citroen ami - Terje's cars

French cars were known for elegance and forward-looking technology right from the car's infancy. One of the car brands that contributed to this was Citroën.

Citroën's history up to Ami 6

The story began in 1919 when André Citroën started his own car factory. With good experience from other industrial production and several study visits to other car manufacturers in the USA, everything fell into place and the first model was launched in 1919. It was very well received as it was both solid and well equipped and gave car buyers good value for money. New models were launched at the same time as Citroën, as one of the first car manufacturers, built out a large dealer network. The result was that the factory became France's largest car manufacturer already 10 years after its start. But the expansion came at a cost and new capital-strong owners had to step in to remedy the critical situation. It helped, and the newly developed Traction Avant model could be put into production. The model was in production right up to 1957. In 1948, the new small model 2 CV came out which became a favorite among those who wanted an affordable and uncomplicated car. The DS19 was a car that was way ahead of its time when it arrived in 1955. In 1961, the small model Ami 6 came on the market. It was a small family car with a rather peculiar appearance thanks to the slanted rear window.

Exceptional driving comfort

The model was partly a further development of the Citroën 2CV. It had a separate chassis and an advanced suspension system that gave the Ami 6 exceptional ride comfort. In the advanced system, the front and rear wheels on each side were connected together. When a front wheel hit a bump in the road, the rear wheel on the same side was pushed down to counteract oscillations. From tests in 1962, the driving comfort was described as "outstanding". Comfort was also there for the driver and passengers. The seats were exceptionally soft and the car had 4 doors that gave easy access to the compartment. Since this was a car with a small, air-cooled engine, it was not a car for cold climates.

Was produced for 17 years

The Citröen Ami was produced in several variants between 1961 and 1978. Some models also came with a larger engine.

Technical data Citroën Ami 6:

Length: 392 cm
Width: 152 cm
Height: 144 cm
Top speed: 106 km/h
Engine: 602 ccm, 24 hp

Comfortable interior in typical 70s colours

AMI6 was called MI6 in Sweden due to the fact that the brand name Ami was already used in an existing Swedish company name.

See

Citroën Traction Avant – way ahead of its time

Exciting car history from Anders de Lange's archives

Modern wall pictures

A short cavalcade of Citroëns

hdi — Same brand, but not the same personality.

I cannot hide the fact that I am above average interested in French cars, - so much so that I am willing to see through the fingers of weaknesses that have given rise to many of the prejudices that many people have with regard to French cars. The prejudice stems from the time when many car manufacturers launched innovative technology and design to stand out from the crowd. Many of these models have been immortalized and are kept alive by car enthusiasts around the world.

hdi - Citroën 2CV, a car concept we Norwegians don't quite understand. — Citroën 2CV, a car concept we Norwegians don't quite understand.

Over the course of 4 years, I have gotten to know the Citroën C4 more closely. It is not an extremely French car. Without the Citroën logo, it could have been any European car. The 90 HP HDi engine is shared by many other models in the PSA group, as well as Ford. The C4 is just as good as the permanently motorized Peugeot 308 or Ford Focus. It can compete well with the VAG group's Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia and Seat Leon.

But it doesn't make a car enthusiast's heart beat faster.

In the small southern French town where I currently live, there are many old Citroëns, which have given rise to old prejudices. There are no cars for parades and exhibitions. They are used cars that are used in the same way as the C4 I drive, often as car number 2 in the family, or as a work car.

hdi - Dyane Fourgonnette is a tiny bit less spartan than 2 CV. In front of Citroen Nemo - a more modern van concept. — Dyane/Acadiane is a tiny bit less spartan than 2 CV. In front of the Citroen Nemo – a more modern van concept.

The most common old Citroëns I find in traffic are the air-cooled 2 CV and Dyane, as well as the Visa van – or C15 as it is called. Of the newer models, there are still a good number of ZX, Xantia and Xsara on the road, often with faded paint - but without rust. I have trawled the roads and alleys for large Citroëns such as the CX and XM, but they are almost impossible to drive up.

If you are looking for a used C4 - or other car brand - you should follow these two pieces of advice:

1. Choose a popular drivetrain
2. Simple is best

hdi C4 — The C4 differs little from other cars in the same class.

The C4 with a 90-horsepower HDI engine is very widespread. It has now been replaced by a new engine with 100 HP, but the 90-horsepower has no known weaknesses. The only thing to be aware of is that engines with particulate filters require refilling with cleaning fluid, and that the particulate filter is changed as part of the service programme, - estimated at 120 km service. If you follow the service intervals carefully, you can drive several hundred thousand problem-free km. If you are going to buy a used C000, I recommend that you choose a 4 liter HDI.

hdi — Head cushions that can be adjusted correctly. An important safety detail.

Today, PSA supplies a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine series with 82 and 110 HP. PureTech are modern engines developed to provide high performance and low consumption based on small displacement. I think the 82-horsepower must work a lot, and it is difficult to follow the factory figures with regard to consumption. The 110 horse is better suited to the C4 family.

The C4 has – like its competitors – a long list of extras. If you are on the second-hand market, I would urge you to exercise caution. Drop robotic automatic transmission (EMG) on early models, or models with high mileage. The C4's drivetrain is not sporty, but manual gearboxes are easy to use and durable.

hdi — You get a good first impression in the C4.

"My" C4 has navigation, an electromechanical handbrake that automatically switches on and off, front and rear parking warnings, as well as warning of traffic in blind spots. The navigation system on the 2012 model is not up to par with the best. It is too inaccurate for city driving. You can safely ditch navigation and buy Tom-Tom instead.

I recommend C4. You get a lot of car for the money, and a solid, large and comfortable car that will last for many years, although perhaps not as long as the other Citroëns in this "Citroënad".

I have previously written a test report about the C4 that can can be read here