citroen xsara hdi durability?

[Jettagti]

Im looking at getting a cheaop diesel to use as our daily transport
I keep finding Citroen Xsara HDi hatchbacks for sale, and they seem like a good deal

I assume they are the same engines as in the Peugeot 307s?
Are they bullet proof or fragile?

What about the car in general, do they tend to mind high miles?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated

[R12HCO]

My dad has a 2004 307 hdi (90 bhp). When it first got it in winter, it was terrible. Wouldnt start every morning. So i changed the start motor (in the snow), and it has been fine since. Looking at the motor, i believe it had been changed before as it looked very new, yet was the wrong rating. It worked ok in summer just cranked a little slow. Before this, i changed plugs and battery to no avail, thats when i found out about the motor problem.

The car does 90% stop start driving up and down towns and on 136k and the engine + turbo are fine. Uses no oil. All he does is change the oil once a year.

[DanielC4GP]

As far as I know the Xsara and 307 diesels aren't the same engines. For one all 307 diesels have DPFs.

As in terms of reliability my Grandad had a Xantia diesel and it was like a tank that just kept going and going. Even after having several VWs now it still remians his favourite out of all the cars he's owned.

[shaun442k]

The Xsaras had the same 2l 90bhp engines as the 206 HDi and I think they also came with the 110bhp PSA engine also(essentially the 90bhp with a bigger turbo and an intercooler).

Pretty bullet proof engines imo. My old 206 HDi is on 175k miles and the engine is fine. Plenty of taxis run them to intergalactic miles also.

Edited by shaun442k on Tuesday 27th September 09:20

[Jettagti]

Ah, ok, thanks

This may sound like an odd question, but do they have standard shocks and springs for rear suspension, or are they a similar hydromatic self levelling type like other citroens?

In other words, are they expensive to repair?

[DanielC4GP]

Just normal springs and shocks on Xsara's. Traditionally it's only big Citroen's that have hydraulic suspension, the XM's C6's and top spec C5's etc.

[Blown2CV]

fine as long as you don't get a st one

[rswift]

I also seem to recall that unlike the same vintage 306 etc, the Citroen doesn't have a dual mass flywheel ... which means when the clutch needs doing, it will be much cheaper and easier.

Seems an excellent budget buy, hopefully find one that the cambelt has been done on, save a few quid.

[freakynessless]

DanielC4GP said:

Just normal springs and shocks on Xsara's. Traditionally it's only big Citroen's that have hydraulic suspension, the XM's C6's and top spec C5's etc.

On the subject of springs, my dad has had one since it was new in 2001 its done about 75,000 miles now and has gone through several front springs. They quite litally snap. His mechanic tells us this is quite common.

[littleandy0410]

The xsara is based on the same platform as the 306, just with a bigger, uglier body on. Therefore, fairly decent handling, and cheaper to buy than the 306 equivalent. I ran a W reg 90bhp HDi for a few years, had no problems, and it's still going strong in the hands of a friend.