The world – and many South Africans – are agog with the recent launch of the Tata Nano. Seems everyone wants a cheap, basic car, but I would rather have an “old-school” 2CV.In India, the base Nano will sell for the equivalent of 1 500 euros, or R18 000. But, unsurprisingly, the car won’t be exported to Europe (or South Africa) in that form. After all, how many South Africans would be happy with the following: 0 to 100 km/h in just under 33 seconds, 0 to 60 km/h in 10,1 seconds, and a top speed of 105 km/h? So Euro models will get a 934 cm3 engine with 60 kW on tap – and, obviously, a price considerably higher than R18 000.
The base model has a 624 cm3 two-cylinder engine with an output of 26 kW, and overall weight is 635 kg. Brakes are drums all round. Overseas reports suggest handling is “interesting”, and the suspension is set up for huge understeer at the limit.
All that isn’t surprising, considering the need to counter the tendencies of a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive layout, high centre of gravity, short wheelbase and small 12-inch wheels. Europen road testers say it is only acceptable at the slow speeds of the traffic in congested Indian cities, and totally unsuitable for the open road.
The specs got me thinking about another, really fine-handling, basic car that Euro safety and emissions regulations killed back in 1990. I can speak with some authority about the Citroën 2CV, since I happen to own one.
Some of the basic specs are very similar to the Nano’s: two-cylinder engine displacing 602 cm3 and pushing out 21 kW, a weight of 585 kg…
Of course, the “deuch” has good brakes (later models like mine have discs up front, but the drums on earlier models are huge), and large 15-inch wheels.
It’s front-wheel drive, and though it leans dramatically on its innovative “interconnected” suspension, it hangs on very well in corners. It gets to 100 in about 29 seconds and has a top speed of 117 km/h. And its a dream both in traffic and on the open road. Unless there’s a severe head wind, you can cruise at an indicated 120 km/h all day. Really…
But the nicest thing about the 2CV is that it is fun as well as utilitarian. Roll back the top and come along for a ride along a winding coastal road (Chapman’s Peak was ideal – wonder how long we’re still going to have to wait for that to reopen?) and you’ll see what I mean.
Talk about reinventing the wheel. Seems the more we progress, the more we forget, and have to rediscover…
