Citroen AX - Any good??

[saabhappy]

colc wrote

 

 

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................

 

 

What is the matter with you? Are you the arbiter of that is sensible or what? Re-read what you wrote and I hope (but not much) that you'll see what a stupid post you've just made.

 

I happen to love old cars. I also have to drive past the bunches of flowers left at the roadside where some know-all like you discovered he actually wasn't very good at driving. No, I don't like small Citroens, which is an opinion as valid as yours. I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built, again my opinion as valid as yours. I also don't like ANYBODY being killed in a car smash, including the "poor sod in the Micra" you glibly use to try to make your point.

 

Meh.

[Pete-M]

An ex g/f of mine bought a new N reg Citroen AX 'Elation' 1.0. N764BKF.A couple of months later, she somehow managed to barrel roll it with it ending up on its roof. She walked away without as much as a scratch.Ok, I wouldn't like to hit an articulated truck in one, but I was seriously impressed by the way her one stood up to being bounced down the road whilst inverted.I like AX's, and they're safer than the stuff I was driving when I passed my test. I'd rather crash in an AX than a 1972 Mini 850 or a rusty Mk2 Escort.

[Lankytim]

My Brother in law had one years ago, He hadn't had it long when he was driving down a windy country A road one afternoon. The low sun got in his eyes so he pulled down the sun visor, which fell off in his hand. A second later he ran into a tree and rolled it over, he was OK but the Citroen suffered substantial damage and he lost his cheezy cassette collection all over the road. I still like them though. I hear they dent very easily though due to the thin metal.

[saabhappy]

Bloody hell! AXs sound very accident prone! I'm sure they can withstand being hit by an Exocet whilst simultaneously driving over a mine.But I think they're crap.Meh.

[meggersdog]

Yep boot floor and inner wings for rot.Clicking C.V. joints and also the long driveshaft (driver's side) sometimes bends slightly so if you find a wheel wobble at 50+ don't discount a warped driveshaft.As mentioned in a different thread if the youth of today got around on a moped at 16 they are alot more aware of road conditions and other road users when they finally get behind the wheel of a car.We all had 'peds at 16,all except one.Vinney never had a moped and put his first car in the dike (twice) wrote off his second car and a firm's van all in his first year of driving.The rest of us had to wait four or five years before we had accidents.

[garbaldy]

I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built, again my opinion as valid as yours. Meh.[/b]

Now thats hardly a reason to not like a car how can a car be dangerouse, surelly its the pilot at the helm off said motor that is the cause off death wether it be an ax or a mercedes fact.if your argument is to hold water then a motorcycle must be the most safe form of transport in the world because off the way they are built they have solid metal frames which are pretty strong so that must make them 5 star in a crash test. ive had a couple off ax,s and the gt is a flier but if you are worried that they are flimsy then drive accordingly this new culture off not doing anything for fear off injury is ruining this country, hell why would you get on an aroplane they are made far more flimsy than an ax as the alloy is very thin.

[Guest]

We'll all die at some point, don't worry about it.

[transfer]

Smaller more agile cars are often able to avoid a crash. If they hit an immovable object, there is much less energy to absorb.That's why Saab always built light cars. They were strong also, with plenty of room between the driver and the front of the car. They proudly advertisd the fuel tank was located between the rear wheels, against the axle. All the above is just like a 2CV. I've seen several in a bad smash and they are way, way stronger than I'd ever have imagined. (The bits which have to be strong are used to take the impact - most people look at the body panels and think they are load-bearing, hence the poor safety image). Something like an AX or 205 isn't like that and the upright front suspension strut is between the driver/passenger and impact. Not good. But Mercedes (and Saab) are like that, too. Just a bit more space.I don't like Peugeot handling. It's superb in a warm, dry climate but in winter here roads often don't dry for weeks. Citroen tamed it a little but a sudden change of camber, cheapo rear tyres and a damp, slick surface - not good. That's why I wouldn't defend an AX too far, safety-wise.Don't get too Volvoid, saabhappy, and remember that Citroen and DKW were huge influences on the nascent Saab. In fact, many describe Saabs up to the 9000/Fiat Croma as winterised Citroens - see the similarities: lightweight, strong, aerodynamic, large-diameter narrow wheels and tyres, strongly located suspension, front drive, safe but inspired handling, designed by a small, dedicated and fastidious engineering team.

[Rocket88]

I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built, again my opinion as valid as yours. Meh.[/b]

Now thats hardly a reason to not like a car how can a car be dangerouse, surelly its the pilot at the helm off said motor that is the cause off death wether it be an ax or a mercedes fact.if your argument is to hold water then a motorcycle must be the most safe form of transport in the world because off the way they are built they have solid metal frames which are pretty strong so that must make them 5 star in a crash test. ive had a couple off ax,s and the gt is a flier but if you are worried that they are flimsy then drive accordingly this new culture off not doing anything for fear off injury is ruining this country, hell why would you get on an aroplane they are made far more flimsy than an ax as the alloy is very thin.

The "I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built" is bollocks. Do you know what they're torsional stiffness figure is? Do you know what there crumple zone parameters are? No, probably not. But because you don't like the fact they're made out of pretty thin steel, with a few plastic panels, they're bound to be dangerous aren't they?Any equivalent car of that era is not going to be as safe in a big one as a modern, just as an AX is probably a bloody sight more capable of looking after you in a nasty accident if you were in a Mini or an Imp.

[saabhappy]

I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built, again my opinion as valid as yours. Meh.[/b]

Now thats hardly a reason to not like a car how can a car be dangerouse, surelly its the pilot at the helm off said motor that is the cause off death wether it be an ax or a mercedes fact.if your argument is to hold water then a motorcycle must be the most safe form of transport in the world because off the way they are built they have solid metal frames which are pretty strong so that must make them 5 star in a crash test. ive had a couple off ax,s and the gt is a flier but if you are worried that they are flimsy then drive accordingly this new culture off not doing anything for fear off injury is ruining this country, hell why would you get on an aroplane they are made far more flimsy than an ax as the alloy is very thin.

The "I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built" is bollocks. Do you know what they're torsional stiffness figure is? Do you know what there crumple zone parameters are? No, probably not. But because you don't like the fact they're made out of pretty thin steel, with a few plastic panels, they're bound to be dangerous aren't they?Any equivalent car of that era is not going to be as safe in a big one as a modern, just as an AX is probably a bloody sight more capable of looking after you in a nasty accident if you were in a Mini or an Imp.

There's no point in discussing the merit or otherwise of a car with someone who likes or owns it. I assume you DO know the comparative figures you quote?They're crap, they're dangerous and most of your argument rests on a natural prejudice in favour of the car. I'll go with Dave Selby (Honest John in The Daily Telegraph and contributor to various mags.)

Good: Great fuel economy and a spirited, involving drive. Cheap to buy and run.Bad: Offset driving position, fall-apart trim and not that clever in a crash.

Let's have your figures then.Meh.

[Cavcraft]

I quite fancy going into a dike. She'd have to be like the ones in the magazines though, not the 'real life' ones with more stubble and tattoes than your average prisoner.

[Lankytim]

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!

[Minimad5]

Does it really matter ?We gather certain people like the AX, and others don't It is like marmite i guess, but you get that with every car !Now don't start a fight over who likes marmite or notSo back to business ...Anyone got any pictures of AX's they used to own ?

[transfer]

I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built, again my opinion as valid as yours. Meh.[/b]

Now thats hardly a reason to not like a car how can a car be dangerouse, surelly its the pilot at the helm off said motor that is the cause off death wether it be an ax or a mercedes fact.if your argument is to hold water then a motorcycle must be the most safe form of transport in the world because off the way they are built they have solid metal frames which are pretty strong so that must make them 5 star in a crash test. ive had a couple off ax,s and the gt is a flier but if you are worried that they are flimsy then drive accordingly this new culture off not doing anything for fear off injury is ruining this country, hell why would you get on an aroplane they are made far more flimsy than an ax as the alloy is very thin.

The "I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built" is bollocks. Do you know what they're torsional stiffness figure is? Do you know what there crumple zone parameters are? No, probably not. But because you don't like the fact they're made out of pretty thin steel, with a few plastic panels, they're bound to be dangerous aren't they?Any equivalent car of that era is not going to be as safe in a big one as a modern, just as an AX is probably a bloody sight more capable of looking after you in a nasty accident if you were in a Mini or an Imp.

There's no point in discussing the merit or otherwise of a car with someone who likes or owns it. I assume you DO know the comparative figures you quote?They're crap, they're dangerous and most of your argument rests on a natural prejudice in favour of the car. I'll go with Dave Selby (Honest John in The Daily Telegraph and contributor to various mags.)

Good: Great fuel economy and a spirited, involving drive. Cheap to buy and run.Bad: Offset driving position, fall-apart trim and not that clever in a crash.

Let's have your figures then.Meh.

Oh dear. You say there's no point in a debate with someone who is, umm, prejudice. Then you ask them to reply. Why not answer the points in my post above? Or are they a bit too, accurate?

[j-j]

No, I don't like small Citroens, which is an opinion as valid as yours.

What do you mean by 'valid' opinion? I have heard of a valid argument i.e. one that has a concluding statement that logically follows from two or more premise statements. But opinions are subjective by their nature.

I think AXs are dangerous because of the way they're built, again my opinion as valid as yours.

Sorry, I also must pick up on this statement. How are they built specifically? - 'Dangerous because of the WAY they are built' - what 'WAY' ?

[saabhappy]

Or are they a bit too, accurate?

No - they're just made up out of your head.I'll stick with the bloke who does car reviews professionally and knows what he's talking about. I know he doesn't back you up, but, hey - tough shit.Meh.

[Minimad5]

Have some Ax related info' ...

All stolen from this website

http://www.freewebs.com/citroenax/historyoftheax.htm

 

In September 1986 the AX was launched in six versions, the 10E, 10 RE, with 954cc engines. The 11 RE, 11 TRE, with 1124cc engines, and the 14 TRS and 14 TZS, with 1360cc engines. Later on in the year the limited edition AX Sport was added to the line up with twin carb 1360cc engine with 95 BHP and top speed of 115 MPH.

 

History of the AX

 

In September 1986 the AX was launched in six versions, the 10E, 10 RE, with 954cc engines. The 11 RE, 11 TRE, with 1124cc engines, and the 14 TRS and 14 TZS, with 1360cc engines. Later on in the year the limited edition AX Sport was added to the line up with twin carb 1360cc engine with 95 BHP and top speed of 115 MPH.

 

 

In 1987, the AX line up now included the AX GT with 1360cc 85 bhp engine, and a top speed of 112MPH. Also a range of five door models were released this year. In July of this year the AX was now available in the UK.

 

[j-j]

Or are they a bit too, accurate?

No - they're just made up out of your head.I'll stick with the bloke who does car reviews professionally and knows what he's talking about. I know he doesn't back you up, but, hey - tough shit.Meh.

Made up? but there were no figures stated. He asked if you knew the tolerances that made AXs crap and dangerous (you didn't define dangerous either)I hoped you might answer my post but you have logged off quickly at this time.

[brammy777]

I like AXs, by the time they were replaced they did look rather outdated but had managed to stay relevant due to popularity. Sure, it may not be a safe car, but lets be fair, everything is safe up until an accident occurs. Just because a car wont react too well in an accident doesnt make it unsafe at all times.But back to the AX, Its another one of those first cars Ive got my eye on, values seem pretty low to the floor and insurance doesnt cost the earth. And if I ever needed parts, a fair few scrap yards have them at the moment so it wouldnt prove too difficult. I havent seen a GT one for a while, there was one in Oakley but I think it may have been stolen. That would explain the four flat tyres. Or the owners a dick, whatever. I prefer the prefacelift examples, shame as they are really quite uncommon now! Sadly one got scrappaged in Basingstoke the other week, but another one made an appearance on the road.

[j-j]

Thing about the VWs in the first vid is you don't know what speed the impact was - 30mph? But that second vid was funny

[transfer]

A 1300 MK2 Golf may frustrate a young driver into taking risks if he enjoys reasonable performance. Then the lack of brakes and possibly tired dampers/cheap skinny tyres etc will bite. An AX will be more fun, is designed to be good on roads other than autobahns and should develop a more responsible driver if aware of the relative lack of protection in a coming together. The lack of protection is prolly about 7 inches less than the Golf, and the typically French flimsy feel tends to make you more aware of danger. If it's a diesel then neither car can explode or rapidly catch fire if the worst should happen.

[AXrescuer]

I used to buy and sell the AX for a living, hence my forum username. Although they are a very nice little motor, frugal to run and reliable too. As I said before, I really would not want to be in one in a substantial smack.I've stripped one or two that had seen lamp posts a little too closely at less than 50mph and each had seen the driver suffer massive injuries due the the car almost disintegrating. So much so that literally only a handful of parts were salvageable.

[transfer]

Know of a Discovery which hit said post at less than said speed and driver was deed. Plenty of parts, though mostly of taillamp variety.

[Guest]

Well, it's come to this, people whinging about the AX being "dangerous", with justification from Honest John (of all places). Presumably this means we can't have Visas or LNAs anymore, because they're a menace to society and all these fictional teenagers are doomed. I've known numerous people who have owned AXs, many of whom deserve to die the most horrible death you could possibly imagine, but all of them remain alive to this day - what's my point? There isn't one!Autoshite is doomed. Sod the lifeboats - I'm just going to put on my best dinner jacket, light a cigar and wait for the inevitable.

[AXrescuer]

Don't get me wrong, I love the old AX, I enjoyed a good living for a few years because of them. In fact I still have a low mileage 1.1 Echo which I'll no doubt get the cobwebs off one day.

[Richard]

Why does nobody ever consider the idea of simply driving around stuff instead of into it?

[AXrescuer]

Why does nobody ever consider the idea of simply driving around stuff instead of into it?

Why not just ask your average 17 year old newly qualified driver?

[Rocket88]

I aplolgise for hi-jacking this thread, but when people come on here with sweeping generalisations, it boils my piss. There's a huge difference between "a bit flimsy" [Honest John] and "dangerous".Inexperienced drivers are far more likely to drive into things that to be driven in to, therefore I would have thought that driving something with reasonable handling, brakes etc was far more important than letting them loose in a mobile armco barrier. There is a perception that VW Golfs are "safe, solid cars". The brakes on a Mk 1 Golf border on the dangeously inadequate, but if you told a random motorist that a Mk1 Golf was probably more "dangerous" than an AX , you'd be laughed at.Of it's era, the AX is a perfectly good car. It's certainly not dangerous.

[whitevanman]

Honest John may be a proffesional car reviewer, this does not mean his views are correct....I have read his reviews for over 20 years and he does get it wrong at times....... and it is only his opinion he publishes, which is equally biased as anyone elses...to blindy believe in one persons opinion on everything is somewhat limited at best..

[j-j]

Autoshite is doomed. Sod the lifeboats - I'm just going to put on my best dinner jacket, light a cigar and wait for the inevitable.

Nonsense old son! 99% of us on here are just into shite old cars, vans buses (and in my weird case, aeroplanes and digital watches but we'll let that slide) and still don't give a rat's ass about how disliked one particular marque/model is. We got through the banger racers' taunts ages ago and some of them are now happily 'one of us' and now that some highly strung newbie needs to declare all the cars on here that he hates don't do nuttin' in the long term y'all.Peace be upon the shite and inadequate car, the obscure and unloved,the grotty spotty beigeness, the sales flop and overstyled shorted-out brake light strangeness.Let's share our wisdom to allfrom petrol transits to van-engines porschescrappy trabbiesand causing divorceswe know poundshop hubcaps are rightCuz dis is AUTOSHITE!