RE: Chris Harris video: Citroen 2CV
Discussion
In forty odd years of driving still one of the most fun cars I've ever owned. Every overtake - slipstream and timing are key - is a triumph and driving through thick snow is a delight(narrow tyres,no power are what you need). Superbly practical, if nothing like as economical as you'd think though.Heroic roll and endless grip ; gearchange actually is brilliant once you've cracked it. First opposite reverse - yup- great for manouvering in tight spaces; second and third on same plane - yeah ,because you use these most and fourth on its own- it's your high speed cruising gear, Fresh air? Crank open the flap under the screen and/or let the windows flap and /or roll roof back. Genius machines
Proof if ever it was needed that fun can be had in any car. The video reminded me of a truly terrible City Rover courtesy car I had for a bit a while ago. A car hated by every journalist, it was terribly built, the dashboard was a wheelie bin the tyres were crap. But it's one of THE most fun cars I've ever driven. And judging from the laughter of everyone else who had a go in it, I wasn't alone in thinking that.
Nice video.
Always preferred cars that have to be 'driven' and not just sat in. My 2002 is just as much fun and for all the same reasons. Admittedly I do enjoy the luxury of a syncro gearbox and disc brakes, but being a '71 car it's a modern by comparison.
It's about time manufacturers got back to cars of this ethos. It would be nice to see Mr Harris drive some more older stuff too. (one powersliding supercar can look very like another)
Always preferred cars that have to be 'driven' and not just sat in. My 2002 is just as much fun and for all the same reasons. Admittedly I do enjoy the luxury of a syncro gearbox and disc brakes, but being a '71 car it's a modern by comparison.
It's about time manufacturers got back to cars of this ethos. It would be nice to see Mr Harris drive some more older stuff too. (one powersliding supercar can look very like another)
Love it love it love it!
This classic and modern stable mate scenario is exactly what I've been bleating on about for years after I bought my old MG Midget.
I mix my driving between 450bhp and about 70bhp and the difference between them is what I love the most.
Watching that video and listening to Chris describe the feeling of driving an old car was making so much sense for me, yes! I get it. I understand and love every minute of the difference. I'd recommend it to anyone.
This classic and modern stable mate scenario is exactly what I've been bleating on about for years after I bought my old MG Midget.
I mix my driving between 450bhp and about 70bhp and the difference between them is what I love the most.
Watching that video and listening to Chris describe the feeling of driving an old car was making so much sense for me, yes! I get it. I understand and love every minute of the difference. I'd recommend it to anyone.
The camera work may have been good (no idea) but the sound (WTF ??) as someone has already alluded to I am not sure where the microphone was on the voiceover. Perhaps Mr Harris was eating a loaf of wholemeal bread at the same time.
Moving on. What is the situation with regards to the seatbelt? I see he managed to survive a journey not wearing it. Surely this is not possible ??!? Brake and HSE will be having kittens. I know the seat is loose but sort of assume something would be clipped to the floor.
Are yellow headlights legal? I was thinking of going for a cosmetic change on my old banger. I know you used to see a lot of them around in the 'old days'.
Pip
Moving on. What is the situation with regards to the seatbelt? I see he managed to survive a journey not wearing it. Surely this is not possible ??!? Brake and HSE will be having kittens. I know the seat is loose but sort of assume something would be clipped to the floor.
Are yellow headlights legal? I was thinking of going for a cosmetic change on my old banger. I know you used to see a lot of them around in the 'old days'.
Pip
Pip1968 said:
The camera work may have been good (no idea) but the sound (WTF ??) as someone has already alluded to I am not sure where the microphone was on the voiceover. Perhaps Mr Harris was eating a loaf of wholemeal bread at the same time.
Moving on. What is the situation with regards to the seatbelt? I see he managed to survive a journey not wearing it. Surely this is not possible ??!? Brake and HSE will be having kittens. I know the seat is loose but sort of assume something would be clipped to the floor.
Are yellow headlights legal? I was thinking of going for a cosmetic change on my old banger. I know you used to see a lot of them around in the 'old days'.
Pip
Pre 1964 cars seatbelts not required if memory servesMoving on. What is the situation with regards to the seatbelt? I see he managed to survive a journey not wearing it. Surely this is not possible ??!? Brake and HSE will be having kittens. I know the seat is loose but sort of assume something would be clipped to the floor.
Are yellow headlights legal? I was thinking of going for a cosmetic change on my old banger. I know you used to see a lot of them around in the 'old days'.
Pip
Fantuzzi said:
J4CKO said:
Fantuzzi said:
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
YES! I Need to read the evo hatch hatch thing with the AX in. 722KG and 85hp = fun.Chris has a truly varied automotive diet!
I think Id still be a hooligan with underpowered cars and get an original Abarth 500, 19hp! In the end they had 38bhp from the 695 SS - Monster! Serious want for one of those. Scary levels of it.
Rear engine, Rwd 500kg car with 19 bhp and little tiny tires, PHs perfect car?
Awesome video Chris.
Will be interested to see what happens if this breaks, can Chris weird a Spanner or is his socket set intact, and very shiny....
I'm guessing Abarth!
Wife has mentioned getting another, buying old Fiats is a bit like drinking large ammounts of alcohol, at the time when reality kicks in, you say "never again", then a little while after you fancy that glass of wine or can of lager as you have forgotten the hangover, same with Fiat 500's, you forget the cash sent to Weenie Fiats or Ricambi, you forget the welding burns, you forget being stranded and fancy another, or rather the wife does, I am done with classics for now after two 500's and a 944 all trying to bankrupt, embarass, kill, gas, strand etc
Vaud said:
DS240 said:
I totally understand the attraction of a 2CV. I would love to own one.
Think Chris needs to sample a Citroen Mahari for even more impractical slow action.. and arguably a rarer classic.
And immensely ugly. Okay, the 2CV is no princess... but the Mahari would be the one legged bearded female troglodyte that leaves a Hull nightclub without even a quick feel on a Friday night.Think Chris needs to sample a Citroen Mahari for even more impractical slow action.. and arguably a rarer classic.
Lovely little cars they are. I learned to drive with my mum's Golf MK2 but it was long after I passed the test that my dad finally allowed me to use his 2CV. He was always very protective of his, and loved them so much that when the first one died he replaced it with another one.
Each drive in the 2CV was something special that I was truly looking forward to. The sound of that engine with the roof down made me believe I was a plane pilot during WWII, white scarf and goggle.
I have very found memories of that car and of how it drove.
Each drive in the 2CV was something special that I was truly looking forward to. The sound of that engine with the roof down made me believe I was a plane pilot during WWII, white scarf and goggle.
I have very found memories of that car and of how it drove.
My mother had three of these in succession.
My abiding memories of 2CVs are more of their limitations; driving from the Midlands up to see family in Easy Yorkshire (one very vivid memory of said trip in strong crosswinds, which my mum reckoned knackered the steering rack); then just before being old enough to drive, my mother ferrying me, three mates, plus all our rock climbing ropes and gear through the Staffordshire moorlands for a day's climbing at the Roaches.
I can now see the attraction of slow cars - I drive a Defender these days. On my morning commute, I sometimes follow a guy in a faded blue 2CV who has a wonderfully committed, momentum-preserving driving style and it never fails to make me smile.
My abiding memories of 2CVs are more of their limitations; driving from the Midlands up to see family in Easy Yorkshire (one very vivid memory of said trip in strong crosswinds, which my mum reckoned knackered the steering rack); then just before being old enough to drive, my mother ferrying me, three mates, plus all our rock climbing ropes and gear through the Staffordshire moorlands for a day's climbing at the Roaches.
I can now see the attraction of slow cars - I drive a Defender these days. On my morning commute, I sometimes follow a guy in a faded blue 2CV who has a wonderfully committed, momentum-preserving driving style and it never fails to make me smile.
Remember years ago on a show with Quentin Wilson 'Britain's Worst Driver' they had a guy on there who razzed around in *I think* it was a Calibra. In order to 'teach him a lesson' they forced him to drive in a 2CV. Cue epic footage of 2CV being driven an maximum attack, brilliant. Must be around on the internet somewhere...
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