Selling Xantias

Trixie

Trixie

Active member
Fellow Frogger
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
490
Location
Sydney, Australia
Bit personal interest maybe, but have any out there sold a Xantia recently, or does anyone who has been watching the market know/have a feel for how long they take to be snapped up - days? weeks? months? Ours is manual, 1995, 120K, 12 months rego, one-owner, no rough edges/nothing to spend/major service just done etc.
 
Depends on a number of desirable factors, which yours fulfils:

one owner
low ks
manual
full reg
recent major service
nothing to spend

This should make it a prime candidate to sell quick (iff the price is right, Larry :D ). But if it's overpriced it will sit. Don't forget it's coming up to 11 years old.

What sort of $ are you hoping for??
 
graham66 said:
Depends on a number of desirable factors, which yours fulfils:

one owner
low ks
manual
full reg
recent major service
nothing to spend

This should make it a prime candidate to sell quick (iff the price is right, Larry :D ). But if it's overpriced it will sit. Don't forget it's coming up to 11 years old.

What sort of $ are you hoping for??
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Its only just 10. $7 and a half would do it.
 
At Continentals.... don't know how long it's been there...

MAKE/MODEL: Citroen Xantia 2.0 SX
YEAR: 1995
ODOMETER: 154,581kms
PRICE: $7,990.00
COLOUR: Silver
TRANSMISSION: manual
ENGINE: 2.0 litre
FUEL Petrol
REGO NUMBER: ADX 12H

Airbag Driver Anti-lock Braking Automatic Air Con / Climate Control Central Locking Power Steering Power Windows Front Radio Cassette with 6 Speakers Well maintained with excellent service record..
 

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We just bought a '95 Xantia 120k in immaculate condition, service history, 3 months ago for $6400. Private sale. Think it was only advertised for the one week.
 
Ren25 said:
We just bought a '95 Xantia 120k in immaculate condition, service history, 3 months ago for $6400. Private sale. Think it was only advertised for the one week.
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I have it on good authority they are worth more in pairs - interested? :D

Seriously, thanks for the tips gents. Not sure what we'll do, but keeping her is hardly bamboo under the fingernails.
 
Silver (metallic therefore), has alarm but remote thingy is ropey. Steel wheels, bog standard otherwise. Oh, we have OEM Citroen roof bars (a pair indeed, so very valuable) which are in the attic and ski-holders.
 
I think Xantias are like any other used car at present; hard to sell.
Just about every town you would like to name at present has a car dealer either going down the shoot, being sold up or "retiring" which has to tell you something about the market.
The whole used car market has been in a steady decline as we have had all the Korean crap dumped on our doorsteps at bargain basement prices and the general public don't seem inclined to buy a quality luxury car for say $12,000 when they can buy a crappy old recycled one with a Hyundai badge on it for about $14,000.
To sell it, I reckon you need to accentuate the positives of limo style comfort, renowned reliability, (that pushes the noses of the fairy story tellers ino it,) economy (ie) 40 mpg on trips 30 around town, solid build quality ( a test drive will convince them on that) high quality interior. Selling a Xantia or any French car for that matter is totally different to selling say a Ford or a Holden, Toyota, Mazda etc mainly because so many people have either driven in one or know someone who owns one, so they treat French cars with some trepidation as a result, you have to become a sales promoter, a spin doctor of sorts or you'll never get anyone to even go for a drive in it.
When I bought my first Cit, that was a typical case in point. Having been a manager of a large Toyota franchise, I always had mainly top of the range Crowns. If our eldest couldn't sleep, we'd just jump in the Crown, drive around the block, zap off to sleep, bring home, in the cot and he'd slep through. The second one arrived when I had my own business and was driving a Mazda E2200 van/people mover and he had sleeping problems, due, according the the manager of personnel to the fact that "he was bouncing around in the back of a bloody big truck, not a nice comfortable saloon like the other one."
After several long winded tongue lashings, the ultimatum was made that we had to get a car the kids can at least have some sleep in on a trip if they need to not getting thrown all over the place, so in an act of frustration, I picked up the Saturdays paper down the Gold Coast, scanned through and (being a smart arse) said "come on then, I'll take you for a ride in one of these things; the guy reckons it's the most comfortable car on the road, so will that give me a bit of peace??" When she found out what it was, at first she refused to go and even take a look based on the "I won't be seen in one of those big stupid long nosed looking things" (referring to a D) :cry: :mallet: :mallet: so I convinced her it looked like a Rover, so with that she conceded to at least taking a look, but on the proviso, if it was one of those weird looking things, she wouldn't get in it.
We went and drove it and the rest is history, so much so that about 6 years ago I was looking at buying a Merc 380SE and took her for a test drive. we went there in a BX and her comments on the way home was that the most pleasant part of that trip was the journey there and home. How times change.
But as I say, the car has to be presented correctly in the advert. Panic sellers, which all too many are, are the ones that cruel the prices.
In my opinion, you can advertise a Xantia as the last with the legendary Citroen hydraulic suspension that could possibly become a collectors item. That's what is needed to sell them. Forget what the other car sellers do; they're not selling a French car and also remember, Citroens make up only about what??? 2% of the Australian car market, so that's your buyer base and if there's no buyers around at present, the car won't sell regardless of price; simple as that! You have to attract buyers from outside that base by "selling " the car in the way you market and advertise it.


Alan S:2cents:
 
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Alan S said:
about 6 years ago I was looking at buying a Merc 380SE and took her for a test drive. we went there in a BX and her comments on the way home was that the most pleasant part of that trip was the journey there and home. How times change.
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Alan - times don't change, as recently as Saturday my wife and two children sighed with relief as I drove the Xantia home from the VW dealership. Seems the 3 years free servicing, 3 years warranty does nothing to improve ride or rear seat comfort :approve: .

Alan S said:
But as I say, the car has to be presented correctly in the advert. Panic sellers, which all too many are, are the ones that cruel the prices.
In my opinion, you can advertise a Xantia as the last with the legendary Citroen hydraulic suspension that could possibly become a collectors item. That's what is needed to sell them. Forget what the other car sellers do; they're not selling a French car and also remember, Citroens make up only about what??? 2% of the Australian car market, so that's your buyer base and if there's no buyers around at present, the car won't sell regardless of price; simple as that! You have to attract buyers from outside that base by "selling " the car in the way you market and advertise it.


Alan S:2cents:
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Good advice as ever, Alan. Funny thing that always, always surprises me when I hop back in the Citroen after driving $25-30K cars is the refinement, solidity and the much higher level of grip and handling it has. As you say, a good drive does much to impress with these cars :tongue: .
 
pips said:
Yeah. But Merc haven't made a good car since the 60's.
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God, that's a big call. The 60's cars had a pretty diabolical swing-arm rear suspension which could actually be quite dangerous in the wet.

Stuey
 
What I mean by "good" is like a real car.

I've heard nothing but troubled from mercs of late.

Cheers
pips
 
Trixie said:
Bit personal interest maybe, but have any out there sold a Xantia recently, or does anyone who has been watching the market know/have a feel for how long they take to be snapped up - days? weeks? months? Ours is manual, 1995, 120K, 12 months rego, one-owner, no rough edges/nothing to spend/major service just done etc.
Click to expand...

Well Trixie thats an interesting question an I ve found

what appears to the younger blokes of today is that when a car has hyraulics it should do a snoop doggy dog bounce! and if it doesnt they just stand there mystified as you explain it to them! and then dont beleive a word your saying cause they have been pumped knowledge of bullshit all there llives:mad: ( having followed Bathurst since I can remember and camped at the mountain a few times)

They wouldnt know the difference between a hydraulic car an a REAL hydraulic car for comfort ,safety and reliability! sure you can get a well abused citroen but have you ever been shopping for a VN? I guarentee you will find more fine examples of citroens out of 20 or so

Im not saying that people on this forum have no idea, but its just that people were never educated on this mile stone of engineering so they boycot it with out evan knowing there superiority?

I mean
a citroen DS would be the greatest project to rebuild an throw ideas at! by comparison to a ford escort,gemini,corolla etc

It usaully takes a drive or two, the hardest is usually (I FIND) that first step


Dan :trouslap:

and YES WORLD CUP HERE WE COME!!!!YYEEEHHHAAAA!!!
 
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PSvensson said:
Well Trixie thats an interesting question an I ve found

what appears to the younger blokes of today is that when a car has hyraulics it should do a snoop doggy dog bounce! and if it doesnt they just stand there mystified as you explain it to them! and then dont beleive a word your saying cause they have been pumped knowledge of bullshit all there llives:mad: ( having followed Bathurst since I can remember and camped at the mountain a few times)

They wouldnt know the difference between a hydraulic car an a REAL hydraulic car for comfort ,safety and reliability! sure you can get a well abused citroen but have you ever been shopping for a VN? I guarentee you will find more fine examples of citroens out of 20 or so

It usaully takes a drive or two, the hardest is usually (I FIND) that first step
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LOL :D If all else fails, perhaps we can offer our cars to Pimp My Ride :(

The stories you hear. Even knowing I have had one for 10 years, dealers have told me fascinating and hereto unbeknown facts that will shock you all to the core:

1. There are only 2 service centres for Citroen in the whole of NSW

2. You will have a hell of a time getting anyone to replace the spheres when they go and it will cost an arm and a leg (I could feel my wife getting ready to strangle the man and very much doubt he will ever sell us a car as a result of that bit of BS :mad: )

And its all uphill from there.....
 
Yeah, Thats why I want a Xantia - for that pimped out look!:joker:

As for perceptions regarding Citroens, you have to hear my mates who absloutely despise french cars when they are asking me about the car I might be getting.

1. "Is that the funny car which goes up and down and like yeah?"
2. "I Cant believe You want one of those"
3. "Whats a Xantia - I swear ive never heard of one?"
4. "Is that like the rally car?"
5. "Citroen....HAHAHAHAHAHAH"

And the list goes on and on and on!

I dont care - they are great cars which I am interested in, they can have their little econoboxes!

Stalled
 
Or this :mad:

"Its a Citroen?, ooh you know they *used* to make cars that went up and down - I had a [insert somebody] who used to own one."

"The DS, wonderful cars, brilliant idea, you know this one goes up and down too much like the DS - its really quite special because nothing else gives you the combination of such comfort and body contr....."

Nobody is listening - lost interest :(
 
That would be cool 'Please Pimp My DEESSE!!:headbang: :roflmao: :roflmao:

think of the possibilities:joker:
I like the street/rally look of this (with the super duper jelly beans mags of the 80's era:cool:
 

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