Citroen DS21 - The most comfortable car ever? My review!
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- In this episode we’re gonna continue where we left off in part one (Citroen DS21 - The most comfortable car ever? My review • Citroen DS21 FULL Driv... ) and take this puppy for a drive.
This 1972 Citroen DS21 has a five speed manual transmission on the steering column, is a 2100cc four-cylinder engine, and with its hydraulic suspension is one of the most comfortable cars I’ve driven from the 1970s.
Check out PART 1: Citroen DS21 - The most comfortable car ever? My review Citroen DS21 - • Citroen DS21 FULL Driv...
Check out PART 1: Citroen DS21 - The most comfortable car ever? My review Citroen DS21 - czcams.com/video/M47-qPUSRQ4/video.html
OMG! I own a DS19, in fact you can see it on you tube being driven on Top Gear by Richard Hammond, I digress. I have watched both your you tube videos on this car and I just had to share my comments.
Please don’t misunderstand me but I feel some of your comments are invalid.
In video 1 you make mention of the complexity of the car and how this may impact upon its reliability, and although it is different, with regular maintenance they are more than capable of being your daily driver, yes daily driver. The motor is well tried and tested serving in the Traction Avant and the H vans and the hydraulic system is not troublesome, again maintenance is key. In fact my car went into dry storage for two years owing to accommodation and when I went to collect it, fully expecting to have to clean the carb, free off brakes etc to get it moving, it didn’t, I fuelled it with freash fuel and fitted a new battery and it started and I drove it home!
A couple of other things, you must not drive the car with the suspension fully up or fully down it is not for driving and in those positions you effectively have no suspension travel left, don’t do it it is dangerous.
Secondly you must must must relearn everything you have ever learnt about driving when driving a DS, they are as no other car, everything must be done in a relaxed and fingertip manner, I noticed you revving the motor unnecessarily, try not going above 3,000 in each gear, hold the steering wheel as though it was rice paper and press the brake with minimal effort. The whole ethos of this car is to relax and that’s why it can be driven from Paris to Marseilles without needing a full body massage when you arrive.
All I can say is sit back and mirror you’re driving to the finesse of the drive and enjoy it like no other car. It’s only then that you will discover the secret of the DS properly.
Drive it and enjoy!
hey!! Thank you!! Good tips!
Stunning example of an extraordinary car. European glassed in turning headlights instead of ugly US sealed beam lights.
DS21 Carbie developed 115 hp EFI 139 hp
The 21 revs freer than the 23 engine and can be a better drive.
Bottom and top suspension heights are not for driving. Car is hard on bottom or top bumpstops.
The only suspension is from the tyres and bumpstops. Driving on low can grind out the bump rubbers which ends up with metal to metal and potential damage.
For changing tyres, servicing or forwarding floods at slow speed on high.
In Australia I have owned 1968 DS21 Hydraulic, 1970 D Super, 1972 DS21 EFI 5 speed Pallas, 1975 DS23 Pallas.
My first 2 cars were 1962 & 1964 ID 19s
Yes!! thank you!
Haha, you went right passed my house where Im restoring a 1970 Citroen DS21! Maybe not that rare:)
Hi Ross, Great Ds you have there! I have a DS23 pallas and strongly suggest reading the owner's manual for height settings. Driving in low or high can seriously damage the chassis as you are now riding on the rubber bump stops. Great advice from Theo Schuurman below. Only drive it in the main position ( large black line) We would hate to see your lovely Ds damaged.
Thank you!!
You don’t have to move that handle, leave it in the ride position. You only use the other levels when you have to replace a tyre of when there is a bad road (but only at low speed!)
Thanks for this video. Lovely car, very tasteful euro-fication of a US model DS. Please change the hubcaps to standard DS items, they're much classier. The DS engines are luggers, not revers. anything above 4000 rpm is pretty much a waste of time. Change up at 2000-2500 and float everywhere. DS has remarkable mechanical feel through the steering, use for your fingertips for added experience. Ditto breaks - squeeze them, don't stamp on them. Semi-auto gearchange way nicer than manual, albeit a little more unusual. I've put 100,000 miles on my DS without it missing a beat - It only runs a bit rough when not used. You can pronounce Citroen anyway you like if you change up more regularly :)
Nice video, I have the semi automatic DS21 injection, so don't have a 5th gear, but I don't drive it really fast as relaxed cruising is what this car is about. Three good tips I received when I bought the car eight or so years ago: 1) Always make sure both bonnet (hood) clips are locked before setting off, as it'll be expensive if that flys up when driving it. 2) Wrap a soft cloth around the corner of the rear bumper to protect it when removing the rear wing when changing the rear tyre. 3) Only let a Citroen mechanic near it when it needs servicing. Also, you shouldn't ever drive it on the lowest suspension setting, and the highest only very slowly & briefly to clear an obstacle. For normal driving just always leave the lever in the correct position, no need to move it at all. Usually a thick black line on the settings, one up from the lowest. I made a video with a friend about my DS in Ireland. It's called 'A Real DS Adventure.' Just a fun mini film, really, no dialogue as such, just beautiful Irish scenery and the car of course. 👍🍀
You say that "the automatic transmissions were very unreliable", which is true in the sense that the very rare Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic transmissions were not that great, but since very few DS:es were ever sold with one you're unlikely to find one. The semi-automatic 4-speed gearbox with hydraulically operated shifting and automatic clutch on the other hand is the gearbox the DS was meant to be have. It can be finicky to set up correctly, but it's a dream to drive!
Thanks Jonas!
I had a a Ds 23efi full borg warner 3 speed auto. it was perfectly reliable as it was in many other car makes and models.
@@paulburrows2059 Anecdotal evidence?
Beautiful car, amazingly roomy cabin and a really soft ride. Way ahead of its time.
yes!!
If you'e unhappy with the ride feel, you should try switching out the welded spheres for original "split" spheres with the correct pressure.
Good call I’ll check
my favorite episode so far :) so many quirks with these old cars love it and thanks!
Thank you!
You are definitely not feeling the headlights in the wheel. Your DS has a hydraulical servo assisted rack-and-pinion steering, so if you have a weird feeling in the wheel your steering rack probably needs adjustment.
Thank you!
Having owned a ds23 injection 5spd, if your gearbox is feeling a little tricky at standstill then remember this rule: second before first, third before reverse.
You don't have to go fully into the gear, more just a good tickle and then it'll slip directly into first or reverse as required.
Beautiful car.. Love the shape and that ride looks amazingly soft.
I don't think these cars were that delicate... Citroen won the 1959 and 1966 Monte Carlo Rally races..
BTW you mentioned how ahead of its time it as for 1972.. The DS came out in 1955 with most of these features.. the turning lights, the suspension, rack and pinion steering... WAY WAY ahead of its time in 1955. I would love to own one someday.. hell even a 2CV... has a great ride..
My parent bought a new DS19 when they lived in France. They called it a French Cadillac. And because of the money exchange rate in the late 50's they could afford it. When they brought it back to the states the mechanics did not how to service it correctly and ruined the suspension system by using the incorrect oil. Back then Citroen did not have a good dealership presence in the USA. Too bad ! My parents really loved that car!
Hi Ross , growing up in ex Yugoslavia, my neighbor had that exact car . It was always fun to watch as kid when he starts that car . Also my father had the 64 Peugeot caravan and it had the same manual transmission as that Citroen. French cars from that time we're known as leaders in car electronics at that time I guess.
awesome!! So much fun!
It is such an elegant car, very nice Ross!
OMG you rode it at more than 5 km/h at the highest and lowest position!!? Oh NOOO, that is hydropneumatic mortal sin! - hopefully you didn't damage your beautiful DS!
I’m not sure I exceeded that speed! I was going pretty slow
5 km/h is walking speed, in the video it's clearly faster!
@@TireKickers-RossCameron 23:40, do you really think this is 5 km/h??
The Citroen CX was not as unique but quite a beautiful modernized version they brought them in as CX car after Citroen was out.
Awesome
I grew up in France and I remember riding them in the back and I hated it because I couldn't see the road very well. But my dad always told me how ahead of its time this car was. Btw you should get an SM with a Maserati engine. Totally collector car.
that's awesome Alicia! Yeah I've heard the SM is pretty awesome
Alicia Rousseau Pareil. 😋
Awesome car Ross!!! And I also wanted to say thank you for all that you do for the trading community. There isn’t a better teacher out there!
thank you Cullen!!
Tx for the drive Ross!
You’re welcome!
Another great video! I learned so much about this car that I never knew! Thanks Ross! 🔥🔥🔥 can’t wait until the next episode! 🙂
Thank you!!
Don’t use the choke to mess around with the idle! The choke is only for cold-starting. It uses the rich gas mixture.
Pronouncing Citroen seems to be impossible for this guy, he says Citreon, sitree on, it''s CitrO en, sitro en
Thank you!
Dang Ross, you keep reminding to stay focused. Your tastes in autos is EXAcTly like mine.....thank you. When are you going to do old school Swedish? Like a Saab Sonnett V4?
I’ve been looking for an old Saab! It’s on the list!
@@TireKickers-RossCameron Do two.....do a Saab 93 and a Sonnett but do one in two stroke/3 cylinder form, and the other as a V4. Since these cars were rallied extensively and won many races off and on road, hitting the dirt won't be a problem. They were meant for it.
Oh, fun fact, Rolls Royce used the same suspension on their automobiles from Citroen.
Have you considered a Citroen Maserati SM?
I'm French and with this lesson on manual gearbox I realize how much americans were not use to it 😂😂 nice video btw
Thank you!!
For me, DS 21 has THE real DS sound, much more than a 23 or a 20. Don't know why, but I feel that way ;-)
An eccentric space age low drag coefficient car, giving a magic carpet boulevard ride over all road surfaces. It's a great shame that Citroen are phasing out the Hydropneumatic suspension system. Nothing compares to their ride quality.
Ugh I know!
I don't know sales figures but as a kid in the 60s USA I do remember seeing them on the road, in fact my grandfather had a Panhard I believe made by Citroen and what an interesting well designed car that was
Hey right on!
Love the videos Ross, keep them coming! You ever looked at ford gt40s? maybe grab one for the collection?! :) See you in the room in the morning. Warrior pro student year 3 + car enthusiast! getting my cmeg account funded hopefully this week, whenever the wire gets there lol Awesome job, Tyler McCann
Thanks Tyler, I would go for it!
Citroen made a wagon version of this model which I like, called the Safari. Side note - with the hydraulic suspension, you can lift it and change a tire without using a jack, as it will sit on three corners with no issue - at least for a rear tire change; unsure about changing a front tire using this method.
yes!!
You need a jack stand to do this and it works on all 4 tires. You just place the jack stand under the side you’ll be working on while it’s all the way up, then lower the suspension all the way down. That will lift both wheels on that side into the air. To get to the rear wheel, there is one bolt in the rear you need to undo, and the whole wheel arch comes right off, uncovering the wheel.
I love this car.
thank you Joe!
Love the car and always love the scenery 😍😍😍
Thank you!!
What an incredible car. Good condition 👏🏼
🙏
I’m not laughing at you, brother, for running out of gas. I’m laughing with you.
Haha! Good video!
Thank you Drew!!
nice video ross. you defintely have a unique taste in cars
Thank you!!
Beautiful part of the world to match a gorgeous car
You’re right!!
Hey Ross. Nice review. But please check your pronunciation. It's pronounced See tro en. No sh sound. The DS 21 and DS 23 are brilliant. Try to get your hands on a Chapron convertible and be utterly amazed. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
repeat after me : ssitrou-ann 😁
nice man, always loved these mad french classics
yes!!
If you want to pronounce well my dear American friend, say SEE-TRO-AN (CI-TRO-EN), there's no CH sound at first but SSS like citrus (CITRON en Français). You're DS is really formidable ;)
Man I love hitting that S curve.
Yes!!
Didn't even notice this was a new channel until the end. Nice taste in cars by the way
thank you Chris!! Hope you subscribe!
Is it possible that these were the first years of radial tires on european cars in the USA and Canada when American made cars didn't have much of those yet?
12:53 Funny you are wondering about this, it's actually a well known fact among French "boomers" that this car used to cause monumental "seasickness" to kids in the 60s and 70s :D. My grandfather told me that they had to stop every 70 km or so to prevent my uncles and aunts from throwing up. To the point where he eventually had to get rid of it, also because my mom being their fifth children he had to get a bigger car (which in 1960s France meant an american car, a chevrolet I think)
That being said, it doesn't prevent French boomers to have fond memories of this car as well. Great video by the way, the color of this DS is absolutely magnifique !
I didn’t know that’ makes sense!
It is true that some people were sick when travelling in the back of the DS. Regarding the issue with large family, in the France of the 60's you had the choice the "DS familiale" or the "Peugeot 404 familiale" (my parents' choice) which could both accommodate up 7/8 passengers.
What was the switch you moved a couple times between the steering wheel and the gear shift?
That I believe was the light switch, I was switching them around a bit
I want one of these with a tesla motor.
Hydraulic leaks and corrosion of the low case are the reasons why most of the DSs were scrapped. You have to remove the entire engine to change the O rings on the assisted direction. That was expensive.
Good call!
Marten Dekker Steering. Direction assistée in french.
The lowest setting is only for shop use...
The wheels are incorrect. The ones here are from a Citroen SM.
I thought that might have been the case thank you!
Nice video and everything, but, no offense, you're pronunciation of Citroën is plain bizarre.
It's not Sit-ray-on, as you keep saying. And there is no Sh sound at the beginning either, as you suggest.
The French pronounce it Si-troe-wen, with the W sound being very subtle (hardly there at all, not at all stressed), or even See-troe-wen Most English speakers pronounce it Si-trun.
Another small point: most of the features in the car that you describe as revolutionary for 1972, were actually right there at the beginning of the car's production in 1955. An exception being the swivelling headlights that were introduced in 1967.
They made 1.6 million DSs.
Ross the Boss!
thanks Scott!
1:30 "it has more horsepower but it's a bigger car"
When it comes to pushing a heavier car, what matters is torque not horsepower. Torque is a rotational analog of Force. Horsepower (Power) indicates how fast the car can move at given Torque, it's literally Torque times Velocity.
Thank you!
@@TireKickers-RossCameron you're welcome Ross, and Thank You for sharing these interesting automotive experiences. Wish you a nice night.
Holy crap...wiki can tell you how to enunciate "Citroen" pretty quickly. Not very difficult.
it’s hard for me 😂
Does that transmission have synchronizers? May need to be double clutched?
good question, not sure, but I've never double clutched on this one
Full synchromesh on all forward gears. His example has slightly worn synchros on second and would benefit from double clutching when downshifting at higher revs.
I think the size of the tyres is too broad
Maybe so!
Falling below the Vwap.. same as running out of gas..😜
yes sir!
You got me at shit try on! Lol
haha
man...have you studied this car at all?...as a long time Ctroen driver....cant believe you know virtually nothing about these cars....would have got a bit used to it before doing this film...come across as an absolute novice...by the way...are u ..a driving instructor?...or teacher?...every gear shift...really...
Haha sorry man
If you want the best gas mileage dontt cruise in third gear, use fourth.
Please don't drive in lowest settings. Not good for the car. I'm restoring mine. Very complex car
Good call thank you Shawn!
For goodness sake - it's "sit-ro-enn", not "sit-try-onn". Just read the word!
No American can pronounce Citroen properly. It is Sit Trern. Not Sit Tro En. The brake pedal is known as the MUSHROOM.
oh man Ross... how far did you have to push? lol... knock on wood as i've never had that happen to me...
I had a friends car to go get a can of gas :D
@@TireKickers-RossCameron next time, holla, i'll come get you, lol
Don’t drive it on the lowest setting you’ll damage it
Thank you!
lowest setting ist purely "servicing" position - not meant to drive it as a low-rider 😁 - "normal" position is for any speed , high position (the second) ist for dirt roads , at low speed, the highest position is for changing tire and driving at walking speed, if you have , for instance, rocks in the way..
@@jeanmariezeyen111 exactly
You call Citroën what? Great car but learn to pronounce it! Greeting from a Citroën C6 owner.
I’m sorry! I’m terrible
That’s a weird little car
yes sir!
Bad Ass Citroën
Thank you!