I recently bought a moped (top speed 28mph) I thought I would struggle with the speed. But actually I love it , and the Ami has the same kind of appeal. Maybe I'm mad enough to do this. It would be warmer than a moped
Can't think why I wouldn't buy one now........ Oh no, wait a minute, (as you mention) the Zoe, the Leaf, a £2.5k Imiev etc! But, I also can't believe why the hell I didn't get one on finance when they were sub £1500 initial payment then £20 per month? Silly me! And the 28mph speed, don't do that here in Wales!
When people ask me about my Ami, the one thing that makes their face drop is the 28mph limit - but then they are using their car for shopping & short trips only (which the Ami excels at) 😊
@@MrDead1975 plenty of space in front luggage area, & the bag holder too. Passenger seat is offset so there is plenty of space for 2 people plus weekly shop! Obviously not experienced an Ami with the interior space available.
@MrDead1975 I'm married, easily fit a stacked small trolley load in with my wife on board. Because I can charge mine for LESS THAN FREE on Octopus Agile plunge prices, shopping twice a week is a no cost option. Of course by myself I can fit a full large trolley load.
@@ziggarillo people used to say the same about my Smart car. Which can fit the entire contents of a shopping trolley that is overflowing in the boot, without even putting the passenger seat down. Then when you told them that, their family size would balloon and they'd all be obese so they'd need more shopping than that. Also delivery services which are cheaper anyway weren't available in their area and they also had an urgent need to buy at least one six foot long piece of flatpack furniture per week, because a five foot thing would fit with the seat down so it had to be longer so they could claim they could only cope with an even bigger vehicle. Whatever size vehicle they actually use, they need a much bigger one to cope with the fictional and horrific lifestyle they apparently wish they led. Because apparently they wanted to spend so much time building Ikea bookcases each weekend, they had no time to read the books on them.
Absolutely adore the Ami. Absolutely no use for it sadly. Country NSL roads out here in the sticks would all become a bit too "exciting" at 28 mph 💩 In my previous house it would have been a no brainer. For shopping centre, local shops, cafe, cinema, dentist etc or into main town it would have been a massive saving with most journeying on 30 roads and some 40mph and most return journeys under 12 miles.
@@DavidJohnston58 as it's an L6e quadricycle it's limited a lot more than the L7e ones are. They're more powerful and able (and legal) to go a lot faster 55mph/90kph. Off the top of my head the Microlino is the only one available atm but hopefully there'll be an Ami 2 from Citroen and plenty more options coming from others. There's certainly no engineering reason we can't have them and none that countries willing to let them go faster, can't do that. Not to mention we could make them go faster/further by offering driver only versions without the surplus seat and just more cargo space. The future is bright, although not too bright as that'll reduce your range :D
Another thing you didn't mention if you remove the speed limiter is that you will not be able to drive it legally on an AM category licence which only covers you to a max design speed of 28mph.
I've considered vehicles like this just because it's funny but then I just ride my bicycle for the same trips that I'd use a tiny car for so I don't really see a valid use case for myself.
I did end up buying a Leaf instead of an Ami as the only car in the family. That said I'd love to replace the leaf with a long distance comfortable cruiser, an etron or i-pace or something, but they're massive and expensive to repair so I'd get an Ami too for popping into central Manchester. Should be far easier to park a 2.4m long car than a 5m one and cheap plastic door panels will take the knocks.
I would not buy an Ami unless it was at a price competitive with a moped. Because it is effectively a moped on 4 wheels. Sure that comes with a bunch of positives like keeping you dry but for upwards for 5-7 times the price for a used moped, I can just have a spare change of clothes. It being electric is cool but makes it impractical for longer journeys. Again a moped could go faster. I could get a 125cc moped and be able to ride on most roads I would need for shopping and etc. Again this car limits the roads you can go on. It just feels very niche and unless it could do 60mph and at a very good used price, I could never pretend its a particularly interesting product.
In France they love their little Microcars/Leigier and now the Ami, see loads about. Should have lots more here too, makes perfect sense for local driving. Rainx Antifog should sort any misting problems, my Leaf was bad and my e-niro.
I’ve got a pop on two years PCP, I love it but won’t be keeping it past the contract. The box steel frame is only lightly sprayed with no rust proofing, it already has surface rust on the welds. The electrics, rear of lights etc have no weather proofing and because Citroen cheaped out and only fitted a half inner wheel arch the electrics are constantly sprayed with water from the wheels. These issues are ticking bombs
@@ziggarilloI might just have to hand the keys back and write off the initial deposit if it’s worth less than 5.5k. Although I would of not been paying £120 a month in diesel. I’ve got solar panels so charges for practically free
@chatters7969 I charge mine on Octopus Agile plunge pricing I'm in profit to the tune of £1.50 since switching on 1st September. Ive got a smart socket attached to my Tough Leads cable, I set it to charge when the prices are in minus numbers.
I'd love to buy an Ami, but I worry about charging during winter, and possibly about defogging. I wouldn't mind putting on clothes if its cold, as long as visibility is OK I don't like the tethered cable, and would prefer a type2 socket. I have a long list of arguments why, but I would be able to live with it
@@ModernHeroes I had a test drive, crazy ride, I immediately wanted one but wife dragged me kicking and screaming off the forecourt. We bought a Zoe instead, the boring sensible option.
I imagine the Carver is somewhat similar. I don't recall seeing a direct comparison yet though and it wouldn't surprise me if there's either a long wait or you just wouldn't be able to get one. I've not seen one in the wild yet which suggests market penetration isn't huge yet.
Would love to be able to justify one (or the Topolino if/when it arrives) but I only use the car for journeys involving motorways - fortunate to be able to do shopping on foot and get the train to work.
Seriously tempted to buy a used Ami. Issue I have is the closest is almost 100 miles away and still £5,500 so will require delivery or serious planning to drive home haha. Nice guide. I only really drive to and from work each day and that's about 12 miles each way so I should get almost 2 days out of a charge so it's almost tempting
This was a decent, in-depth review of the Ami, going through the good (and not-so-good) qualities of the vehicle. I have to say that if anything would persuade me to get one, an honest view of it like this would do it. Oh, you mentioned the basic features of the vehicle - I assume it must have some form of heating, even if it's pretty rudimentary compared to the average car?
It does but it’s very limited - only really clears the windscreen rather than providing much usable heat for the occupants. You do notice the difference if you leave it running for a bit then get in though.
So a Non-French tourist cannot drive one at 14?. In the UK most people get a provisional license at age 16, which allows them to drive a 50cc scooter. If you have one of those, can you drive an Ami in France?. Can any British adult with a full car licence simply hire one of these from the streets in Paris, in the same way you hire electric scooters?. No one has made this clear.
@@99ron30 any adult born before 1988 can drive a ''sans permis'' car in France, they do not need to have french citizenship. I do not think the temporary over 16year UK permit is ok for people born after 1988.
Ten year old Smart £4,295 right now. Since I do have a licence and drove an old petrol one, I'd consider one of these first despite the dodgy Mercedes engineering. Although I daydream about one with a modern battery pack and any unnecessary weight removed. I wonder how much range removing the second seat gets you? :D
My ami here in the costa Blanca has 8000 kilometres on clock 11 months old-has been in Citroen garage in Alicante now for 6 weeks it needs a new battery-pack 3:59 no replacement car and no news from them
It is an interesting car. There is defo a need for more small cheap electric cars, hatch backs & such. The EV market has way to meany massive SUV's which defeats the point of an EV in the first place.
Hi - In the event of a breakdown, and mindful of potential overcharge issues, can AMI be towed with all four wheels on road surface? If not would removing VALEO drive/charge belt overcome the problem? Thanks - appreciate your content.
Price of them is dropping like a stone , good example a 2022 model with only 400 miles on the clock is £5 grand on Autotrader so its lost nearly 50% of its value in 2 years ! I predict in another 2 years it will be down to only £3 grand the reason why is its an EV , EV prices just seem to drop so fast compared to ICE vehicles.
yea my frieands ask me to ablot saftety but the only thing i can say it definitive more safer as a moped. you cant fall over, also you can carry a lot more, you and your passenger dont need a helmet and stay dry and some what warm. you dont have the risk if you have a passenger he knocks you of after a turn, because he does not shifts the weight with you. all in all it is more safe as a moped. because you cant fall over and stitting in a dry and somewhat warm internal you are more concentrated and relaxed in cold and wet weather.
@@annashealthylifeeverything8583 I says fall over not rolling over, that is a totally different thing. Yeah you can roll over with it, but not caused by your mate on the passenger seat because he/she doesn't move along with you, because he/she is scared of leaning onto the curve.
#1 not a problem #2 not a problem #3 can't drive Leaf with an AM license, and they have different road tax and tool road fees I would worry about charging in winter, believe there's something about battery below -5 °C
@@ziggarillo Last winter in December, we had 12 days in a row, where it was less than -5 °C in the night, about -15 °C at the coldest, then 2 cold days at Christmas. A few random cold days through January and February, (but they were warmer than average), and then one cold week in March. Through those 4 months, King Winter would randomly decide about 30 days to make the battery to cold to charge. Then possibly a rare random cold day in October, November and April too, but none last winter. And I live in the fairly warm by the southern coast. If someone designs some solution to heat the battery to make charging reliable, even at -15 °C (preferably -20 °C) I would consider to get an Ami. I kind of worry about heating and defogging, but I don't, because I know it's fairly easy to solve with auxiliary heater (either electric or combustion). I highly disapprove the tethered charging cable, but I know can handle the few inconveniences it can cause.
For some people it is an ethical issue to not buy San Permise vehicles. A French rule to allow people who have lost their drivers license to drive unpermitted vehicles that are speed restricted to under 30mph. Growing and supporting this market can be viewed as highly questionable. Imagine losing a family member to a drunk driver and knowing no matter what happens in court they will be back on the road eventually.
I don't think that applies in the UK though. You just lose your licence and that would include the right to ride mopeds as well as this. That is a loophole they should obviously close in France and I'm sure it's closed in most countries in the EU tbh (at least I hope so). You also can't ride this at 14 here.
@@shoestringsev4529yeah sure, France went to the EU and asked them to create an entire continent wide classification for quadricycles, and start companies making modern ones all over the place, just because they wanted them so that drunk drivers could have something to simulate a car that wasn't one. I'll grant you, it might not be a loophole that lets them do this, so much as the French drunk MPs wanted something to drive so they created a law for themselves and their cronies, which amounts to a loophole for driving which is far from normal. But I'd also argue that loopholes are most commonly found in tax law, and only exist because someone deliberately put them there. Like the exhaust port on the Death Star. They're not really accidental, that's just us all agreeing to give politicians the benefit of the doubt, which we should probably stop doing, right? ;) Doesn't surprise me they'd create such a disgusting law though. They've got some spectacularly weird ones that are still extant, bit like Scotland.
@@jonevansauthor you fail to realise how old this French law is. They consider motorised transport a human right. There are many ICE vehicles that practically only exist in France due to this law. It's no coincidence that Ami is built by a French company. It's the same reason there is a low power version of the Twizy. Also why there is a segment of 28mph mopeds.
Shame they didnt give it a bit better streamlining, which would have really helped the range. Hopefully its just the start of the LEV revolution though, cars have become right fat bastards over the last 20 years or so.
@@ModernHeroes Ta. I'm sure you could just go to Italy and buy one and drive it ( very slowly ) back, but then it'll come from the same factory in Morocco as the Citroen... Road trip ?
Thanks to the political event that must not be named I think that would end up so expensive people moaning about the price of them over here would be shocked 😭
@@ModernHeroesI'm thinking I'll buy the door bars, just in case I ever feel the need. I'd feel the veiw out of the roof, for things like traffic lights and signs, would be a bit loss with the buggy roof.
With the recent upturn in used EV prices there is no chance of getting a Seat Mii Electric, VW E-Up! for under £11k and there are some as much as £15k (Autotrader)
@@ModernHeroes Just did a recheck, yes there are 2 E-Up!s at around £8k, one 10 year old and one 8 year old both obviously with the small battery so very limited appeal and hence low price, tbh the range on the later ones is the attraction. I’m hoping the later used Seat Miis will be around £10k when my leased Leaf goes back in 15 months time🤞🤞
Reminds me of the old disabled cars of the past., mental or physical disabilities. Would have to be mental to spend 7knon that. Get a proper car or a superbike. Live
The PCP is entirely custom depending on what you put down and your monthly’s you choose. I bought the pop which was 8495 on a short 2 year PCP. I put down £3k up front, the monthly is £27 and the balloon is £5.5k
I've not even watched the video yet and I have to ask, are you trying to clickbait The Sun into stealing your content? I suppose emailing them a copy of it directly might be a bit too obvious 😁
I can't see a single reason to buy this car. In Bulgaria for this price you can buy a perfectly good golf with LPG gas system and drive it everywhere for cheap and clean. And it's definitely a death trap... If you somehow managed to get out of the garage before your battery runs out.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU BUY A USED CITROEN AMI IN OCT 2023? Because I'm afraid that people behind me on pedal bicycles might suffer road rage because I'm in the way and try to shoot me.
They are rubbish, build quality shocking, only 2 passengers, no good on faster roads..... There's much better secondhand cars that can do motorways carry 4 people better build and Safety. Can't see a second hand market for these
