Vision: Xantia 3rd Millenium

[6speedmanual]

Hi Jim
That is indeed close! What is the statistical probability of two Activa living such proximity?!?
Would be cool to have a meet-up sometime - can't imagine what we would talk about...... expect we can think of something !
Peter

[CitroJim]

That is indeed close! What is the statistical probability of two Activa living such proximity?!?

Ahh, you'd be surprised just how many are stashed away around this area I can think of another two without even trying. Both are currently a little under the weather but both will be back in action soon... One of them has been a bit 'tweaked' and is a very 'interesting' drive indeed...

[Citroenmad]

That is indeed close! What is the statistical probability of two Activa living such proximity?!?

Ahh, you'd be surprised just how many are stashed away around this area I can think of another two without even trying. Both are currently a little under the weather but both will be back in action soon... One of them has been a bit 'tweaked' and is a very 'interesting' drive indeed...

They do indeed come out of the woodwork if you look hard enough. I think there are three about 40 miles from here, another two sat at a garage 10 miles away, however I can't see either of those seeing the road again.

[6speedmanual]

A spot of winter weather forecast for the coming days......

Time to pop the winter tyres in the Activa, methinks. Currently on my SORNed Hdi110 estate.

I was very fortunate with an auction on ebay for an almost brand new set of Michelin Alpin +4. The set was bought this autumn and just after fitting the owners car engine expired... Bagged them for about 1//3 of the new price fully fitted!

These are the best winter tyres I've used. Exceptional in cold and standing water. Looking forward to a big whallop of snow to try them further.

Brrrrr
Peter

[6speedmanual]

Last weekend, slung a set of new CAR control rod guide bushes on.
Knew this was a short cut route to the full fix of the slightly sloppy roll correction action and tired feeling front end.
The bushes can be fitted to a position of about +/- 1mm from centre in the subframe holes.

So now I have nice smooth CAR action, but slightly less roll correction when turning right... Only very slightly, such that I'm not even sure soem would notice, but it needs putting right.

Full front end rebush, ride ht set up and CAR adjustment coming up.

Have decided to SORN in Feb and switch back to my HDi SX Estate for a month.

Peter

[CitroJim]

Setting up the roll control linkages properly Peter is one of the most devilish and frustrating jobs on this planet... Good luck and have fun

[6speedmanual]

Whist "nothing is impossible" may be considered, there are ways of making life easier....

I have concluded that I could do with finding an Exclusive Estate. This will be a good step on from my SX as the target car.

My "Wanted" advert: http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =7&t=43009

Any pointers would be very gratefully received.

Thanks

Peter

[modxl]

just found this post,was thinking v6 estate myself,following this thread only up the road from u as well do like the idea of a 2.2 hdi but v6 sounds better.dont believe we had them here in the uk i dont think ive seen one over here seen one in germany,like been said manaul box out ov 406 sweet

[Citroening]

There is a Xantia V6 Estate with a manual box in it... Seen it myself a few times and it's been for sale in the past. Not sure where it is nowadays though...

[CitroJim]

For me the ultimate Xantia would be a V6 Auto Activa Exclusive Estate...

[modxl]

that sounds spot on to me,just got to find donars to build one got the workshop thats a start i surpose,next few months should have the time got the estate to us as a base

[6speedmanual]

Hi All

Time for an update:

A mixed emotion for me as I have to announce that I will not be proceding with the Activa estate project.

I originally bought "Captain Slow's Activa Rescue" car as the intended donor for this project.
Having sorted out one or two minor issues, serviced the car and got an MoT on it, I ran it during January and March (February was back in my HDi Estate).
During these two months, I have driven 5700+ miles (don't know if anyone else is doing this type of mileage c. 3000pcm in an Activa?) The Activa chassis is truly an worderful thing and I have grown to truly enjoy all its merits, whether blatting, cruising, beating snowdrifts, carting 5 up passengers, solo, etc.... BRILLIANT. I completely refute the suggestion made by some (on here and elsewhere) that you cannot tell the edge of its handling limit. If anything its behaviour at the limit is more predictable and easier to control 'cos there is no body lurch to deal with as car enters/leaves slides. The throttle controlability, tuck-in at lift off and the general neutrality of the whole thing is excellent. The biggest likelihood of an "off" would be through plough-on understeer by applying excessive throttle on a wet/greasy roundabout - just ease off the gas and the front will hook up again. Same as with any FWD car.

So conceptually an Activa HDi estate would be a class car for me.

However.... I decided that Captain Slow's car was just too good to break up as a donor vehicle.

Therefore I obtained another Activa, also featured on here which was unfortunately written off. The Plan was to use this car to provide all the parts for the estate car project. The estate car would be off the road and teh donor next to it move all the parts across.
As I started to dismantle the damaged car the idea that it would donate sufficient parts for the conversion started to crumble.
The underside of this car was horrible to behold. The level of corrosion was awful, in stark contrast to the very tidy undercarriages of both Cap'n Slo and my estate. Retrieving Activa specific parts proved to be a nightmare.
The roll corrector was seized solid, the roll corrector rods were ground through over 50% as the guide bushes ahd not been replaced, hydraulic union nuts were crumbling at the edges making them impossible to undo. The actual hydraulic pipes were badly corroded in places too.
I took as much serviceable kit off the crashed car and weighed in the shell. Managed to sell the engine on e-bay to a 306Gti converter.

So what way for the estate project?

Well, the thought of starting to dismantle Cap'n Slo and find I still did not have the correct inventory of bits was not a good prospect. Cap'n Slo was working a treat and delivering my long distance commute and business travelling with aplomb. To make this the donor car would have meant buying yet another car to tide me over whilst the two cars sat side by side. (I already have 7 cars in various conditions so space starts to become an issue too). And the more I drove Cap'n Slo, the more I felt it a shame to "lose" a good Activa.

What's good out of the last three months of contemplating the project?
Well, I can say with some certainty that the installation of "Activa" into an estate is entirly possible. In the strip down, I looked at all the parts and can see no reason why they would not work in the estate condition. Wiring for the Activa is basically a stand alone underbody harness. The dash wiring on RH drive exists in the SX and Executive estates (Citroen Service). All the hydraulic pipes acn be accommodated in the underbody and engine bay. They can all be transferred.

Starting with an Exclusive might seem easier, but it is really not such an issue because the donor Activa should be able to yeild all the pipes you need, so long as they are not rusted up!

The only part which would be needed from another car would be a pair of rear suspension rams from an estate with Hydractive II.

The biggest issue logistically to building the car would be the ideal way od assembling it. Ideally, the two subframes and all the hydraulics shoudl be assembled and then the body lowered down on to them. This replicates the method used in the factory and can be done with a two poster lift. Trying to reverse build all the hydraulic pipes up to the body followed by the subframes would be difficult because they are generally attached to the subframes not the body.

Following all this interesting "research" --- I mean hours of pulling the scrap Activa in peices.... my conclusion is that someone has to do this. It is just not me! Ultimately the issues are: Parts availability from donor cars; Time for the project - Many Hours; facility of a two post lift.

Someone else may find a different circumstance allows them to handle / accommodate these issues into their car project schedule. Sadly, I have to conclude I cannot. Modxl?

Cap'n Slo is now up for sale. Time for another to enjoy the delights of the unique Activa experience.

Hopefully the new owner will continue to nurture the car and bring further improvements which potentially set Cap'n Slo up as a long term "keeper" in the world of Citroenistes....

Cheers
Peter

[addo]

So, can we take it that none of the Activa-specific things on the ill fated donor are now available (eg, ECU, underbody harness, engine bay components)?

[6speedmanual]

Hi Addo

Some things are available, but the buyer of the car will be offered first refusal.
After that, I'll make them available here.

Cheers
Peter

[CitroJim]

Sorry to hear the project is not proceeding Peter but I know exactly what you mean about how some cars can corrode vert badly and how it can 'get' the Activa-specific components...

It's been a long time now since I've driven mine any distance and I'm looking forward to re-acquainting myself with mine as soon as the weather warms up and all salt disappears from the roads...

Mines a summer car and my winter car (the V6 Xantia) can have a well deserved rest then. XM stays on duty all year for long trips.

So why did you not keep Cap'n Slow's car and continue to enjoy the Activa experience?