help thinking about the torture
the tyres were being subjected to.

Well, that brings me nicely to the Activa! Totally and absolutely fantastic In a way the
best all rounder and an experience worth trying to fully appreciate what Citroen managed
to achieve - I'm not trying to big it up - it really is one hell of a car! It seems a damn
sight heavier on juice than the equivalent engined Xm which I'm sure is down to the
gearing which is pretty much the only criticism I can level squarely at it.

And they are rare. The RHD registered figures show Citroen UK imported 990 S1 Activas
and 234 S2 Activas that crossed the channel. Additionally, 434 S1 and S2 V6 Exclusives
made it too.

Ok, so it sounds like I've sold out to Xantiae but I most definitely haven't!! I love Xm's, but
then I really REALLY love Cx's and Gs's!! They're all good and have their own strengths and
weaknesses. In the end I guess it comes down to how I'd cope in a worst case scenario when
the dopey blind idiot in a Nissan Micra runs into the rear end of whatever I'm driving in a que
of traffic!

I'd be mightily pissed off if I'd just had my Xantia written off; no question! I'd mourn the
loss of a faithful dependable and very much reliable companion! Were it an Xm I'd be very
VERY much MORE pissed off and saddened at the loss of such a GREAT car! There's no logic
here mind after all I've said above I know - the Xm must have got to me more!! And a Cx?
By the time I'd finished making sure the Micra was completely written off and the owner had
in no uncertain terms been informed of my feelings about them right up to the point where
Police would be required to prevent me from doing something I may not regret doing...

The Activa - very much a shade behind the Cx and GS - these two BTW are too close a call
for me to determine top dog - it flips according to which one I last drove or read about or
saw a picture (mental or physical!!) of!!

To get back to the thread of this thread! Yep, a cheap VSX/Exclusive TD estate Xantia would check
a lot of the boxes for a fantastic daily car. They didn't do a Xantia Activa estate and the only
engine that made it into the UK was the 2.0i TCT. Now, running costs no ruling factor, the Activa
estate mentioned with a manual 24v v6 would very much interest me. I don't seem to get the
same daydreams about Xm's...

Where I work a pool of 7-8 people all shared the daily use of a Xantia TD 1.9 Dimension from
new on a N plate which acquitted itself very well and won a whole host of friends from people
that would only drive German/Jap 'usual suspects' yawnmobiles - not a bad word was ever said
and it's tenure lasted a couple of years longer than the previous Mazda's but a special offer
tempted a replacement for a last of the line 90bhp HDi SX Xantias just as the bug eyed C5
turned up! It was hated by all, and didn't last a year! The older TD was unanimously revered
as the best car for long/short haul daily business and is till mentioned 7 years or so later!!
That must tell you something even if you don't listen to my rose tinted view of Citroening and
Xantiae in particular!!

Let it not be forgotten, where an Xm can feel very much at home is on long jaunts cross country,
both on/off the motorway. I do recall a slight disappointment on buying my first Xm a 12v v6 to
find it seemed to wander a tad at HIGH motorway speeds which is unheard of on a CX, (especially
an estate!!) but overall find I would happily drive the length of the country in an Xm and the latest
2.5TD VSX bought last month is my new best friend!

Andrew










Buy an Activa before they're all turned into Peugeot 306 engine donors - you know you want to...

This post has been edited by Andmcit on October 29, 2008 02:35 am

That's a great write up, thanks for taking the time to post it.

I think I could be swayed if the right Xantia came along, but there's something a little too C5-ish about the whole car. Having had an S2 C5, I can't help feel that the Xantia would be pretty close to the same experience and for roughly the same sort of money (as I mentioned earlier, late cars are perhaps too strong on price).

In addition, the C5 I had was the twin-turbo 173 diesel which I still reckon is one of the best lumps ever to sit under my right foot. It was seriously good. I would have LOVED the same setup on my S3 when I ordered it but for whatever reason Citroen don't sell the 2.2 in an auto

And I have an XM now anyway...

Much as I'd love to leap at every bargain I see (and when it comes to Citroens, there seem to be dozens at any given moment in time) I don't have the space. Like I said in another thread, I need to be a farmer with a barn.

Maybe I should buy some cows first

This post has been edited by ThwartedEfforts on October 29, 2008 02:26 pm

I enjoyed reading your comments there Andrew.

I agree with you, the Xm basic seats are the best for comfort in my opinion. We did once have a VSX as well as the SX, the SXs seats felt softer and more hugging. Id not thought of it until you just said, i always put this down to the VSX being newer. It was probably the electric seats and not the new-ness!

The Xantia is a great car, but a little too ordinary looking and it doesn’t quite do it for me as much as the Xm interests me. Although an Activa would - ours was also very heavy on fuel, even if driven normally. The seats are very supportive and the engine is smooth. Its a shame so many are being lost to the breakers - as are Xms!

I love the size of the Xm, the fact its length rarely fits into parking spaces, i like its individual looks and the fact a lot of people seem to take notice of it on the road. I like how even though mine is 12 year sold it still looks and feels like a new car to drive, i dont think its design of the S2 has dated much.

I think the XM promotes a steady, laid back driving style. Although i often have mine in the sport setting (i wish that light didn’t come on with it!) and find the handling pretty good for a big car. It seems to like being pushed around - which mine often does. Its not perfect by any means, the steering is a bit num and the tyres have far to much flex (although thats good for ride quality) for hard cornering they tend to lean onto the walls. However i find its a fun car to hurry along country lanes, it certainly feels a lot smaller than it really is, when pressing on.

Im very interested to know, just how many Xms and Xantias you currently have?

Interesting comment about the seats. I really love the cushy feel in my SX and like Andrew I'm someone who actively dislikes leather. So the SX is just perfect.

Someone really needs to get a FAQ together for this sort of stuff!

Hmmmm... theres 3 generations of Leather on the XM and different harness....

FIRST XM's Leather is VERY Soft and sinkable - I HAVE A set in my S1.5 XM and I sink into them...

Then theres S1.5 leather which IS harder, and you DO NOT sink into the seats and are much firmer...

Im sure Mr xmexec has an EXCELLENT explination of the different types of Leather

The standard Velour seats ARE firm and harder then base manual seats, which on S1's are rare...

The 24v S1 had good osfter seats fitted, however, the seats in my Black onyx, that came from a V6 at some time, are harder then the 24v S1 seats...

So its all what trim and when in time they were made for seat softness!!

Rgds
Paul

Interesting! Why not?

I can't say there is anything wrong with my Xms suspension at all, its been very well looked after and everything works as it should. The spheres get regassed often, all the self leveling works fine as does the sports setting.

You must be a little unlucky to have had 4 Xms and none with fully operating suspension.

Or have i missed something

All those things work on mine too.
But there's a lot more to it than that.
Have you read Georges ongoing quest for the so called 'magic carpet' ride?........diodes, electrovalves, flushing, etc.
I'd be interested to know if anybody drove an XM from new or nearly new and knows what the suspension is supposed to be like.

I have a SX HDi Xantia and also a S2 Exclusive XM TD auto (having had a 2.0 TCT auto initially with velour and then leather). I have to say the refinement on the HDi Xantia (having graduated fron a TZD BX) is fantastic-smooth and responsive and frugal too (if not as eager as the TZD) although the seats do leave a little to be desired on long term comfort. The S1 XM I thought was more comfortable with the original velour upholstery than with the retro-fit leather( although I thought the look of leather suited the car) but I love the 'big car feel' and acres of space it afforded.Even in 'sport' mode I never felt as if it 'handled' as people say it should-but it is a big and bulky motor ( and I believe that the suspension was fully functional and correct)and you really shouldn't throw it about anyway-designed for comfort.
My series 2 XM has a wonderful supple leather interior (apparently there were/are 3 grades of the stuff -Thanks Paul!) and it is extremely comfortable (even without the working heated seats)and handles reasonably well(as the 2.1 td will allow!)but again is not to be chucked around. So both cars have different merits and also come from differing design periods and classes, overall I think the Xantia dynamics are leading in its class but a big car really should always be more comfortable-more space=bigger more padded seats and more room for a higher seat squab too.
Sorry if I rambled a bit but it's just my opinionbased on my ownership of the three cars-I'll update you (maybe) when I get my HDi Exclusive Xantia!

Alan.