Whats the AX like?

The_Raven

The_Raven

The_Raven

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Hi ive just been given a '94 M plate 1.0 AX Debut mint con and was wondering if these cars had any probs??

I did have one in the past for only for a few months then it was stolen :mad:

that was on a J plate and had a doggy gear stick (pulled it up bymistake and only had 1st and 3rd gears)

anyways does any one know of any known probs with this little french run around?
 
The_Raven said:
anyways does any one know of any known probs with this little french run around?
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Do you mean apart from the fact that the bodywork was made of tissue paper and has similar crash protection capability?
Being fair, I'm told that they're rather good cars, and are brilliantly designed to be very lightweight. A bit of a shame that people chose the lardy, carelessly designed Polo instead.
 
Didn't these have really bad centre of mavity problems, causing them to topple on cornering?
 
I had one as my first car.

They're absolute crap - generic old fashioned French styling, cheap fabric seats, an engine made out of a whistle and a lump of cheese but for the money you can't complain. They are very light and use barely any petrol and are very cheap to insure and tax.

For a very basic A to B car to save a bit of cash they're fine, but if you expect anything else from it, you'll be disappointed.
 
emailiscrap said:
Didn't these have really bad centre of mavity problems, causing them to topple on cornering?
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Had I known that when I had my AX I wouldn't have pulled all those handbrake turns :p
 
It's a no-frills basic little car, similar to any other model of that age. Unless you drive around permanently scared about dying in a crash I wouldn't worry too much about it being made of tinfoil because it will absorb the blow nice and softly :D Don't remember them ever having any specific problems, if you're being swayed by the insurance quotes then why not build up your no-claims on something cheap like that.

Edit: I can't see how it could have toppling problems, my Pop is taller than it is wide and that hasn't remotely cocked a wheel even with the way I drive it. An AX is wider than it is tall and the weight is lower :)
 
crap cars,

uncomfortable seats, no room for your feat unless your a size 6. if your size 10 you have to use the side of your foot to operate the pedals. If it was a diesel it would struggle to do 80.

However saying that
there cheap to repair
and very reliable.

Only problems we have had. is seized handbrake. where eh cables going into the rear drums, it's a shoddy plastic arrangement which likes jamming/snapping.

Also if it's got electric anything, then they normally fail. Othere than that there pretty reliable.

the fiat chinqo, was a better drive in every aspect.
 
Best thing that can be said for it is that its cheap.

Cheap insurance.
Cheap to repair.
Really stupidly cheap on fuel.
Turns in a small circle!


On the downside:
"Intresting" driving position (I reckon they assumed the driver would be an orangutan)
Rattles more than a two years olds toy.
You could poke your finger through the bodywork. (Well.....you could on my old one anyway)
Develops random leaks.
In a front on collision the steering wheel will be saying a very intimate "hello" to your ears.

Just don't worry about crashing it. I reckoned when I drove one, that if I crashed it, I'd be dead anyway, so there was little point in worrying. If that makes sense.
 
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One of my mates had one. It was a god awful pile of junk. These were the days when we didn't care about our cars though, so it was kind of fun. I remember one time we were at trafic lights and we were in some crap fiesta and we were trying to push his AX forward, whilst he was trying to reverse back into us. :p

I did have a go at driving it. I was hilarious. The steering wheel only has one attachment so its so wobbly, and the suspension rolled all over the place.

Definately a car that should have been on the scrap heap a long while ago IMO.
 
Wasn't the AX GT a right little buzz machine? I remember my mate having one and giving all sorts of cars* trouble around town.

*Escort XR3i, Astra 1.8 GTE etc.

Couldn't imagine living with anything other than the GT but you don't get much cheaper motoring.
 
Absolutely crap BUT probably the cheapest possible motoring bar none if you get the 1.5D. They are very very reliable (i guess thanks to being so basic) and use next to no fuel. My ex GF ran a 1.1 AX for about 3 years with virtually nothing spent on it, was a great car from that point of view.
 
Hey!!! Stop bad-mouthing the AX! I had one as my first car, and yes the driving position is a little "interesting" and you aren't allowed to have feet of any normal size.
However as a first car it is brilliant as you can do ANYTHING to it. I personally fitted a temp gauge and rev counter to mine, serviced it (remember it was my first car and I haven't done any mechanics degree etc), changed brakes etc. It's great to learn the basics on something that is so basic itself!
 
I had an AX GTi for a year or so. Apart from the diabolical build quality, non-existant crashworthyness and brakes that required two weeks written notice in advance of being used, it was an absolute hoot to drive. 105bhp is not a lot these days, but when it's only pulling ~780kg and with a lovely engine which thrives on revs it it was a lot of fun.

Handling was very good as well, but watch out for the usual worn rear beam problems. The Saxo/106 floorpan is very simmilar to the AX, and uses identical rear suspension (and probably front as well?). I suspect brakes on the 1.0 are even worse than the GTi...which means borderline dangerous...
 
I've seen one in a head on with a SAAB convertible.

Was Christmas Eve morning of all days but can't remember what year - mid 90s I guess.

The AX was an horrific mess. The SAAB driver, passenger, kids and the dog all jumped out unharmed. The steering wheel of the AX was pushed up and pretty much into the drivers face. I don't know if he survived, I left once the ambulance arrived.
 
spinneR~uk said:
Wasn't the AX GT a right little buzz machine? I remember my mate having one and giving all sorts of cars* trouble around town.

*Escort XR3i, Astra 1.8 GTE etc.

Couldn't imagine living with anything other than the GT but you don't get much cheaper motoring.
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Yeah the GT and GTi are both great little cars for what they are, being so light they're a hoot to drive.

As mentioned they're pretty similar cars to the 106/Saxo excepet they're a bit older. The GTi even has the same 4-stud supension set up and brakes.

I can't see how anyone can call them absolutely crap to be honest. The lower models might be, but the GT/GTi are certainly not crap. They're old, french,cheap and fun to drive - with that combination you're never going to have a car that will be awsome, but you'll have a lot of fun for not much £ :)

I had a GTi as my first car, never had an issue with the brakes or pedal position (size 10 feet) I adjusted my driving to suit the car and all was fine.
 
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I haven't read everypost...but my mate's 1.0 AX used to love setting fire to the wireing loom all by it'self.

It's also really easy to blow the head if you have a heavy right foot...but then so is any 1.0 car I suppose.

I found the car to be sluggish, uncomfortable, ugly and just generally rather carp..luckily for me I never drove it. :D

-=EDIT=-
Just read all the posts...why is everyone saying how good the GT and GTi are...the OP was given a 1.0 Debut.

It has bicycle wheels (as do almost all small cars), which makes cornering hairy, the GT and GTi (as with most french cars) I would have thought had a better set of wheels and a better suspension and break setup compared the low engine models.

InvG
 
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