What's going on here?

[Jigger72]

I was following this the other day:

It's not a great pic but it's basically a Citroen Xantia that seemed to be raised ridiculously high at the back, like a hot rod racer or something.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't intentional as the bloke was about 80 and didn't look like a hot rodder

What would have made it do that? Has he got the wrong springs or something?

[ric04vrs]

incorrectly adjusted or faulty hydro-pneumatic suspension

[Lance]

I had one of these and you can adjust the ride height, by a lever next to the handbrake. That looks as if it's been left on the highest setting, in error.

Would be very uncomfortable.

[Leodhasach]

I used to love playing about with that on my dad's old Xantia

Ridiculously comfy cars.

[Phil-E]

If it was down at the front and up at the back then it's gone wrong as it often did!

Love playing about with the levers on these though. I once towed a friend in one and the suspension was obviously all the way down as the engine wasn't running. It was very funny to see her hitting the roof of the car going over speed bumps!

Phil

[sheep_go_baa]

I once towed a friend in one and the suspension was obviously all the way down as the engine wasn't running. It was very funny to see her hitting the roof of the car going over speed bumps!Phil

Who needs enemies when you can have a friend like you?!?! :D

[Phil-E]

Who needs enemies when you can have a friend like you?!?! :D

Haha! She was laughing too I assumed she was fine! :P

Also the new citroens are pretty cool with this suspension.

Even with the ignition off and key out if you apply weight to one side of the car a couple of seconds later it adjusts the suspension and pumps it up on that side. Plus little buttons on the dash to select your desired ride height... not as good as a big ol' lever you lift and plonk down where you want to it be!

[sheep_go_baa]

Haha! She was laughing too I assumed she was fine! :P

Is she mentally stable? I don't mean to ask personal questions on about your friends, but if I was constantly hitting my head I wouldn't be laughing!! :P

[sheep_go_baa]

I have a strange compulsion to go out to find one in a local garage just so that I can have a play - I have never had the opportunity and it feels like my life is not complete now! :confused:

[Phil-E]

Is she mentally stable? I don't mean to ask personal questions on about your friends, but if I was constantly hitting my head I wouldn't be laughing!! :P

Hehe... She obviously just found it very funny that her cr*p heap of a car had broken down and was now being towed by a little Skoda Felicia and giving her the bumpiest ride of her life!

I have a strange compulsion to go out to find one in a local garage just so that I can have a play - I have never had the opportunity and it feels like my life is not complete now!

I think you're right there... your life is never complete if you havn't had a play with the hydro thingamabob suspension in a ****croen!

[sheep_go_baa]

Does this mean that the only good thing about the car is the suspension because you can play with it?

[Phil-E]

Does this mean that the only good thing about the car is the suspension because you can play with it?

Yes! lol... untill it breaks and starts leaking it's hydrailic fluid everywhere!

The derv engines are bullet proof though... so there's a plus!

[KenONeill]

It's probably a broken plastic link in the suspension height control linkage.

Ref Phil's story, I once sort of did that the other way without towing someone. I was driviing a BX (forerunner to the Xantia) and being followed into the Dumbarton Health Centre by a Ford Escort who was right up my back. There is a big (but legally ramped) speed bump there, with a good sight line for entering traffic. I didn't brake for the bump, knowing the BX would more or less ignore it. There was a distinct clang, followed by a dazed look, from the Escort driver!

[ap0gee1978]

/\ That's certainly what happened to my old one - GBP250 for the recovery, GBP2.50 for the part. Ace for flooded roads and music festival carparks when it worked, though!

[Phil-E]

Ref Phil's story, I once sort of did that the other way without towing someone. I was driviing a BX (forerunner to the Xantia) and being followed into the Dumbarton Health Centre by a Ford Escort who was right up my back. There is a big (but legally ramped) speed bump there, with a good sight line for entering traffic. I didn't brake for the bump, knowing the BX would more or less ignore it. There was a distinct clang, followed by a dazed look, from the Escort driver!

Brilliant!

[Jigger72]

It all sounds like fun.

But this just looked dangerous and I can't believe he hadn't noticed. Maybe he liked it liked it like that :confused:

[KenONeill]

You would notice, but the car is still stable, and will brake properly. Also, you either drive it to a garage or get it trailered, unless you have the knoweldge and equipment to fix it yourself (and it means crawling right under the car, about where the exhaust comes out of the engine bay).

[Jigger72]

Hmmm, sounds nasty

[KenONeill]

Hmmm, sounds nasty

If you know what you're doing and can get to it, it's a 5 minute job tops. It's getting to it without a 4-post or centre-post lift that's the hard part.