RE: Citroen AX 1.0 Jazz: Guilty Pleasures
Discussion
I could not agree more with this. I thought I was the only one with found memories of my Citroen AX debut 998cc of happy motoring fun. Bought my 1993 example for £110 with MOT from a guy who had only bought it himself to rip the alloys off it to fit to his daughters first car. I bought it to do two things drive 28 miles return to work to save the miles on my Alfa Gtv cup and two to practice my fibreglass repair skills. It refused to die for 3 years of utter abuse, it was left in fields by airports, dumped in city centres pre piss ups and recovered intact 2 weeks later and turned into a weekend camper van with an air bed and removal of the rear seats.
I gave it to a mate in exchange for his Xbox 360. I'd say it was trading up but I miss that little car till this day!
I gave it to a mate in exchange for his Xbox 360. I'd say it was trading up but I miss that little car till this day!
Agree Completely. Mine was a 14 TZS version, with carburetor and 75 hp for three years before converting to 90 hp after fitting GTs carburetor.
It felt agile on tight roads if the inputs on brakes, accelerator pedal and steering wheel were the right ones. Braking early, pointing, and right foot down became an addictive game. I thought that with the GT conversion, enjoyable moments would increase but unfortunately the brakes and the 90.000 mile dampers were not going together with the power. Anyway, I smile every time I remember once, going with two colleagues, when after overtaking a tractor and return to my lane, I kept accelerating and the BMW 325 tds that was behind me drove more meters than expected trying to overtake me. I don't know what happened if I didn't ease the throttle. Great car to ride before shifting to my Alfa Gt.
It felt agile on tight roads if the inputs on brakes, accelerator pedal and steering wheel were the right ones. Braking early, pointing, and right foot down became an addictive game. I thought that with the GT conversion, enjoyable moments would increase but unfortunately the brakes and the 90.000 mile dampers were not going together with the power. Anyway, I smile every time I remember once, going with two colleagues, when after overtaking a tractor and return to my lane, I kept accelerating and the BMW 325 tds that was behind me drove more meters than expected trying to overtake me. I don't know what happened if I didn't ease the throttle. Great car to ride before shifting to my Alfa Gt.
Excellent article, I'd give it a 10 except the PH O-Meter no longer works for me after the recent website cock-upimprovements.
Low power, small tyres and light weight is the recipe for a lot of fun.
Low power, small tyres and light weight is the recipe for a lot of fun.
slowmatt said:
1.0 AX was tripe, any car that can feel under tyred & understreery with 45 BHP is utter crap. My 205 CJ first car on the other hand, what a cracker 
(all in the spirit of the best TU engined Frenchie).
Matt
Despite the 205 and the AX being virtually identical in terms of suspension... Crap tyres perhaps.(all in the spirit of the best TU engined Frenchie).
Matt
Ah the AX 1.1 TGE Chicago. I loved that car.
Bought locally from a trader for £500, my first car, On 3 important criteria;
1) it was the most powerful 1.1 available that wasn't a metro.
2) it had alloys
3) I couldn't afford the insurance on the 1.3 Belmont I'd seen.
I'd rode down on my scooter a few days earlier to leave the £100 deposit. Today was the day, Freedom at last, my own wheels!
I arrived at the garage but no sign of my car?!
"Oh I've lent it out as a courtesy car! No problem I'll give her a call and tell her to bob it back".
I should probably have walked away at this point!
5 minutes later the car pulls up, piloted by a fat lady and her offspring. When she'd finally unloaded everything from MY car the deal was done and I was away!
The first job (well second actually, First Job was to go to Maccy D's drive thru) was to De badge it and remove the "Chicago" city scape decals from its flanks. The first side went brilliantly. The second side not so great - someone had laqueured over the decals so I ended up with a sillouette of Chicago, in lacquer on the side of my pride and joy.
Over the next year it was fitted with 4 x 6x9's (who needs 2litre bottle holders in the front doors anyway) an amp and the holy grail - a GT front bumper.
Unfortunately it bounced off a wall 8 months in and I had to refit the original bumper and a front wing from a maroon vehicle (mine was dark grey). I drove it around another few months before scrapping it. I actually got a good deal - they took it away free! At the time people were having to pay to dispose of scrap cars.
I still remember seeing it go past the end of the road on the back of a ropey transit and feeling quite sad.
Bought locally from a trader for £500, my first car, On 3 important criteria;
1) it was the most powerful 1.1 available that wasn't a metro.
2) it had alloys
3) I couldn't afford the insurance on the 1.3 Belmont I'd seen.
I'd rode down on my scooter a few days earlier to leave the £100 deposit. Today was the day, Freedom at last, my own wheels!
I arrived at the garage but no sign of my car?!
"Oh I've lent it out as a courtesy car! No problem I'll give her a call and tell her to bob it back".
I should probably have walked away at this point!
5 minutes later the car pulls up, piloted by a fat lady and her offspring. When she'd finally unloaded everything from MY car the deal was done and I was away!
The first job (well second actually, First Job was to go to Maccy D's drive thru) was to De badge it and remove the "Chicago" city scape decals from its flanks. The first side went brilliantly. The second side not so great - someone had laqueured over the decals so I ended up with a sillouette of Chicago, in lacquer on the side of my pride and joy.
Over the next year it was fitted with 4 x 6x9's (who needs 2litre bottle holders in the front doors anyway) an amp and the holy grail - a GT front bumper.
Unfortunately it bounced off a wall 8 months in and I had to refit the original bumper and a front wing from a maroon vehicle (mine was dark grey). I drove it around another few months before scrapping it. I actually got a good deal - they took it away free! At the time people were having to pay to dispose of scrap cars.
I still remember seeing it go past the end of the road on the back of a ropey transit and feeling quite sad.
Edited by Leptons on Friday 29th May 22:49
Happy memories - I had a silver AX 14TZXS (H787HLL). It was great fun and seemed a real rocket ship. Compared to my mk1 Astra 1.2 anyway.
The poor thing was killed one night by a drunk driver in a Datsun Laurel. She went into the passenger side at around 40mph. The poor thing was nearly a foot narrower afterward.
The poor thing was killed one night by a drunk driver in a Datsun Laurel. She went into the passenger side at around 40mph. The poor thing was nearly a foot narrower afterward.
rscott said:
Happy memories - I had a silver AX 14TZXS (H787HLL). It was great fun and seemed a real rocket ship. Compared to my mk1 Astra 1.2 anyway.
The poor thing was killed one night by a drunk driver in a Datsun Laurel. She went into the passenger side at around 40mph. The poor thing was nearly a foot narrower afterward.
Amazing - mine was H726 HLL. Although mine was the poverty spec 10E...The poor thing was killed one night by a drunk driver in a Datsun Laurel. She went into the passenger side at around 40mph. The poor thing was nearly a foot narrower afterward.
Shudder- I had an AX GT and never was a car more stupidly named. Good- ride , grip. Bad - where to start ? Was it the brakes which didn't or perhaps the awful thrashy engine ? Or the sticky , gritty gear change or the the Airfix kit build quality ? Maybe it was the indescribably bad and near invisible instrumentation - or the seats which were designed for 8 stone , 5' 4" Pierre and not normal people ?
Hoot in the snow on winter tyres though....
Hoot in the snow on winter tyres though....
Ah fond memories of my first car a 954cc 10E Splash!
Some stand out memories were fearing for my life on my first ever solo motorway drive when it became apparent the wheels needed some serious balancing, the manual choke causing you to stall in the middle of junctions in darkest winter, epic wet low speed understeer, probably due to ditchfinder tyres, the mudflaps dragging when 4 up and smooth suspension but epic corner lean angles. Mine also met its end from a 10mph shunt by a Golf.
I'm sure the love for these is tied in with first car nostalgia. I'd love to try one again now.
Some stand out memories were fearing for my life on my first ever solo motorway drive when it became apparent the wheels needed some serious balancing, the manual choke causing you to stall in the middle of junctions in darkest winter, epic wet low speed understeer, probably due to ditchfinder tyres, the mudflaps dragging when 4 up and smooth suspension but epic corner lean angles. Mine also met its end from a 10mph shunt by a Golf.
I'm sure the love for these is tied in with first car nostalgia. I'd love to try one again now.
At 17 a group of us used to play follow the leader around the town centre at rediculous early hours, this was in the days when clubs closed at 2 and town centres were empty by 3!
One if the group had a ropy ax gt and one day coming down a car park off ramp a bit quick, the rear suspension hit the bump stops and all three windows shattered. Was the quickest thing in our group though!
One if the group had a ropy ax gt and one day coming down a car park off ramp a bit quick, the rear suspension hit the bump stops and all three windows shattered. Was the quickest thing in our group though!
HorneyMX5 said:
Ah the AX and it's terrible special editions. I had a "Splash"
Me too. it was bought solely on he cool striped seats and was one of the few cars i bought new. TBH it was totally reliable but the interior disintegrated after I tipped a car battery over in the boot. It leaked onto a blanket in there. I washed it all out but left the blanket inside the car. Over time some left over acid worked its way onto the seats. Think my sister killed it in the end. Happy days.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff