Hi.
Well I'm 63 in May and the Missus 55 in July. I was always a bit of a car nut but not the Astons, Ferraris and other expensive stuff. Always had the "underdog" but got a lot of pleasure from them and often was able to dispel the rubbish that would come out of the mouths of the so called experts.
For a long time I drove Skoda's from the 1000MB right through to the Felicia and boy did I get stick!!! Foreign trips and driving the length of Britain with no problems soon put the doubters to shame. I also had Citroen's, Dyane, Visa 652cc, GS, 2CV 425cc LHD. Lada 1200.
Dad had a Uno 999cc Fire before he died and it was inspiring. Later I was given a Doblo 1242cc MPV from member Fido here, it needed a bit of TLC but served me well with taking my daughter back and forth to UNI at holiday times and weekends. I then got involved with Rover 75's again a maligned car with all and sundry spouting HGF...... How wrong they were!
Health though is not so good these days with heart issues, a double bypass, worn knee and other issues.
The possibility of taking a lump sum from a pension gave us the chance to replace the 2000 Rover 75 V6 Auto that needed work and had the liking for petrol stations.
I'd made my mind up to get a Fiat, I wanted the Panda for it's practicality the missus a 500 for it's looks. Logic reigned and we both fine the Panda ideal to get in and out of, the 4 doors are more sensible.
I personally think it's brilliant, no real complaints so far and the reduction in running costs great. Well put together and with al the Waxoyling I'm going to do should last for years.

Nice list of Citroens there! I still miss my yellow 2CV, and I loved my dad's GS. Later on, we went through three BXs, including a GTi 4x4. I chuckled when I saw your reference to the Citroen Visa. I still remember the TV ad for them, which featured a hapless bloke having a driving lesson, and an exasperated instructor who looked & sounded like Gordon Kaye from Allo Allo. "It has a beeg bumpeur on ze front, and a beeg bumpeur on ze back..." Classic!

What owners of Panda Twinairs who've owned or experienced classic low powered Citroens may not realise, they are now driving a modern 2cv. The sound matches almost exactly. Performance about 21 seconds quicker to 60 too!

Al D said:

What owners of Panda Twinairs who've owned or experienced classic low powered Citroens may not realise, they are now driving a modern 2cv. The sound matches almost exactly. Performance about 21 seconds quicker to 60 too!

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But the difference is, you could fix just about anything on a 2CV (apart from the dreaded tin worm) with a screwdriver and the wheelbrace (plus a ready supply of WD40 to spray on the contact breaker points and condenser when it was damp )

gar074 said:

But the difference is, you could fix just about anything on a 2CV (apart from the dreaded tin worm) with a screwdriver and the wheelbrace (plus a ready supply of WD40 to spray on the contact breaker points and condenser when it was damp )

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Absolutely this - fitting a spare pair of plugs didn't necessitate having an error code reset, annual servicing ran to cheap oil, a filter and a dollop of grease for the suspension linkages!
BUT - I agree that, in terms of being one of the more practicality-first options, having a (civilised by 2CV standards,) 2cyl-'thrum' and not costing the earth to buy, it does represent something of the same thinking. My 2CV easily topped 60mpg, mind you....

The 2CV was enormous fun even the 1960 425cc AZL I had. Not so good though when you faced a hill, it seemed to know and started to slow down before you got to it. Then of course it was too steep for second gear but in first it would rev its nuts off!!!! Then every one would pass you and coming down the other side the windscreen mounted Speedo would just about bend it's needle and you'd catch up with the ones that had passed you.
Brilliant fun though. I a piccy of it somewhere and I'll post it up.

They were unburstable. My 2CV6 regularly went well over its maximum speed on the long downhill stretch of the M4, headed towards the Bristol Channel. The amazed looks I got from other drivers as this demented yellow 2CV sailed past them at ridiculous speed with a banshee wail were priceless. Going the other way, of course, it was 10 miles in the crawler lane, breathing in fumes from the HGVs. That was much less fun. God, I miss mine.

gar074 said:

They were unburstable. My 2CV6 regularly went well over its maximum speed on the long downhill stretch of the M4, headed towards the Bristol Channel. The amazed looks I got from other drivers as this demented yellow 2CV sailed past them at ridiculous speed with a banshee wail were priceless. Going the other way, of course, it was 10 miles in the crawler lane, breathing in fumes from the HGVs. That was much less fun. God, I miss mine.

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A lot more interesting than modern Citroens... [emoji19] Although I've heard good things about the new C3 its styling is just trying too hard! So much going on!

My DS3 1.6 THP was a hoot (when it was behaving itself - the early ones like mine had cambelt problems). The styling may not be to everyone's taste, but its blend of performance, handling, comfort and running costs was unbeatable for the money. Unfortunately, the facelift is dire.

A 169 one is a happy chappy, smiling and at ease with theworld.

This 319 driver is anything but. Now sad, angry, stressed, short of petrol money, hacked off murderous....... 67mpg my bottom.

petercresswell said:

A 169 one is a happy chappy, smiling and at ease with theworld.



This 319 driver is anything but. Now sad, angry, stressed, short of petrol money, hacked off murderous....... 67mpg my bottom.

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After reading all these threads, did you seriously expect anywhere near that?

petercresswell said:

A 169 one is a happy chappy, smiling and at ease with theworld.

This 319 driver is anything but. Now sad, angry, stressed, short of petrol money, hacked off murderous....... 67mpg my bottom.

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At the risk of sounding controversial - I had a 169 I liked it a lot. I now have a 319 TA and I think it's bloody brilliant.


I'll get me coat...

Straying back to Citroen's. The Dyane 6 I'd say is more akin to the Panda than the 2CV.
The faired in headlamps on the Dyane are less agricultural and the 602cc Dyane unit was the most powerful at 32bhp @ 5750rpm.
The six light body of the Panda and the overall shape does make me think of the Dyane.
Anyone else see the resemblance??

murphyv310 said:

Straying back to Citroen's. The Dyane 6 I'd say is more akin to the Panda than the 2CV.
The faired in headlamps on the Dyane are less agricultural and the 602cc Dyane unit was the most powerful at 32bhp @ 5750rpm.
The six light body of the Panda and the overall shape does make me think of the Dyane.
Anyone else see the resemblance??

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As promised the picture of my 1960 2CV AZL, photo taken in 1988.

The above post went in as an edit??? Was supposed to be a new post.