CACTUSLOPNIK (1)

"lecrab" (superservaas) 07/26/2015 at 16:43 • Filed to: cactus, citroen, review

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Okay everyone, here is a little more Cactus info/review from a “professional”, just not a professional in the auto industry.

Today we took the Cactus from Frankfurt to Beieren (Bayern). The trip was great. We had heavy traffic for a while, but the navigation is pretty good, and offers deviations where needed.

We are now at our destination, in a small town close to the Czech border, and it is pretty “hilly” up here. Sometimes that was a challenge for the little Cactus and its three cilinders, especially because the transmission wants to select the most efficient gear at all times, sometimes just when a road goes uphill. But, either step on the gas, or use the flippers and there is enough power, even though sometimes it takes a few seconds and the engine revs up like it’s 1999.

Other things I noticed are: The car really sticks in the corners. This car has that magic where you think you’re driving nice and slow, but really you’re going faster than it feels. It’s a quality larger cars mostly possess. I like the feedback of the physical buttons (there are a few, most of them on the steering wheel). They feel solid. The whole car feels solid. I keep turning my head when going backwards, but it has a camera and all the other modern comforts that beep softly when you get close to objects. The two displays are clearly readable, even in bright sunlight.

More to come! This “professional” really needs 199809375872635876 winks. Talk to you soon.

PS - AMA, ask away!

PS2 - Cactuslopnik(tm) is an unregistered trademark of Sir Patrick.

Sam > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 16:49

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I just realised that the Cactus has a long lost Italian-American brother. (in the lights, specifically)

lecrab > Sam 07/26/2015 at 16:50

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A lot of people think so, but Cactus is superior. Because Citroën. ;)

Sam > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 16:51

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And it hasn’t proven to be remotely hack-able, so that’s a big plus.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 16:52

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I really love the way the Cactus looks. I saw one on a trip and fell in love. The one I saw was in brown.

Klaus Schmoll > Sam 07/26/2015 at 16:57

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The Cactus still has some French flair going on, and is somewhat handsome. The Cherokee was just beaten hard with the ugly stick.

MultiplaOrgasms > Sam 07/26/2015 at 17:01

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Leon711 > Sam 07/26/2015 at 17:05

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Y’know what else is a big plus?

The Swiss flag.

Leon711 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/26/2015 at 17:06

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I love ‘em so much, yesterday I was on a little trip to go to a lake and saw like 5 on the way in 15 miles.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 17:09

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They look good too. I'd rather have one of those than a Golf but in America, we really don't have hatches.

lecrab > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 17:14

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There goes my wine.

lecrab > MultiplaOrgasms 07/26/2015 at 17:14

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That, my friend, is also a handsome piece of machinery.

lecrab > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/26/2015 at 17:15

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That reminds me, I have come to understand the joy of a good hatchback. Haven’t had one in 15 years, glad to be back.

Leon711 > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 17:16

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glad to help.

lecrab > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 17:16

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In the Netherlands you can see one every day now, but here in Germany I have seen only one, and that was in Frankfurt.

lecrab > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 17:17

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:D

Leon711 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/26/2015 at 17:23

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a golf is way more expensive but that is the appeal of the cactus, it’s sort of golf sized for Polo money. Y’know if you moved to the UK you could have a cactus and not need to learn a new language and see all sorts of awesome stuff everyday like this castle (Arundel Castle) that is near the lake.

and the lake

Leon711 > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 17:25

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They are really starting to take off here, easy Citroens best seller here now that DS has turned into is own brand. Are you dutch? if so, why do so many Dutch citizens have vacations in the UK? I see several dutch registered cars a day during the summer mostly with caravans.

lecrab > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 17:35

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Also, Cactus is way better styled and more fun than Golf or Polo.

lecrab > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 17:36

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Yes, I am dutch. Haven’t vacationed in the UK ever, but I am considering.

lecrab > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 17:37

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Also, belgians mock the dutch for their national sport: “caravanning”. You are not alone.

Leon711 > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 17:44

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it’s not mocking, caravanning is big here too, but I mostly see dutch caravans, I saw a french motorhome yesterday though. I was just curious as to why the UK seemed to be a favourite for the Dutch. In the UK the belgians are only famous for a fictional Belgian detective named Hercule Poirot.

MultiplaOrgasms > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 18:00

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A local driving school uses these.

Cé hé sin > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 18:50

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There has only ever been one famous Belgian and he never existed.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 18:50

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Are the LED “eyebrows” simply Daytime Running Lights?

Cé hé sin > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 18:51

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Top Trivia: the Cactus is called the C4 Cactus. It’s actually based on the C3.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Leon711 07/26/2015 at 19:32

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I’d then be moving to a different continent. I'm not sure that's what I want to do.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > lecrab 07/26/2015 at 19:33

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It looks great. Enjoy.

jeff > lecrab 07/27/2015 at 00:43

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Hi guys, I’m Jeff and I’m a friend of Servaas’. Also received my Cactus about 2 weeks ago. I can conform what Servaas wrote about handling and stuff. The ETG is something that you need to get used to. My first drive with it was terrible. I couldn’t believe a car wih such a device could be put on the market, but my second drive was much better. The thing is, you need to play with the accelerator for the car to change gears. Once you can manage that it can drive as comfortable as a full blown automatic. I traded in my Benz C270 CDI (ofcourse full automatic) and that was pretty smooth. No additional footactivity need there :-), but..... if you fancy a Cactus don’t let the ETG put you off..... It’s like riding a bike, once you get the hang of it, it’s cool.

Leon711 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/27/2015 at 01:41

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You daily drive a dragon, you could fly back anytime to visit family!

lecrab > Cé hé sin 07/27/2015 at 03:28

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You will have to explain this to me.

lecrab > Cé hé sin 07/27/2015 at 03:29

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Yep, I knew that going in. C4’s are slightly larger.

lecrab > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/27/2015 at 03:29

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Yes they are. When the normal lights come on, the LED’s dim.

lecrab > Leon711 07/27/2015 at 03:35

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I did not say you mocked the dutch, but you're totally allowed. I do, daily. Several times.

lecrab > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/27/2015 at 03:36

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Thank you kindly. I will bother you guys with more pictures and stories.

lecrab > MultiplaOrgasms 07/27/2015 at 03:36

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Very, very smart driving school. :P

Cé hé sin > lecrab 07/27/2015 at 05:37

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Hercule Poirot. Never existed but still the only famous Belgian.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > lecrab 07/27/2015 at 10:52

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I’m ok with more cactus.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Leon711 07/27/2015 at 11:39

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Right. But I'd still rather live closer.

Cé hé sin > jeff 07/27/2015 at 13:27

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I’ve driven several C3s with the original Sachs Sensodrive gearbox and despite all the hate you hear about them they were all fine. Not exactly exciting to drive or anything but you do get flappy paddle gearchanging (which isn’t as useful as it sounds so I just put them in D)

lecrab > Cé hé sin 07/27/2015 at 14:55

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Oh I see what you mean, haha.

lecrab > Cé hé sin 07/27/2015 at 14:58

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Well, in Cactus, there is no stick. Just the three buttons. And the flippers. And lots, lots of awesomeness.

Ed, for the old good times > Cé hé sin 08/09/2015 at 07:59

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Have to disagree.