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decision time !!! Got a chance of buying a Terrano ,95 LWB for £2500 all towing gear fitted etc would make an ideal towcar.The fuel economy concerns me as does parts if owt goes wrong , ie gearbox / drivetrain etc.

Do i stick with the old Xantia or take the 4x4 route , especially in the light of the thread regarding the safety aspect of these vehicles ??

I know it would widen my choice of van in the future , i could tow whatever i wanted where the Xantia although very good , is limited slightly.

The wifes all for it , im cautious , i know it is  a very cheap 4x4 , a workmate is selling it , now urgently due to divorce / CSA etc.

Thoughts please , especially anyone who has or still owns one or its twin the Maverick.

Quote: Originally posted by shark1e on 07/05/2005

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Xantia v Terrano totally no match, Terrano every time, as for safety aspects hwat were they exactly???????

i have towed many miles at a constant 60mph in all weather and never had so much as a snake.

i have also off roaded my Terrano in places most would pass out from disbelief, just an honest non big headed comment from a terrano owner and caravaner,

p.s i drive a artic for a living so used to towing, but no one who is sensible when towing and courteous to other road user should never have a problem with a terrano/ maverick 4x4, take a look at my owners club wewb site, Nissan & Ford Maverick 4x4 Owners Club UK

shark1e

rob

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instability mainly , narrow high sided vehicle ,saw the top gear prog where they rolled a range rover at 40mph . also no airbags or abs unlike the xantia were my main concern 6 months ago.

3000 miles & 6 months later and none of these have been an issue as yet.

My concerns about changing to a terrano were that the Xantia was such a good car , quick, smooth extremely economical,great towcar and to be honest the terrano aint alot better other than the fact it will pull  a heavier van ( the xantia would have struggled with our current van i feel ) and its obvious off road capabalities .

regards

MMMMM wonder what we will be doing over the next few weeks LOL

But must say I do like the look of the terrano

Hi All,

     I tow with a 16v, 2 litre Xantia. No problems at all with the self levelling suspension, good ride, stability and more than enough wellie to get along at a good pace.

  I personally wouldn`t have a 4x4.  You have to lug the things around for all the time you don`t tow. The cost of them if they go wrong can make suspension troubles on an Xantia look cheap..Those tyres can`t come cheap, nor the fuel needed to get something that heavy moving, time and time again in traffic.

A fair few 4x4 owners seem to want to hang the biggest caravan they can on the back, bung all the gear in( thinking thats it`s ok, it`s a 4x4), then wonder why it all goes horribly wrong when van overtakes 4x4 on a downhill stretch because it it too heavy, and not loaded correctly .

I also drive 44 ton artics for a living and when I see an accident involving a caravan outfit, it always seems  be a 4x4 on the front of a wrecked outfit.  Next time you see a caravan prang, just observe what the tow vehicle is.

Oversized, over thirsty and over here

This is of course only my opinion.

                               Regards,

                                          Greg

Ps. The Andyspares Citroen forum is their new one. The original, started by Andyspares, was kicked into touch last year, and taken over by the members. Andyspare were good enough to let 5 years of posts be transferred to the ;  http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/.  Also spares are found at GSF; which used to be Andyspares; http://www.gsfcarparts.com/.   Hope this helps.

Just to throw  my hat into the ring,I drive a Terrano it does everything I ask of it and pulls our caravan like a dream.I suppose you could say its not the most economical car in the world but you cant have everything, oh and I think it is a bit of a myth about 4x4 being expensive on spares, I can get a fuel air and oil filter for aroud £22.00 which I dont think is too bad.

We have had french cars and I think they are very expensive on spares and having self levelling suspension on the back, would scare the hell out of me if it went wrong.

Oh and just to add I drive an artic for a living, covering a lot of miles and I've never seen an accident with a 4x4 towing a caravan, but plenty of mis matched saloon cars  pulling caravans .

Just my humble opinion of course!!

Colin

gosh, this is an old thread ! 10/2004 !!!

Just for the record the Xantia was better at everything except draggin the van out of a muddy field.