somewhatfoolish Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Are any of these microcar/cyclecar things any good for owt? There seem to be a steady trickle of pez Aixam or Ligier chod on evil bay. The likely use is <2 miles to prime dogwalking locations and back again via the paper shop at sub 30mph speeds, use which is slowly killing the parents' current steed and results in it never warming up and drinking fuel like Oliver Reed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 They're absolutely wank, with cement mixer engines, gearboxes off of quadbikes and incredibly flimsy and poorly constructed chassis. Please buy one! privatewire, The Moog, somewhatfoolish and 16 others 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 In France, they have one redeeming feature which is they can be driven by someone who can't put down the brandy long enough to drive home sober.In the UK, that list of one redeeming feature is reduced by approx. 100% When are you picking one up? The Moog, mercrocker, garethj and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 You can drive them on a bike licence here though. I actually quite enjoyed my petrol Ligier. The diesel was pretty dire though - although if you're only doing a couple of miles and never going over 30 it might be tolerable if you can get hold of some decent earplugs. Don't crash it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djimbob Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 As above, total toss, I broke one by parking it in drive on a bit of an incline, absolute disaster area as transport, funny as fuck if someone else gets one that isn't me Seriously, the worst item of transport I have ever owned, bar none, and I test drove a diesel version as well many moons ago which was equally terrifying Do not, under any circumstances, put family or friends in one Edit - buy a Reliant robin or something, a million times better in every respect Dave_Q, barefoot, strangeangel and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleyeller Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Some local young lad turned up in one the other day - he only had a provisional, but had looked right into it and could legally drive his (a microcar). He paid £200 for it, and about £2500 for insurance (Bradford). Personally I would feel like a cock going about in it, but it's reliable and gets him to work. Myself, I would much rather have a moped and save the huge insurance premium, but I wouldn't say its been a bad thing for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 They're absolutely wank, with cement mixer engines, gearboxes off of quadbikes and incredibly flimsy and poorly constructed chassis. Don't forget poor spares availability, non-existent performance and piss-poor build quality. And the fact that they're absolutely wank. WHS, get one bought! Junkman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I broke one by parking it in drive on a bit of an incline Ah yes, I remember that device... a Microcar, wasn't it? The feature* I remember best was that they equipped it with a back seat, but bolted it straight to the floor, so there was no footwell. Fook knows what you were supposed to do with your legs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Get a Smart instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Deutsch ist besser. https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=238794180 11001010, RichardK, somewhatfoolish and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 Someone's persuaded a Hammond organ to mate with an invalid carriage. Win! Dick Longbridge and Junkman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigmund Fraud Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Deutsch ist besser. Those Shoppers are the cheapest (and most stylish*) way there is to Goggomobil ownership ! Junkman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny69 Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I didn't even know these were legal over here. I thought that's why France has them but we don't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 A friend who has a bike licence since the early 70s swore by reliants for years thought he would try them out. The ligier ambra was tiny but apparently went well with the 500cc petrol lump in. He didn't rate the 505cc diesel kubota twin for long distances in the aixam 500 though! Top end was around 50 if lucky, MPG was reasonable though. He liked the microcar virgo with fuel injection and long wheel Base. Nippy and quite frugal. He has gone back to reliants lately, having just bought a1982 rialto. My experiences are the aixam diesel is bloody noisy and shakes ya tits off. The q pod I've always liked too till he bought one as a project. Without the stabilisers on the rear of the 3 wheeled 50cc they was scary stability wise. Ended up selling it unfinished though as trying to wire it was a nightmare and explained why it was butchered by a PO. All the bloody wires were white! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiperCub Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 To mis-quote the late, great Bill Hicks: It's all very well laughing at these things but it stops being amusing the moment a friend buys one. Then it becomes absolutely hilarious. mercrocker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiperCub Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 But seriously, there's no good reason to buy one of these appalling things that were built to get around certain regulations (licencing - ie: none & whatever passes for C&U regs there) and little else. Have only driven an Axiam or whatever it's called and it was a truly awful experience I've no desire to repeat. There's loads of tiny cars available for probably less money than you'd pay for one of these microcar things so why bother? Get an old Perodua or Kia Pride or anything, at least you'll be able to get the parts and fix it. Where I used to live, there was an old guy with a Ligier I think it was, it without doubt made the worst racket I've ever heard and I/C engined device make in my life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 I are disappoint; for a website founded on the principle of preserving and enjoying the mediocre, celebrating the badly designed and generally revelling in truly miserable automobile experiences, shirley a crappy continental deathtrap of a quadricycle is essential shiteing? UltraWomble and wuvvum 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 He didn't rate the 505cc diesel kubota twin for long distances in the aixam 500 though!*479cc. The 505cc diesel was the Lombardini unit fitted to the Microcars and Ligiers.[/pedant] They are actually pretty frugal (80mpg plus). The thing is though, if you drive a "normal" diesel hatch (Fabia SDI etc) at the speeds a diesel microcar is capable of, you'll probably get the same mpg with a lot more comfort and safety. That wouldn't be the AS way though of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticvandan Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 The Microcar MC1 or MC2 are the only ones worth considering,even then shit.ABS body panels that crack,gearboxes explode and are hundreds to replace even used,wheel bearings and brakes wear out very quickly.The amount of Reliant drivers who thought they were moving upmarket to one who then went back is quite a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiperCub Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I are disappoint; for a website founded on the principle of preserving and enjoying the mediocre, celebrating the badly designed and generally revelling in truly miserable automobile experiences, shirley a crappy continental deathtrap of a quadricycle is essential shiteing? Yes, but there's always a line in the sand that we don't cross!! (as Walter would say). If you want one, as others have said, go for it, expect the usual incoming tide of ridicule and general piss-taking (like that's anything new!) mixed with a bit of sympathy and understanding. If nothing else, tell us all about it - it'll make for an interesting thread I'm sure we all agree. I await your purchase sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 The Microcar MC1 or MC2 are the only ones worth considering,even then shit.ABS body panels that crack,gearboxes explode and are hundreds to replace even used,wheel bearings and brakes wear out very quickly.The amount of Reliant drivers who thought they were moving upmarket to one who then went back is quite a lot.This is making me want one even more; I need help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 You may enjoy this thread on Automobiles Erad... http://autoshite.com/topic/28346-automobiles-erad-french-microcar-manufacturer/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I are disappoint; for a website founded on the principle of preserving and enjoying the mediocre, celebrating the badly designed and generally revelling in truly miserable automobile experiences, shirley a crappy continental deathtrap of a quadricycle is essential shiteing?Yeah but nobody said don't buy one. Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Des Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I did a diesel Ligier, had sounds, leather seats and remote locking so was rather like a mini Bentley, I reckon a petrol one would be 1000% better, but if I ever get the itch again I'll probably build something better out of the scrap / shit in my yard and a wheelie bin or two. Stanky and somewhatfoolish 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltraWomble Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Comtesse-Micro-Car-Bubble-Car-Barn-Find-/122608452892?hash=item1c8c08851c:g:6y0AAOSwOzZZcNk8 Current bid £310 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 Fuck me, that's a miserable piece of shite; I like the cut of your jib, sir, but I fear persuading Papa SF that this is: 1. a good idea or2. suitable for lugging a fat, elderly labrador betwixt SF Towers and various alfresco dog toilets is a task too great for my powers of persuasion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Since even I have an opinion, it must be a Lawil or Willam. Besides, when is this finally turning into a collection thread?It's beginning to get a bit boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 *479cc. The 505cc diesel was the Lombardini unit fitted to the Microcars and Ligiers.[/pedant] They are actually pretty frugal (80mpg plus). The thing is though, if you drive a "normal" diesel hatch (Fabia SDI etc) at the speeds a diesel microcar is capable of, you'll probably get the same mpg with a lot more comfort and safety. That wouldn't be the AS way though of course.His was definitely a kubota in a facelifted aixam 500. Comex box too. I stand corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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