1985 Citroen 2CV Special review from UK and Ireland

Nothing has actually gone wrong with the car, it just needed a good service!! The brakes were a bit worn, so new pads, handbrake pads and cable, rear drums. The driveshaft made a frightful clicking noise, so I have just replaced that... a surprisingly easy job!!!

The 2CV is never going to break any performance records, but consider this = it has almost exactly half the engine of a VW Beetle, is a similar sized car (except more practical due to four doors) and is just as fast! The seats really are the most comfortable I have ever sat in, much better in fact than a Rolls Silver Shadow. Everything about the car is so different.. but so logical. The designers truly were blessed with something scorned upon today...ingenuity. The sunroof is possibly the biggest asset of the car because it enables three positions, saloon, fold back sunroof and convertible. Unlike some soft tops the hood is very easy and quick to fold/unfold single handed. The car is enormous fun to drive... it actually feels like a piece of machinery, the engine sounds like an angry lawnmower, the gears whine and at tickover the whole thing rattles and wobbles rather like an old bi-plane. The gears are placed oddly, but after a while you get used to them and wonder what the deal is with the gearlever down on the floor. Despite what Citroen say my car does not have synchro on first, but you don't really need first whilst the car is still moving. First gear is so low (actually the same ratio as reverse) it is only used to get the car rolling or for off road work. You may laugh, but in muddy or sandy conditions it will shame a Land Rover. To sum up although the 2CV was designed for French peasant farmers it makes tremendous sense for a town car. It sips petrol whilst you are stuck in a jam, it is big enough not to be bullied (unlike a mini) and the soft suspension soaks up all of those dreaded speed humps.. in fact the faster you go the smoother they are.