Citroen AX - Any good??

[garethj]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch….My mum had an AX when it was new, the 1 litre base model. It didn’t rattle and creak, didn’t fall apart and didn’t need any unscheduled trips to the dealers. It also handled quite well for what it was and was adequate to drive even on long motorway runs because you pretty much keep the throttle down all the time. Fuel economy was brilliant, I believe the diesel was even better.Room inside the engine bay was a bit snug for maintenance though.

[saabhappy]

Basically you like AXs, I don't. The OP's title was Citroen AX - Any Good? The answer for me is no. All this crap about "I had a friend who survived a nuclear attack in one" and Honest John not knowing his stuff can't hide the fact that just because you like something it doesn't have any weaknesses.I really enjoy all these fearless young warriors who see themselves as Top Gun and use words like "lunacy" and "mental" as terms of approval frantically trying to find quotes to disprove something that is impossible to argue with: if you have a crash in an AX your chances aren't as good in other cars.What's the point of posting a question like "Any Good?" if the only answer allowed is "Yes"?

[whitevanman]

Personally I don't like French cars end off....but surely that doesn't have to cloud my judgment? as for yes being the only option.... others said NO !! perhaps the issue is not what was being said but the manner it was said in? though I doubt that my opinion matters under the circumstances

[Rocket88]

You seem to have missed the whole point of this glorious website. "good", in an Autoshite way, usually means cheap, capable, fun, and a bit weird. If you want "good" in the conventional way, I suggest you log onto "whattediousmoderncarcanibuywhich isgreendullandsafe.com."We worship at the altar of Tagoras, Chrysler 180s, Horizons etc. None of these are particularly "good", but we love them because of their epic weirdness, which is why we don't all own bloody Audis.

[saabhappy]

You seem to have missed the whole point of this glorious website. "good", in an Autoshite way, usually means cheap, capable, fun, and a bit weird. If you want "good" in the conventional way, I suggest you log onto "whattediousmoderncarcanibuywhich isgreendullandsafe.com."We worship at the altar of Tagoras, Chrysler 180s, Horizons etc. None of these are particularly "good", but we love them because of their epic weirdness, which is why we don't all own bloody Audis.

So the question meant "Citroen AX - Crap?"

[Rocket88]

AXs, according to most Autoshite parameters, are great. You've obviously had the irony bypass operation..............

[Mr Lobster]

So the question meant "Citroen AX - Crap?"

Kind of I suppose. I guess the question was 'Citroen AX - cheap, small car for a few hundred notes - what goes wrong?'Good is very subjective anyway as we have seen. Nobody would argue that an AX is the best car in any respect you could buy as obviously it's not. Neither is it the worst though. They are a decent enough small, cheap car. Cheap to run, insure and maintain. Nobody would buy an AX purely based on safety reasons but then the same applies to Mk2 Fiesta / R5 / Metro / Polo etc etc etc

[whitevanman]

STOP IT !!! your being reasonable, sensible and non argumentitive....

[j-j]

All this crap about "I had a friend who survived a nuclear attack in one" and Honest John not knowing his stuff can't hide the fact that just because you like something it doesn't have any weaknesses.

none of that was stated by anyone on 'ere.

Personally I don't like French cars end off....but surely that doesn't have to cloud my judgment?

See, that's the thing - at least you don't feel the need to declare this whenever a frogmobile is mentioned here (which is frequent) - though I never understand the "I don't like French cars" because to not like a set of things is to know of a quality that is the same on all of those things. I declare that all French cars of any era are not equal.Anyway, I suppose absolutes don't work where silly old opinions are the mainstay. Yawnville

[Rocket88]

I've just had a look at SAABhappy's website, he advises that an early Metro is an ideal young persons "starter classic". I had an 81 MG Metro from new, it was dreadful. Three gearboxes in 8 months, bits fell off at regular intervals, etc etc. I'd still quite fancy one now though, because it was a giggle when it wasn't breaking down. My point us, we like stuff that is naff to 90% of the motoring population. I'd quite like a Wartburg Knight, but I know it's a crap car..........

[garethj]

Nobody would buy an AX purely based on safety reasons but then the same applies to Mk2 Fiesta / R5 / Metro / Polo etc etc etc

I’m told that a Mk2 Polo is worse in a crash test than a Trabant. Both probably knock the socks off a Pug 104, Mini etc.If driver safety was so important, there’d be millions of people doing advanced driving courses, improving their observation, recognition of hazards etc. There aren’t, safety is just the latest thing to sell new cars. As said before, not crashing is safer than a billion NCAP stars

[whitevanman]

though I never understand the "I don't like French cars"

I based my opinion on the fact that I have had a fair few, fixed a fair few and driven loads of them and just don't enjoy them that much in anyway what so ever, but I can still appreciate them for what they are....I also occasionally think about trying another one but I generally slap myself about then

[transfer]

Polo Mk2 - there was a truly dangerous car unless you knew about the lack of brakes and terminal understeer. My first car, though, and I loved it. Bought it in reaction to Dad's falling-apart English crocks - loved its ability to maintain 90-95mph. Was a 1100 Formel E, third and fourth gears were interstellar, it'd do 95 in 3rd!Soon graduated to a truly shite Triumph, for £150, which was much more fun. I had discovered autoshite by the end of the 80s!

[j-j]

though I never understand the "I don't like French cars"

I based my opinion on the fact that I have had a fair few, fixed a fair few and driven loads of them and just don't enjoy them that much in anyway what so ever, but I can still appreciate them for what they are....I also occasionally think about trying another one but I generally slap myself about then

sensible man!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Can someone pass me some strong painkillers please, ideally about 50 or so of them.

[garethj]

Can someone pass me some strong painkillers please, ideally about 50 or so of them.

It's probably safer than crashing an AX Are we there yet? Can a mod remove all the useless bits of this thread so it's just 3 or 4 posts?

[retrogeezer]

shall I post that photo of the one in a salvage yard???

 

(runs away to hide behind the door)

[Lankytim]

I knew somone who bought an AX and died the instant he sat in it. I wouldnt have one, they're deathtraps.

[Father Ted]

Had one.Didnt really like it - but thats because I found it cramped (picture an elephant sat inside a coke can).On the plus side it was easy to work on and very chuckable into corners etc. I imagine a GT version would be a hoot. Apparently the 60MPG I got out of the diesel one wasnt a lot better than the 50MPG you could squeeze out of the 1.0 petrol. It did run on cooking oil though. I cant say I had any rust issues. Spares availability is good and most things are cheap. Metal work is tin foil thin and dints as soon as you look at it. Mine had a bit of a voracious appetite for driveshafts.I wouldnt fancy my chances in one in an accident, but then there isnt much that I would fancy going and crashing in at say 70MPH and that includes motorbikes, but I still like em and ride em. Dont crash, its as simple as that.Personally I like small mental cars.

[Cheggers]

Blimey, that'll teach me to ask a simple question then go to make a coffee.What I meant by the original question was - "Is this poxy car going to fill my weekends with knuckle-skinning spanner work, or can I just leave the bastard thing alone until Joe manages to write it off (by hitting a particularly dense fart, apparently...)??I'll post some pics of the offending death-trap tomorrow, assuming it lasts that long

[Father Ted]

Meh - ran mine for 15000 miles3 driveshafts (all O/S)1 timing belt1 heater matrix1 drivers door mirror1 air filter2 oil filterssome oilEasy to work on (and believe me thats something if I say that!)If you need a funny square key for the oil drain plug PM me as I think I have a spare.

[Talbotman]

Bmc Minis? - Any Good or not ???

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I once travelled in a Mini 850, got herpes soon after so on that basis could not reccommend it to my kids, which I am now unable to have anyway.

[vicsmith]

Hey wait a minute, having herpes is great

[Milford Cubicle]

Polo Mk2 - there was a truly dangerous car unless you knew about the lack of brakes and terminal understeer. My first car, though, and I loved it. Bought it in reaction to Dad's falling-apart English crocks - loved its ability to maintain 90-95mph. Was a 1100 Formel E, third and fourth gears were interstellar, it'd do 95 in 3rd!

I liked the unassisted brakes in my Polo, whenever I drove anything else I cursed the snatchy over-assistance.Mine didn't understeer, but it was great for lift-off oversteer...

[whitevanman]

I had a major accident in an early mini......the universe caved in upon itself...it was very scarey and my Daddy crashed the car as he wasn't expecting it !

[Guest]

So back to business ...

Anyone got any pictures of AX's they used to own ?

GT 5

And a Dimension model pictured here

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=9383319 ... nfe&m=text

[Albert Ross]

I'm still looking for an engine for mine..... A safe one though.1.1, 1.4, or 1.6 8V, late block (aluminium I believe) post 1992 as the stud pattern is different on the early stuff.No cash waiting though. Will bowl for soup.

[Cheggers]

Meh - ran mine for 15000 miles3 driveshafts (all O/S)1 timing belt1 heater matrix1 drivers door mirror1 air filter2 oil filterssome oilEasy to work on (and believe me thats something if I say that!)If you need a funny square key for the oil drain plug PM me as I think I have a spare.

Thanks FT - PM sent

[Tayne]

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