1987 Citroen 2CV Charleston review from UK and Ireland

Starter died. Fortunately, it sat right on top of the engine so replacement was a ten-minute job.

The fuse to the alternator would blow after making three left turns in a row, leaving the battery dead in no short order. Tracked it down to indicator repeater light wiring in the front wing shorting out against the metal. Electrical tape took care of that one.

The lead from the aerial to the radio rotted out. Not the mounting point: the actual cabling inside the lead. Replaced it and was soon enjoying longwave in all its crackly monophonic glory once again.

Succumbed to terminal chassis rust after I moved to the US. A sad end for a much-loved car.

What a fantastic vehicle. Still to this day, hands-down the best car I have ever owned.

It was slow and underpowered.

It was basic to the point of not quite being able to be described as 'spartan'.

It was either really ugly or really beautiful depending on your point of view. I'm in the latter camp on this one.

It also got 40mpg, handled and rode brilliantly, was a hoot to drive (you haven't experienced body roll until you've flogged a 2CV HARD down a twisty road), could go anywhere, carry anything, be driven with the roof fully-open on a nice summer's day or if you needed to transport something oversized, and would never fail to make passers-by smile.

Noisy? Absolutely. Flimsy? Nope, it was light. Basic? Definitely, but never uncomfortable or difficult to live with. It had everything you need in a faithful, honest, fun vehicle - plus character by the bucketload. It's a pity that Citroen isn't making a modern 2CV: given how faceless and anonymous all modern hatchbacks have become, there's plenty of room in the market for another unique and endearing eccentric.