Just six weeks ago I bought a Citroen 2CV, and I'm in love! My 1990 renovated "Special" cost me £2200 on the road, but I never suspected what a completely new driving experience I was in for. Everyone has an opinion on these funny looking cars, mine has been called "the skip", "the skateboard" and "the chicken hutch", but I've never lost my car in a carpark, and I suspect I never will. It has a 600cc air-cooled engine, which sounds tiny, but she will get up all the steep hills around my home, even if it is in second gear. She will run for ever on a tankfull of unleaded petrol. Maintenance is minimal, make sure the oil is OK, and any dents can be sorted out by replacement panels from my (very) friendly local 2CV centre (in Frome, Somerset). The strange column gear change is surprisingly easy to get used to, and after a week I stopped thinking about it. The bouncy sprung seats are very comfortable, with the bonus that they can be removed for use for a picnic! They do give a bit of a roll if you take a bend too fast, but you soon learn not to do that. The only problem I've encountered so far is that, because I park on the street, the local yobs have discovered that the fuel pipe is very accessible behind the front wheel, and have twice helped themselves to my petrol. After the second time my friends at the 2CV Centre moved the pipe so that it now runs inside the chassis. Impossible to access, so end of problem. It's nice to drive a car that makes everyone smile, and when I meet another 2CV we always wave. Silly but nice in this rush-everywhere age. This is not the car for speed freaks, and it is not the warmest in winter, but I can't wait until summer comes, and I can roll the roof down and enjoy the sunshine. If you see a happy motorist in a green and white 2CV waving grinning like a fool, it will probably be me. You should try it, take a test drive.
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Not bad intro, but info on what the car has to offer would have resulted in a higher rating (eg comfort, ride, equipment, insurance costs etc.). If you ever redo this op, please let me know and I'll reread it and review my rating :)
wilsam00 16.12.2001 18:11
I dont like it when they judder in the cold!
johnalderton 23.04.2001 22:36
I had 2 early 2CV's and enjoyed them both enormously. They are not the easiest thing to work on though. The workshop manual (for the early ones which had drum brakes) gives instructions for replacing the front brakes. 1. Remove front doors. 2. Remove front wings. and so on. It is almost a whole day's work! They are great fun to drive. Enjoy your car!
Advantages: It's different, it puts a smile on your face; resale value, economical Disadvantages: Parts can be expensive & hard to find, white interior will get dirty quick
ScottishWestie 08.07.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
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