Color gris iceland and color you'll frequently encounter many cars PSA but also Xsara's

I've had BX 7 types and six types Xantia. The latter was a Break Exclusive 110HP with leather upholstery. Fantastic car, but road tax. Summer 2012 bought a Mercedes 250TD and moved once again in December 2013 and the Xsara Break Exclusive 110 hp purchased at Citroen dealership Damsté in Nieuwegein for € 1995, - and € 600, - got my MB250TD, where I> € 10,000, - had to sit .. That unreliable government anyway.

But the Xsara very quickly conjured a big smile on my face. Some small traces users saw the car very well. Color gris iceland and color you'll frequently encounter many cars PSA but also Xsara's. Car weighs 1240 kg. So the car has the same engine as in my Xantia, but weighing 1376 kg. So he goes away very rapidly. My execution, an ex-car importer as Exclusive version already very complete with an onboard computer, rain sensor, rear parking sensors, cruise control, four electric windows, rear center armrest and steering wheel-operated radio / CD player and a sunroof. Only heated front seats and navigation is optional. By buying I leave shortly thereafter spraying the front and rear bumpers and mirrors, which were dim. I have to portray on a fixed towbar a small hut rut sometimes. I let the car value.

There was some rust in the cable passage in the bodywork at the right front door and under the hood. On the roof on the roof are some rust bubbles and I myself have to remove the third brake light rust. From the clerk at I understood that my performance but seven have been delivered in the Netherlands. So if I'm going to Citromobile, I'm usually one of the most exclusive cars ... My Xsara break type 2B course is not on his C5 inspired look. With my 1.92 m until I was over and I can see the hood. C5 rides more like a grande routiere, but recently I have experienced in the Pyrenees that the Xsara is a nimble car especially, which itself perfectly at home. In July 2014 I left the car chip tuning with Chip Meister in Leusden, on the advice of Damsté. Excellent choice! The horsepower has gone from 110 to 140 and torque from 250 to 310 nM. With family on board I've worked in Germany 205 km / h drove it on the counter.

When overtaking the car drags you in no time beyond the vehicle ahead. My usage is at around 1: 17/18. The car has plenty of luggage space for my family with two children aged 10 and 14. The radio / CD player Clarion is not very durable. Have been to the 3rd. Probably now one in a C8. The muffler has been replaced and rear brakes too, like the steering wheel, which is very ribbed, a known ailment. The right front spring is broken and thus replace both springs are. Damsté Houten does most of the maintenance. There also operates a real Xsara man and talks very pleasant. Last year during the journey to the holiday destination by car broke down suddenly and beyond Valance I suddenly had no power, what happened just thank God for parking. Family car with it on the breakdown service and four days later the turbo long piece appeared: consisting had collapsed in two layers and the innermost layer, a type of pneumothorax say.


After that, the car does not blow more beaten wrong. Recently, at Carrec in Soesterberg replaced the thermostat and stabistang. I had for the holidays in 2015 with a C5 break test gasoline driven out 2003 class by itself, drives really formidable, but I became so fond of the Xsara. Economically it is not to have driven much more valuable after 35,000 km at. But I drive efficient, never have been thinking and not too expensive a trip, always have power, it was luxury for me is secure with six airbags and I think it's a posh box. Elsewhere is a review from someone much better than I know how to appoint the unique qualities of the Xsara 110HP, that's just poetry. If Citroëngek I'm glad I'm in a modern car drives after that insane rusting MB250TD. Logically I can think of no reason at this point why the car for 2019 should road: the road tax goes back to € 200, - upward. It is a pleasure to be every time on the road with this voiture. Nice unobtrusive, but inside big. Hats off to the designers.

We have over 3 years but less than 6900, - spent on maintenance on the Volvo. So this was the last straw. Time for a new car.

The criteria:

1) Wagon no longer. The kids have grown. Time cots and prams is over.
2) Own surely like as much storage space as the Volvo
3) like the same tax scale
4) like (yet) economical than the Volvo
5) Although not drive, please be generous luggage compartment
6) Few KM programs. Please also not too old. Preferably less than 100.000 and / or up to 4 yrs old.
7) Diesel, and good tractor trailer. Preferably more than 120hp, 250nm

My wish list:
- VW Golf
the favorite of my maintenance garage. The TDI's are tasty economical. I read online anyway on VW's much problem stories. Bit standard car. Have online for the amount I have to spend quite a lot of KM or have been 5 or 6 years old.

- Opel Astra> Seems to be a decent car. According to many internet reviews more reliable than VW. But oh, what a boring model. Tax Scale higher than Volvo v40

- Audi A3> Very nice car. Just sit down. Actually quite small inside. Trunk Tray nothing. Tax Scale higher than Volvo v40. Budget for it is soon over 150.000km and / or 6 yrs old.

- BMW 1> Very nice car. Seems even smaller than the Audi.

- Mercedes A> Slack diesel, not a tractor trailer.

- Honda Civic> Was not really on my list. Came upstairs to give any notice Autotrack but only to look at power, maximum purchase amount and sort KM's. Actually quite very nice box. Trunk has 60 liters more than the Volvo! 2.2 liter diesel has 140 hp and 340 nm. Actually this car close touch all points of the aforementioned car list. Rave reviews online ....

So once again look at a Civic that was in nearby. The garagahouder if I'm even just take a night if I'm only brought back to 20.00. So at home wife and kids loaded it and drove round. Boy, kids are still wider than the V40. Trunk is plenty big. Up front 'ie fine. 2.2 common rail diesel with 6-speed attracts excellent, but also runs smoothly and quietly. Executive version is equipped. Sunroof, controlled air conditioning, radio with MP3 and USB, Xenon lights, etc ... the list is endless equipment. Pity that this trial copy has high mileage and substantially pulls to the right and best is some damage in the interior. This'm not. But the Civic is well.

Eventually I saw a beautiful 2.2 CDTi Executive at Honda Kraaiven in Tilburg. 64177km's. 2010. This is after the 2009 facelift. So fine. Made them test drive. Good trade can negotiate (2200 -) for Volvo. Had a 13-pin towbar under that could enter the deal. So done. It's an example from Belgium. I had to wait for the Dutch license plates, but now I got it!

The first 300km on it. And I find it a top car! I really do not understand that you almost never see. It is simply a better car than many competing mid-range. Hydroponic module is superb. Grip is great. The engine is quiet and pulls very well. Why drive not thousands of these cars around? Only downside, door and floor insulation is not top, it mainly comes on the highway quite some road noise inside. And the suspension is quite sporty (or hard) adjusted, but that's a taste thing, I do like that.

The average consumption so far is 5,6L / km. That's very neat.
In terms of reliability, I can say very little. But I have the intention to regular piece of writing here.

I am also very pleased with the neat handling by Honda Kraaiven in Tilburg. They are all appointments neatly kept.

Continued, and feel free to ask below ...
New tires (67 444 km)The first 3000 km is over. And still very happy with the car. But when purchasing pulled the car quite right. That would just be a matter of balance and alignment. Unfortunately, kept pulling the car after completion quite right. Eventually the dealer (Kraaiven in Tilburg) flipped tires front and rear. And voila, the car tracked well. Tires proved to be quite cupped. There were two moderate anyway tires on two good, and all four summer tires. With Kraaiven deliberated and decided to put under a new set with a huge discount because it was a lot guarantee.
Because I do not feel like in tire changes and previous cars had good experiences with Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons I got that's put underneath. And with good results. The car detects super weather. Pastes (even more) on the road. And the car has become a lot quieter.
Economy (or lack thereof) (68 552 km)Consumption is striking me a bit disappointing. I do not come under the 6.4 L / 100km average. But now I drive in practice many city trips and short (+/- 15-30km) rides in the area (many local customers). Above 5.6 L / 100km I get no more. Probably because I now have the car here and some "loose" started driving. 6.4 is still not bad and more economical than my previous Volvo V40. Who had 25pk less heated but still average 6,8L / 100km. But it's also not as tasty efficient as the latest generation 1.6-liter diesel particles.
First turn and first caravan holiday (87,000 km)For the holidays, the Civic had its first turn at Honda du Bois in Amersfoort. There's no weird things came out forward and beurtje had a reasonable price. And the Honda employee said, "Well sir, we'll see you again in a year." what I have experienced in any of my previous cars :-).
I have now thrown out the ANWB and turn it into Honda Assistance.

Then drove 2500 km with the caravan (+/- 1250kg). Return from holiday in France. Absolutely great. Engine had plenty of power. Temperature remained stable even though it was 32 degrees outside. Honda employee had been advised to use the 6th gear sparingly and primarily ride in his fifth. And that's what I did. Neat cruising around 95 km and was a possible overtaking the combination as at 110. slopes I paid special attention to gas mileage and I turned sometimes more economical to emerge in 4th gear. That was a tip of the Honda dealership, your meter is a caravan a more important indicator of what your engine then ask your tachometer. If 'ie over 15l / 100km was then I switched back. With my previous Volvo V40 I sat there and I had well over regularly to the same camp at his 3.

In terms of comfort a nice experience. After 15 hours of driving I was fresh enough at the camp to immediately put the awning out (we often do until the next day). Kids had plenty of room in the back. Climate Control has done its job. most is the chassis that hard for the holes in the Belgian motorways around Brussels or the bad asphalt on the outer ring Paris (N104).