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Auto Talk => Head to Head => Topic started by: 2o6 on November 03, 2012, 10:49:04 PM

Title: French cars!
Post by: 2o6 on November 03, 2012, 10:49:04 PM
I want to drive a Xantia Activa, very badly. My username is inspired of a French cars.



Safe to say, France makes my favorite automobiles, even if I can only admire them from afar.



This vid of a Xantia Activa gets me every time



http://youtu.be/09-C33SrJi8

What do you think about french cars?
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: MexicoCityM3 on November 03, 2012, 11:17:36 PM
My dad was a Renault fan back in the 80's. We had several: R8, R10, and a couple of very nice R18s. They had a reputation as the most comfortable cars you could get, and the 18 certainly was. Part of my first driving lessons were on one of those 18s. Really elegant cars.

My grandpa on my mother's side drove around in a tiny R5. I traveled with him as a boy in that car to Acapulco a few times. Great memories. Granddad was a bigshot lawyer but drove around in his little R5. It was very funny in a weird way.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: MexicoCityM3 on November 03, 2012, 11:18:24 PM
Also, more recently, my dad had a Clio RS for a couple of years. Fantastic little car, the way that 4 pot engine sounded at high revs was amazing.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: TurboDan on November 04, 2012, 12:59:48 AM
Jealous of your car selection south of the border!!
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Laconian on November 04, 2012, 01:27:59 AM
Most French cars, mehhhhh -- I'll take a Honda instead. There are a few shining stars that I really love, though.

The new Renault 1.6 diesel is a super awesome engine. Good power, lots of torque, great economy, and it revs to like 6k. Where's the downside?
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: mzziaz on November 04, 2012, 01:55:04 AM
I've got three cars. All are French  :cheers:
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Onslaught on November 04, 2012, 05:53:41 AM
I don't care about them one way or the other. They make nothing I give a poo about.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Raza on November 04, 2012, 07:44:03 AM
I actually really like a lot of French cars.  And I have nothing against the French.  But then again, I've never driven a French car or really had any contact with French people, so that might change.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: 280Z Turbo on November 04, 2012, 08:08:57 AM
Old Citroens are pretty cool. The Renault Clio V6 is pretty cool too.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: sportyaccordy on November 04, 2012, 09:51:43 AM
I think I can count the French cars I like on 2 hands. 2CV, SM, MK1 Clio, MKII Clio RS, Clio V6, 205 GTi, 405 Mi-16, 504. They had a hell of a wave when they started but then people became more concerned with image than innovation and they couldn't transition.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: MrH on November 04, 2012, 09:51:58 AM
For the most part, I haven't driven a French car that's really blown me away (probably driven about 5 in total). All pretty mediocre offerings, but ultimately not bad cars. I will say, they make some really quirky, interesting stuff, especially with interiors. For that reason, I'm glad they exist but I don't think I'd ever get one and do the really kiss them here in the states.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: cawimmer430 on November 04, 2012, 11:56:00 AM
I like a lot of older French cars. A lot of beautiful and quirky designs which appeals to an artist and individualist like me.

My favorite classic French cars are:

Citroen

Traction Avant
DS
2CV
Dyane
Mehari
M35
GS
Ami
SM
CX
XM


Peugeot
402 Eclipse
404
405
505
504 Coupe and Sedan
604
205 GTI 1.6/1.9


Renault
R4
5
16
21
A110
Floride/Caravelle


Talbot/Matra/Simca

Simca 1100

and of course the Matra Rancho, which is so cool!  :mrcool:

(http://www.der-autoteile-blog.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/matra_simca_rancho.jpg)




The current cars are very well-made and have made tremendous strides in many areas but I'm only feeling most of the newer Citroens compared to the newer Peugeots and Renaults.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Laconian on November 04, 2012, 12:53:09 PM
I don't like the banana-hammock bulgey nose of Peugeots.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: MexicoCityM3 on November 04, 2012, 01:52:20 PM
Quote from: TurboDan on November 04, 2012, 12:59:48 AM
Jealous of your car selection south of the border!!

We have a few brands that you don't get, but also miss a few that you do get in the US. These are not available here:

- Lexus
- Scion
- Fisker, Telsa, etc.

Also, of the brands we get (especially American) we don't get some models or get less leeway in choosing options and such. For example, all these are not available:

- BRZ/FR-S (at least not yet)
- GTR
- Mustang Boss
- For example, Grand Cherokee with V& & 4x4. If we want 4x4 it's only on the top of the line V8.

Many more examples like that. But we get several cool european brands and models that you don't. And lots of third-world oriented crap as well.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Laconian on November 04, 2012, 02:03:42 PM
How about les voitures sans permis?

(http://www.francetop.net/pic/voiture+sans+permis_18015.jpg)

(http://www.acheterunevoiturepascher.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/voiture-sans-permis-ligier-ambra2.jpg)

(http://images01.olx.be/ui/5/32/95/1269508290_82822795_1-Photos-de--Voiture-sans-permisMicrocar-MC2.jpg)

They sound like weed whackers and look like they are straight outta 2o6's fantasies. :lol:
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Soup DeVille on November 04, 2012, 02:18:20 PM
I had an 84 Renault Fuego turbo for about three months (it was my deceased uncle's car;given to me by my grandfather, and the car later became an object of contention in his estate, so I gave it back).

Really, in comparison of the other vehicles I drove around that time period I have very fond memories of it.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: MexicoCityM3 on November 04, 2012, 02:19:58 PM
Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 04, 2012, 02:18:20 PM
I had an 84 Renault Fuego turbo for about three months (it was my deceased uncle's car;given to me by my grandfather, and the car later became an object of contention in his estate, so I gave it back).

Really, in comparison of the other vehicles I drove around that time period I have very fond memories of it.

I dreamt of that car when I was a kid!
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Soup DeVille on November 04, 2012, 02:55:48 PM
Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on November 04, 2012, 02:19:58 PM
I dreamt of that car when I was a kid!

I was happy to have it too. (Being that my other option at the time was an '84 Olds Cutlass Ciera with a piece of cardboard where the sunroof used to be).
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: mzziaz on November 05, 2012, 05:34:26 AM
Fuego!

There was a cheap good one on eBay, recently. Non turbo though, iirc.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: cawimmer430 on November 05, 2012, 05:49:55 AM
CaMIRO, editor of Automobear.com had a Renault Fuego in the US. He has not posted here in ages...
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Raza on November 05, 2012, 06:57:29 AM
Quote from: cawimmer430 on November 05, 2012, 05:49:55 AM
CaMIRO, editor of Automobear.com had a Renault Fuego in the US. He has not posted here in ages...

Miro actually has (or had) an 18i, which is related to the Fuego, according to Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_18
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: cawimmer430 on November 05, 2012, 08:00:12 AM
Quote from: Raza  on November 05, 2012, 06:57:29 AM
Miro actually has (or had) an 18i, which is related to the Fuego, according to Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_18


He told me he had a Fuego.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Soup DeVille on November 05, 2012, 04:44:38 PM
Quote from: cawimmer430 on November 05, 2012, 05:49:55 AM
CaMIRO, editor of Automobear.com had a Renault Fuego in the US. He has not posted here in ages...

Thank god.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Laconian on November 05, 2012, 07:00:22 PM
Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 05, 2012, 04:44:38 PM
Thank god.

I miss learning about the Perception Gap!
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Soup DeVille on November 05, 2012, 07:32:01 PM
Quote from: Laconian on November 05, 2012, 07:00:22 PM
I miss learning about the Perception Gap!

I miss being talked down to about anything and everything.

Him and Les/Vipersrule.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Raza on November 05, 2012, 08:35:04 PM
I do miss Miro.  The guy is a wealth of knowledge. 

Soup, it's not like we don't have plenty of people here who talk down to people all the time. 
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: SVT666 on November 05, 2012, 09:11:29 PM
...like Raza
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Soup DeVille on November 05, 2012, 10:52:03 PM
Quote from: Raza  on November 05, 2012, 08:35:04 PM
I do miss Miro.  The guy is a wealth of knowledge. 

Soup, it's not like we don't have plenty of people here who talk down to people all the time. 

he did know quite a lot, but I couldn't stand him. You, i can.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Soup DeVille on November 05, 2012, 10:52:36 PM
Quote from: SVT666 on November 05, 2012, 09:11:29 PM
...like Raza

I can relate to raza. I can even relate to Cougs sometimes.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: mzziaz on November 06, 2012, 12:10:00 AM
Heh, I found Miro's arrogance amusing - and his love for crazy crap heaps, like Zastavas and old Peugeots.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: mzziaz on November 06, 2012, 12:11:35 AM
I liked les too, btw. He would have been the perfect antimatter to Cougs around here.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Laconian on November 06, 2012, 12:25:10 AM
That's right! He was a big Zastava fan.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Raza on November 06, 2012, 07:28:08 AM
Quote from: SVT666 on November 05, 2012, 09:11:29 PM
...like Raza

Yup.   :lol:
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: cawimmer430 on November 06, 2012, 07:39:11 AM
Quote from: mzziaz on November 06, 2012, 12:10:00 AM
Heh, I found Miro's arrogance amusing - and his love for crazy crap heaps, like Zastavas and old Peugeots.

Old Peugeots were awesome!
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Madman on November 06, 2012, 10:31:43 AM
Quote from: mzziaz on November 06, 2012, 12:10:00 AM
Heh, I found Miro's arrogance amusing - and his love for crazy crap heaps, like Zastavas and old Peugeots.


Old Peugeots are NOT crap!


Quote from: cawimmer430 on November 06, 2012, 07:39:11 AM
Old Peugeots were awesome!


Yes they are!  :ohyeah:


Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: SVT666 on November 06, 2012, 10:49:11 AM
Quote from: Raza  link=topic=28324.msg1804015#msg1804015 date=1352212088
Yup.   :lol:
You're just condescending in the nicest possible way.  We still feel good about ourselves when you tell us we're stupid.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Raza on November 06, 2012, 11:24:35 AM
Quote from: SVT666 on November 06, 2012, 10:49:11 AM
You're just condescending in the nicest possible way.  We still feel good about ourselves when you tell us we're stupid.

It's a skill that took years to hone. 
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: mzziaz on November 06, 2012, 01:01:42 PM
Quote from: Madman on November 06, 2012, 10:31:43 AM

Old Peugeots are NOT crap!



Yes they are!  :ohyeah:





ok ok ok

But Zastavas are, right?
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: cawimmer430 on November 07, 2012, 07:29:54 AM
Quote from: mzziaz on November 06, 2012, 01:01:42 PM
But Zastavas are, right?

:lol:
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: Laconian on November 07, 2012, 10:09:50 AM
Zastavas are perfectly fine when maintained properly (changing the oil at 3000mi, keeping the coolant topped off, changing the engine every 10,000mi) Real ENTHUSIASTS care more about their driving pleasure of the Zastava Florida In than they do about the approval of Consumer Reports!  :evildude: :evildude:  :violin:
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: cawimmer430 on November 07, 2012, 04:54:30 PM
Most older Zastavas made use of durable and proven Fiat technology and generally suffered from rust and varied build quality. I think the cars they made by themselves without Fiat technology must have been truly awful.
Title: Re: French cars!
Post by: shp4man on November 08, 2012, 03:56:15 PM
No old French car here, but I have an old French bike.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Tep8kgX_cGg/T8zOo7ygMiI/AAAAAAAADkQ/yj0VgEcpTWs/s576/HPIM0296.JPG?gl=US)
Bonne journ?e!