Peugeot-Citroen Has 'Stop and Start' Car

Forbes ^

[Uncle Fud]

Hate to admit it, but I like the 2CV. Lots of ground clearance, lots of room for its size and anybody with a K-mart socket set can keep it running. You could do worse in a car.

[Publius6961]

I heard it likes to retreat before going forward.

Standard French design: One speed forward and five speeds in reverse...

[Melas]

The wear and tear on an engine constantly starting and stopping must be tremendous.

Not really. Mostly just hard on the starter motor, and the electrical system. Other parts of your car, like your valves, which wear with every stroke, love the idea of shutting off at stoplights.

[Publius6961]

The guy said he would never buy a French car ever again.

How smart can this guy be? Must be a liberal.

I have yet to buy my first French car.

[Melas]

That's true and not true. Some parts of your automobile are stressed more during starting, and other parts are stressed more while the engine is running. A stop and start car will just reverse which parts are stressed more. Probably won't make a lot of difference in the long run, although I imagine you'll go through a lot of starters and belts.

[MineralMan]

"Hate to admit it, but I like the 2CV. Lots of ground clearance, lots of room for its size and anybody with a K-mart socket set can keep it running. You could do worse in a car."

Oh, I didn't say I didn't like the old Deux Cheveaux. I just said it was the silliest car ever made. I had one back in the early 60s. Had a great time with it. Now, you wouldn't want to take it on the freeway, but it was a blast in town, especially the extreme camber changes when you turned corners. A blast, but still a silly car.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

When I was in college, a guy in Iowa City had a Maseratti/Citroen that was big, ponderous and very fast. But it had all the worst bugs typical of Italian cars in a body resembling an atomic frog.

[reagandemo]

I'm with you on that. My dad always said that you would be crazy to buy anything you could not get parts for out away from big cities. Gotta agree with his logic. Try to get parts for one at your local Autozone in Eastern Ky.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

That would result in the Missouri School for the Hard of Hearing test, which goes: "Whuuut"?

[Michael.SF.]

The startup wear you describe can be largely mitigated by the use of a separate oil pump that bathes the bearings independent of crankshaft rotation.

Alternatively, or in conjunction with, the piston rings could be designed to expand and/or contract slightly to mitigate the effescts of lack of lubrication at start-up. However, this then creates another problem with oil getting past the rings.

I would feel more positive of this whole idea if was being done by the Germans.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

At a resident Freeper French car owner, I have an opinion about this.

One. Cold starts are what kills an engine. I doubt this engages when the engine has not been brought up to operating temperature.

Two. Old idea. The 99 Prius does this. In addition to it's electric motors. Proven technology.

Three - love the way people give BMWs, Mercedes and Chryslers a pass on the "bad guy" list. Schroeder is worse than Chriac - if that's even possible.

There are sizable French population that supports and loves America. They produce things. They work.

I was reading in the Economist about the recent mergers in the past decade. From Mercedes/Chrysler to BMW/Rover, etc. The one that is held up as the gold standard is the Renault/Nissan match-up. They did an awesome job with Nissan and saved that company.

Although I enthusiastically deride Chirac, I don't forget the Germans and I don't pick on friendly demographics/industries.

[Michael.SF.]

There are sizable French population that supports and loves America.

*** Yes, and there is also a sizable Muslim population that supports and loves America. Problem is they are both so damned silent about it.

*** My thoughts on European cars:

-- Never buy an Italian car, unless your a mechanic.
-- Once you buy a SAAB, you will own it for life.
-- Never buy a French car, unless you live in France.
-- Never buy a British car, never.
-- If you can afford a BMW, buy a Mercedes.

;)