RE: Chris Harris video: Citroen 2CV
Discussion
Stu R said:
I will never see the appeal of a bordering-on-rat-look 2CV. Different strokes and all that. Now a pristine 50's VW Beetle on the other hand 
The Mini came out in the 50's! The 2CV was just a cheap car for farmers who otherwise would be driving a horse. The Mini was far more important and still looks perfect!fblm said:
Stu R said:
I will never see the appeal of a bordering-on-rat-look 2CV. Different strokes and all that. Now a pristine 50's VW Beetle on the other hand
The Mini came out in the 50's! The 2CV was just a cheap car for farmers who otherwise would be driving a horse. The Mini was far more important and still looks perfect!
This model was reviewed by 'Motor' magazine in about 1954, Slough (might have been a UK assembled one)to John O'Groats, then back to Slough and the Lands End. I would like Chris to drive Slough-John O'Groats without using motorways (please never drive it on a M-way)and count how often he is overtaken, in 1954 they were overtaken 40 times, on a Friday evening. That is the world it was designed for, if everybody had one there would be less problems.
Pure car, and its doors open the right way, the way the legs move.
Pure car, and its doors open the right way, the way the legs move.
Sorry, but the 2CV is the most horrible execrable piece of junk imaginable. To think that this came from the same company which gave us the magnificent Deesse. I'd like to buy every 2-cylinder Citroen in existence, line 'em up and drive a tank over them. The world should be rid of them all. There are far more interesting, quicker classics to buy out there. I honestly could not daily-drive anything with under 100bhp. My old Rover P6B was 184bhp, or a bit over 140bhp/ton, and I'd have another of those like a shot if I had dry storage. Cheaper, faster, nimbler, safer, comfier, more characterful, sound way better, just superior in every way.
That was a terrific video and arguably as good as the AUDI RS4 package a while back. I'm not a 2CV fan but Chris's enthusiasm was infectious, Neil's slo-mo photography deserves a mention too.. This was, as a you said, a perfect antidote to the Mclarens and the Zonda type stuff which you need to do but an occasional foray into past technologies is welcome relief I have to say. I'm still hoping that there is a need to review in a contemporary context some other past masters such as the 968 Club Sport, Delta Integrale and AUDI RS2? You guys do a great job of keeping us entertained every week, thanks.
RoverP6B said:
I honestly could not daily-drive anything with under 100bhp.
<thinks about what of my fleet's taxed at the moment...>600cc/2-pot/4v/30bhp, 1100cc/4-pot/8v/55bhp, 3000cc/v6/24v/190bhp.
Three guesses which is the slowest and least pleasant to drive? Yep, the biggest and most powerful. It also uses damn near three times as much fuel as either of the other two.
Robert Elise said:
i like a lot of old cars, and the 2CV is a charming piece of history that brought a smile to my face every time i drove it. Diversity is good and helps us appreciate various characteristics in all cars. P6 is a classiccarclub car i enjoyed last year.
RoverP6B said:
I honestly could not daily-drive anything with under 100bhp. My old Rover P6B was 184bhp, or a bit over 140bhp/ton, and I'd have another of those like a shot if I had dry storage. Cheaper, faster, nimbler, safer, comfier, more characterful, sound way better, just superior in every way.
Really don't understand why, with such a narrow-minded view, anyone would even bother to post such comments.Anyway, I seem to remember an article in CAR about 20 years ago where in an interview, somebody high up in Jaguar said something along the lines of:
'A 2CV does 99 per cent of what a car needs to do - the rest is bullsh!t.'
True though, isn't it?
I bought a d reg 2cv6 with a broken crankshaft. Of course it was the wife's but at every opportunity i would drive it. So many stories. I used to speed up over sleeping police man as the suspension was so smooth. Managed to get it off the clock once. Five up and on long runs it was a comfortable ride. The dog leg gearbox was a joy to play with and with the rising rumble of the twin exhaust. On picnics the chairs came out. Always wave to other 2cv owners. Never locked the car and parked it in all areas. Never stolen. So simple to service and maintain. The windows and sun roof such a great design idea. Wish I kept it although the chassis rusted.
I think that the 2cv is an excellent show of Citroën design.
I think that the 2cv is an excellent show of Citroën design.
RoverP6B said:
Sorry, but the 2CV is the most horrible execrable piece of junk imaginable. To think that this came from the same company which gave us the magnificent Deesse. I'd like to buy every 2-cylinder Citroen in existence, line 'em up and drive a tank over them. The world should be rid of them all. There are far more interesting, quicker classics to buy out there. I honestly could not daily-drive anything with under 100bhp. My old Rover P6B was 184bhp, or a bit over 140bhp/ton, and I'd have another of those like a shot if I had dry storage. Cheaper, faster, nimbler, safer, comfier, more characterful, sound way better, just superior in every way.
Sorry but in reply to this, if we were in a pub, would be f
k right off!You mention 'old Rover' which means you no longer have it, so how can a car you no longer have (rusted away?) be better than someone else is having fun in?
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