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01/01/2007
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Citroen is finally making its way back into the Australian market. And the Xsara is one of the cars that led the way for the French marque. One reason for Xsara’s success is that it is less ‘different’ in its style and mechanical makeup and therefore appeals to those who want something that’s a little, but not a lot, out of the ordinary.
 This is a mid-size machine that works well in the comfort department, something for which the company has long been renowned. The Xsara uses a conventional ‘metal’ suspension, but manages to provide good ride qualities on sealed roads and better than average comfort on dirt and gravel surfaces. The steering is light, direct and quick to react without being so sudden that it can be worrying.
Not only is the Xsara more conventional in its makeup, it’s also well priced. Resale value isn’t as good as that of some of the more established Euro brands, but neither is it the disaster it used to be in the days of radically shaped Citroens.
Citroen dealerships are still not commonplace in Australia, but the network is expanding and training and facilities are constantly being improved. During the lean years for the Citroen marque in Australia, non-factory specialists kept the Citroen flag flying. These guys usually have a genuine love of the marque and can often fill in the gaps left by official dealers. Make inquiries about the factory warranty before opting for a non-official dealership.
The Citroen Xsara was first seen here as a five-door hatchback in August 1998 with a three-door coupe arriving in February 2001. A few weeks after the coupe arrived, the five-door received a facelift to bring it into line with its sportier brother. That later model is more in keeping with Citroen's reputation for bold body styling. With its unmistakable ‘chevron’ grille and large teardrop headlights it makes its roots very clear.
 Interior space is quite good in the hatchback, with sufficient space for four adults with a bit of compromising between front and rear. The coupe has marginally less headroom but is better than many in its class and can be used as a genuine four-seater. With the usual provision that getting into the back seats can be a hassle.
A sports suspension system is fitted to all versions of the Xsara coupe, so even the lower-powered variant has excellent handling that will really appeal to the keen driver. The VTS coupe is probably the pick of the bunch, even for the average driver who is looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.
Engine options on the original five-door Xsara were 1.8 and 2.0 litres. The smaller engine was reduced in size to 1.6 litres in February 2000. However, it was a redesigned unit and didn’t lose a lot in performance. That engine was further refined just 12 months later when a twin-cam cylinder head was added. This improved pickup as well as slightly reducing fuel consumption.
That latter 1.6-litre engine was also fitted on the then-new Xsara Coupe in 2001. That model also got a hot 124 kW 2.0-litre engine, so was a genuine performance car. At the same time, the facelifted hatch also benefited from a 2.0-litre twin-cam engine, but with 102 kilowatts in place of the coupe’s 124 kW.
Spare parts are reasonably priced for a small-volume imported car and aren't as hard to find now as they often were in the past.
As they are less unusual in their mechanical makeup than many Citroens, Xsaras can be serviced and repaired by a good amateur mechanic. It pays to have a workshop manual beside you before you open that bonnet and it’s always wise to leave safety related items to the professionals.
Get a quote for even apparently minor repairs as some can be relatively expensive for a car of this price and size.
 Insurance charges aren't exorbitant but, as is sometimes the way with smaller volume models, there can be quite a variation from company to company. It’s worth spending a few hours on the phone to track down the best deal, taking care to compare apples with apples when you do get quotes.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The engine should start within a second or so, even when it’s cold. As soon as it fires it should settle into a steady, reasonably smooth, idle.
Acceleration should be virtually instantaneous the moment the pedal is pushed and there should be no smoke from the exhaust pipe even if the engine is worked hard.
A manual gearbox should be moderately light in its action and not crunch on any downshift, no matter how fast. If the automatic transmission is slow at picking up a drive gear from Park or Neutral it may be due for an overhaul.
An air conditioning system that's slow to work or overly noisy in operation may need a professional inspection.
Check for crash repairs. Poorly repaired damage will show as paint which doesn’t match from panel to panel; or a ripply finish in a panel; or as tiny spots of paint on non-painted parts such as glass and badges.
CAR BUYING TIP
Cars that are out of the ordinary are less of a risky buy in conservative Australia nowadays than they have been in the past. You’re still taking a chance, though.
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