Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

This is the place for posts that don't fit into any other category.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
van ordinaire
(Donor 2017)
Posts: 2537
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 14:45
Location: Live & work in London but weekend in Devon (or do I now live in Torbay & work in London?)
My Cars: Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club (quietly sleeping in a parallel universe)
'05 (yes, really) C15
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate
others:-
'96 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the "donor"
'99 Jeep Cherokee Orvis - the green one
'97 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the red one
'99 Cadillac Seville STS
'96 Cadillac Eldorado ETC
& numerous what might be described as abandoned projects!
x 405

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by van ordinaire »

Not sure that AX's & Saxos register when I see them on the road (although they are outnumbered 1,000% by Clios) but did see a C15 on the A25, probably somewhere near Dorking, a couple of weeks ago, an ever increasingly rare sight now.
Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club :cry:
'05 C15 :!:
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate [-o<
others:-
Jeep XJ Cherokees x 3 :?
'96 Cadillac Eldorado
'99 Cadillac STS :|
& the numerous "abandoned projects" #-o
andy5
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 438
Joined: 05 Nov 2010, 13:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 104

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by andy5 »

I saw a Renault 16. Haven't seen one for years. It was one of the late ones with twin square headlights. In Frisange near Luxembourg. A friend had one when we were students; it would lean at what seemed an improbable angle in corners.

About 3 hours later I saw a convoy of Citroens on the German A8, 10 or a dozen of them heading east, 2 to 4 each of 2CV including a van, Ami, Dyane, with one GS in the middle and a DS at the front. The couple of registrations I could see were French, but modern ones, two letters three numbers two letters, one starting EV. I'd guess they've been off the road for a while and re-registered.
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25369
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4889

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by myglaren »

3 C5s - I rarely see any other than my own. One at a neighbours that I have see previously but not for quite some time.
One near my son's house a year older than mine and one that I thought was mine, coming from the garage where mine was. Same but a year younger when I saw the plates.
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24566
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

andy5 wrote: 29 Jul 2019, 22:59 I saw a Renault 16. Haven't seen one for years.

Little extract from the "Rusty Wrecks thread"
xantia_v6 wrote: 13 Jul 2018, 19:13 Or would you prefer a more 'abandoned' look?

20150619_163314.jpg
Image


Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
andy5
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 438
Joined: 05 Nov 2010, 13:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 104

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by andy5 »

I forgot to say - another reminder of the past- those Citroens all had yellow headlamps.
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24566
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

andy5 wrote: 30 Jul 2019, 23:32 I forgot to say - another reminder of the past- those Citroens all had yellow headlamps.
Dug out this on the Lights Interesting/Awful thread on Selective Yellow which used to be compulsory on French Vehicles.

Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
User avatar
van ordinaire
(Donor 2017)
Posts: 2537
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 14:45
Location: Live & work in London but weekend in Devon (or do I now live in Torbay & work in London?)
My Cars: Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club (quietly sleeping in a parallel universe)
'05 (yes, really) C15
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate
others:-
'96 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the "donor"
'99 Jeep Cherokee Orvis - the green one
'97 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the red one
'99 Cadillac Seville STS
'96 Cadillac Eldorado ETC
& numerous what might be described as abandoned projects!
x 405

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by van ordinaire »

Lots of old French car owners (sorry, that's owners of old French cars) keep, or even re-fit, yellow headlights, simply to retain the French character.

Didn't know cars in France had to be re-registered, seen lots of barn (hedge?) finds running around on their obviously original, barely visible (never mind legible) hand-painted "plates"
Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club :cry:
'05 C15 :!:
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate [-o<
others:-
Jeep XJ Cherokees x 3 :?
'96 Cadillac Eldorado
'99 Cadillac STS :|
& the numerous "abandoned projects" #-o
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24566
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Gold Renault 5. Has to be a special edition

Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
User avatar
van ordinaire
(Donor 2017)
Posts: 2537
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 14:45
Location: Live & work in London but weekend in Devon (or do I now live in Torbay & work in London?)
My Cars: Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club (quietly sleeping in a parallel universe)
'05 (yes, really) C15
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate
others:-
'96 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the "donor"
'99 Jeep Cherokee Orvis - the green one
'97 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the red one
'99 Cadillac Seville STS
'96 Cadillac Eldorado ETC
& numerous what might be described as abandoned projects!
x 405

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by van ordinaire »

2 Xsaras in quick succession going in opposite directions in Newton Abbot on Saturday (bet they were surprised when they passed each other) &, on Sunday went to my local Boot Sale &, unusually, drove there because I was going on to the Steam Fair. Car park was unusually busy, but eventually found a space - next to another white C15 (it was gone by time I left but imagine driver was probably as surprised as me)! Interesting specimen: side windows (very rare in this country) & moonroof in the back - stealth camper in the making? Never seen it before, but there were signs it might be a recent acquisition. Have to keep an eye out for it, although, of course, it might not be local.
Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club :cry:
'05 C15 :!:
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate [-o<
others:-
Jeep XJ Cherokees x 3 :?
'96 Cadillac Eldorado
'99 Cadillac STS :|
& the numerous "abandoned projects" #-o
User avatar
van ordinaire
(Donor 2017)
Posts: 2537
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 14:45
Location: Live & work in London but weekend in Devon (or do I now live in Torbay & work in London?)
My Cars: Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club (quietly sleeping in a parallel universe)
'05 (yes, really) C15
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate
others:-
'96 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the "donor"
'99 Jeep Cherokee Orvis - the green one
'97 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the red one
'99 Cadillac Seville STS
'96 Cadillac Eldorado ETC
& numerous what might be described as abandoned projects!
x 405

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by van ordinaire »

Waiting at the bus stop yesterday morning what should hove in sight but, yes, another C15, this time an even rarer red one. I turned to watch it go by &, to my amazement, it turned left up my road - in complete silence! Surely it couldn't have been one of the electric ones? I got the impression they never got past the development model stage.
Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club :cry:
'05 C15 :!:
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate [-o<
others:-
Jeep XJ Cherokees x 3 :?
'96 Cadillac Eldorado
'99 Cadillac STS :|
& the numerous "abandoned projects" #-o
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25369
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4889

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by myglaren »

It was a mirage caused by the heat
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by bobins »

I reckon the engine had conked out and they were coasting 'round the corner to find a safe place to abandon it :rofl2:
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24566
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Anyone know much about the big 6?

Looked awesome and flat as a pancake to the floor at the rear. Must have that funny suspension! It wasn't going for a "spares or repair" estimate!
nf own work
nf own work
nf own work
nf own work
REgards Neil
Last edited by myglaren on 16 Aug 2019, 10:03, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Image rotated
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
andy5
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 438
Joined: 05 Nov 2010, 13:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 104

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by andy5 »

In a double trip across France, the only Xantia I saw was the same green colour as mine, by a roundabout in Vif, a bit south of Grenoble.

For the third time this year, the P&O check-in staff (i.e. French people) at Calais asked me what make of car it is. Can't they see the inverted double chevron badge on the front on their number plate camera, or the relevant field on the booking info?
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 4731
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
Location: Milton Keynes
My Cars: 2006 Peugeot Partner Escapade 1.6HDi.
1988 Renault 25 Monaco 2.0i.
1985 Sinclair C5.
1984 Trabant 601S.
1975 Rover 3500.
1973 AC Model-70.
x 1403
Contact:

Re: Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

Post by Zelandeth »

Some funky shaped windows on this little Partner based camper.
IMG_20190823_173044.jpg
Quite the rear overhang for something this small...
Current fleet:
06 Peugeot Partner Escapade 1.6HDi, 88 Renault 25 Monaco, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 75 Rover 3500, 73 AC Model 70.
Post Reply