What is you opinion of quadracycles and machines like the Citroen Ami?

AMKC

Do you think a person should have to have a full licence to drive a Citroen Ami or an Axiom which a both Quadracycles?

Do you think Ireland is a bit backwards compared to countries like France, Italy and some other where these machines can be driven by teenagers or old people with no license?

I think as long as a person proves they are competent to drive one they should be allowed drive one license or not. There are the perfect little machines for so many people in the Cities and towns all over the Country who do not need to drive far just want to go to the shop or visit some friends or family nearby without getting wet in the winter.

It woukd be a lot better than driving some big dirty diesel a short journey.

wonski

And how you are going to prove you are competent driving one?

There is a system in place called driving test ;)

John_Rambo

I would love one. Perfect for my little business which (I tried) is impossible to run on public transport or a bike.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119123768#Comment_119123768

There is a Cargo version of it too. 400 litres cargo space lol and its only a 1 seater. I too would be very tempted by one but will see how my bike goes first.

I think I would like the Ami better do it just has so much character.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119123745#Comment_119123745

Yes but it's kind of stupid someone doing a full driving test if they are never going to ever drive on a motorway. Some people just want to drive locally or around there town. The Ami is perfect for this.

It's not like its hard

wonski

You can't be serious.

Driving test in Ireland doesn't even involve motorway driving anyway.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119124209#Comment_119124209

Well Driving Leasons do. I done driving leasons way back in 1997 done 10 of them. Bollix if I am doing anymore.

wonski

Ok.

antodeco

It's a shame the Citroen Ami will only be available left hand drive. Assume that'll push the price up from an insurance point of view

Ubbquittious

I always wanted a Piaggio Ape

road_high

Not really suited to Ireland. Dublin perhaps. These are made for darting around Paris or rome. City cars were never big here compared to the continent. Even superminis not as popular

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119124522#Comment_119124522

Not at all. It is that small you are nearly sitting on the other side of the road driving it anyway and it's not like you would be passing anything driving it a bicycle maybe but that's about it.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119124685#Comment_119124685

I disagree.

It would be perfect for short country trips between towns and villages.

magicbastarder

it is kinda funny that there aren't more small two seaters on the roads, especially in cities. you see loads of motorists driving five seater cars, on their own, to work etc.

i know several examples of two person households whose cars have a total carrying capacity of 10, where there would never be more than four or five seats in use at any one time. in most cases, you could easily replace one car with a one or two seater and not really lose any convenience.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119125389#Comment_119125389

Exactly and the streets would be less cloged because there would be more space. They would probably get to work quicker too because of it.

wonski

How the streets would be less clogged if you add those little **** boxes into the mix?

And no, they won't get me to work any quicker than now. They are slower.

You think people will replace their car with this? To drive between towns in Ireland?

I don't even understand what is your point. Please let us drive cars. Stop this nonsense.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119125549#Comment_119125549

This is naive.

Neither Dublin or Cork is large enough to warrant the use of these cars. They would only be useful inside the M50 or the Link.

You're likely on motorways outside of this, or taking a circuitous route to the city centre.

Unless you've a niche application you'd be better on public transport or a bike.

Maybe not a popular opinion, but cycling infrastructure is getting better in both Dub and Cork.

What does an Ami offer than a gen1 Nissan leaf doesn't? It's slower, smaller and more expensive, and let's be honest, takes up just as much space in traffic.

zg3409

https://youtu.be/5stbHteIkts

These would be great here for teenagers. I also think mopeds would be ideal along with legalizing scooters.

Main issue is driving licences, min age 17, min 10 lessons, wait times, insurance 3000 euro plus etc.

Having 17 year olds going to work in full size cars with all the overhead costs is crazy, often they are doing low paid work or living off parents.

Also think of the likes of cleaners, restaurant and hotel staff that need low cost transportation.

I am all for busses, trams and cycling, but for many jobs it's impractical to use them to commute.

If they need something bigger for longer trips then short term hire like gocar could be used.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119131468#Comment_119131468

there are plenty of people whose cars probably never travel further than 5km at a time. and plenty of households where finding parking for one would be much easier - the ami is more than six foot shorter than a focus, for example. for people with driveways, that could be the difference between getting a second car into a driveway, or not.

i used to live in phibsboro and had multiple elderly neighbours who drove small cars and never went much further than the shops or to their friend's houses. these would be a perfectly adequate replacement for them, i'd hazard.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119131693#Comment_119131693

"There are plenty"

Maybe there are, but somehow I doubt the market for a mini-car with a top speed of 45k and a range of 70k is desirable to plenty of people.

I know the price is cheap, but it's basically a fancy golf cart.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119132630#Comment_119132630

No it's nothing like a Golf cart.

It's a brilliantly designed unique little quadracycle.

Yes I think there is a market for it. I do not think it is old people do as it has no power steering or airbags. I will certainly be looking to test drive one if I get the chance.

magicbastarder

45km/h is about three times as fast as rush hour traffic in dublin city, and the vast, vast majority of roads within the M50 have a 50km/h speed limit or lower. so 45km/h is plenty for a little city runabout.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058247724/what-is-you-opinion-of-quadracycles-and-machines-like-the-citroen-ami

Meanwhile in Ireland, you can drive a monster tractor as a 16y/o with a Mickey Mouse W class licence.

There might be a very niche, mostly urban, market for smaller vehicles here as most people look for bigger cars as there's a perception that they're safer, plus the keeping up with the Jones's insecurity people here have.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119133709#Comment_119133709

Meanwhile in Ireland, you can drive a monster tractor as a 16y/o with a Mickey Mouse W class licence.

Yes that really needs to be rethought, revamped and revised. I doubt they ever thought when that originally came in that Tractors would be as big as they are now.

route66

I think they could actually be safer than electric scooters/bicycles/unicycles etc. Has any one else here had a shiver reversing out of their drive just before someone comes wizzing up to them at 25 kmph. On the footpath ...

At least with these, they are big enough to see. As regards the skill required to drive them, if you can drive a bumper car, I guess you can handle one of these. They weigh 485 kilos so shouldn't inflict SUV-type damage in the event of a tip.

Unlike push bikes or electric scooters/bicycles/unicycles, etc, they have full weather protection.

One concern I'd have is battery range if driven flat out (45 kmph) - which surely people will be doing a lot. It has a range of about 60 KMs and probably more like 40 in winter, so short journeys only. But urban only? I was driving on some very rural roads at the weekend - the type with grass up the middle and where the 45 kmph limit would not be a problem - and could it see it working there just as well as it could in 50 kmph city zones. I guess overtaking one may be a bit of a pain, but perhaps no more so than overtaking 2 cyclists 2-abreast.

There is a very fair review of the Ami in Autoexpress:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/citroen/355597/citroen-ami-long-term-test-review

... where an entire family tried it out; some were impressed, some not ...

If I had €8-10K to spare, I could see it working as a cheap and convenient form of transport for maybe 75% (by activity, not distance) of our family's transport needs.

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135567#Comment_119135567

reversing out of your drive, you heathen

route66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135595#Comment_119135595

Fair point.

Actually I drive out myself, but herself, well ...

magicbastarder

I think they could actually be safer than electric scooters/bicycles/unicycles etc.

despite my support for them above, this is probably my biggest concern. the availability of them could end up making the roads far worse, because they may not so much tempt people away from 'traditional' cars, so much as tempt people who might cycle/walk etc. into them as an alternative because they're seen as safer. and the roads would get even more congested, possibly.

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058247724/what-is-you-opinion-of-quadracycles-and-machines-like-the-citroen-ami

do you want old people and teenagers out on the road?

old people who say can't get a car licence?

Bicycles are pretty safe already

electric bikes etc are feeding the next obesity crisis

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119135651#Comment_119135651

Yes I do.

Bicycles are not safe. They are for the brave but safe no you have very little protection on them from a car never mind a lorry or a bus if one hits you.

crosstownk

I've driven the Ami. It's a very basic machine. Noisy, sparse. While it really is a glorified golf cart, it's perfect for city commutes. But in slow moving traffic most people would prefer the more comfortable cabin of a warm, cosy saloon or SUV with a steaming cup of coffee and an infotainment system. While the Ami might be appealing to some, I've no doubt the Irish tax/vrt/insurance/etc costs will make it only slightly more economical than a second hand BEV. It'll be a novelty item but probably not practical from an Irish ownership perspective.

Personally, I'll stick to the bicycle for my commutes.