Right at the start, who was the drunk Frenchman sitting behind you wearing a crash helmet? It looked like a crash helmet. I don't know if this is true but, in some video on UA-cam someone said Citroen have put new Heaters in the Ami. Very Good and Informative Episode. I think we needed that.
@@MeandMonAmi This might seem strange, but, when you are driving in the Countryside. Do you ever see Potatoes or Carrots or anything a Farmer would grow and stop Elton and take what you need. I know I would in Britain.
Great looking little vehicle and looks loads of fun to drive, especially driving it through the narrow little streets that you two seem to be able to weave it through. I can quite see why you regard it as a magic car, every drive must be an adventure and the fact that it is limited by range and top speed seems to be quite irrelevant as you always seem to find charging points and plan your journeys well and a lot of the time you are in city / town traffic where it's top speed isn't a problem. It strikes me as being a vehicle that is far greater than the sum of it's relatively few parts. Most cars these days even the smaller ones are vastly over complicated and unnecessarily over engineered. There is something about the basic bare simplicity of your cute little Ami which just appeals to me. If I were lucky enough to be living where you are the first thing I would do is order one for myself. Happy birthday Elton.
I think that was a fair run down on the Citroen ami. I have just taken delivery of mine in Cornwall and I love it. Your comment on the Ami feeling magical is spot on and I except it for what it is and yes we are pioneers. Love you Channel look forward to your epic drive, adventure.
Congratulations on your first year with your Ami! I have thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful places you fellas have taken us! I’ve held my breath when you went down very narrow or very steep roads. And my heart went out when I saw how hot the car was and how miserable it must’ve been for you to drive in the heat! I look forward to the new year and the wonderful places Elton will take us! Happy New Year from Vermont
I think I get it Tim. I had one of the early Citroen C1 and it was stripped to bone to the extent it only had a door light switch on the drivers side. It’s about the purity of only having what you need to get you around town and I don’t know why, but I find that really appealing as though it shines a light in the ridiculous excesses of cars that are used generally and certainly for round town only duties. I hope it continued to give you guys a lot of pleasure.
Great summary Tim.... having watched you over the last year with Elton has been quite informative and fun, not only the Ami, but the places you have taken us!
I'm driving a Twizy 80 for 9 years now, and I still very much love it. Yet... Year after year, the battery health seems to become lower and lower. Today, my winter range is about 35-40 km when I drive slowly. A far cry from what it was once. So that's why I'm upgrading myself to a bigger vehicle with a bigger battery. My current target to save up for is a Fiat 500e. It can drive more than 200 km on a single charge. And in 10 years, I expect it can still comfortably drive more than 100 km in one go. Still, I wish you both the best of luck with your Ami. And may have you have the same love I had for the last 9 years of my Twizy life. And may you see the entire 70 km radius from your home with your Ami before the end of its life!
Thanks Amy. I’m sure the battery will deplete in time. My e bike did five perfect years and the minute I got the Ami threw in the towel but I think that was me not using it or jealousy
Had mine 2 days now in Scotland and despite the very cold and wet 40 mile from Edinburgh dealer to home and the time it took as had to charge midday ,I love it.and any excuse to drive it really.the range does seem an issue,which I thought it wouldn't.
Happy New Year Tim and Mr Boo and thank you for sharing this remarkable journey! Hard to believe it's been a year already, and thanks for the perfect recap of living with Elton, very approprié. How you describe the being one of a frontiersmen rather than a backwoodsmen experience has to be one a major component of the magic of the Ami. A retired airline pilot (and eBike buddy), just bought a 1947 2-seat 65hp aircraft and we were talking about the magic and joy of going back to the basics and days of being frontiersmen aviators, and we thought it must be much the same adventure you've had with Elton. What you describe is exactly the joy and inspiration I've had over the last year, in getting out of my comfort zone building a and riding a fast electric bikes along with friends, has turned out to have 800 miles of fun, adventure and excitement that's come with physical, emotional and mental benefits I never quite expected, and here in one of the coldest and wettest places in America I found enough days even in winter I still preferred riding the eBike over the car whenever possible. Getting back to basics with the AMI for is perhaps something many of us should indulge and benefit from. Cheers and thanks for keeping us all charged!
I just had to spend $1200 to get my gasoline burning car to pass its Japanese inspection. It's 16 years old, so I guess it's to be expected. Your Ami has been a real star performer and we're looking forward to more adventures in 2023. Thanks for the good times!
I collected mine on the 30th December with some trepidation - never having driven one or seen one close up. No -one told me how much fun it was to drive, and the 4-year service costs fro, Citroen are acceptable (not a lot to go wrong). I took my grandson for a drive or two and he did not stop laughing and giggling the whole way - and he's a mature 10 year old. I'm hoping for where we live it will work out - flat, nowhere more than 5 miles away, most speed limits are 20 with a few 30 (mph). and parking! My goodness what a doddle on full lock, into spaces you wouldn't even give a second look in anything else.
None of the « serious » electric cars do the range they claim. Elton seems more honest than most. I’m less and less convinced of the merits of electric cars, especially in terms of ecological issues. For the moment if there’s a place for them, this is it definitely. City, town and short trips. The Ami is perfect for those things clearly. It says what it will do on the box and it does it. I’m an incurable petrol head,but I would consider this seriously as a local run about, but for long trips it’s internal combustion for me every time. Happy birthday Elton !
You are my new favourite dirty binge watch! Moving to Spain in the next couple of years and looking at a cheap runabout, came across your channel and now sold on the Ami - although the buggy edition due to the heat in Spain and not wanting doors. A one off review isnt enough for me so you guys and your year so far with it is the mutts nuts. Can you do a community post with the weblinks to all the things you've bought for the car, e.g the hubcaps etc. Thanks guys, keep on going!
Honestly you two are a breath of fresh air, bring fun and honesty to your content. The car is undoubtedly an equal star of the show and you Tim with your true northern grit ( being a Leeds Loiner my self)and Mr Boo with his facial expressions are a scream. Has to be one of the best UA-cam’s, in my northern eyes anyway. Keep safe and stay charged 😎🇬🇷
Wonderful. Thank you. I can listen to you all day long. Very calming and very accurate. The stories I hear about electric cars (I have a Model 3 and an e-Rocks, twin car of the AMI) are astounding. Yes, you do not get an AMI as a family car 😂 the 45km/h are plenty and I must say, I have more fun in it then in the 10time price Model 3. It was to replace my motor scooter and it does, and I got a roof when it rains. I can take my wife or grand daughter. It is just great. I agree, two feet driving is a BAD idea! I just got Solar on my carport and was astounded how cheap the panels become. A 450Whp panel is less then 200 Euros! And it puts out 48V. The AMI Battery got 48V......One panel fits EXACTLY on the Amy roof. Leaving only a small spot of the glass roof. I will find out if there is a direct way of connecting behind the 230V AC Charger to the Battery. It would charge while driving and while parking. at 5h a day that would charge about 2kWh or 35km, here in Barcelona or where you are probably more. Might not look stylish but could be very practical. And WAY cheaper then a Bluetti that has horrible losses and costs 10 times that. Happy Birthday to Elton and have lots of fun where you are right now, safe journey.
I am so ready for it to come to the states I have always wanted to get one as a secondary car because where I live it would make sense to have an electric car where I need to go is not far and it would suit the area well and living in Florida we don't get that cold so the range wouldn't be that much of a problem I just wish they would bring them to the states congratulations your channel is everything
Your adventures are most entertaining and also informative because they do show a whole new way of looking at transport. My ICE sits in the drive 6 days a week and goes no more than 10kms on my shopping trip. An Ami would be ideal in many ways but air-conditioning is an essential here so when the tiny Chinese city cars are available I might well buy one. Thank you for bringing so much fun to my morning breakfast viewing, usually on a Monday. I am eagerly awaiting your next Chiang Mai video. Kaap khrub Khun Tim.
congrats, one year after and Elton is part of this channel and a very important part with his own personality. I hope the next year brings the best to this amazing channel, to you Tim and Mr. boo and Elton of course :)
Well done and congratulations on your first year of Elton Ownership and of course the fantastic vlogs of this year. This post is particularly good in that you’ve been thoughtfully inclusive of other owner’s experiences and honest in the problems some others have had with their Ami Quads. Like many many others, I look forward to more adventures of the Three Musketeers that are Tim,Mr.Boo & Elton Happy New Year 🎉🥳🥂
Just curious, do you see a lot of them on the road ? Should have waited till the end of the clip before asking my question. Thanks, ,you gave me the answer ...😎
I could watch the 'unboxing' video, and now we get a fair and balanced evaluation a year later. Let's hope for many more to come! If you allow - a question and perhaps even an idea for another episode of your journey, although i don't think that you are running out of ideas 😗. When you drive a new Porsche out of a showroom, you will lose twice as much as a new Ami does cost - how much is the loss in value of an Ami in France after a year? Are there enough cars out there that something like a second hand market could establish itself?
@@MeandMonAmi LOL! That's similar to the Trabant situation in the former GDR. 😄 You remember? Trabant, these tiny cars with a plastic housing which could not run very fast because of their small motor?
I have a big, luxurious and expensive electric SUV, but I would love to have something like this as a side car for local driving and some daily shopping. You’re review is spot on compared to many of car journalists. Don’t compare it to a regular car, it serves a different market and purpose!
Thanks Tim for all your hard work with the channel and always giving us a balanced and impartial view. You are always open to criticism and clearly take the view that the quad is not for everyone- which is the right approach. Your content has been excellent; varied and imaginative for which many will thank you and I for one raise a glass to you the New Year and to Richard for your unstinting hard work, imagination and enterprise. God Bless, Bill Kerr Ami Pop delivered 4th. November in Sussex and very happy with it too...
What a fair, thoughtful and insightful summary. You're a very bright and entertaining communicator, Tim! I think I've watched every episode and I've found them far more captivating that broadcast television! I confess that despite paying a deposit very early, I bottled and got a refund after about nine months. I live in central London and, frankly, public transport is so good and I can walk and cycle nearly everywhere. But if I lived on the Cote I'd buy one like a shot - as you've demonstrated in spades how appropriate is the Ami. Thank you (both) for an entertaining year!
Thanks for this nuts and bolts year end review. Both very interesting and informative. I have really enjoyed all the last year’s videos. Wishing you both a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year. Maurice from Malvern.
Happy birthday, Elton! I would say sure there are things like air conditioning snd heating you might want but they involve trade offs: reduced battery life. For that reason, Citroen didn’t include them. The Citroen Ami is a perfect distillation of the KISS principle - keep it simple, stupid. This is where it succeeded brilliantly! You don’t need a fancy car to get around and as long as you have accessible transportation, what more do you need? In the year since you have had Elton, it answered a lot of questions and changed your show by allowing you to travel to places and meet people in a way that wasn’t possible before. Finally, the appearance of Elton did one more thing you didn’t anticipate back then: you struggled to define your channel as content creators and a lot of people have a problem figuring out what it stands for. Elton in a word, gave your channel a much needed brand identity. He’s clarified who you are and what you do and I wish you guys much success going forward and in closing, I send you my best wishes for a Happy New Year! 😊
Happy birthday to Elton! You may have covered it before and I apologise if I’ve missed it…. How much does he cost to charge if you can measure that? Great watch, thank you!
It was nice to get a glimps of Villefranche again. My parents used to go to Beaulieu by end of October for three to four weeks every year, starting in the 1980ies. Last time I've been was in 2007 to assist with the drive to and from. Fond memories.
Good summary from a User perspective Tim, thank you . Having test driven one, I can see several niches it could fill here in Britain. For example, in Cornwall where the weapon of choice for the (Very) elderly retired is a Nissan Micra (shudder) normally just driven to the supermarket and GP surgery, never getting anywhere near 30mph, it would be ideal. Also for carers going on very short urban journeys from one house to the next and where they struggle to afford the cost of running and maintaining a full-size car.
Elton's back passage? Ooh arr misus :) I take your somewhere sunny? I live in Scotland and would love one but think it would be bit cold here for it. Have a Nissan leaf and love it :) I've always owned vehicles as in the Highlands the public transport is not great .
Thank you! And happy anniversary! I totally agree with your comment on complaints about speed. It is a car targeting a specific markets. I'm not surprised if you can carry more cargo than a Mazda MX-5 (with only 130 liter specified). The MX-5 wasn't made for cargo, while the Ami was made for local commute at low speed. Even if the Ami is mostly suitable for local commute, there are some "nut-cases" (as a complimint), that perfectly manage to go on roadtrips with it. They prove that the Ami is a quite usable car. (I prefere to call the Ami a car, because I believe thats what it is. When people claim "it isn't a car, it's a quadricycle", I get tempted to challenge where they got the definition of "a car". Because most places where the vehicle classes are defined doesn't metion "car" specifically. I tend to rely on the dictionary definition, wherein Citroën Ami fits perfectly.)
Ah, guys. Winter brings complications to my life and I haven't been able to watch a bunch of your videos yet. But I *had* to see this one, Some news: I have Citroen AMI! OK, not the actual one. It's from Matchbox cars. I'll send you the tweet with pics, Tim. So check Twitter! You might want to get one too. Thanks for all your videos and you and Mr. Boo have a great new year!
A really good video Tim and excellent and very real review. People love to jump on the faults of lesser cars yet the expensive models are far far worse and have vastly more technology to go wrong and cost the earth. While I pretty much despise top end EVs as they are ridiculously overweight, over complicated and far too expensive - why have ridiculous lardy Merc EQC or Audi E-trons when the whole bloody point is be environmentally aware! Elton is the polar opposite and exactly what we need for a cheap, clean, environmentally sound and easy to run EV! Lightweight to make the most of the battery, simple enough for the local garage to fix (ie the brakes, etc) and infinite amount of fun. As you say, people need to alter their perceptions and luxury and comfort are NOT the be all and end all. The Ami really is in my mind the 2CV for the present- uncomplicated, fun and accessible transportation for the masses! Wishing you and Mr Boo a fabulous New Year, too!
Hi Tim, thanks for the review. I agree with you 100%. I have my ami now for a few months and about 5000 km. I had no issues at all. The car does exactly what is expected to do. To me it is an honest and unpretentious object. However always put a smile in everyone`s face. There is something pet like about it that makes you love it.
It's true that inflation (greed) has hit the UK. The Ora you looked over in your Cambodia video is no longer £20k but £25k and upwards with 'extras' so it is only just the cheapest conventional EV on the British market!
Lovely piece to camera 👍🏻👍🏻 Informative, entertaining and eminently watchable. Much like all of your exploits with Elton. That type of car (quadricycle) is certainly going to be part of our future whether we like it or not - I kind of like it.
An interesting update Tim. Just checked the UK website and the Ami can be leased for £20 per month for 24 months (with £2474 deposit!). Alternatively the purchase price is from £7695. Perhaps it's still quite a bargain 🙂
@@kingsknightuk that’s because the Leaf is a car. Tbh, the weather, roads and climate that they have in the south of france is a big contributor to its (Ami) success. In the U.K. drivers just are not used to and don’t have the respect nor patience for something that does 28mph. Plus our salted roads and pissing climate make for a tin worm paradise (I’m talking it’s thin box chassis)The Ami is just not ready for mass take up in the U.K.
Hi Tim and Mr Boo, Happy New Year! Completely fair appraisal of the Ami. It is what it is and if it suits someone's use case they should go for it! Have fun and looking forward to your future adventures.
So right in your comparison to the 2CV and the charm they both exude. For most uses it is all the car we need and they do it with flair and bonhomie. Elton is half a 2CV. 2 people instead of 4. 45 kph instead of 60 kph original to 115 kph now. Minimal resources to create and use. With the Ollie the next logical step in style, practicality and efficiency. 44 years of 3 new 2CV6s and 550,000 kms maintain the joyous addiction. Wonder if the Ollie seats will slide out for picnics or big loads like the 2CV?
We have a family of 5 but we live as a 4. My dad was going to replace his Ford Focus with the AMI as it may have been cheaper to run. There is 5 cars altogether but with the current economy in the UK and the base model of the Ami being £7665 or 8700euro, it might not be so good. I was excited for it and I had loads of plans for it. I was going to 3D print our own trays for the interior as I'm good with graphic design in school. It would've been really fun to have it as my first car in high school even though i prefer manual cars the Ami is just a fun thing to have.
Thankyou Tim and HNY to you both. I'm only 5 weeks in with Matilda but my big dirty diesel is for the most part gathering dust, its so much more fun in the Ami. True she doesn't like below 4°C and icey days but our usual mild wet and miserable is no problem. Looking forward to your Jan adventures 😊
The cold does have an impact on the range. It was for that reason BMW launched the electric Mini in America as at the time, it was Autumn/Winter in the UK at the time and considerably cold.
Great review I think would be great to have this for my short work drive in the summer cheap to run so great saving while my 108 for winter it is what it is but looks fun to have .
Fascinating stuff. It would not suit our needs for a vehicle (we use our car 50% city driving and 50% long journeys and we don't have anywhere to charge it anyway) but if there was one on a city car share, the same way we have zipcars where you book it, use it and pay by the hour, then return it then I'd love to have a go.
@@MeandMonAmi We used to hire cars but my partner needed one for a job so we got a beaten up Honda that just runs and runs. There's no point selling it for scrap to buy a cheap electric vehicle as we'd only have to hire a car for long journeys every other month anyway. Also, living in London we can't charge from our home so we'd be reliant on charging points and the infrastructure's not there. Anyway. In London I cycle about 75% of the time, ride a motorbike 20% and the car is about 5% of my total time travelling so. You know. When the Honda dies we'll see how the landscape looks.
I live in your neck of the woods. I am getting one for my family of four. Why? Most of the time the kids are at school, so we can use it do scoot around town to do shopping. Also my eldest is nearly 14 so she might be able to use it rather than the dad taxi. In our town on the border with Italy, I see 4 or wizzing about, up plenty of steep hills. As an old fart I like basic cars. I suspect that if we buy one then in about 20 or 30 years time my kids will be able to sell it as a classic. Thanks for a great review.
ROFL! Well golly, looking at the shot of you in the car at 2:21 in the video and of you sitting at the picnic table, I can see that buying the Ami and owning it for a year has REALLY aged you! Also, having its first birthday at “Elton’s Back Passage” made me laugh out loud. Thanks for that!
The most common sense review I have seen.
I wish you many more happy miles in your amazing Ami.
Thank you for posting.
Thanks
How nice to hear that you like Elton so much, that makes me look even more forward to the Opel Rocks-e that I ordered a long time ago!
How perfect. You’ve had Elton for 1 year and mine finally arrived yesterday 🎉🎉🎉❤ Love it!
How brilliant. Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks... you really talk in a very nice explaining way. ❤
Have to look at more of your video's.
With our solarroof it would be free driving, LOL
Thanks yes it’s a very cheap deal if you can charge at home!
Truly fair appraisal and great review, to let go of traditional thinking and embrace the Ami. Thank you guys and happy birthday Elton.
Thank you!
Citroën has always had some innovative unique designs.
I think it's cute. Definitely a head turner.
I agrée
I think with a few of the iconic Citroens models there seem to be a certain soul within the car that seems to be that bond
I think that’s true..
It's not really an iconic Citroen as it is exactly the same as the Opel.
Happy Birthday Elton. Thank you Tim & Mr Boo. Here's to many more miles & smiles.
Thanks William
Thank you so much. It's been great watching you in 22. We look forward to what you have for 23. Happy New Year!
Thanks Alistair!
Thank you Elton! You inspired us to order our Ami, cannot wait until we get it next year!!!
I so hope you enjoy it!
What variant did you order?
Happy Birthday, Elton! And the best New Year EVER!
Even if I end up not getting an Ami myself, then I still have had so much fun with the two of you, and will continue to have, whatever the vehicle.
Thanks. So nice of you to say
Something to consider, many golf carts cost as much or more than Elton.
Indeed!
First of all a big thank you for all your work and the pleasure that your videos have given me.
Tim and Mr Boo I wish you a beautiful new year
Thanks so much. Very nice to hear. Happy new year!
glad i found you guys this years, enjoyed all the video's with/about the Ami. hope for more adventures to come.
Thanks very much. Many more to come
Wish this would come to US but only 3 wheel cycles can currently be licenced here.
That’s a real shame
Thank you i have watch all episodes from sweden. I just love Citroen because they are the only brand to dare new concepts :)
They definitely think outside the box
Congrats with one year!!! Looking forward to 2023!
Thank you!
Can't believe it's been. 12months,thank you for a year of great videos,and a very Happy New year.
I know. Time flies etc. Thanks Richard!
Right at the start, who was the drunk Frenchman sitting behind you wearing a crash helmet? It looked like a crash helmet. I don't know if this is true but, in some video on UA-cam someone said Citroen have put new Heaters in the Ami. Very Good and Informative Episode. I think we needed that.
Thanks Jamie. I dunno but he’s often there. He was picking asparagus!
@@MeandMonAmi This might seem strange, but, when you are driving in the Countryside. Do you ever see Potatoes or Carrots or anything a Farmer would grow and stop Elton and take what you need. I know I would in Britain.
The 2CV has the same magic, 75 years after it came out... More Smiles Per Mile... Huge minimalist FUN with endearing character.
Yup and I have a feeling this will be much the same
Good review 😊 happy birthday Elton
Thank you! 😀
Great looking little vehicle and looks loads of fun to drive, especially driving it through the narrow little streets that you two seem to be able to weave it through. I can quite see why you regard it as a magic car, every drive must be an adventure and the fact that it is limited by range and top speed seems to be quite irrelevant as you always seem to find charging points and plan your journeys well and a lot of the time you are in city / town traffic where it's top speed isn't a problem. It strikes me as being a vehicle that is far greater than the sum of it's relatively few parts. Most cars these days even the smaller ones are vastly over complicated and unnecessarily over engineered. There is something about the basic bare simplicity of your cute little Ami which just appeals to me. If I were lucky enough to be living where you are the first thing I would do is order one for myself. Happy birthday Elton.
Thanks that’s more or less what we feel. I’d never had or wanted a car til I saw it!
I think that was a fair run down on the Citroen ami. I have just taken delivery of mine in Cornwall and I love it. Your comment on the Ami feeling magical is spot on and I except it for what it is and yes we are pioneers. Love you Channel look forward to your epic drive, adventure.
Thanks I’m so glad you feel the same. I think people either get it or they don’t.
Happy birthday! 🎊 🎉 🚙 💨
Thank you for sharing your adventures with us! I loved this!
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@MeandMonAmi , I always enjoy your videos, even when on my own holiday! 😂
Love the videos! We spotted a mon ami in Tenerife, where we live, up a mountain, a very steep mountain!!! No idea how it got there! xx
There are a few and a facebook group for them. Glad you are enjoying!
Congratulations on your first year with your Ami! I have thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful places you fellas have taken us! I’ve held my breath when you went down very narrow or very steep roads. And my heart went out when I saw how hot the car was and how miserable it must’ve been for you to drive in the heat! I look forward to the new year and the wonderful places Elton will take us! Happy New Year from Vermont
Thanks so much! Happy new year!
I think I get it Tim. I had one of the early Citroen C1 and it was stripped to bone to the extent it only had a door light switch on the drivers side. It’s about the purity of only having what you need to get you around town and I don’t know why, but I find that really appealing as though it shines a light in the ridiculous excesses of cars that are used generally and certainly for round town only duties. I hope it continued to give you guys a lot of pleasure.
Thanks. That’s what it is!
Great summary Tim.... having watched you over the last year with Elton has been quite informative and fun, not only the Ami, but the places you have taken us!
Thanks Linda. Lots more places to come over next few months
Happy Birthday Elton 🎉
Thanks. Happy New Year!
Hi lads from Spain and a happy new year to you. I have thoroughly enjoyed your adventures and look forward to more in 2023
I'm driving a Twizy 80 for 9 years now, and I still very much love it. Yet... Year after year, the battery health seems to become lower and lower. Today, my winter range is about 35-40 km when I drive slowly. A far cry from what it was once. So that's why I'm upgrading myself to a bigger vehicle with a bigger battery. My current target to save up for is a Fiat 500e. It can drive more than 200 km on a single charge. And in 10 years, I expect it can still comfortably drive more than 100 km in one go.
Still, I wish you both the best of luck with your Ami. And may have you have the same love I had for the last 9 years of my Twizy life. And may you see the entire 70 km radius from your home with your Ami before the end of its life!
Thanks Amy. I’m sure the battery will deplete in time. My e bike did five perfect years and the minute I got the Ami threw in the towel but I think that was me not using it or jealousy
Had mine 2 days now in Scotland and despite the very cold and wet 40 mile from Edinburgh dealer to home and the time it took as had to charge midday ,I love it.and any excuse to drive it really.the range does seem an issue,which I thought it wouldn't.
Excellent. So glad you are enjoying
Happy New Year Tim and Mr Boo and thank you for sharing this remarkable journey! Hard to believe it's been a year already, and thanks for the perfect recap of living with Elton, very approprié. How you describe the being one of a frontiersmen rather than a backwoodsmen experience has to be one a major component of the magic of the Ami.
A retired airline pilot (and eBike buddy), just bought a 1947 2-seat 65hp aircraft and we were talking about the magic and joy of going back to the basics and days of being frontiersmen aviators, and we thought it must be much the same adventure you've had with Elton.
What you describe is exactly the joy and inspiration I've had over the last year, in getting out of my comfort zone building a and riding a fast electric bikes along with friends, has turned out to have 800 miles of fun, adventure and excitement that's come with physical, emotional and mental benefits I never quite expected, and here in one of the coldest and wettest places in America I found enough days even in winter I still preferred riding the eBike over the car whenever possible.
Getting back to basics with the AMI for is perhaps something many of us should indulge and benefit from.
Cheers and thanks for keeping us all charged!
Thanks Jack. Yes my only ami regret is how little I’ve ridden my e bike since getting it but I’m going to get back in the saddle this year!
I just had to spend $1200 to get my gasoline burning car to pass its Japanese inspection. It's 16 years old, so I guess it's to be expected. Your Ami has been a real star performer and we're looking forward to more adventures in 2023. Thanks for the good times!
I collected mine on the 30th December with some trepidation - never having driven one or seen one close up. No -one told me how much fun it was to drive, and the 4-year service costs fro, Citroen are acceptable (not a lot to go wrong). I took my grandson for a drive or two and he did not stop laughing and giggling the whole way - and he's a mature 10 year old. I'm hoping for where we live it will work out - flat, nowhere more than 5 miles away, most speed limits are 20 with a few 30 (mph). and parking! My goodness what a doddle on full lock, into spaces you wouldn't even give a second look in anything else.
So glad you are enjoying. They are a lot of fun and practical I think
A great Ami appraisal and a very genuine recount of how it fits into your life.
Happy New Year, and looking forward to your 2023 videos.
Thanks and HNY
Happy birthday elton , more adventures to come .
Thanks
Happy new year lads, thanks for all the marvellous entertainment,
regards,
Terry.
Thanks Terry I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed.
If I had an Ami, I'd insulate the battery, which should help during the colder UK months.
Hi Guys
I have really enjoyed your adventures in Elton. This is a thoroughly good annual review!
Mike
💕
Thanks so much!
None of the « serious » electric cars do the range they claim. Elton seems more honest than most. I’m less and less convinced of the merits of electric cars, especially in terms of ecological issues. For the moment if there’s a place for them, this is it definitely. City, town and short trips. The Ami is perfect for those things clearly. It says what it will do on the box and it does it. I’m an incurable petrol head,but I would consider this seriously as a local run about, but for long trips it’s internal combustion for me every time. Happy birthday Elton !
We run ours because it was cheap and we didn’t need a licence and so far it’s been great
Well done Tim. Spot on review. No frills no flannel. Here’s to many more kilometres of autonomy!🤪
Thanks
Thank you for making these videos
Glad you like them!
You are my new favourite dirty binge watch! Moving to Spain in the next couple of years and looking at a cheap runabout, came across your channel and now sold on the Ami - although the buggy edition due to the heat in Spain and not wanting doors. A one off review isnt enough for me so you guys and your year so far with it is the mutts nuts.
Can you do a community post with the weblinks to all the things you've bought for the car, e.g the hubcaps etc.
Thanks guys, keep on going!
Thanks. Dirty! We did a video about our accessories which might help?
Honestly you two are a breath of fresh air, bring fun and honesty to your content. The car is undoubtedly an equal star of the show and you Tim with your true northern grit ( being a Leeds Loiner my self)and Mr Boo with his facial expressions are a scream. Has to be one of the best UA-cam’s, in my northern eyes anyway. Keep safe and stay charged 😎🇬🇷
Thanks Colin. Good old Leeds Loin!
The Ami is my DREAM car, i absolutely love it, I want to purchase it but sadly is only sold in Europe and I'm in the American continent 🤧😭😭😭
That’s a shame
Wonderful. Thank you. I can listen to you all day long. Very calming and very accurate. The stories I hear about electric cars (I have a Model 3 and an e-Rocks, twin car of the AMI) are astounding. Yes, you do not get an AMI as a family car 😂 the 45km/h are plenty and I must say, I have more fun in it then in the 10time price Model 3. It was to replace my motor scooter and it does, and I got a roof when it rains. I can take my wife or grand daughter. It is just great. I agree, two feet driving is a BAD idea!
I just got Solar on my carport and was astounded how cheap the panels become. A 450Whp panel is less then 200 Euros! And it puts out 48V. The AMI Battery got 48V......One panel fits EXACTLY on the Amy roof. Leaving only a small spot of the glass roof. I will find out if there is a direct way of connecting behind the 230V AC Charger to the Battery. It would charge while driving and while parking. at 5h a day that would charge about 2kWh or 35km, here in Barcelona or where you are probably more. Might not look stylish but could be very practical. And WAY cheaper then a Bluetti that has horrible losses and costs 10 times that.
Happy Birthday to Elton and have lots of fun where you are right now, safe journey.
I think carports with solar are the way to go. Happy new year
I am so ready for it to come to the states I have always wanted to get one as a secondary car because where I live it would make sense to have an electric car where I need to go is not far and it would suit the area well and living in Florida we don't get that cold so the range wouldn't be that much of a problem I just wish they would bring them to the states congratulations your channel is everything
I Hope they get there!
Happy New Year from Vancouver to Tim, Mr. Boo, and Halloween. Looking forward to the epic adventure!
Same to you!
Your adventures are most entertaining and also informative because they do show a whole new way of looking at transport. My ICE sits in the drive 6 days a week and goes no more than 10kms on my shopping trip. An Ami would be ideal in many ways but air-conditioning is an essential here so when the tiny Chinese city cars are available I might well buy one. Thank you for bringing so much fun to my morning breakfast viewing, usually on a Monday. I am eagerly awaiting your next Chiang Mai video. Kaap khrub Khun Tim.
Thanks Ian. So glad you are enjoying and that we are in your wonderful home city
Those are wise words, thanks for sharing your opinion and carry on with your adventures.
Thanks, will do!
congrats, one year after and Elton is part of this channel and a very important part with his own personality.
I hope the next year brings the best to this amazing channel, to you Tim and Mr. boo and Elton of course :)
Same to you and thanks so much for your support this year
Informative review still undecided about buying an ami but my confidence in them is growing happy new year to you and Mr boo
Thanks Charles
Well done and congratulations on your first year of Elton Ownership and of course the fantastic vlogs of this year. This post is particularly good in that you’ve been thoughtfully inclusive of other owner’s experiences and honest in the problems some others have had with their Ami Quads.
Like many many others, I look forward to more adventures of the Three Musketeers that are Tim,Mr.Boo & Elton
Happy New Year 🎉🥳🥂
Thanks Nick and thanks for your support throughout the year
Just curious, do you see a lot of them on the road ?
Should have waited till the end of the clip before asking my question. Thanks, ,you gave me the answer ...😎
Yup we do see at least two a day I’d say
I could watch the 'unboxing' video, and now we get a fair and balanced evaluation a year later. Let's hope for many more to come!
If you allow - a question and perhaps even an idea for another episode of your journey, although i don't think that you are running out of ideas 😗.
When you drive a new Porsche out of a showroom, you will lose twice as much as a new Ami does cost - how much is the
loss in value of an Ami in France after a year? Are there enough cars out there that something like a second hand market could establish itself?
Thanks Uwe. That’s an easy answer. They are selling second hand for more than the new price largely because of the length of the waiting list.
@@MeandMonAmi LOL! That's similar to the Trabant situation in the former GDR. 😄
You remember? Trabant, these tiny cars with a plastic housing which could not run very fast because of their small motor?
I have a big, luxurious and expensive electric SUV, but I would love to have something like this as a side car for local driving and some daily shopping. You’re review is spot on compared to many of car journalists. Don’t compare it to a regular car, it serves a different market and purpose!
Exactly and I think what you outline needs to happen for urban driving.
UA-cam auto subtitles writes as Citronomy and I loved that word 😁😁
It sounds like the name of a channel
Love watching
Thanks
Thanks Tim for all your hard work with the channel and always giving us a balanced and impartial view. You are always open to criticism and clearly take the view that the quad is not for everyone- which is the right approach. Your content has been excellent; varied and imaginative for which many will thank you and I for one raise a glass to you the New Year and to Richard for your unstinting hard work, imagination and enterprise. God Bless, Bill Kerr Ami Pop delivered 4th. November in Sussex and very happy with it too...
Thanks Bill . That’s so nice of you to say and much appreciated. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
What a fair, thoughtful and insightful summary. You're a very bright and entertaining communicator, Tim!
I think I've watched every episode and I've found them far more captivating that broadcast television!
I confess that despite paying a deposit very early, I bottled and got a refund after about nine months. I live in central London and, frankly, public transport is so good and I can walk and cycle nearly everywhere. But if I lived on the Cote I'd buy one like a shot - as you've demonstrated in spades how appropriate is the Ami.
Thank you (both) for an entertaining year!
Thanks Paul. So glad you’ve enjoyed. More to come in 2023!
…from Elton’s back passage! Sure gave me a giggle
Thanks for this nuts and bolts year end review. Both very interesting and informative. I have really enjoyed all the last year’s videos. Wishing you both a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year. Maurice from Malvern.
Thanks Maurice. Same to you
Nice recap Tim, we want more
Happy birthday, Elton! I would say sure there are things like air conditioning snd heating you might want but they involve trade offs: reduced battery life. For that reason, Citroen didn’t include them. The Citroen Ami is a perfect distillation of the KISS principle - keep it simple, stupid. This is where it succeeded brilliantly! You don’t need a fancy car to get around and as long as you have accessible transportation, what more do you need? In the year since you have had Elton, it answered a lot of questions and changed your show by allowing you to travel to places and meet people in a way that wasn’t possible before. Finally, the appearance of Elton did one more thing you didn’t anticipate back then: you struggled to define your channel as content creators and a lot of people have a problem figuring out what it stands for. Elton in a word, gave your channel a much needed brand identity. He’s clarified who you are and what you do and I wish you guys much success going forward and in closing, I send you my best wishes for a Happy New Year! 😊
Thanks Norman. Same to you!
Happy birthday to Elton! You may have covered it before and I apologise if I’ve missed it…. How much does he cost to charge if you can measure that? Great watch, thank you!
At home around £1.60
@@MeandMonAmi brilliant, thank you! 👍 Hope you both/all three? Have a happy new year!
It was nice to get a glimps of Villefranche again. My parents used to go to Beaulieu by end of October for three to four weeks every year, starting in the 1980ies. Last time I've been was in 2007 to assist with the drive to and from. Fond memories.
Lots more Riviera to come in our new series
Happy Birthday Elton, thanks for a great review. Always enjoy all your videos, magical, I think Elton is.
He is and thanks! HNY!
Good summary from a User perspective Tim, thank you . Having test driven one, I can see several niches it could fill here in Britain. For example, in Cornwall where the weapon of choice for the (Very) elderly retired is a Nissan Micra (shudder) normally just driven to the supermarket and GP surgery, never getting anywhere near 30mph, it would be ideal. Also for carers going on very short urban journeys from one house to the next and where they struggle to afford the cost of running and maintaining a full-size car.
Yes it would be perfect for carers etc. We genuinely don’t even notice the top speed issue in and around Nice apart from on the odd 70km/h road
Bonjour. So happy you purchased the Ami and created all these entertaining and informative videos. Merci.
💙🤍❤️
Elton's back passage? Ooh arr misus :) I take your somewhere sunny? I live in Scotland and would love one but think it would be bit cold here for it. Have a Nissan leaf and love it :) I've always owned vehicles as in the Highlands the public transport is not great .
Check out our other vids where we put it though it’s paces on all kinds of roads and situations
Thank you! And happy anniversary!
I totally agree with your comment on complaints about speed. It is a car targeting a specific markets.
I'm not surprised if you can carry more cargo than a Mazda MX-5 (with only 130 liter specified). The MX-5 wasn't made for cargo, while the Ami was made for local commute at low speed.
Even if the Ami is mostly suitable for local commute, there are some "nut-cases" (as a complimint), that perfectly manage to go on roadtrips with it. They prove that the Ami is a quite usable car.
(I prefere to call the Ami a car, because I believe thats what it is. When people claim "it isn't a car, it's a quadricycle", I get tempted to challenge where they got the definition of "a car". Because most places where the vehicle classes are defined doesn't metion "car" specifically. I tend to rely on the dictionary definition, wherein Citroën Ami fits perfectly.)
Thanks. We love our quadcarurbanmobilityobject
Ah, guys. Winter brings complications to my life and I haven't been able to watch a bunch of your videos yet. But I *had* to see this one, Some news: I have Citroen AMI! OK, not the actual one. It's from Matchbox cars. I'll send you the tweet with pics, Tim. So check Twitter! You might want to get one too. Thanks for all your videos and you and Mr. Boo have a great new year!
Thanks Mike. Happy new year
Thanks for the very nice video, I really enjoyed it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
so funny perfect timing :-) thanks so much
Doesn’t sound too bad for a first generation vehicle. Planning to lease one for my kid in 2 years time so hopefully v2 will be out by then.
I think that’s about right..
Image and sound quality is great on this video! Cool
Thanks Victor
A really good video Tim and excellent and very real review. People love to jump on the faults of lesser cars yet the expensive models are far far worse and have vastly more technology to go wrong and cost the earth. While I pretty much despise top end EVs as they are ridiculously overweight, over complicated and far too expensive - why have ridiculous lardy Merc EQC or Audi E-trons when the whole bloody point is be environmentally aware! Elton is the polar opposite and exactly what we need for a cheap, clean, environmentally sound and easy to run EV! Lightweight to make the most of the battery, simple enough for the local garage to fix (ie the brakes, etc) and infinite amount of fun. As you say, people need to alter their perceptions and luxury and comfort are NOT the be all and end all. The Ami really is in my mind the 2CV for the present- uncomplicated, fun and accessible transportation for the masses! Wishing you and Mr Boo a fabulous New Year, too!
Thanks Richie!
Hi Tim, thanks for the review. I agree with you 100%. I have my ami now for a few months and about 5000 km. I had no issues at all. The car does exactly what is expected to do. To me it is an honest and unpretentious object. However always put a smile in everyone`s face. There is something pet like about it that makes you love it.
Yup it definitely has ‘living creature’ qualities!
It's true that inflation (greed) has hit the UK. The Ora you looked over in your Cambodia video is no longer £20k but £25k and upwards with 'extras' so it is only just the cheapest conventional EV on the British market!
Wowzer
Lovely piece to camera 👍🏻👍🏻
Informative, entertaining and eminently watchable. Much like all of your exploits with Elton. That type of car (quadricycle) is certainly going to be part of our future whether we like it or not - I kind of like it.
Thanks Phil. I’m certain we are going to see more and more wee cars
Happy first birthday Elton! Picking up my ami on Thursday 5th 🙌
How exciting! Really hope you enjoy
An interesting update Tim. Just checked the UK website and the Ami can be leased for £20 per month for 24 months (with £2474 deposit!). Alternatively the purchase price is from £7695. Perhaps it's still quite a bargain 🙂
It’s still a lot cheaper than anything else comparable I think?
@@MeandMonAmi It sure is. Enjoy your holidays 🙂
@@MeandMonAmi hmm, would an old Leaf be better value?
@@markthomasson5077 yep a older leaf would be MUCH better value and more usable as a car!
@@kingsknightuk that’s because the Leaf is a car. Tbh, the weather, roads and climate that they have in the south of france is a big contributor to its (Ami) success. In the U.K. drivers just are not used to and don’t have the respect nor patience for something that does 28mph. Plus our salted roads and pissing climate make for a tin worm paradise (I’m talking it’s thin box chassis)The Ami is just not ready for mass take up in the U.K.
Hi Tim and Mr Boo, Happy New Year! Completely fair appraisal of the Ami. It is what it is and if it suits someone's use case they should go for it! Have fun and looking forward to your future adventures.
Thanks Gareth. Many more to come (we hope!)
So right in your comparison to the 2CV and the charm they both exude.
For most uses it is all the car we need and they do it with flair and bonhomie.
Elton is half a 2CV. 2 people instead of 4. 45 kph instead of 60 kph original to 115 kph now.
Minimal resources to create and use.
With the Ollie the next logical step in style, practicality and efficiency.
44 years of 3 new 2CV6s and 550,000 kms maintain the joyous addiction.
Wonder if the Ollie seats will slide out for picnics or big loads like the 2CV?
Yup it’s very 2cv and lovely for it. I think it’s the start of something..
Brilliant review, thanks. Happy New Year to you both.
Thanks and same to you!
We have a family of 5 but we live as a 4. My dad was going to replace his Ford Focus with the AMI as it may have been cheaper to run. There is 5 cars altogether but with the current economy in the UK and the base model of the Ami being £7665 or 8700euro, it might not be so good. I was excited for it and I had loads of plans for it. I was going to 3D print our own trays for the interior as I'm good with graphic design in school. It would've been really fun to have it as my first car in high school even though i prefer manual cars the Ami is just a fun thing to have.
Yup it’s fun but as you say it has to work for you
Thankyou Tim and HNY to you both. I'm only 5 weeks in with Matilda but my big dirty diesel is for the most part gathering dust, its so much more fun in the Ami. True she doesn't like below 4°C and icey days but our usual mild wet and miserable is no problem. Looking forward to your Jan adventures 😊
Thanks John. So glad the cold isn’t causing too many problems.
The cold does have an impact on the range. It was for that reason BMW launched the electric Mini in America as at the time, it was Autumn/Winter in the UK at the time and considerably cold.
When I move out of London, this might be a good idea to get to the shops, station, etc!
Yup
Happy New Year from Vikingland! Looking forward to seeing the new adventures!
Happy new year!
Great review I think would be great to have this for my short work drive in the summer cheap to run so great saving while my 108 for winter it is what it is but looks fun to have .
Thanks they are great fun if you go in with eyes open about what they are
I get that inclusiveness with my twizy, and that smile is contagious
Yup I always wanted a twizzy when I first saw them for the same reason
Fascinating stuff. It would not suit our needs for a vehicle (we use our car 50% city driving and 50% long journeys and we don't have anywhere to charge it anyway) but if there was one on a city car share, the same way we have zipcars where you book it, use it and pay by the hour, then return it then I'd love to have a go.
For local urban travel they tick a lot of boxes. Most people maybe do two or three long road trips a year. Cheaper to hire a vehicle for those?
@@MeandMonAmi We used to hire cars but my partner needed one for a job so we got a beaten up Honda that just runs and runs. There's no point selling it for scrap to buy a cheap electric vehicle as we'd only have to hire a car for long journeys every other month anyway. Also, living in London we can't charge from our home so we'd be reliant on charging points and the infrastructure's not there. Anyway. In London I cycle about 75% of the time, ride a motorbike 20% and the car is about 5% of my total time travelling so. You know. When the Honda dies we'll see how the landscape looks.
Dont forget to get those windows tinted in preparation for the coming summer months ahead.
Will do!
I live in your neck of the woods. I am getting one for my family of four. Why? Most of the time the kids are at school, so we can use it do scoot around town to do shopping. Also my eldest is nearly 14 so she might be able to use it rather than the dad taxi. In our town on the border with Italy, I see 4 or wizzing about, up plenty of steep hills. As an old fart I like basic cars. I suspect that if we buy one then in about 20 or 30 years time my kids will be able to sell it as a classic. Thanks for a great review.
Thanks Liam. That sounds like a very good plan!
ROFL! Well golly, looking at the shot of you in the car at 2:21 in the video and of you sitting at the picnic table, I can see that buying the Ami and owning it for a year has REALLY aged you! Also, having its first birthday at “Elton’s Back Passage” made me laugh out loud. Thanks for that!
4:15 love those shoes, what brand are they?
Twenty five year old red wings