Citroen AX - Any good??

[Cheggers]

Hi All,A friends son has just bought an N-reg AX as his first car. They've asked me to give it a once over as apparently I know about shabby old cars Is there anything special to look out for, or is it just the usual acres of rust??Would you believe over 1500 quid for insurance Thanks.

[Mr Lobster]

Generally a pretty good car, diesel is seriously cheap to run. Check usual things really, trim drops off but not a lot of real nasty problems.

[Cavcraft]

Inner front wings and boot floors like to rust in the corners from memory.Mechanically they are pretty good if not a little gutless, trim and fittings seem to 'do the French thing' and fall apart a bit. That said they're not a bad car and easy/cheap to maintain.

[wuvvum]

I've actually found that they go surprisingly well for the engine size - my 1.0i Début, with its 954cc engine and 4-speed box, was quite capable of holding its own on the motorway, which is more than can be said for a Fiesta 950 for example. Other than that, as above really - they're built down to a weight so bits do fall off and rust protection isn't the best, but they're fun to drive in their own way.

[pogweasel]

Cool. Just tell him to try not to go in a crash.

[Negative Creep]

Also, the GT is a great little car. If I found one cheap enough I'd buy it without hesitation. Rear arches, boot floor and sills can rust and driveshafts are pretty weak

[transfer]

Slippery through the air and lightweight, with variable-thickness panels. They spoiled the ride and handling for the 2nd gen cars by fitting stiffer springs and seats (to make it feel safer through suburban roundabouts), and replaced the old skool Peugeot ('orrid) dash. Last true super-mini, Peugeot made 'em make it smaller than the 106 (which used the same chassis). Had an 1.1 which was down on compression on 2 pots, still made it from Yorkshire to Cornwall at 90-95.

[Guest]

Good cars which are cheap and easy to repair. Inner wings rust below the headlights and the back axle can go hard and bend due to the bearings so check that. Nice to drive and really similar to the more expensive Peugeot 106. If 3 stud wheels are fitted (954cc) you are limited in choice for replacements.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I once got a rear subframe out of a shitty E-reg AX in a scrapyard, and fitted it to an R-reg pug 106. To my amazement it fitted straight in no probs.

[Albert Ross]

I was just given a taxed and tested N plater Memphis one of these, still looking for an engine like...1.1, 1.4 or 1.6 would do.......... I don't care about cornering though, so the 1.6 would be ideal.

[barrett]

  Cheggers said:

Would you believe over 1500 quid for insurance

yep....

[HillmanImp]

  wuvvum said:

I've actually found that they go surprisingly well for the engine size - my 1.0i Début, with its 954cc engine and 4-speed box, was quite capable of holding its own on the motorway, which is more than can be said for a Fiesta 950 for example.

My old one was quite nippy although at that time i did not have a lot to compare it too. I really liked it.

[Gompo]

I like AXs too, as a city car I'd probably consider one.£1500 isnt that bad for insurance, I paid that when i was around 21-22 (more desirable car obviously) and paid around a grand 9 years ago (at 18) on a 1.3 which was probably comparable with the AX performance wise.

[Tayne]

.

[AXrescuer]

Just remember that in a substantial crash you'd only be getting around 1000th the protection you would have if you were driving a Trabant. These things are less solid than your average origami sculpture.

[saabhappy]

I don't think I'd want a son of mine in an AX as a first car, purely on safety grounds.

[MrSteve]

Seems solid enough in this diy crash test vid...

 

[Pillock]

They're not super-safe but they're about as safe as any other typical first car... Festers are probably thicker metal but rust a hell of a lot more so after 15 years, you're still looking at the crash protection of a sheet of clingfilm.Get a 1.5D - no chance of getting in a 'substantial' crash in that, without a sail on top and a tailwind

[j-j]

  MrSteve said:

Seems solid enough in this diy crash test vid...

Watching that I found this:

Sorry, OT!

[Rocket88]

  saabhappy said:

I don't think I'd want a son of mine in an AX as a first car, purely on safety grounds.

Anything of this age and vaguely affordable / insurable is obviously not to get to be as safe [allegedly] as modern stuff. To be honest, I think that thick windscreen pillars,[terrible for vision at junctions] and the "nothing can hurt me beacause I've got airbags and abs" mentality is far more dangerous.

[saabhappy]

  colc said:

  saabhappy said:

I don't think I'd want a son of mine in an AX as a first car, purely on safety grounds.

Anything of this age and vaguely affordable / insurable is obviously not to get to be as safe [allegedly] as modern stuff. To be honest, I think that thick windscreen pillars,[terrible for vision at junctions] and the "nothing can hurt me beacause I've got airbags and abs" mentality is far more dangerous.

I think that the AX is very flimsy, due to the manufacture's determination to keep weight down by using plastic and thinner gauge metal where they could get away with it. My point is nothing to do with a comparison with modern cars, many of which I dislike intensely, with the AX, it's simply my honest opinion that if I was buying a car for my hypothetical teenage son the AX has absolutely nothing to recommend it. Just because you like a car doesn't eradicate its weaknesses, and I'd worry about anyone I cared about who was inexperienced and possibly over-confident in their own ability driving a Citroen AX.

[Rocket88]

  saabhappy said:

  colc said:

  saabhappy said:

I don't think I'd want a son of mine in an AX as a first car, purely on safety grounds.

Anything of this age and vaguely affordable / insurable is obviously not to get to be as safe [allegedly] as modern stuff. To be honest, I think that thick windscreen pillars,[terrible for vision at junctions] and the "nothing can hurt me beacause I've got airbags and abs" mentality is far more dangerous.

I think that the AX is very flimsy, due to the manufacture's determination to keep weight down by using plastic and thinner gauge metal where they could get away with it. My point is nothing to do with a comparison with modern cars, many of which I dislike intensely, with the AX, it's simply my honest opinion that if I was buying a car for my hypothetical teenage son the AX has absolutely nothing to recommend it. Just because you like a car doesn't eradicate its weaknesses, and I'd worry about anyone I cared about who was inexperienced and possibly over-confident in their own ability driving a Citroen AX.

Oh Christ, you really are a tedious old pedant. Are you sure you're not a plant from the "all old cars are dangerous" brigade by any chance? I'm no apologist for AXs [although I notice that this is not the first time you've slagged off Citroens] but I'd prefer someone young to be driving something small, light and agile, rather than some ponderous barge, like the Volvo 340 a friend of mine bought his son as a first car because it would be "safe". He crashed it, mainly because be became vastly over confident in it's tank like feel. He was ok, but the poor sod in the Micra he hit wasn't.................

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Aaargh!!!!!

[Minimad5]

I feel a war coming on !Does it really matter what your son or daughter is driving ? If they are going to act like a wolly, then no matter what car they are driving, they are going to do it in.Granted they are more likely to become relaxed and feel invincible in a big old volvo (Cue a related story) ...Volvo 740 GLE Estate, martin my young friend at the age of 23 i think, thought he was invincible in his big bardge. And afew weeks later ended up in a tree, luckily only with afew scrapes, a broken arm, punctured lung and something to do with his leg.But he also wrote off a Peugeot 106 (that i brought off him) because guess what .... he was acting a fool.Modern cars are safer in certain aspects, but if a teenager is going to push the cars limits , no matter the vehicles age.... there is going to be a bad outcome.As for me, i'm f*cked if i crash ... My fiesta is made from super thin metal, and my Rebel is GRP Super careful driving from Minimad5

[whitevanman]

/\ as you say

 

kids/youths have to learn they are not invulnerable, parents have to learn to stop wrapping them up in a blanket........IF they drive like an arse and end up dead the likleyhood is that the age/type of the car will make no difference...you learn from your mistakes and at least the AX will be cheap or maybe we should give the young 4x4's to drive around in

[Talbotman]

The ax is an old car now - typical of its time and era - any small hatch of its era would fare in a very similar manner in a crash.

[Milford Cubicle]

I think they should start re-manufacturing the Austin Ruby for first time drivers.

[Minimad5]

  whitevanman said:

kids/youths have to learn they are not invulnerable, parents have to learn to stop wrapping them up in a blanket........

Thats why i have 2 pieces of shit that will crumble from a slight knock !And my folks know i won't drive like a complete tool.But back on topic !What is the Sports version of the AX ?I personally think they look ace !(AX GT springs to mind ... i could be wrong)

[dollywobbler]

^^^ That's a good call. AXs are surprisingly tough but the five-speeders can develop gearbox issues. 1 litre with 4-speed is about unkillable judging by the abuse my wife's old one used to take. Only downside was that the headlamps would fall out over bumpy ground...Yes, they are flimsy. Meh.

[Mr Lobster]

  dollywobbler said:

Yes, they are flimsy. Meh.

Indeed. They are but so is most small stuff of a certain age. Too many people drive around on the assumption that it doesn't matter if they have an accident as the car will protect them so they don't take the care they perhaps should.