Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

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The Spring of 1971 was an interesting one in our household, my mother wanted a new car. She was on her third Mini Estate ( each one in Island Blue,the all metal ones) and she wanted something different. I suggested a Morris 1300 Estate, she had her eyes on a Morris Minor Traveller, the 1971 ones came in a new range of colours including Bedouin which she liked.
My father suggested a Citroen 2 CV and was instantly outvoted 2 to 1.

I was not allowed to take part in any further discussion and in late March a new Renault 4 in metallic silver grey turned up, KCC 154J.
My mother drove it twice and took an instant dislike to the push pull gearlever and the umbrella handbrake.
My first impressions were not too bad although the car smelled heavily of glue and new rubber. It was the first car I legally drove on the road on "L" plates.
It was nippy if not fast and a journey in the rear seat was more comfortable than in a Mini Estate even if the seat covers were black plastic, hot and smelled.

The Renault was sold on after three weeks and 400 miles privately to the wife of the base Wing Commander of RAF Valley in Anglesey and a new Mini Clubman Estate, UCA 817J in Bedouin took it's place. It was to be followed by four others.
As an aside, if a Morris Minor Traveller had been bought I wonder if it would still be in our possession today.

I drove only one 2CV in 1983 which belonged to a young lady I was then acquainted with. It was a new "Dolly" in cream and red. I did not enjoy the experience.

So, the 2CV is now an icon and people "of a certain age" look admiringly and wistfully at the still many examples on the road.
The Renault 4 is more of a "partisan's" car and looks more like a car really.
Both have ardent followers.

Which one gets your vote?
Renault for me.
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Phil - Nottingham]

Never been in a 2CV but did once as a passenger in a 4TL. It was quite comfortable and I did not like the look of the gearchange although it seemed to work well.

I think you summed it up well and the quirky 2CV gets my vote particularly the later Yellow Dolly ones.

Doubt if I will ever have one though but have had a Renault 12TL which was far better than the 4TL and a 14TL which was awful
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[mikeC]

I have no experience of either, but as a practical means of transport I would expect the R4 to win hands down ... but as a hobby car I rather think the 2CV will have more character and be more fun.

I suspect the same comparison and conclusions could be made for the pre-war Morris Minor and the Austin Seven!

[Rick]

An early 2CV would be fun, a friend of mine has a 1960 example, and the early R4s are neat-looking cars also. There's a white (aren't they all!?!?) Renault 4 that often drives by here, so if it was a choice of either from say the 1970s/80s, then I'd probably opt for the Renault.

Going further back, I'm not sure which I'd choose.

RJ
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[Riley Blue]

I've never driven a 2CV but on a holiday to northern Portugal a friend who had arrived a few days beforehand had booked a couple of Renault 4 hire cars. I was horrified at first but after a few days not only warmed to the 'thing' but began to like it. Its suspension was prefect for the rough roads in the area, many of them not showing on maps, its gearchange was a novelty that I soon got used to and actually found quite slick. It didn't matter that it took corners like a giraffe on roller skates, it was perfectly adequate up to 50mph which was about the maximum possible over the rough tracks in the area. The only problem was that the rear door didn't lock but that didn't worry us too much in the middle of nowhere.
I've been trying to persuade a friend who lives in France to buy one but he's resisted so far, a pity as I'd love to re-live the experience.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Ashley]

I've had several 2CVs as have friends and l love them. They go surprisingly well, cruise at 70+ all day and use remarkably little fuel. They're easy to work on too and engines last forever. Gearboxes less so, but they're £500 and an engine £1300.

To me 2CVs are French genius and it's no surprise that the club is absolutely huge and very active.

They rust and they need maintaining, but I bought my first one because it was a better drive than a 1300 Beatle and no slower, my second because I needed a car and a friend turned up having just driven one back from Portugal for fun. It was older with drum brakes that were a nuisance in a hilly area, but otherwise the kids loved it although school friends were snooty about it. They're better than LandRovers in snow too.

Not far from here is Martin Little, a specialist who'll build you an as new one for £9-10k. You get a galvanised chassis, cavity waxed body, all new suspension, trim and tyres, no rust, new gearbox if needed etc and if you look after it, it'll be good after 100K miles.

My brother bought one when he was a student and broke, the engine made a horrid noise and he couldn't afford another, so I stripped and rebuilt it, robbing a cam drive gear from another scrap engine. He rang me a few years later and said he wanted to sell it. I asked how many miles he'd done since I cobbled it together. It was a wreck then. 92,0000 miles he said and never missed a beat.

Quirky 2CVs may be, but they're a wonderful comfortable car and very cheap to run.

Not had experience of the R4, but I know people who really rated them.

[BigJohn]

I had a 1975 Renault 4 in 1980, a great little car, and driven steady or beaten hard (usual) it always seemed to get 40 mpg. It had the seats taken out and loaded like a van, it towed a heavy wooden camping trailer, it was a great machine. It leaned into corners like a racing yacht but still got point to point in the Yorkshire Dales quicker than the Marina 1.8TC Estate that replaced it. I loved it and would have another instantly.
The gear change is very easy and becomes natural, but, I do remember getting a shout whilst on parade after two weeks holiday in the 4, I jumped into a Mk2 Escort Panda car, promptly ramming my hand in the ashtray reaching for gear knob, and showered a Police Cadet in ash and fag butts.

[goneps]

[Dipster]

For engineering brilliance I would take the 2CV. They really are amazing designs that deserve looking at in detail. They can take amazing punishment and come back for more. My brother had an Ami (mechanically similar) for several years that he used to overload and thrash between London and my then home near Paris regularly. It never let him down.

For everyday practicality I would prefer a R4. Plus my wife would just about accept it whereas she has an inexplicable dislike of 2CVs!

Both rust but both can be looked after relatively simply. I would be happy with either!

[52classic]

Renault for me please. IMHO the Citroen became too much of a cliche during the 80's whilst the Renault is only just finding its feet as a proper classic.

Last time we were in Portugal I noticed that these Renaults are still around by the dozen, even some still in service by local authorities. I tried to snatch a bargain and drive it home but prices are no cheaper than UK!

BTW what a brilliant illustration of the Citroen at the top of the page! Is that a 'treatment' of a photograph or a scratch draw?

[Rick]

[Ashley]

[peter scott]

[exbmc]

I only ever drove one 2CV, but recall it was quite nice to drive. Performance was adequate, and road holding was good, once you were used to the roll.
I used to look after a Renault4 van, (fourgon I think it was called) in the 70's, and found it an amusing thing. Performance about on a par with the 2cv, and roll on corners much the same. It had a lift up section, in the rear roof, which enabled it to carry long loads. I liked the push-pull gearchange, next to nothing to wear on the simple linkage. The headlamps however, let it down for me. Night travel was hard work. If I was to choose one, it would be the Citroen, because it had better lighting.

[BigJohn]

My Renault 4 lights were excellent, I think it had Cibie units fitted. It was one of the delights of driving it in the Dales at night, my work vehicle was a Mini van, and it's lights were like two slightly aroused glow worms in comparison.