I've driven a 18hp 425cc & i found it almost dangerously slow, having said that it wasn't exactly in a great state of tune!

I was wondering what a 425 is like to live with on a day to day basis - is it tolerable, or are they too slow/dangerous to even comtemplate? I'm guessing 6v electrics are woeful. Is there a noticeable difference in performance between 12 & 18hp motors?

Is there anyone out there running one on a regular/semi-regular basis? I'd be interested to read people's thoughts & experiences of how early cars cope with modern motoring conditions...

Big difference from a 12 to 18hp in acceleration, and up the hills. Not so much in top speed though. Depends on the sort of roads you have and regularly use - with the ability to keep speed up when other cars slow right down, a 425 can get about without obstructing the flow of traffic. On the other hand, a long drag on a road where speeds are brisk and overtaking limited and you could become a bit of a liability.

I tried a 435 a while ago and found it was just that bit slow for my regular commute. In addition, the shorter gears led to fuel consumption on a par with a 602.

In a big city (with a trafficlutch) or on winding lanes, I think an 18hp 425 would be great!

In our local group there's 4 or 5 425cc cars I can think of that the owners have replaced with 602 units (one of thems a van). I know Matt (soft tops) has his original engine in the garage as do a couple of other owners, in case they wanted to return them to original.

Very usable. The problem is not the slow 2cv, it is the other neards having a problem with a slow car. 2CV's are not speed machines so go for it, enjoy and forget the others on the road.

My experience was good, very relaxing and smooth driving. I was in the best place tho french countryside

I've heard you can tune a 425 much more than you can a 602, not sure how true it is or what the differences are.

Geoff's got a 'period' 500cc big bore kit i believe.

I remember asking Daz with the 2cv-4 Special, how much difference there is between a 602 and a 435, he said you have to thrape it to within an inch of it's life, just to keep up with easy going modern cars. Think he's swapped it for a 602 engine now. So back to your original question....Maybe not very But I'd love a 425

Ummm,
think Daz went closer than an inch, since the crankshaft of that 435 engine is now thoroughly defunct.

I offered to rebuild the engine, but Daz reckoned he'd served the required time with 26bhp @ 6,750 rpm...

Even though the replacement engine is a 602, he's kept the single choke carb and drum brakes.

ken.

I'd love an oldie too, it only occured to me the other day that I've only evr pushed a ripple bonnet and never been on one or driven one.

Mum had an AZAM for a while but it never got to see the road and she moved it on. Maybe, hopefully, it's been given a new lease of life by someone else? I don't know the reg or anything useful like that but know it was inported in 74 on an M plate and ended up sown Cheltenham way.

I had a Dyane4 [435] with the trafficlutch.
The trafficlutch was superb .....I'd have one now if I could get one.
I ran out of patience with the the 435 motor though,I thought it was too slow to keep pace with other traffic so I traded up to a Dyane6.....
.... and that was way back in 1975.

T.