AX diesels, any good?

[phil_lihp]

I actually haven't found much difference in economy between the 4- and 5-speed versions.  The 4-speed is a proper wide ratio 'box so fourth isn't much lower than fifth on a 5-speeder, and they certainly don't feel undergeared on the motorway - much like my current LNA, in fact.  All good on fuel though, as you say - I've never managed to average less than 50mpg in a 1-litre AX, however hard I've caned them.

 

I haven't ever tried a 5 speed so you're probably right, my 1.0 was very strained at motorway speeds and I always assumed it would benefit from a 5 speed box - that was an idea as the original box was hemorrhaging oil but it never came to fruition.  In fact, 50mpg was pretty much the same for the petrol and oil near the end. Mine was badly neglected by times I got it though so it was never a good example.  

 

I'd love another one as a cheap runaround.  Still a few 1.0 and 1.1's on Ebay, the Mk1s are getting really rare now.  They also don't rust very much which is good really seeing as there isn't a lot of spare metal to start with.

[forddeliveryboy]

An early AX had softer springing and the damping was much better calibrated. Seem to think you also sat lower - the Mk2 always felt like it had been clinicked in Ford fashion, to give the school-run Mums what they felt safer in on roundabouts. The originals could be properly fast across country, the later ones bounced and bucked if you tried to drive as you once could in Citroens.

 

I'd be looking for a Saxo or 106 1.5, I think. Leave the 1.4D AXs to those on ecomodder.

 

My mK1 1.1 had four forward gears, nicely spaced. It would sit at 95 without too much fuss - few French cars were ever undergeared. There's something nice about not having to shift gears as much - third and fourth on the open road, first and second elsewhere.

[Noel Tidybeard]

i had a 1.4 xnd graduate which NEVER went below 48 mpg no matter how hard i spanked it

[Noel Tidybeard]

brakes can be a bit scary what with the servo on the wrong side

[garethj]

I had a 205 diesel that I did about 30,000 miles in, it's a bit wider than a 106 and AX and seems to handle better, perhaps just because of the wider track.  I got 50mpg from mine and other than front suspension bushes it was blameless.

 

The family had an AX when it was new about 20 years ago, it was the 1 litre and I think also did 50mpg at least.  It felt smaller inside, but still good fun to thrash.