RE: Chris Harris video: Citroen 2CV
Discussion
coppice said:
Move North mate - plenty of deserted roads here . On reflection - stay where you are; the locals tar and feather BMW drivers who think they bought the road with the car ...
I certainly don't think I own the road, I just resent people who dither because they're too busy admiring the view, while those of us who have mortgages to pay are made late for work by their dithering. If I found myself behind a 2CV doing 15mph, I'd be seriously pissed off. That does not equate to thinking I own the road.Conversely, when driving our 2CV (602cc mind) I often find myself sat behind some dozy old 
in a large Merc or similar barge, who is a paid up member of the 40mph club. These people don't like it up 'em when you finally do get an opportunity to pass. It's not unlike driving a HGV - all about the momentum.
A later 2CV will happily keep up with traffic up to about 65mph, they do get a little bogged down if you're going up hill with passengers though.
in a large Merc or similar barge, who is a paid up member of the 40mph club. These people don't like it up 'em when you finally do get an opportunity to pass. It's not unlike driving a HGV - all about the momentum.A later 2CV will happily keep up with traffic up to about 65mph, they do get a little bogged down if you're going up hill with passengers though.
Ridiculous. Farmers, construction machinery, cyclists, horses are just some of the things you should expect to encounter on rural roads and they have every right to be there.
If you're late for your meeting because of a perfectly anticipatable hazard, you should have left earlier chum.
If you're late for your meeting because of a perfectly anticipatable hazard, you should have left earlier chum.
Sideways Tim said:
Conversely, when driving our 2CV (602cc mind) I often find myself sat behind some dozy old in a large Merc or similar barge, who is a paid up member of the 40mph club. These people don't like it up 'em when you finally do get an opportunity to pass. It's not unlike driving a HGV - all about the momentum.
A later 2CV will happily keep up with traffic up to about 65mph, they do get a little bogged down if you're going up hill with passengers though.
Yes, I get that with some Mercs too - usually in the vicinity of one of Surrey's vast number of golf courses. in a large Merc or similar barge, who is a paid up member of the 40mph club. These people don't like it up 'em when you finally do get an opportunity to pass. It's not unlike driving a HGV - all about the momentum.A later 2CV will happily keep up with traffic up to about 65mph, they do get a little bogged down if you're going up hill with passengers though.
Where in the world are you where a 2CV can get up to 65mph? I drove one in rural Aberdeenshire, fairly hilly, in the late 70s. I can't remember what it DID do flat out, but it was nowhere near 65mph. It was probably the most frightening experience I've ever had in a car.
RoverP6B said:
Yes, I get that with some Mercs too - usually in the vicinity of one of Surrey's vast number of golf courses.
Where in the world are you where a 2CV can get up to 65mph? I drove one in rural Aberdeenshire, fairly hilly, in the late 70s. I can't remember what it DID do flat out, but it was nowhere near 65mph. It was probably the most frightening experience I've ever had in a car.
It's not difficult to be honest. Took the family to Wales a couple of weeks ago,65mph on the A55 apart from the uphill bits. I got bored though and took the direct cross country route, which was lots more fun even with a couple of first gear will we/won't we make it climbs.Where in the world are you where a 2CV can get up to 65mph? I drove one in rural Aberdeenshire, fairly hilly, in the late 70s. I can't remember what it DID do flat out, but it was nowhere near 65mph. It was probably the most frightening experience I've ever had in a car.
EggsBenedict said:
braddo said:
You're imagining the car will be used for commuting or on busy roads or something. Whereas it might just be very easy for the owner to pick his times and enjoy himself on quiet, isolated country lanes....
You're imagining there are such things as quiet isolated country lanes! Maybe in France, or in Bumfack-Nowhere in Wales or something, but there's nothing like that close to where I live, and I live in a small village with no shops in Kent. I'm OK to agree to disagree, but I think the opportunities to use a car like an ancient 2CV are few and far between, however idyllic the notion. Disastrous said:
Ridiculous. Farmers, construction machinery, cyclists, horses are just some of the things you should expect to encounter on rural roads and they have every right to be there.
If you're late for your meeting because of a perfectly anticipatable hazard, you should have left earlier chum.
Thing is, it's rare enough to find them that one generally expects a clear road, so it's frustrating when that doesn't happen. Cyclists, for instance, do have the right to be there, but NOT riding three abreast as I generally find when I encounter any! Also, for those of us working all the hours to pay the bills, just allowing an extra ten minutes to make a journey is said far more easily than done.If you're late for your meeting because of a perfectly anticipatable hazard, you should have left earlier chum.
Driving on the public road in an historic relic that will only do a walking pace uphill, in a country which is mostly pretty hilly (despite a few fairly flat areas), is simply selfish and dangerous. I've no objection to stuff like MGBs which can put on and shed speed like most mundane modern machinery, but the 2CV was a desperately bad, slow, roly-poly car in its own time, never mind now.
RoverP6B said:
Disastrous said:
Ridiculous. Farmers, construction machinery, cyclists, horses are just some of the things you should expect to encounter on rural roads and they have every right to be there.
If you're late for your meeting because of a perfectly anticipatable hazard, you should have left earlier chum.
Thing is, it's rare enough to find them that one generally expects a clear road, so it's frustrating when that doesn't happen. Cyclists, for instance, do have the right to be there, but NOT riding three abreast as I generally find when I encounter any! Also, for those of us working all the hours to pay the bills, just allowing an extra ten minutes to make a journey is said far more easily than done.If you're late for your meeting because of a perfectly anticipatable hazard, you should have left earlier chum.
Driving on the public road in an historic relic that will only do a walking pace uphill, in a country which is mostly pretty hilly (despite a few fairly flat areas), is simply selfish and dangerous. I've no objection to stuff like MGBs which can put on and shed speed like most mundane modern machinery, but the 2CV was a desperately bad, slow, roly-poly car in its own time, never mind now.
I'm frequently in a hurry too, but appreciate it's my problem rather than that of those who hold me up. Also, happy to see older curiosities on the road and long may it last!
Seriously-I drove a 2CV for thousands of miles; it'd bowl along happily at 55-70 depending on wind and gravity and inconvenienced fewer people than many far faster cars do when driven by indecisive twonks. Drive what the hell you like say I , and if your Morris 8 holds up somebody in a self important rush in a BMW then they'll learn to get over it when they grow up.
coppice said:
Seriously-I drove a 2CV for thousands of miles; it'd bowl along happily at 55-70 depending on wind and gravity and inconvenienced fewer people than many far faster cars do when driven by indecisive twonks. Drive what the hell you like say I , and if your Morris 8 holds up somebody in a self important rush in a BMW then they'll learn to get over it when they grow up.
This.If I had a pound for every time I've had a BMW glued to my bumper because I wasn't going "fast enough" for them. The eventually pass you and 15 mins later you come to a junction to find they're waiting to go themselves. If you have to rush then you haven't left yourself enough time. Even being stuck behind a tractor for 10 minutes is hardly the end of the world. Once you accept this and don't get annoyed about it, you'll be a much calmer driver and enjoy the roads a lot more.
I think from this we can safely assume the one you drove was broken. Probably the advance retard mechanism - if it seizes you're restricted to about 45-50mph on the flat in a 602cc car.
Does that sound about right?
Also a lot of people can't deal with the fact they are designed to run absolutely flat out - there are marks on the speedo for gear changes to get optimum power out of the engine.
If you don't follow them and change up early the experience is going to be... Lethargic. And maybe scary.
You do seem to be quite forceful in your opinion of them based on an experience 40 years ago. Any idea why?
Does that sound about right?
Also a lot of people can't deal with the fact they are designed to run absolutely flat out - there are marks on the speedo for gear changes to get optimum power out of the engine.
If you don't follow them and change up early the experience is going to be... Lethargic. And maybe scary.
You do seem to be quite forceful in your opinion of them based on an experience 40 years ago. Any idea why?
RoverP6B said:
Where in the world are you where a 2CV can get up to 65mph? I drove one in rural Aberdeenshire, fairly hilly, in the late 70s. I can't remember what it DID do flat out, but it was nowhere near 65mph. It was probably the most frightening experience I've ever had in a car.
RoverP6B said:
Thing is, it's rare enough to find them that one generally expects a clear road, so it's frustrating when that doesn't happen. Cyclists, for instance, do have the right to be there, but NOT riding three abreast as I generally find when I encounter any! Also, for those of us working all the hours to pay the bills, just allowing an extra ten minutes to make a journey is said far more easily than done.
Jeez, you make it sound like you're the only person in a rural area that works. Most people are just bright enough to leave enough time to get to work. For the record, I do a 27 mile rural commute each way, every day. Over the last 17 years I've never once been late because I encountered a tractor etc, and I've encountered a lot of them. RoverP6B said:
Driving on the public road in an historic relic that will only do a walking pace uphill, in a country which is mostly pretty hilly (despite a few fairly flat areas), is simply selfish and dangerous. I've no objection to stuff like MGBs which can put on and shed speed like most mundane modern machinery, but the 2CV was a desperately bad, slow, roly-poly car in its own time, never mind now.
If you weren't so wrapped up in being an angry little man you may realise that it's selfish of you want to deny the tens of thousands of people who enjoy using - or seeing vintage vehicles on our roads - simply because you can't be arsed to leave home in time. srob said:
RoverP6B said:
Thing is, it's rare enough to find them that one generally expects a clear road, so it's frustrating when that doesn't happen. Cyclists, for instance, do have the right to be there, but NOT riding three abreast as I generally find when I encounter any! Also, for those of us working all the hours to pay the bills, just allowing an extra ten minutes to make a journey is said far more easily than done.
Jeez, you make it sound like you're the only person in a rural area that works. Most people are just bright enough to leave enough time to get to work. For the record, I do a 27 mile rural commute each way, every day. Over the last 17 years I've never once been late because I encountered a tractor etc, and I've encountered a lot of them. RoverP6B said:
Driving on the public road in an historic relic that will only do a walking pace uphill, in a country which is mostly pretty hilly (despite a few fairly flat areas), is simply selfish and dangerous. I've no objection to stuff like MGBs which can put on and shed speed like most mundane modern machinery, but the 2CV was a desperately bad, slow, roly-poly car in its own time, never mind now.
If you weren't so wrapped up in being an angry little man you may realise that it's selfish of you want to deny the tens of thousands of people who enjoy using - or seeing vintage vehicles on our roads - simply because you can't be arsed to leave home in time. srob said:
If you weren't so wrapped up in being an angry little man you may realise that it's selfish of you want to deny the tens of thousands of people who enjoy using - or seeing vintage vehicles on our roads - simply because you can't be arsed to leave home in time.
East Anglia is a lot quieter than the South-East in my experience. I don't wish to deny anyone anything as long as they can keep up with modern traffic. As stated above, stuff like MGBs have no difficulty in so doing - but a 602cc or less 2CV making sod all power cannot, and has all the crash protection of a KitKat wrapper...And yes, the Olympics thoroughly pissed me off, and not just because of it keeping me trapped in my home all weekend - I objected to being forced to pay without my consent for the whole waste-of-cash farce that the Games were - a hell of a lot of money completely down the drain and no silver lining to the thundercloud - the only legacy being that the Lycra Louts are more numerous and aggressive than ever before. Why it should be mandatory for every petrolhead to support road closures for motorsport I cannot think. We have dozens of race-tracks and HUNDREDS of old abandoned WW2 airfields littering the country - go and use them if you want to go really fast!
FFS, until recently, I lived a mile off the M25 - and within VERY easy reach of some wonderful quiet country back lanes in glorious countryside. The whole of the SE is not some concrete hell, any more than the whole of the North is a socialist utopia of flat caps, Hovis and miles of empty dale.
Anyway, for all those moaning about 2cv prices being far too high to ever consider one, I've just seen this on Facebook...
Red Special, F reg. No MOT, just. 5 months tax. Galvanized chassis. Fitted one sill and floor, other side needs doing (parts supplied). Rear inner arch ok one side holes in the other. An honest car, not hiding imperfections. Excellent reliability in rain, shine or cold. 4 really good Michelin tyres on newish wheels. Last 4 years parts include new rear and good front shocks, headlight reflectors, windscreen, roof, driver chair full rebuild, rear fibre wings, indicators, battery, front pads, exhaust, and stuff. Ideal project with not loads to do for MOT but I've run out of holiday. Please remove for 700 quid. Ask for more info. Leeds. Spread the word.
Drop me a PM if you want to know more.
Anyway, for all those moaning about 2cv prices being far too high to ever consider one, I've just seen this on Facebook...
Red Special, F reg. No MOT, just. 5 months tax. Galvanized chassis. Fitted one sill and floor, other side needs doing (parts supplied). Rear inner arch ok one side holes in the other. An honest car, not hiding imperfections. Excellent reliability in rain, shine or cold. 4 really good Michelin tyres on newish wheels. Last 4 years parts include new rear and good front shocks, headlight reflectors, windscreen, roof, driver chair full rebuild, rear fibre wings, indicators, battery, front pads, exhaust, and stuff. Ideal project with not loads to do for MOT but I've run out of holiday. Please remove for 700 quid. Ask for more info. Leeds. Spread the word.
Drop me a PM if you want to know more.
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