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First impressions were that it's not a car that stands out, standard Citroen alloys are OK, but nothing spectacular. Sitting inside the supportive slightly bucket seats, you feel comfortable and secure. There are driver and passenger airbags, and also airbags in the sides of the seats. ... Read review
Advantages: Very nippy, good level of equipment for the price Disadvantages: Tyre replacement not straightforward, rear bearings expensive job
...car that stands out, standard Citroen alloys are OK, but nothing spectacular. Sitting inside the supportive slightly bucket seats, you feel comfortable and secure. There are driver and passenger airbags, and also airbags in the sides of the seats. The CD stereo has steering wheel controls, and an LCD display in the centre console provides track/station info, and also provides output from the electrical system such as open doors, low fuel warnings, ... ...you can't get hold of one new now as the model has been discontinued, and Citroen has yet to released a C4, the Xsara's replacement, in VTS guise. If they can make the C4 VTS as great fun as the Xsara, I can see it being a great success. ... more
My car is a second generation VTS Coupe, with 167 bhp, from 2002. I was initially looking at BMWs but only ones within my price bracket were 10 year old, instead I got my VTS at half the age.
First impressions were that it's not a car that stands out, standard Citroen alloys are OK, but nothing spectacular. Sitting inside the supportive slightly bucket seats, you feel comfortable and secure. There are driver and passenger airbags, and also airbags in the sides of the seats. The CD stereo has steering wheel controls, and an LCD display in the centre console provides track/station info, and also provides output from the electrical system such as open doors, low fuel warnings, and also the trip computer.
Acceleration from the 2 ltr 16v engine is quoted as 0 - 62 in 8 secs, and a top speed of 137 mph. I believe that my car accelerates quicker than this, and on a track I have had close to the top speed before I backed off. The engine is the same found in the Peugeot 306 GTi6, an equally exhilerating drive, however the Xsara VTS only has a 5-speed gearbox compared to the 306's 6-speed box. Even throwing the car around as I often do, I still manage approx 31 mpg using super unleaded.
Personally, I think the Xsara is a much better looking car to the 306, and I have to admit, it's nice to keep toe with some of the chav-mobiles on the road. A little known fact that, although the Subaru Impreza has won the largest number of rallys (having been used for longer), the Xsara still has the best race to win ratio.
The fog lights are integrated into the main headlight units on my car, but more recent models have seperate fogs. I would have preferred seperate fogs myself, but I'm not currently interested in replacing the front bumper, and associated wiring. The VTS Coupe also has automatic wipers, and the wall of water washer jets that are found on other top end Citroens.
The car has air-conditioning, although mine needs regassing, it's winter at the moment, so I'm going to wait until the next big service to get it done.
Just a few things I'd like to point out that go against the car.
Spare wheel is in an external cage underneath the boot. Check yours is there if you going to buy a Xsara.
Alloy wheels don't have a removable centre, so specialist balancing equipment is required at your tyre supplier. Check that your local dealer has this or they not balance your wheels for you.
Rear wheel bearing replacement isn't really a DIY job. You need a specialist tool, and most garages actually recommend replacing the whole back axle, with associated suspension components instead as even with the right equipment, it's a difficult job. If you can find a garage that will just replace the bearings, they are approx £40 each, and it could take up to two hours on each side. Replacing the back axle will be somewhere between £400 and £1000, depending on the condition of the existing parts.
There isn't a great deal of choice with regards to styling the second generation Xsara, with most modifiers working on the Saxo instead. That said, the Xsara VTS in it's standard form is a bit of street sleeper.
The rear axle problems aside, I have thoroughly enjoyed owning this car so far. Unfortunately, you can't get hold of one new now as the model has been discontinued, and Citroen has yet to released a C4, the Xsara's replacement, in VTS guise. If they can make the C4 VTS as great fun as the Xsara, I can see it being a great success.
Advantages: Great engine for power and economy, massive boot, bargain 2nd-hand. Disadvantages: Dull interior, dull image.
Well, it has done over 90,000 miles now, but the engine remains powerful, the seats supportive and the trim in good condition. Contrary to Citroen's reputation this car has been extremely reliable over the last 5+ years I have owned it, and the dealer's been fair too. Generally underrated, I have driven far newer cars that don't appear to have progressed much at all. Dirt cheap 2nd hand.
The best bits are:
The strong and economical engine. It shows a clean pair of heels to plenty of surprised Audi/Merc/BMW drivers and I get 40mpg around town, and over 60mpg on motorways.
The nice smooth ride, far better than more modern hard-riding cars. It handles well despite the softer ride and the steering has some feel to it.
The boot is big for a car of this size, and gigantic with the rear seats folded down.
Tyre wear - on average they are ...
Advantages: Good eprformance and handling Disadvantages: Poor rear seat room
Life can be a lottery. As much as we try to plan our lives sometimes you end up doing something surprising. You may not have planned it but you are glad you ended up doing it. When I travel abroad I often have to hire a car. This gives me a couple of days to try out something different. When I got to the Europcar desk at Brussels Airport the other day they informed me the car allocated to my hirecar booking was a CitroenXsara2.0 Hdi. I suddenly thought, I have been driving for 30 years (no, not non-stop before Alkaliguru makes some comment) and I have never driven a Citroen.
I have been a passenger in one or two. A relative of mine had a BX, all angles and sharp edges and a ride like a slow rollercoaster. I also went in a recent Xantia which was quite nice if again not the worlds most attractive design. When I arrived at parking ...
I got my CitroenXsara Picasso SX 2.0HDi three years ago (51 Reg) and I?ve driven over 40,000 miles in it. If anyone told me they were thinking of buying one, it would depend on what type of person they were before I?d say it would be a very good choice. The equipment spec on the SX is very high, diesel economy is very good for a tall car, practicality is superb and it feels so spacious you have remind yourself you are in a small car. But all-round practicality means some compromise has to be made.
True to the Citroen form, the Picasso's looks are very striking and it?s quite tall too, but somehow it manages to disguise that - until you try reaching the roof when your washing it! However, once you step inside you find out what this car?s all about as a disorientating sense of spaciousness hits you.
The interior is well laid ...
