These days there seem to be some kind of charm with base model older vehicles, I'm kind of thinking of say a 3door 205D (something like a 'Junior' or 'XL') or perhaps a base model AX. No power mirrors / windows / locks etc, perhaps just power steering but nothing more.
The lack of electronics and complexity seem to shine through somehow, perhaps more so these days with the excess of electronics, some of which is debatable if it causes more problems that it solves...
Andy.
91 205D-Turbo, gone but still missed
02 106D, TUD5B, gone but not really missed apart from the MPG
These days there seem to be some kind of charm with base model older vehicles, I'm kind of thinking of say a 3door 205D (something like a 'Junior' or 'XL') or perhaps a base model AX. No power mirrors / windows / locks etc, perhaps just power steering but nothing more.
Back in 2006, I went back to the simple ways - a 1.2 Punto, no power anything, manual windows etc. I'd spent the previous 5 years driving Xantias, XMs, Saab 900s, a Civic Type-R and other modern cars.
It was horrible. I couldn't go back to a simple car like that now. It'd be ok if it were something like a Caterham, but not a normal everyday car. Even my mum's new Kia Picanto which cost not much more than £5k has aircon and ESP - and a 7 year warranty.
Mine did not have PAS either. It was a lot better with a new UJ and a recon rack though.
To be honest (I'd had it seven years nearly) if it had had PAS and been a 3 door I may well of hung on for another few years. I'm aware of fitting PAS (need the column too) but it was suffering from vandals who appeared to like to scratch it almost weekly too.
I think the initial reason for this topic was not 205 specific, more a "if its not there, it cannot break" thing, to me at least there is a charm with certain base models though even now but that may well be rose tinted glasses (and my 205 was not a base model)
Andy.
91 205D-Turbo, gone but still missed
02 106D, TUD5B, gone but not really missed apart from the MPG
I used to really like base model cars, their simplicity is excellent and you realise you dont really need all that much to make a car work.
The 2cv is a bit extreme for me, take anything off it and it would fail to function as a car. However, well designed cars which are basic can be very good. My first car was a 1992 AX 10 Debut, the basic model without anything powered. It had a front wiper and a rear wiper and a heater fan, that was it! Despite this it was a good little car, the ride was good, it was spacious and enjoyable to drive too.
One reason I really like the C1/107 and Aygo group is for their very well designed but simplistic approach to motoring. They have what you need but few luxuries. However, everything you need to touch feels nice, the chunky steering wheel with a good texture, the indicator and wiper stalks which are so slick in their movement and the funky design to the dashboard. Things like it having only one front wiper, seats which are the same for each size, a full glass tailgate, pop out rear windows etc, all very functional but basic and cheap to make. Our C1 has got remote locking, electric windows, air con and 5 doors, however it is still very much in keeping with the basic theme.
I also like basic cars as they are generally light and so enjoyable to chuck around at low speeds. Certainly some of the most fun from driving at low speeds is in basic small cars.
Fact is, if I had to swap my C5 or Xantias to a small and basic car to use daily, I might well become tired of it very quickly. I have came to take air conditioning and cruise control for granted and I would be hard pressed to live without both on a daily basis. I do still like to dart about in the C1 and have used it for many long trips, the 2cv is still the most fun car I have driven, its so comical.
Chris
15 Citroen C4 Cactus HDi Feel - Red
14 Citroen C3 Picasso HDi Selection - Grey
07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango
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24 Toyota Yaris Hybrid
12 Ford Mondeo TDCi Business Edition
03 Seat Arosa 1.0S
I agree, once you've had a big car with a lot of creature comforts it's hard to find a great deal to like in a small basic. I find them terribly claustrophobic generally and the appalling quality of the thing generally gets to me very quickly, especially the seats and plastics which give a horrible feel generally, especially the switchgear. Dashboards and instruments in basic, cheap cars are not pleasing to look at.
A big exception though for me was the old 205D. very basic but with stupendously comfy seats, lovely airy cabin and a nice feel to everything. The only thing that made me a tad uncomfortable driving one was a lack of what I consider a very essential and basic instrument - a temperate gauge.
The R4 was basic in the extreme but again it shared a lot of characteristics with the 205D and thus was very acceptable and loveable.
I can find very little to love or find acceptable in modern basics and I speak from Pixo experience
I think simplicity was the missing word (as pointed out above)
I went from a highish speced Mondeo auto to the 205 and did not miss that much really but I do understand the feelings of cheapness with some base model cars, the 205 being a good exception here, they really got everything right in one go (almost)
Jim, I had a temp gauge and tacho in my TD, it had the (rareish? but it was the 'real' D-Turbo, sports seats etc not the later MardiGras one) GTi style clocks fitted, proper TD ones ie 5K redline on tacho.
As a slightly off topic note: The lack of temp gauge in the 106 is disturbing though I'll admit. I did check the warning light worked and replaced the fan switch as a matter of course suspecting it may not work. I may do what I've done before ie a diode across the oil pressure to the temp light (perhaps one in the feed so I don't upset the ECU) this way the temp warning light will come on as a bulb test when the oil pressure light is on but will not bring the oil light on if the temp is too high, just the temp light. I did do this to the 205's 'water level' light, and it worked fine.
The 2CV although our family had two back in the 80's I do like them although vandals are a concern here. The newer 107 / C1 is a good idea although the first ones (I PDI'ed a couple) I did not like, perhaps things have improved a little or it may of just been me, the vibration at idle with the 3cyl unit was disturbing.
Andy.
91 205D-Turbo, gone but still missed
02 106D, TUD5B, gone but not really missed apart from the MPG
Base models... Yes, no remote central locking, so the door locks wear out faster.
No AC so you get melanomas on your arm or neck from driving with the window down. Plus all that road soot eventually stains the B pillar trims and seatbelts beautifully.
No AC so you can't defrost on muggy mornings. A window winder handle that always manages to intrude on where your right knee wants to rest.
A pissweak motor that is really too small for practical urban motoring other than driving down to your letterbox and back. Too slow pulling into moving traffic, too thirsty when you keep up with it. Then its base model gearbox collapses the input shaft bearing and seal from you thrashing the ring out of it all the time.
Or the clutch wears/breaks from all the gear shuffling because you haven't enough torque to hold a gear.
addo wrote:I've had more friends die of sun-related cancers than anything else. Bring on the tint and AC - it can save your life.
Am sorry to hear that.
I think my point was mainly that it was rare in 80's and early 90's cars here at least to have AC, it was not even available as an option on UK models on most marques as far as I can recall...
Someone a little bit older than me may be able to clarify this or otherwise, but I do not remember seeing AC in anything other than the larger luxury models back then if at all.
Andy.
91 205D-Turbo, gone but still missed
02 106D, TUD5B, gone but not really missed apart from the MPG
The N/A 1.8D would eat the TU1.1 for breakfast that's for sure.