Why I Love The Citroën XM
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ต.ค. 2024
- The last #Citroën XM left the Rennes-La-Janais production line over 20 years ago, and it's fair to say that Citroen's flagship for the 90s is aging like the finest Chateau Laffite. #Classic
I fell in love with the XM since I saw it on magazine covers in 1989, and my admiration for what Citroën achieved with this model has only grown since then. In a world where bloated and cartoonish overdesign is the norm, the Citroën XM's sharp lines look perhaps even better than they did thirty years ago. PSA's management wanted a completely different design language from the CX, and #Bertone chief stylist Marc Deschamps certainly delivered.
Unfortunately, early XM models suffered from considerable teething problems. These were caused mainly by inadequate wiring and connectors, but that quickly ruined the car's image.
Sales of the XM peaked at around 96.000 units in 1990, then fell off a cliff in '91, never to recover.
This is a crying shame, as the XM really was a remarkable automobile that deserved to succeed.
My automotive books:
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
www.amazon.com...
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985 www.amazon.com...
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 www.amazon.com...
Classic Citroëns, can't get enough of them
Very true!
Gorgeous car I remember them well
The Seating in these XM is a State of the Art ...no other cars can match with it.....thnxs for video ..
Indeed. Plush, wide seats you would never get out of!
If ever there was an award for cosseting voice we would hand it to the gentleman of this channel. Well done, sir.
Wow, thank you! Normally I get slammed for my voice, so it's great to hear that someone actually likes it. Gentleman, you've made my day :)
@@Matteo_Licata Your voice suits the content perfectly Matteo.
@@Matteo_Licata You are welcome, good sir.
I was thinking indepent of these comments how much I enjoyed your voice.
Citroen XM MOOIE AUTO PRACHTIG 🎉❤🎉 🎉❤ B🎉❤
You are right it looks better today than at introduction. Too normal as compared to the CX, I thougt back in the days. However, Do not forget about the C6. That is a lovely Citroën. Maybe that last one…?
True, true. Check out essais libres about their c6 review.
It was the last one, Indeed.
Peugeot was holding the purse strings remember.
Wonderful car, especially with the first series interior 👍😀
"It has aged much better than back Street Boys music for sure!" - you're not wrong there.
Love your videos :)
Thank you!!!!
Had one of these. Loved that car!
Cool, which version it was?
Aaaah.... Exquisite car. My wife was looking for a CX break/safari/familiale in 1996 and couldn't find a good one.... They were getting rare even then. She settled reluctantly on a 1993 XM diesel. And she still says it was the best (THE BEST) car she ever owned. Fast, quiet, supremely comfortable. Enormous. Colossal. She sold it after six years, when it showed 130,000 miles....
The children adored it. It was one of the family. We had a third row of removable (rear-facing) seats fitted.
One flaw.... The parking brake was dreadful with a manual gearbox. You needed quick feet or three legs for a hill start. For that reason and others I agree with you about the auto box. But also, this is a car for a lazy, low-revving diesel. I recall the XM was doing 2000 revs at 60mph. We could talk in a whisper at 90mph. Divine.
To this day, we all sigh when we see a picture of the old XM.
If I could find a good, low-mileage, affordable one today, I would buy it.
In my mind, despite the PSA motors, it was the last Citroën.
Good video. Full of respect and admiration for great cars, as usual.
I agree, the World would be a better place with more old Citroens. And in fact I own an XM Y4 in the same Mauritius Blue as in the video, only it is a V6. The car is 23 years old and serves me as my daily driver, no kidding, indeed she does it very well even.
One of the most perfect lines I have ever heard in my life: "In a world where bloated and cartoonish overdesign is the norm, the Citroën XM's sharp lines look perhaps even better than they did thirty years ago." that is 100% spot on!
It's hard for me to imagine a cooler daily driver than an XM V6, so hats off to you, congratulations! I'm glad you've enjoyed my video, and that Mauritius Blue is a lovely shade that gives off cool reflections under sunlight.
I drove sometimes a XM V6 mk.1, my god so comfortable and elegant!
OMG, one of my favorite cars. I was eleven in 1990 when my dad brought home a foldable catalogue of the XM. It was actually a poster so very soon it find its place on the wall above my bed and stayed there for years :D.
It is such a magnificent looking car. And to be honest it was a perfect match for the Peugeot 605 which for me is another great design. One individual and high-tech the other is classy and sporty. Unfortunately nowadays you cannot really daily drive such cars anymore, which is a shame. Driving a nice car really makes a difference to your life...
Oh you can definitely daily drive classics, as long as you got a good stockpile of parts at least...
I managed to have all the family together. The DS the CX and the XM... Goddess and her daughters under the same roof! This is a happiness.
Indeed! Congratulations! Which versions are them?
@@Matteo_Licata CX 2,5 turbo DSuper 1974 and XM ct turbo auto.
Off course not to mentioned 2cv Charleston 1985 for city use.
Lucky bastard!
@@gediminas.p352 taking your “ word” as joke...
@@NIKOSFOUST No offense mate, just jealous... I'm Citroen man as well, but only have 2 xm's and c6...
I've owned couple of Citroëns from that time, and they were some of the best and most fun I've ever had in driving. I still see Citroën as one of the last castles for automotive innovation, even if it's not well understood as it should be
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I own V6 24V Exclusive 1999 year. This is my dream car, nothing can beat seating position in the Xm. Unique
Wow, congratulations! V6s are rare in Italy because of taxation issues, sadly.
Yes, the comfort, space and visibility you have on the XM is unique... Possibly the best car Citroen has ever made, all things considered.
@@Matteo_Licata I totally agree with you. I have two Xm-s, one is 2.5 TD and other one is 3.0 V6 24V automatic with beautiful beige leather seats and carpet. I also drive Xantia HDi as my everyday car. I could say I'm hydropneumatic freak 😉
I mean in general I like cars, but these Hydraulic Citroëns are my favorite ones.
Your channel is great. You are doing great work with it. Keep it up. 👍💪
@@jadrankosidran5193 Cool! I share your love of hydropneumatic Citroens, even if I don't drive one today. I grew up with the two BX my dad used to own and that hooked me on these cars forever! I dream of buying a DS one day :)
I also loved the Xantia, that tail was gorgeous.
The rear end of the Xantia was very attactively sculpted, absolutely. Pity the front end was a bit... Meh. The Xantia is a nice looking car, but to my eyes it lacks the strong personality I'd want from a Citroen. An excellent car nonetheless.
@@Matteo_Licata Exactly. It was very nicely styled and almsot perfect in it's proportions but just too bland. Still the Xantia Activa might be the ultimate secret Citroën weapon. Maybe an idea for a future video?
@@Matteo_Licata I've always thought smoked acrylic used in tail light lenses was a backward step.
There was much that was good in the Xantia, particularly the look of the rear and the way it seemed to hang in the air with all the weight appearing to be over the front wheels. That strongly nose-heavy look brought to mind the "supermotard" motorcycles of the era, such as the Gilera Nordwest.
But looks aside, the Xantia seemed strangely bland and flavourless, despite the lovely ride and the brave "activa" models.
@@BanjoLuke1 Maybe it was a bit too perfect? Todays cars are often the exact oposite. Interesting details but no coherence at all. Most will however agree that PSA started to overdo it with their play it safe policy aroudn that time. The C5 was even worse, in spite of the last sprinklings of good taste on the V2 version's front and rear. By now the die seems to have been definately cast. Citroën has become a shadow of its former self.
Grazie for this great hommage to the XM. I have got the same one as a daily driver, same colour Mauritius Blue from 1999 but with the ES9 engine. I love this 1700kgs heavy and solid vehicle. It's a pleasure to drive it 100kms every day. You see them less and less on the streets even in France and that is because of brutal, anti-human green politics.
Wow, a ES9-engined XM is perhaps the peak of the bunch, the best version you can get, and that blue paint looks great under the sunlight. Congratulations!
Well, I guess it's not so much the fault of "green" policies, but more the fact that these cars are getting old and spares availability is patchy at best.
Nevertheless, I wish your gorgeous XM will give you many more years of joy!
Always wanted one, from the moment it appeared! Got one in 2012, still enjoying it :-)
Using it for traveling all over Europe with the family, it is the berline but nevertheless all the camping gear finds a place inside, for the four of us, and thanks to the HP suspension (not hydractive) you’re still floating around as if it was empty, stable as ever, fully packed. Wonderful makes you smile time and time again!
So you got a non-hydractive XM? That's something I've hardly ever seen, as here in Italy we never got the most basic XM variants. Which engine do you have?
@@Matteo_Licata 2.0 16v, 1999 Series 2, SX trim level. 132bhp, and a real 16v character. It is powerful enough in the low rpm range for normal driving, but when you really floor it, above 4000rpm it’s flying. So good that even diesel Audi’s struggle to pass it in a 40-60MPH sprint in 3rd gear :-)
And pretty economical as well, our record is 42mpg (1:14.8) for long distance driving, at around 70mph.
So it is the most humble version, but not underpowered like the first series 2.0 engines.
In the latest models (like ours) the basic trim level is also a bit more luxurious then in the first years. All velours, central arm rests front and rear, all electric windows, adjustable wiper interval, 4 reading lights etc.
But no hydractive, which has a much better chance of being maintainable. E.g. there are no spare struts for the hydractive anymore, so if they go (which is not uncommon in the northern part of Europe), the car’s lost. Altogether we’re very happy with a slightly less exotic version, it is special anyway.
Wow, that was very informative, and the XM is truly a modern classic. Thanks for this interesting video! Ciao 🙋♂️
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, a gorgeous modern classic that looks better than ever! Love the XM to bits :)
Da possessore di una Citroën XM 2000 Turbo CT di aprile 1993, capisco benissimo la passione per quest’auto. In famiglia ci sono sempre state idropneumatiche, quando ero piccolo mio padre acquistò una delle prime GS 1220 Club vendute a Catania. Poi sono arrivati altri modelli, compresa una CX 2000 Pallas.
Buona XM!
Capisco benissimo :)
Anche la mia passione per le Citroen nacque con la macchina di papà, che nel mio caso furono due BX acquistate a pochi anni una dall'altra. La XM è una vettura davvero "fascinosa" e, una volta che ci si passa un po' di tempo, è difficile non esserne conquistati. La XM che filmai era davvero un ottimo esemplare, che è stato poi venduto qualche mese dopo. Spero che il nuovo proprietario ne stia avendo la stessa cura!
Always loved this car!
Me too. It is sublime.
XM eleganza e modernità in perfetto equilibrio !
glad i found a nearly perfect Y4 V6 12 PRV, 3 years ago...now i get it out the garage, when the weather is fine, and have the good old hydraulic feeling again, to which i was accustomed for 40 years 🥰
That’s cool! The PRV engine makes a nice noise, and it came with the Diravi steering, if I remember well! Enjoy your cool classic Citroen, because they really don’t make ‘em as they used to anymore!
@@Matteo_Licata noise ? you got a point, there ! mine was equipped with a stainless steel exhaust...and i wouldnt take it off, because it roars so nicely...especially in tunnels ! 😄
Hello! Thank you for your presentation.
In case there is a potential collector and buyer out there, I am selling my Citroen XM turbo injection, automatic, 1998 cc, 1997, petrol, dark red, owned since 2011, under 82.500 miles. I have two keys and all service history. It is off the road, parked in my driveway (Greater London).
On the good side : impeccable grey velvet interior. Spheres were replaced under 1000 miles ago.
On the requirement side : The lacquer has peeled, tyres need to be replaced, and a new alternator is required.
I think that is all that is required for it to be running beautifully.
It is waiting for a collector to make it beautiful again.
Best regards,
Thanks for great video,... nothing less was expected from you 😉👍👌.
So nice of you, thank you!!!
A great video. I too love the Citroen XM, such a stylish, plush, smooth car with great exterior, interior. And a lovely V6 engine too 👌🏻
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
I wish I lived in Europe, best cars, but alas in Australia, we have to rely on your amazing videos. Thank you again our Friend.
Thank you very much for your appreciation! Was the XM ever sold new in Australia?
@@Matteo_Licata Most definitely Matteo..but dont know for how much longer ....Peugeot Renault and Citroen are in trouble with sales..Koreans dominate the market.French cars are a tiny trickle now.
Lovely video! But my 1992 V6.24 says it´s a bit offended for not beeing mentioned. ;) Also. It´s so sad that the XM never recovered from it´s rather small issues when it was launched. I mean, I can replace the bad ground connections in 20 minutes, and the early V6-troubles was all fixed under warranty. Other than that, my over one million km in XM´s has been reliable like no other cars I owned.
That engine is 🤩
Friends who owned XMs all made big mileages with them, with no problems at all... But a million Km is unheard of! Wow, that’s very cool... Is it still on the original engine?
Always loved the XM, super cool and one of the best youngtimers you can buy. And by the way, I appreciate your videos are getting better and better!
Great to hear, thank you! As they say, practice makes perfect :)
I live in the US. When people mock French cars here (which they do because they just don't know) I always make them watch the chase scene in Ronin. I've always wanted one. I hope I can get one. But I'll need to move back to Europe.
Is becoming a great collector car. If you buy one, in 10 years you will have ds or cX value, and appreciation.
Americans generally can't understand french or even some Italian cars, because the sedans were small for your standards, as the crazy hatches they have made in the 80s. I mean, me too if I'd go to us I want an American landyacht, because is exotic to me and especially because I don't need to care about the size, your parking spots and roads are huuuuuge for us! So, there's no point on having a small European car, except for the Germans coz they've always been so darn good. Plus, so many of them were not exported to us! But an Xm is good for your country also in size terms.
I watch a lot of Americans into car stuff. And there are many that talk about "the 25 year rule". Seems like a lot of great cars finds it´s way into the US that way. Maybe that´s something for you? I mean, they have to let you import an XM when there are right hand drive "JDM"-cars all over the place.
I was asking Matteo if it was the bad guys car in Ronin - so is it? That front end is very distinctive
@@rustybearden1800 yes. The first chase scene where the protagonists (are they really good guys?) have the Audi S8 and the Mercedes 6.9. What cars! What a chase!
Beautiful styling. French innovation. A superior car which is greatly missed. Definitive ride quality! It is a previlage to such have owned a car!
Couldn't agree more!
This is simply sublime. Incredibly interesting and beautiful car. And such a good video. Well done man.
Wow, thank you very much!! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it so much
Rare to see one in a year on Australian roads; it is an enduring design, to be sure. 👍
I had a look at one today near The Sunshine Coast Qld,first one I have ever seen.
My former Father-in-law had an XM. It seemed very sophisticated in comparison to the other sedans of the day. If I'd been smarter I would have bought it from him, he was s tickler for maintenance. I'm sure that car was in great shape.
It truly was an amazing car. Possibly the best Citroën ever made, at least in my view.
I always loved the CX (my Uncle had one as a company car & I loved how mad it was), the XM & 605 were fantastic in their own way, the 605 being the more conservative look was very unpopular in the UK compared to the outrageous XM
Talking about XM's and Italy: Picture this: Marche region 2015. While taking a narrow country road from Maria del Piano to Pergola a lady in something Panda-sized got the fright of her life when we came around the corner. Not that anything actually was about to happen but the XM was just a little too wide for her taste. Some days later (while we where taking the inland route back home up to the Po plain etc.) my oldest son says from the rear bench. "Dad, some guy just almost fell of his bicycle when he saw our car pass by!" And before anybody calls me a road hog: Out of admiration apparently. Not because I came too close. I wish I'd seen it myself. Good times! In 2020 we planned to take it to Sardinia (etc.). Hopefully we'll still get around to it once Corona is under control.
Cool story! I hope you'll get to make the trip to Sardinia!
@@Matteo_Licata Maybe we can also visit you and take you for your next, by then long overdue, XM ride. If you promise to ba nice boy until then, that is! Coming to think of it: Can it be that you where the drooling bicycle guy? :-)
That’ll be great! Fingers crossed that travel will be ok then 🤞🏻
Fabulous car Matteo, the older the XM gets the better it looks.
Yes indeed. Thank you!!!
The XM is, like all big Citroëns, a magnificent car. Truly unique and definitely very interesting. However, like I have recently read in a specialized magazine, it doesn´t have the presidential elegance or the styling refinement of the DS, SM, CX and C6. It still looks brilliant and very special, though. I love it, but the last true Citroën was, in my opinion, the C6. The first time I rode in one I was really impressed, a car like no other. I think it deserves a video.
Personally, I don't rate the C6's design that highly, as it was a retro-design, rather than something truly innovative. But it's all a matter of opinions, of course. Regarding the C6, I'd happily film one for a video, and I happen to know where to find a lovely one...
@@Matteo_Licata Well, just compare it with its contemporary rivals, like the W211 E-Class or the E60 5 Series. They all look like living fossils, while the C6 doesn´t.
Cool to see this vidéo After the c5x reveal, spiritual successor of the xm
"and there was little Grace Jones could do about it" LMFAO
And yet, I couldn't imagine her selling anything else. It suits her so well.
I loved the XM especially in Series 1 V6 spec because the rims went well with it and the interior was still pure avantgarde. But most of those sold here in Malaysia have long gone due to lack of any possible support of parts especially electrical
Parts are an issue even here in Europe, so I can only imagine how difficult it would be to keep an XM on the road in Malaysia! The later interior doesn't look as cool as the original, I agree... But it feels better made, even if maybe it's just an impression.
The wiring loom if it prematurely rotted costed in our currency about 15 thousand including freight and tax back in 1997 and that's about 1/10th the value of the car, very substantial amount
Ouch, that was costly indeed!
A very good presentation and review 👏
Thank you!!!
I drive a manual ES9 V6 XM for 10 years now. It's a great car with a brilliant (truely outstanding) powertrain, but it becomes more and more difficult to own. And I really wished the seats were better. They are very comfortable on shorter journeys, but on longer ones, you realize that seat comfort isn't its strong point. Which is is a real shame, because the rest of the car was clearly designed with long journeys in mind.
The last great Citroen - the mk1 especially leans heavily on the SM, and why not!! Unfortunately the supposed complexity of the electrical systems scared a lot of potential buyers off, and by the mid 2000’s these were selling for pin money.......lovely cars!
Thankfully, the XM seems to have found its place among the classics now, with the best cars being valued and preserved :)
So eloquent and that Xm is like a new.
Thank you! Yes, that XM is spectacular, one of the very best around
Excellent video. Beautiful XM, like new. I love this car.
Thank you very much! Yes, that example is perfectly preserved, wears its 130.000 km with real pride
Superb video to the beautiful XM Matteo .... I really want one now ... will be searching 😂😂😂
It happens to me as well, to desperately want a car I'm filming :)
That XM is truly gorgeous.
Bertone straight lines design is timeless because no other cars looked like a X1/9, a Stratos or a XM at the time, and no other one look like this today.
Since it has never been mainstream it can't fall out of fashion and become obnoxious or ugly.
had 3 xm s, vsx turbo, like a bed driving 180 km, like a cloud
I'm thinking we were separated at birth! You have impeccable taste Roadster Life
I'm sure I have a picture of me at the same age in front of an XM at a motorshow in the UK!
Totally! :)
I still remember the magazine cover with the XM besides the TGV train... My dad had a BX, so I already was hooked on Citroens, and the XM blew my young, impressionable mind :)
I wish there were some of these to see in the USA. I've never seen one in person, and I'm always looking!
Most XMs are now old enough to be imported in the USA, by the way. I don’t think many will do so, but you never know :)
Love your videos and your wonderful accent is a joy to listen to. Gorgeous car, and although I don't entirely agree with your comment about BSB, I'll forgive you :-)
I don’t get complimented about my accent very often, quite the opposite, in fact! So your comment makes my day, thank you!!!!
I remember those cars gathering dust because no one knew at the dealership how to maintain them, even if the owner gave all the money in world to fix it, especially the complex air suspension. I didn't see a single working car for at least 10 years.. hope one day I will see one in the flesh cruising down the road.
Better de phase I with the single spoke steering wheel! Great Car 🖖😊
I like both series, for different reasons. Series II cars feel better made to me, but maybe it's just an impression.
@@Matteo_Licata maybe it is! But I can’t like the steering wheel from the second series! 😬
Amazing video roadster life. I have owned two of them a V6 berline and a turbo ct break. Amazing spaceship like cars. But I also love my present Citroën C5 Aircross.
Waiting Waiting Waiting...for the C5 sedan ,,,where is it?
Cool, thank you! Given your current car, how do you feel about the Aircross' ride quality? Is it really as good as the Hydractive, as they say?
@@Matteo_Licata Well the PHC dampening system works imho very well in combination with the special seats. It gives the C5 Aircross a extremely comfortable ride. It is much more agile and save than let's say a a XM. Bodyroll is much less than the hydroactive system and last but not least it is much more reliable. On my channel there are some reviews of my Citroëns.
Good to know, thank you!!!
@@Matteo_Licata Citroën is back on track. Quirky, polarising and innovative with great comfort. I am very courious for the upcomming release of the new C5. Imho Citroën has done a great job with the new C4 and C5 Aircross. So hopefully they have a new worthy flagship model.
Grace Jones kicked ass in View to a Kill and Conan. Speaking of different, the CX’ angles can slice through just about anything. It is unicorn in my neck of the woods Atlanta
I love Grace Jones, a great performer indeed
@@Matteo_Licata Matteo ..if you haven't seen the 'la vie en rose' performance in Belgium..it's in my music vids , its a must see .
The dream car ❤
Of course I must keep adding comments every time I see the video. I just can't resist it! Looking at this cars nose: The article series I am presently writing is called "The Zen Guide To A Perfect XM Patina." It is about restoring the original paint to a near perfect finish without respraying, including fixing foreign object damage. Part 2 has just been published in our Dutch XM club magazine Ambience Extreme which I can (of course) totally recommend in it's high quality full colour splendour. :-)
That's cool! I'd be really interested in seeing the result, could you send me something via e-mail?
@@Matteo_Licata I'd love to! Where can I find your email address?
info@roadster-life.com
@@Matteo_Licata Ouch, you’ve just given me a direct line to you! You’re going to regret this! :-)
Recently got a V6 manual phase 1. When its sorted from the workshop and the coronavirus nonsense finally fades away, I plan to go for a trip to Italy. See you there :)
Cool! Congratulations on your purchase then! 👍
XM Forever!
Wonderful wonderful car, indeed.
That interior is beautiful! Is this the model the bad guys drove in Ronin? Great post!
It appeared even in French Kiss if I'm not wrong
@@Falcone-en4wl was this car in Ronin? It looks like it
@@rustybearden1800 Yes it is. You are right.
Hmmm ..I'm of the opinion that fake wood has no place in a Citroen tho
@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars what makes you think it is fake?
You love your Citroens especially the pneumatically suspended ones. I have always loved these, I had a BX as a company car and got a promotion - with that came the choice of a better car - an XM or a Ford Granada. For inexplicable reasons I cannot explain I went Ford. It still keeps me awake at night.
WHAT
WERE
YOU
THINKING
?
@@davidbt98 I was probably talked into it by the fleet manager - unforgiveable I know
@@darrenwilson8042 He / She probably wanted the XM for him/herself... Anyway, you're right unforgivable 😞
Still a gorgeous car.Shame they are so rare now.
Indeed. What a lovely automobile
There is a beautiful XM VSX Turbo Auto, 1997 (serie2), petrol, dark red, impeccable interior, low mileage, new hydraulic spheres, going to the scrapyard tomorrow (Middlesex, Harrow area, UK) ONLY because the space where it is parked is needed. Still a few hours to save it!
😢😢😢
@@keyser414 Hi, good news ! :) the car was saved at the very last minute. I even cancelled the scrap man ! It was a bargain for the buyer! Good for him ! :)
Consiglio spassionatissimo: la qualità dei contenuti (elevata) non corrisponde alla qualità della registrazione audio (appena soddisfacente). Spero vivamente in un miglioramento nei prossimi video per godere a pieno delle tue capacità narrative :)
unfortunately, as with so many French and Italian cars, the extra design effort of their creators is only appreciated long after the car has stopped being available for purchase. At an age when all cars become fairly unreliable anyway, so this aspect does not matter anymore.
Only then people figure out what a brilliant piece of design they missed out on, by not buying at the right time, and going for the equivalent boring Audi or whatever, that now looks like Fred Flintstone's car.
Renault 25 next? No? Safrane maybe ?
That's a very sad reality, indeed. What next, you ask... I'd love to film a Renault 25, but those are almost extinct here in Italy. Next week I'll be featuring an Italian car ;)
I bought one of these in 1990. The most expensive car I had owned up to that point turned out to be the worst, most unreliable car I had owned. Many of the problems were due to the inability of so-called factory trained mechanics not having a clue as to how the thing worked. On more than one occasion I grabbed a copy of the relevant manual and explained to the mechanic how to do his job. I did not get much in the way of thanks for this!
On one occasion whilst having problems with the hydraulics, the 'expert' said the only way to troubleshoot this was to start swapping out expensive parts until the fault went away. When I suggested he might want to get out his pressure testing equipment first, I was assured that there was no such tool available. I went home and contacted an independent Citroen spares dealer who agreed to sell me one.
I am pleased to say that from that day to this I have never set foot inside a Citroen dealer since then.
Unfortunately, your experience was far from an isolated case. The unreliability of early XMs and the poor support customers received from Citroen's dealers all but erased the initial goodwill surrounding the car's launch. With the result we all know: sales fell off a cliff and never recovered. Citroen brought all this misfortune to itself, which is a pity, given the XM was a brilliant car once the initial woes were cured.
the zx volcane,the xantia and d xm is a beautiful cars..handle well... miss my zx n xantia
Hello, sir. Might we ask a question: seeing you have had the distinguished pleasure of driving both a CX and an XM which would you say handles comfort better, especially over rough surfaces. An article in the 199Os once compared the ride quality of the XM to a Rolls Royce of the period. . .
The XM is as comfortable as a CX, but feels much less of a “boat” if you’re driving on a winding road. I love both, but the XM is the better car, no doubt about that
@@Matteo_Licata Oh, right. Cheers.
Fun fact: the Citroen XM's chassis was slightly longer on one side than the other. Only the French!
Beautiful car
It sure is!
Great start of the weekend, as always, with Roadster Life.
But, with respect;
This time i have to disagree with you, Matteo.
For me, the C6 is the last «hurray» from Citroen. Maybe not inovative. But what a car!
Not old yet, but when i saw it for the first time, it was an «instant classic».
Maybe i am bias, because i had a CX in the 90’s.
Stay safe!
Fair enough! I personally don't regard the C6 as highly as the XM because it lacked ambition. It was a retro design... An individual design, but not a vision for the future.
Brilliant car though, that's for sure.
Thank you for your appreciation!
So what is better a XM with a V6 or a C6? I consider both but don’t know much about either.
I can't advise anyone on which car to choose because it's a matter of personal preference. Personally, I never thought much of the C6, but I have loved the XM since it was launched. Just to let you know, the availability of parts for both models is an issue.
Thanks for this nice video
Original car
Thank you!!!
Apparently the main problem with the XM was the earthing giving all sorts of electrical gremlins .
Well, I'd buy one if I didn't have the money for a real car. :-) The Turbo CT is normally claimed to have 150 bhp by hte way. Maybe the number you quote is that for the version with an automatic gearbox. I've written a few articles about in how far the XM can be called a real Bertone. Let's call that the official sanctified version. As you point out it is in fact heavily inspired by older Citroëns and study models. The recessed waistline might for instance seem to have been derived from Dechamps Zabrus but is also already evident in earlier selle Giret studies, etc. It's my view that Bertone pulled together nicely what others had prepared. Furthermore some important details where added during the in house finalisation. Whatever the true story is: The result stands the test of time indeed. I probably mentioned this before but mine is a very similar '96 but green, one step down in luxury and intentionally has an early asemetric grille and central spoke steering wheel and Seduction type wheel caps. MMMMMMMM! No wonder this video feels so homely!
I know the in-house studio did a lot of work on the XM, during its transition to a production model... But it would have been perhaps too convoluted a story for an 8-minute long video. The car I filmed has just 130.000 Kms and it's in as good a condition it could possibly be... And I loved it! What a magnificent automobile.
@@Matteo_Licata You've caught the bug, eh? Buy one now. Good ones are really starting to go up in price.
One of the best :)
The Citroens that did not get the success they deserved.
SM
XM
C6
And to a lesser extent - later C5s that were out to take on the Germans,
but excelled in comfort and character.
The BX and the XM are some of the coolest looking cars ever made
'13 windows, that's not pos..'
*extra rear window*
'oh.'
Quali versioni consigli in modo da evitare i problemi che si erano presentati?
Mah, guarda, la cattiva fama che i primi modelli si erano guadagnati oggi non deve più spaventare. Sono passati trent'anni ormai, e le XM sopravvissute in genere sono vetture che sono state curate e ben mantenute. Quindi non si tratta tanto di quale versione, ma piuttosto valutare le condizioni di ogni singolo esemplare, che ormai fa storia a sè.
@@Matteo_Licata Effettivamente hai ragione, grazie del consiglio.. per caso per rimanere nel mondo Citroen hai esperienze con il CX? Grazie
Good evening. Is the car for sale? How much? In which place is it located?
Too late! It's long been sold already
And now look at the new big Citroen 🦠
Mi è sempre piaciuta tantissimo. Però dopo è arrivata quel capolavoro della C6 (anch'essa incompresa....)
Totally agree
My preffered would be a a serie 1 v6 whit the front grille 9f the serie 2
Steering Wheel from the Citroen DS ...
Citroen used to make smooth riding limousines but the people who can afford such cars seem to have switched to SUVs.
While I much prefer the XM, I don't think it is fair to just forget the C6 when saying the XM was the last really special and different big Citroen. The C6 had a lot of unique Citroen-y features as well, shame it looked just too weird.
Well, I understand. In the video I express my opinion and I expected people to disagree with me. The C6, in my view, wasn't nearly as ambitious a project as the XM was. But it was an excellent automobile, that's undeniable.
nice
Belissimo, too bad us Americans never appreciated Citroens. 😟
Hye Matteo what is your take on PSA and FCA merger Stellantis?
I did a video about that when the merger was just announced... But I've since made it private, as it had lost relevance. To answer your question, I think very positively about the merger, as FCA just wasn't going to survive on its own into the future, and Carlos Tavares has demonstrated being a great CEO.
And today Citroën, Peugeot are with Alfa, Maserati, Fiat and some others one united Company 😐
Xm at last! Yes, it has electronic issues. Multiple issues. But if you have millions to fix it and they show themselves, then you have a cruise ship soaked in the luxury of wonderful design and comfort. When I was 16 I was desiring that car so badly, and my buddies of course didn't agree with me.
I had a 1989 one, with the electronic problems, but once that was fixed, it was one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven, including the CX. And it was beautiful, just stunning!
Yeah, about that electrical "issues". It takes about 5€ to buy some decent connections. There are no "grenading" in the XM´s electrical system. You could argue that the series 2 models window regulators was bad, but it´s a mechanical problem. Another problems is when people that troubleshoot them are idiots. Like me, taking apart half of the car only to realize that I maybe should have checked for any bad fuses first. Or when an XM won´t start and you take apart the whole engine harness just to realize that it had a bad ignition module, which BTW is the same as on Volvo 940. And I´ve never heard any complains about electrics in the 940. But still. It has WORSE grounding points than the earliest XM´s. But Volvo never bothered to fix it. Yes I will argue that "the worlds best car" Volvo 940 is a much worse built car than any XM.
@@michaelheimbrand5424 you're right, most of the problems were coming out of ignition. But maybe there's a reason why even the French are still saying that car is not so reliable?
@@danielemeytre4010 As a Swedish former car mechanic+owner of some older Volvos, I find it more strange that Volvo has such a strong reputation for reliability. I cannot say anything about the French people, but I at least has some decent amount of decades as a proud Citroën lover behind me. I guess it´s easier to get a bad reputation when you stand out...? I mean, there are still people laughing at my DS23 so people may not evolve as fast as we like. But my main point about the XM should be mentioned: The only people that are in doubt about the XM is those who really doesn´t know that much about them. It´s a simple matter about "XM is a really good car, and if someone says otherwise they simply don´t know what they are talking about". Kind of end of story there.
@@michaelheimbrand5424 ok, ok don't take it so seriously, brother! I really love your fire in the belly about Citroëns, I was just asking to have your opinion as you know so deeply these cars. By writing me you're Swedish, I understood something. 🇸🇪 Loves so much cars, isn't it? So sorry that Volvo is Chinese now, and no more Saabs on sight. Xm is good even cold climate? I ask because I'm writing from 🇮🇹. Do you like italian cars?
Sadly missed .my interest to the marque was largely because of this XM
hey Matteo, watch the Music video by M 2 M, Everything you do, It featured the XM as an escape car in the future. Enjoy
Suave is the word :)
Indeed :)
Thanks for watching!
Più consona al design originale, la plancia della prima serie. Questa è un'automobile degna del nome Bertone, però la C6 è anch'essa unica come ammiraglia Citroën (P.S. appena svelata la DS9... e che vera delusione!)
La C6, per me, manca di quell'ambizione, di quella carica innovativa una Citroen dovrebbe avere. Era unica come stile, ma perchè si ispirava al passato della marca... Ma nessun grande modello della storia Citroen ha mai guardato indietro, sempre avanti.
your right strut mount , coming to an end.. i can remont if you interested.
What about the C6 ?
The C6 was an excellent car, but, in my view, it wasn't a futuristic, daring design as a Citroen should be. In my view, the brand should never look backwards, but always go ahead with style and technology.