I am confused. I know these things are not the quickest cars on the planet, but mine doesn't seem to want to go over 70mph, even on motorways. Now, it may well be that this is entirely normal, but I've had five or six years of driving such speed demons and Volvo 240s and Saab 900s, which don't slow down even on the steepest hills. Am I worrying unnecessarily, or should my little 2CV be hammering along at 80 or so whenever I clog it on a flat bit of the motorway?

70? 70? That's flying along young fellow me lad!!!

tbh from my limited expierience they only go 70+ ish on very straight bits or down hill. They seem to drop down to 50 - 55 up a steep hill, but if you have your foot to the floor all the time and anticipate stuff you can usually keep em between 60 - 70 on the motorway. On the way to Storrington International in 07 we went down the A34 from Oxford.... I suddenly realised that we were overtaking everything. We were doing 84 according to the satnav.... Like I said my experience is limited, but I'd say every engine is slightly different for a number of factors (like mileage/general care/running in etc) which kind of dictates what the top speed/how quick the acceleration is on each individual car. That's why with so little power it is important that it is set up correctly to get every spare bit of power out of it. Thats just my thoughts on it anyway... The real experts will be along shortly

I can't say mine has ever gone over 72 on the flat even when absolutely hammering the thing.

Down hill, with a bit of tail wind you can get faster, my record being 87mph on the satnav before deciding things were getting a bit too exciting.

Hills always seem to take 10-15mph off mine.

james,
nowt left to say, as you've covered it all, I reckon...

Apart from what Citroen quoted as 'max speed' in their owner's manual.
115 kph (72 mph) approximately .
That would have been on level ground in still air, so if you're willing to keep the right foot planted downhill with a following wind, valve bounce (or the driver's nerves when the doors start flapping around) would probably be the limiting factor.


ken

Can't see what your problem is, 87mph down hill sounds excellent to me-My car's personal best is 83.3mph....and it was very bloody scary, a bit like when the starship Enterprise is under attack

Yes i quite agree. 85 was my top gps speed, I think the car would have done more, but my nerves certainly wouldn't

I certainly doff my cap to Joolz, 98mph in a 2cv must be Scary of Biblical Proportions.

I think its the way the tops of the doors suck out, whilst ones ears start to bleed, and the steering gets very light and twitchy that scares me the most.

It does get fantastic expressions of shock and amazement from BMW drivers.

Who then floor it to around 120mph, leaving you in the haze of smoke from the exhaust of their turbo diesel engines.