Shame on you Antony You conveniently forget the previous (french) apple of your eye, the Activa was a blatant plagiarism of the superbly engineered Toyota Soarer Active UZZ32 which also had the benefit of 4ws, tv, electric everything (including the steering!), ultrasonic 'shaky' mirrors, and something the Citroen lacked - bullet-proof reliability. It also had something that is best described as a fart purifiermacaroni wrote:Just got to vent this and here seems the best place...
I am a long time detractor of Japanese cars. I feel they are contrived, ugly and redue the car to the level of a commodity.
Most of my vitriol used to be directed at Toyota for dumbing down the car, but I have recently redirected it at Honda. Initially for their diesel engine ad, but most recently I saw a magazine ad for the FR-V.
It highlights innovations in lighting beginning with the candle, through the storm lantern, torch and desk lamp, ultimating the the FR-V with it's headlamps that turn with the steering.
Can you see where I'm going with this?
The Japanese never innovate, just plagiarise. I hate the FR-V even more for it's "innovative" 6 seater arrangement. They seem to have conveniently forgotten FIATs Multipla - both versions.
Sorry to unload at so early a time, but just don't get me started on the new Civic...
Antony
You can't say that citroen thought of it first because the Soarer Active was produced from approx May 91 to May 95. The Activa (hmmm wonder where that name came from??) was produced from about '95 to 2000 - probably after some french fella went on a tour of Toyota's factory and decided "hey how can i make that, but less reliable, and less economical despite only using half the size and half the cylinders?".
Your just jealous 'cos my Lexus is just as comfy.
We buy french cars because they are cheap, comfy and the cheapness makes up for the hours spent waiting for recovery vehicle to turn up.
We buy Jap cars because they are ultra-reliable and if you get the best (like mine ), they are simply that.