Thinking about buying an FTO...

[kevinod]

Hey guys,

I'm currently the proud owner of a Citroen Xsara 1.8 VTS, bought it new 4 years ago, but thinking it might be time for a change. Top of my list right now, the FTO.

Only thing is, I want a newer FTO, my Xsara is 00, and I don't want to go much older than that, so the 94/95 FTOs I see a lot (while they're really fantastic looking machines, and seem to look more or less the same as 97+ FTOs) aren't what I'm after. Sorry Adrian, I was looking at your sales attempts in the forums lately!

I don't know much about what happened the FTO from 97 onwards - do they still make them? Whats the newest FTO available? Any facelifts since 97? Content suggestion for the fto-ireland.com guys, a quick history run through, maybe list the various FTO models?

Manual I think is the way to go, I prefer manuals (have driven automatics from time to time), 99+ ideally, colour I wouldn't be too worried about.

Feeling bad about all these questions in my first post but I'm pretty enthusiastic about getting my hands on a nice FTO...

Whereabouts are the best places to be watching for FTOs? Particular dealers to watch? I'm living in Cork btw. I'm looking into the possibility of importing one from Japan, but haven't been too successful in finding a site with some newer FTOs on it yet. Anyone recommend places to look at?

ta much in advance,
Kevin.

[CJ]

Hi Kevin

Welcome to the forums

Only thing is, I want a newer FTO, my Xsara is 00, and I don't want to go much older than that

It all depends what sort of money you want to spend, a 99/00 is going to set you back anything from 15 - 17k which in my view is a lot of money to pay considering you can pick up a well looked after 95 for 6-7k.

Content suggestion for the fto-ireland.com guys, a quick history run through, maybe list the various FTO models?

As it happens, I'm in the middle of this at the moment, I'll forward you on
a Word doc with some details, its a rough draft, but it should give you some details to go on.

Whereabouts are the best places to be watching for FTOs? Particular dealers to watch? I'm living in Cork btw. I'm looking into the possibility of importing one from Japan, but haven't been too successful in finding a site with some newer FTOs on it yet. Anyone recommend places to look at??

Buys and Sell, CBG and Autotrader have plenty of 94-96 models but 97+ models are hard to come buy. You will more than likely have to import one yourself, search the forums for 'importing', some owners have already done some groundwork in this regard.

In the mean time, check out the following threads, they contain some info the may be of interest:

http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... .php?t=227
http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... .php?t=247

Ciaran

[kevinod]

Only thing is, I want a newer FTO, my Xsara is 00, and I don't want to go much older than that

It all depends what sort of money you want to spend, a 99/00 is going to set you back anything from 15 - 17k which in my view is a lot of money to pay considering you can pick up a well looked after 95 for 6-7k.

That makes a lot of sense when you put it that way...

Hmmm I guess I could be a bit more picky about the colour instead...

Having done a bit more reading I think a 1.8 manual is the way to go, taking insurance costs into account.

thanks,
Kevin.

[CJ]

Having done a bit more reading I think a 1.8 manual is the way to go, taking insurance costs into account.

Don't be so sure Kevin, in my case, there was no extra premium to pay when I changed from a GS to a GPX, it all depends on how the insurer classifies the different models. Depending on your age, you may find that the V6 models are only slightly more expensive to insure, if I where you, I'd get quotes on a GS, GR and GPX when calling around.

Ciaran

[kevinod]

Ouch, just checked out insurance for a 1.8 GS manual, 250% loading on those with the crew I'm with at the moment - Royal Sun Alliance. Nearly 2.5 times the cost of insuring my 1.8 Xsara!

Hibernian online was looking very promising, about €1k, until they decided it may be a sports car so wouldn't quote online.

Now where was that thread about insurance...