If you pointed the USB fans at the screen and had those running, that would help a lot as it keeps the air moving at least! Great video - I love storms lol
Heat, lightning, rain, cold, storm ... You and Your Ami are going through it all, and we can experience it. I may never drive in an Ami, I may never visit the Riviera again, and I will probably never meet you two. But through the screen I can have it all. Thank you.
You might try using your twin cooling fans as "air movers" with the windows open. This should help clear critical areas of the windscreen. Also Silica Gel is sold in colour changing granular form. The colour changes when it has absorbed as much moisture as it can. It can be dried out and reused with warm sun. Possibly a mesh sock with a kg or two in way of blowing fans will provide 'dryer' air to help reduce condensation.
Guyz After months of being so jealous about the wonderful weather you experience seemingly on a daily basis, great to see how Elton copes with the weather he would soon get used to here in Cumbria! Wonderful, as always…,,, Mike
Elton along with his brothers & sisters are going to be prone to the condensation issue with such a large glass area. Rain x anti fog (or similar product) is a good thing but there's only so much these products can do to prevent the misting up problems. At least there's no water ingress. My other observation is what the heater in the ami will be like in very cold temperatures i.e. December Jan & Feb time here in UK & other countries in the northern hemisphere. Not sure it will keep the occupant(s) warm..?? Anyway another excellent vlog by you & Mister Boo & Elton..Mister Boo makes me smile with the facial expressions ☺. Keep up the great channel & keep demisted 👌
Really admire your gritted determination, driving out on this test as you didn’t look too happy negotiating those big puddles. A thought: Is it possible to swivel one or both of those fans to face the windscreen, I notice they were both facing towards you.
@@MeandMonAmi One other thing Tim, there are moisture absorption pads which can help, I use one in my smart 4-2 (which also has loads of glass) These can be bought in motoring shops. When they fill with moisture the colour changes and then all you have to do to dry it out is to pop it in a microwave. Hey presto 👍
Well done Elton! BTW I've never seen an Ami review where the windows didn't fog up in the rain (or on a freezing morning, no doubt). So you're not alone. Sorry to hear your legs got cold. When driving my Peugeot iOn in colder weather, I found a travel rug and ski mits helped. A bit. Thanks for another fascinating video!
Love the show... love SoF excursions... ideas for a trip etc. With the Ami which is also interesting perhaps you should occasionally do a consolidation of good and bad and other findings. Also you should try to get Renault to lend you their car etc.
Indeed, have the Renault version to compare, and also the Opel version, and the Fiat. I would like to see what, if any, are the differences (besides the brand logos).
The windows in my old Beetle used to fog up as the heaters didn’t work and water also got inside. Someone said when the weather is nicer and the windows are dry to get a bar of ordinary hand soap scribble some rude words on the inside window then buff them, the windows didn’t steam up when it rained and my car smelled like soap.. 😂 you got a few extra windows might be worth trying different things 🤓
Enjoying the videos and nice to see you get some bad weather 😂 There is a guy up in Scotland who has just bought one and he says he is going to treat the frame to stop it rusting in a future video due to the Scottish weather. The frame under the body is a bit like a skeleton and if I decide to buy one I think I would put lightweight plastic sheet underneath to protect the motor and 12v battery areas from the rain.
Yes he’s lovely. I think it probably has a rust treatment as standard? I mean they have sold a lot of these in northern france too where the climate is much more akin to U.K so I guess we will find out..
It’s like the old Triumph Herald, whereby the chassis *is* the car and it’s strength. If it rusts one bit to the point of a hole or weakening, then the car is a right off! It’s amazing for eg our VW Polo is 15 years old, cost £12,000 but the body is galvanised with a 20 year warranty. Now why can’t they build a frame - it’s cheap enough- for the Amy with galvanising? You can of course get it done at a specialist that do classic cars restoration, but to be honest, it should be standard seeing as I’ve just said, it’s the chassis of the car.
Having owned a 2cv back in the 80s an opening air vent below the windscreen would help. I always try to keep the temp inside the same as the outside world when leaving the car. Windows open all the time or install an Aircon
Oooh, William beat me to it. Thanks for another informative vlog boys. A couple of points. I might be mistaken but noticed your retrofit twin dash mounted USB fans were not pressed into use. In your next rain test, if possible, could you aim at windscreen (or side windows) to speed up de-misting? Yesterday I submitted Ami test drive request to my local Citroen dealer (Christchurch Dorset). If for no other reason than to inform others who might be interested, I’ll let you know how it went, à bientôt.
One thing that promotes fogged up windows is wet clothing and heavy breathing, your own body heat will cause the moisture to evaporate but as soon as it comes into contact with the cold glass it will condense out. As for the heavy breathing, just control yourselves guys!
Tim, this episode had me thinking about ventilation air inlets on the front of the Ami, that could be connected by several flexible hoses to the inside the cabin, that could be used for passenger cooling or helping to de-misting the windscreen. Or, maybe something like cars of the 1930's and 40s that had a large pop-up scoop below the windscreen or opened out from the sides of the body that simply scooped large amounts of air in the cabin, even at low speeds. Might you have some thoughts or ideas?
What a Very Interesting and Good to know Episode. Bizarre as it sounds wiping the inside of the windscreen with a little bit of shaving foam can help. Put a blob on a cloth, wipe it all over the screen then wipe it down with a clean cloth so the glass is clear. The detergent in the foam stops the water from beading and forming the dreaded mist. You should give it a try. It won't do any harm.
Pity the quarter-lights behind the A pillars don't open, perhaps on a centre pin hinge - demisting wise. Ditto, pity the roof doesn't have a gutter like VW Type 2 transporter . . Perhaps an after-market supplier can provide a stick-on gutter Packets of silicon which can be dried -out in the oven to reduce in-cabin water vapour ? Removable after market heated windscreen for winter or a couple of infra-red LED strips positioned up the A pillar ?
Hi guys…loving watching your adventures in the Ami, looks great fun…..and what a fabulous area you live in. Interesting watching how the Ami steams up in rain. We are wondering just how it would handle snow and ice or even just frosty mornings like you get here in the UK. I guess, it would be useless ! What are your thoughts ! Brilliant vlogs…keep it up !
Thanks. I don’t think it would be useless at all but I think you’d have to pre heat it etc unless it lived in a garage. I mean we every two days have to spend ten minutes cleaning the glass from the sap of an olive tree it lives under (sounds glamorous but gets tedious). I think you have to balance effort v cost of vehicle and we still love ours
Are there any vents at the back to let the air out with the windows close? If not it might be worth fitting some marine type at the back on the roof to drag air out. You can also get some with solar powered fans in to cool the car when parked up during the summer.
That looks terrifying! We've had a lot of heavy rain here lately. When I drive my sans permis to walk Dolly dog at a local park, I find visibility can be terrible. Even winding my windows down a tad. My rear view mirrors are a lot larger than on the Ami, but I can struggle to see what is behind. I have no rear window, so it can be fun when the nearside mirror is covered in rain droplets. I've been considering getting one of those small cigarette lighter powered heaters to help with the windscreen. I also have just the one wiper and visibity to the right can be dodgy.
It’s the other remote control. The watch does the phone cams and the other does the go pros.( and I curse the number of cameras everytime I spend days editing and then go and do it again the next week!)
Hi lads from Spain where we have had rain problems for months - that is a lack of it. We had some today.all half a teaspoonful and that's it the first for about three months. Could you nor redirect the fans to point towards the windscreen? or maybe just one of them?
That's a p.big safety problem and would explain why they're not being sold in colder countries. You probably could have used the two cooling fans by pointing them at the windshield.
How was the battery usage in the rain? Was the range affected? The vehicle may not leak but you have to open the windows to see out letting the rain in. Can't wait to see the car perform in the snow.
I think this steaming up problem is a huge issue for UK buyers as a good chunk of the year is wet and the blower is simply not up to the task. I've watched a few of the British owners having terrible issues with steaming up. I wonder how it has managed to get a licence in the UK on that basis alone given we have a lot of roundabouts where you really must be able to see clearly before joining them.
No rear wiper is an issue for me and steam on the rear window. You can hardly turn round to wipe it while driving or be expected to pull in all the time to clear it - by yourself btw.
Just an observation. The Ami has chunkier tyres and wheels than a 1980's Ford Escort despite it being tiny and half the weight. I wonder if the wheel choice was down to continued economy of replacement rather than the best for the job. Perhaps a set of Continentals would bring better wet weather performance.
That’s interesting. We’ve no complaints about it’s handling, it is what it is. From what I glean stickier tires reduce range for obvious reasons but not sure how much
This: The difference between EV tyres and normal car tyres To deal with the greater weight of electric and hybrid vehicles, electric car tyres tend to be constructed with a reinforced sidewall. Load distribution across the tyre is also taken into consideration. Unique tread compound composition can be found in tyres designed specifically for an electric car, with a high proportion of silica often be used to deliver greater tread elasticity - reducing energy los and improving rolling resistance. Grip and braking on high torque vehicles are dealt with thanks to tread patterns that have been specially developed for aerodynamics and grip - even at high speeds.
@@stumpusMaximus "EV" covers anything from the top of the range Tesla or Porsche to the Ami. The Ami however is tiny, light and with very little performance. It is 100kg lighter than a traditional 60's basic spec Mini but with much lower performance characteristics. I don't think it qualifies for the considerations in tyre selection of other electric vehicles.
Great test, the fogging up seems to be the most mentioned thing over here in the UK. Given the state of our roads in the UK , potholes everywhere and the small size of the Ami's wheels, I would not buy one.
I’m thinking that they should have a defogger incorporated in the Ami’s dash. Since you can’t have everything, you can treat the windows with an anti fog coating spray that should help keep your windows fog free and crystal clear. Looks like Elton passed the rain test with flying colours! The occasional rain in the Riviera is quite manageable, indeed.
Right, my Move Vigorous has a small heater built in for anti fog but that doesnt help much. So, what to do to keep the fog away? Well, i carry an extra battery (gel battery which i had left over from a scootmobile). And i use it entirely for a small heater that blows hot air over the front window. It does require its own recharging, but that is simply done by a small carbatterycharger. So i do need to plug in 2 plugs from time to time. The Move is also charged with a normal plug that fits a household socket. And since you do not need to use the heater every day, the battery holds up quite long. I only need to recharge it once a week in winter time. (depends on how long you use it obviously) I have the heater running on a different battery so not to drain one of the batteries that is powering the motion of the Move Vigorous. I suggest you should do the same: A separate battery to power a small but efficient heater that blows air right to the window. Not too hot obviously..... OR: a windscreen heater. 16501 Hot Pads. Available at rapid online for example. 12 volts, sticks to the window, does work for me.
ps: when i switch on the built-in heater which uses the built-in batteries the Move will slow down a bit. 1 mile an hour i loose on the speed when i switch it on. And, the batteries which are used to power the vehicle forwards drain faster. That is why i have a separate battery sitting in the back where there was room for it. Simple enough. Few wires, a switch, the 16501 hotpads (or such). Works fine for me to keep vision on the road.
PS; When it has rained, take it out to an empty parkinglot with lots of room. And get familiar with how it brakes in the rain. Test everything. Like: Emergency braking. Braking while cornering. I did this with the Move Vigorous just to make sure i know how it handles when on the road. You want to know what happens when you step on the pedal hard. And you can learn this by doing it in controlled situations. Starting with easy things and building it up to where you feel comfortable to take a corner in the rain with some speed and still being able to stop in a short distance without sliding or getting out of control. I am sorry i always write books. I cant help myself.
Did you film this on Sunday? I was in France (although further north) and the storm was so massive, I thought it was going to blow my car onto its side!
I don't have that problem with monAmi and I live near Paris. How do I manage, you may ask? Poverty experience. Old Trick: Clean Moisture Absorbant Kitty Litter tucked under one of the seats. The easiest thing! 1) Buy the cheapest priced panty hose. 2) Cut off a leg at about 60-90cm from the toe. Please stretch while you measure but if you chose not to and to just eye it? Then slip your hand into the toe and cut the excess off once it reaches your elbow. You will figure it out.! 3) fill the amputated socking leg with about 200gm of clean, absorbent kitty litter. In this case, more is not better, but it is more cumbersome, more weighty, and more dust. 4) Tie a knot in the open end. That is it. it should last a long time. Add more or less clean kitty litter per your preference. When not in use, I stole mine under the passenger seat of "Wicked," the name of my monAmi. I got this idea from years of experience owning $300 cars in Dallas, Texas someone gifting me a Secret Santa door draft protector in the 1970s. Yeah, that was before absorbent kitty litter. Yeah, I am that old. Dust used to be a problem with this technique/trick, but no longer! I use a much-hated silicone pie mold to hide it under the passenger seat. If I take it out in the dry days of summer to tan, it seems to have no expiration date. Also, not only have I found a use for the much-detested silicon tart form, but it can hold more than one 'draft protector' By the way. I love "Wicked", my Citreon monAMI. So much so that I am in the process of transforming her into a luxury mode of transformation. Note: I look forward to your videos. Thank you for going through all the efforts and costs to make them. If you're ever up this way, let me know. I have a plug for your monAMI some Tex-Mex enchiladas for you!
so Susannah do you place said amputated, and filled tight leg on top of the dashboard for maximum effect ? Seriously where do you place it to do the job while 'on the go' ?
Be careful guy's, with a driving licence in a so-called 'real' car, you can get a ticket if the windows are not clear to look through! The gendarme is not that easy on that issue!
I know. It’s bizarre that you drive a licensed road vehicle , that if you are drunk or crash, needs insurance and a biometric license to prove you are who you say you are and for vehicle registration purposes. Yet you drive on the roads without any paperwork at all?? Surely that’s not right. Are you insured Mon Amy? Because if you crash into someone you will be prosecuted for not having any. Moped users all have driving license,insurance even as teenagers. This must be a serious loophole. Well brought up @Richard&Bas I found this info though; “Described by the French automobile manufacturer as a "non-conformist object", the Ami car is classified as a fully electric quadricycle, and can therefore be operated without a driving license. This means that people as young as 14 in France, and 16 in other European countries, will be able to drive the car, granted that they have passed a road safety certificate - a short course offered in some European countries that does not require a test.”
Unusually for me, serious technical question…… does Elton have ABS Tim? I know you have done little skids on gravel, but if he/she (or however Elton identifies today) has ABS, don’t worry too much about braking in the wet….
I don't think it will have ABS. It's a legal requirement for cars but not Quadricycles. TBH I don't think it will be a problem unless you fitted cheap chinese tyres which are too hard. I bought a used Suzuki Grand Vitara (without ABS) a few years ago which came on hard tyres and it would lock up on a dry road far too easily. Changed to Goodyear all seasons and had no problems at all after that. The Ami comes on Barum tyres (part of Continental) which are European made so these should be fine, just stay away from the chop suey makes.
@@MeandMonAmi Oh ok; another possibility…..when I started driving the old cars I could afford suffered from this a lot cos they didn’t have “through flow ventilation” - fresh air in at the front, warm humid air out at the back (the second is more important). Might be worth checking if there’s an expel air grid/valve you can open and close?
@@paulrogers8837 That’s very good thinking. There isn’t a specific valve but cooler air definitely gets in at the front so maybe it need a little valve ‘installing’?
@@MeandMonAmi My VW Golf has a button on the dashboard to open/close the ventilation; it’s shows a car outline with an arrow circulating inside the outline..
Oh I’m not complaining Bill it’s part of the deal with Ami but I think it’s worth thinking about for some people who may not realise this is a very lovely simple vehicle
@@MeandMonAmi sure Tim but its always going to be an issue - goes with the course as they say... its just inherent with the spec of the vehicle- realise big prob is having the front widow and front quarter lights out of driver and passenger's reach as you are sitting so far back & restrained by seat belts - stuck in moving traffic without ability to stop it could become a dangerous situation ... no wish on my part to 'poo poo' the issue - however it remains the case that the best solution is window ventilation so you have atmospheric parity inside and out...
Starting to think the Mr Boo facials in the background are the best things!!!!
Everyone does!
If you pointed the USB fans at the screen and had those running, that would help a lot as it keeps the air moving at least! Great video - I love storms lol
We are going to try it! Thanks!
That was my first thought. Seems obvious...even though it may or may not work. My guess is it will help.
Heat, lightning, rain, cold, storm ... You and Your Ami are going through it all, and we can experience it.
I may never drive in an Ami, I may never visit the Riviera again, and I will probably never meet you two. But through the screen I can have it all. Thank you.
Thanks so much. Really glad you are enjoying and took the time to comment.
You might try using your twin cooling fans as "air movers" with the windows open. This should help clear critical areas of the windscreen. Also Silica Gel is sold in colour changing granular form. The colour changes when it has absorbed as much moisture as it can. It can be dried out and reused with warm sun. Possibly a mesh sock with a kg or two in way of blowing fans will provide 'dryer' air to help reduce condensation.
Thanks William going to try that.
Guyz
After months of being so jealous about the wonderful weather you experience seemingly on a daily basis, great to see how Elton copes with the weather he would soon get used to here in Cumbria!
Wonderful, as always…,,,
Mike
Thanks Mike. Hurricane next…
Elton along with his brothers & sisters are going to be prone to the condensation issue with such a large glass area. Rain x anti fog (or similar product) is a good thing but there's only so much these products can do to prevent the misting up problems. At least there's no water ingress. My other observation is what the heater in the ami will be like in very cold temperatures i.e. December Jan & Feb time here in UK & other countries in the northern hemisphere. Not sure it will keep the occupant(s) warm..?? Anyway another excellent vlog by you & Mister Boo & Elton..Mister Boo makes me smile with the facial expressions ☺. Keep up the great channel & keep demisted 👌
Thanks David. I think a bit of judicious insulating around handles and things on the door may help in a winter. It gets a tad drafty!
Really admire your gritted determination, driving out on this test as you didn’t look too happy negotiating those big puddles.
A thought: Is it possible to swivel one or both of those fans to face the windscreen, I notice they were both facing towards you.
I think it might be. We didn’t have them last winter so will try!
@@MeandMonAmi
One other thing Tim, there are moisture absorption pads which can help, I use one in my smart 4-2 (which also has loads of glass) These can be bought in motoring shops. When they fill with moisture the colour changes and then all you have to do to dry it out is to pop it in a microwave. Hey presto 👍
Well done Elton! BTW I've never seen an Ami review where the windows didn't fog up in the rain (or on a freezing morning, no doubt). So you're not alone. Sorry to hear your legs got cold. When driving my Peugeot iOn in colder weather, I found a travel rug and ski mits helped. A bit. Thanks for another fascinating video!
Thanks. Yup it’s not perfect but it is a wonderful little thing
Turn those fans on the dash towards windshield full blast
Going to try that Maurice. We didn’t have them last winter and haven’t had fog since this time last year so..
Bravo guys, thank you
Thanks
Who needs those crazy amphibious Japanese Quadracycles anyway, eh Tim?
Indeed!
Love the show... love SoF excursions... ideas for a trip etc. With the Ami which is also interesting perhaps you should occasionally do a consolidation of good and bad and other findings. Also you should try to get Renault to lend you their car etc.
Thanks Mark. We have some plans in the pipeline but it takes a while to set things up etc
Indeed, have the Renault version to compare, and also the Opel version, and the Fiat. I would like to see what, if any, are the differences (besides the brand logos).
What happens if you direct those two fans at the windscreen?
I don’t know Andrew. Might try now!
The windows in my old Beetle used to fog up as the heaters didn’t work and water also got inside. Someone said when the weather is nicer and the windows are dry to get a bar of ordinary hand soap scribble some rude words on the inside window then buff them, the windows didn’t steam up when it rained and my car smelled like soap.. 😂 you got a few extra windows might be worth trying different things 🤓
That’s funny and we noticed similar today but not with rude words..
was that a bit of polari? Surprised we could vada your eek in the camera it was getting that Dewhurst. Bona video.
Bona comment!
Good video Chaps .... We don't want Elton getting full of "Moistnessness"😁👍🏼
Absolutely NOT!
@@MeandMonAmi You can use my NEW word in a future video .... As long as you mention me 😁👍🏼
Try humidifier they use in tumble dryers dry crystals in plastic pots draw water and condensation
We will a far people have suggested it. Thanks
Still better than a moped 👍⛈
Oh we love it!
Great video, terrible weather. If you get a portable dehumidifier and run it off the bluetti it will keep the windows clear in the rain
Thats an idea Bobby
What about a beattery powered Karcher window vaccum thingy ? and a chamois?
We have a chamois and a lidl version
It rains a lot there, here in Katwijk aan Zee it is not much better. I'm glad Elton can handle the rain well!
He’s fine. Still standing!
Another great video. I did a search on Google and there's quite a few "12v windscreen heater" products. I wonder if one of those would help?
Thanks Roger. Gonna check them out..
Enjoying the videos and nice to see you get some bad weather 😂 There is a guy up in Scotland who has just bought one and he says he is going to treat the frame to stop it rusting in a future video due to the Scottish weather. The frame under the body is a bit like a skeleton and if I decide to buy one I think I would put lightweight plastic sheet underneath to protect the motor and 12v battery areas from the rain.
Yes he’s lovely. I think it probably has a rust treatment as standard? I mean they have sold a lot of these in northern france too where the climate is much more akin to U.K so I guess we will find out..
It’s like the old Triumph Herald, whereby the chassis *is* the car and it’s strength. If it rusts one bit to the point of a hole or weakening, then the car is a right off! It’s amazing for eg our VW Polo is 15 years old, cost £12,000 but the body is galvanised with a 20 year warranty. Now why can’t they build a frame - it’s cheap enough- for the Amy with galvanising? You can of course get it done at a specialist that do classic cars restoration, but to be honest, it should be standard seeing as I’ve just said, it’s the chassis of the car.
I drove sales vans in the '60's and we had no heaters or demisters, can't remember how we coped but I remember being freezing cold in the winter.
That’s funny. At risk of sounding like a cliche I had a bedroom window that had Ice on the inside in Winter in the seventies
Having owned a 2cv back in the 80s an opening air vent below the windscreen would help. I always try to keep the temp inside the same as the outside world when leaving the car. Windows open all the time or install an Aircon
Yup when I was a kid I had a friend with a 2CV and I remember much the same (we did sometimes bail it out with a coke can too!)
Love your videos..Steamy windows? So old car Titanic..
Thanks Patrick
Oooh, William beat me to it. Thanks for another informative vlog boys. A couple of points. I might be mistaken but noticed your retrofit twin dash mounted USB fans were not pressed into use. In your next rain test, if possible, could you aim at windscreen (or side windows) to speed up de-misting?
Yesterday I submitted Ami test drive request to my local Citroen dealer (Christchurch Dorset). If for no other reason than to inform others who might be interested, I’ll let you know how it went, à bientôt.
Thanks. Yup, we didn’t have them last winter so will try!
One thing that promotes fogged up windows is wet clothing and heavy breathing, your own body heat will cause the moisture to evaporate but as soon as it comes into contact with the cold glass it will condense out. As for the heavy breathing, just control yourselves guys!
I was thinking it was all my hot air!;
I found your breath is a big issue too :P If I drive without talking, my windows barely fog up
Tim, this episode had me thinking about ventilation air inlets on the front of the Ami, that could be connected by several flexible hoses to the inside the cabin, that could be used for passenger cooling or helping to de-misting the windscreen. Or, maybe something like cars of the 1930's and 40s that had a large pop-up scoop below the windscreen or opened out from the sides of the body that simply scooped large amounts of air in the cabin, even at low speeds. Might you have some thoughts or ideas?
Yes I think something like it could work and it does need it I think
What a Very Interesting and Good to know Episode. Bizarre as it sounds wiping the inside of the windscreen with a little bit of shaving foam can help. Put a blob on a cloth, wipe it all over the screen then wipe it down with a clean cloth so the glass is clear. The detergent in the foam stops the water from beading and forming the dreaded mist. You should give it a try. It won't do any harm.
Yup it works as does the anti fog spray which we have on but we’ve not solved it entirely in a year.
@@MeandMonAmi You will. I have complete faith in you.
Pity the quarter-lights behind the A pillars don't open, perhaps on a centre pin hinge - demisting wise.
Ditto, pity the roof doesn't have a gutter like VW Type 2 transporter . . Perhaps an after-market supplier can provide a stick-on gutter
Packets of silicon which can be dried -out in the oven to reduce in-cabin water vapour ?
Removable after market heated windscreen for winter or a couple of infra-red LED strips positioned up the A pillar ?
Silicon seems a popular solution!
The Stranglers said it was nice in Nice. That's blown that misconception right out of the standing water! 😂
Lol
Hi guys…loving watching your adventures in the Ami, looks great fun…..and what a fabulous area you live in.
Interesting watching how the Ami steams up in rain. We are wondering just how it would handle snow and ice or even just frosty mornings like you get here in the UK. I guess, it would be useless ! What are your thoughts !
Brilliant vlogs…keep it up !
Thanks. I don’t think it would be useless at all but I think you’d have to pre heat it etc unless it lived in a garage. I mean we every two days have to spend ten minutes cleaning the glass from the sap of an olive tree it lives under (sounds glamorous but gets tedious). I think you have to balance effort v cost of vehicle and we still love ours
Love the car. Are they sold in the States? Enjoy your tours of the south of France. Thank You!
Thanks Leith. Not sure they are on sale in the States yet..
Why not use the USB fans for the screen and side windows?
Someone else suggested this. Will try it!
Are there any vents at the back to let the air out with the windows close? If not it might be worth fitting some marine type at the back on the roof to drag air out. You can also get some with solar powered fans in to cool the car when parked up during the summer.
We have a solar power bank behind the seats so no problem about extra power…our fans work but don’t cool obviously
That looks terrifying! We've had a lot of heavy rain here lately. When I drive my sans permis to walk Dolly dog at a local park, I find visibility can be terrible. Even winding my windows down a tad. My rear view mirrors are a lot larger than on the Ami, but I can struggle to see what is behind. I have no rear window, so it can be fun when the nearside mirror is covered in rain droplets.
I've been considering getting one of those small cigarette lighter powered heaters to help with the windscreen. I also have just the one wiper and visibity to the right can be dodgy.
I feel your pain. Hate driving in steamy rain in it
@@MeandMonAmi Bon courage.
my ENVs windows steam up really badly, unless i open my window an inch or so otherwise i have the heater on,which reduces range,
It’s an issue Count!
Forgot to ask, what is the black wearable device next to Apple Ultra Watch?
It’s the other remote control. The watch does the phone cams and the other does the go pros.( and I curse the number of cameras everytime I spend days editing and then go and do it again the next week!)
Hi lads from Spain where we have had rain problems for months - that is a lack of it. We had some today.all half a teaspoonful and that's it the first for about three months. Could you nor redirect the fans to point towards the windscreen? or maybe just one of them?
We are going to try that. We didn’t have those fans last Winter but I’m longing for fog to try it now!
That's a p.big safety problem and would explain why they're not being sold in colder countries. You probably could have used the two cooling fans by pointing them at the windshield.
We are going to try that. Thanks.
How was the battery usage in the rain? Was the range affected? The vehicle may not leak but you have to open the windows to see out letting the rain in. Can't wait to see the car perform in the snow.
We are waiting for snow. Didn’t notice range drop. Does sometimes lose a couple of KM over night on colder nights like my e bike
I think this steaming up problem is a huge issue for UK buyers as a good chunk of the year is wet and the blower is simply not up to the task. I've watched a few of the British owners having terrible issues with steaming up. I wonder how it has managed to get a licence in the UK on that basis alone given we have a lot of roundabouts where you really must be able to see clearly before joining them.
I think it’s manageable Jacqueline (as many 2cv drivers will testify) but it’s something you have to roll with.
No rear wiper is an issue for me and steam on the rear window. You can hardly turn round to wipe it while driving or be expected to pull in all the time to clear it - by yourself btw.
As my late Father used to say in the 1970s your steaming up the windows stop breathing😂
Top advice!
Where did u get the rear mirror ? I'm looking for one
Amazon. It’s good
Citroen should hire you to work as test driver.
I’m available!;
The fogging up problem is real easy to solve: just don't breathe!
Less hot air!
Just an observation. The Ami has chunkier tyres and wheels than a 1980's Ford Escort despite it being tiny and half the weight. I wonder if the wheel choice was down to continued economy of replacement rather than the best for the job. Perhaps a set of Continentals would bring better wet weather performance.
That’s interesting. We’ve no complaints about it’s handling, it is what it is. From what I glean stickier tires reduce range for obvious reasons but not sure how much
This:
The difference between EV tyres and normal car tyres
To deal with the greater weight of electric and hybrid vehicles, electric car tyres tend to be constructed with a reinforced sidewall. Load distribution across the tyre is also taken into consideration.
Unique tread compound composition can be found in tyres designed specifically for an electric car, with a high proportion of silica often be used to deliver greater tread elasticity - reducing energy los and improving rolling resistance.
Grip and braking on high torque vehicles are dealt with thanks to tread patterns that have been specially developed for aerodynamics and grip - even at high speeds.
@@stumpusMaximus "EV" covers anything from the top of the range Tesla or Porsche to the Ami. The Ami however is tiny, light and with very little performance. It is 100kg lighter than a traditional 60's basic spec Mini but with much lower performance characteristics. I don't think it qualifies for the considerations in tyre selection of other electric vehicles.
Great test, the fogging up seems to be the most mentioned thing over here in the UK. Given the state of our roads in the UK , potholes everywhere and the small size of the Ami's wheels, I would not buy one.
We’ve done 8000 km now and over some pretty mad terrain but we certainly try and avoid potholes
Just give Boo a pair of those huge windscreen wiping gloves.
I’ve not seen those. Link?
I’m thinking that they should have a defogger incorporated in the Ami’s dash. Since you can’t have everything, you can treat the windows with an anti fog coating spray that should help keep your windows fog free and crystal clear. Looks like Elton passed the rain test with flying colours! The occasional rain in the Riviera is quite manageable, indeed.
It was great Norman. It’s good but it doesn’t solve it entirely
Right, my Move Vigorous has a small heater built in for anti fog but that doesnt help much.
So, what to do to keep the fog away?
Well, i carry an extra battery (gel battery which i had left over from a scootmobile).
And i use it entirely for a small heater that blows hot air over the front window.
It does require its own recharging, but that is simply done by a small carbatterycharger. So i do need to plug in 2 plugs from time to time.
The Move is also charged with a normal plug that fits a household socket.
And since you do not need to use the heater every day, the battery holds up quite long.
I only need to recharge it once a week in winter time. (depends on how long you use it obviously)
I have the heater running on a different battery so not to drain one of the batteries that is powering the motion of the Move Vigorous.
I suggest you should do the same: A separate battery to power a small but efficient heater that blows air right to the window. Not too hot obviously.....
OR: a windscreen heater. 16501 Hot Pads. Available at rapid online for example.
12 volts, sticks to the window, does work for me.
ps: when i switch on the built-in heater which uses the built-in batteries the Move will slow down a bit.
1 mile an hour i loose on the speed when i switch it on.
And, the batteries which are used to power the vehicle forwards drain faster.
That is why i have a separate battery sitting in the back where there was room for it.
Simple enough.
Few wires, a switch, the 16501 hotpads (or such).
Works fine for me to keep vision on the road.
PS; When it has rained, take it out to an empty parkinglot with lots of room.
And get familiar with how it brakes in the rain.
Test everything. Like: Emergency braking.
Braking while cornering.
I did this with the Move Vigorous just to make sure i know how it handles when on the road.
You want to know what happens when you step on the pedal hard. And you can learn this by doing it in controlled situations.
Starting with easy things and building it up to where you feel comfortable to take a corner in the rain with some speed and still being able to stop in a short distance without sliding or getting out of control.
I am sorry i always write books. I cant help myself.
Thanks Bert. All good ideas. We have a portable power bank behind the seat which will power a heater so I think that’s the way to go
Did you film this on Sunday? I was in France (although further north) and the storm was so massive, I thought it was going to blow my car onto its side!
Thursday. Maybe it moved up?!
I don't have that problem with monAmi and I live near Paris. How do I manage, you may ask? Poverty experience. Old Trick: Clean Moisture Absorbant Kitty Litter tucked under one of the seats. The easiest thing! 1) Buy the cheapest priced panty hose. 2) Cut off a leg at about 60-90cm from the toe. Please stretch while you measure but if you chose not to and to just eye it? Then slip your hand into the toe and cut the excess off once it reaches your elbow. You will figure it out.! 3) fill the amputated socking leg with about 200gm of clean, absorbent kitty litter. In this case, more is not better, but it is more cumbersome, more weighty, and more dust. 4) Tie a knot in the open end. That is it. it should last a long time. Add more or less clean kitty litter per your preference. When not in use, I stole mine under the passenger seat of "Wicked," the name of my monAmi. I got this idea from years of experience owning $300 cars in Dallas, Texas someone gifting me a Secret Santa door draft protector in the 1970s. Yeah, that was before absorbent kitty litter. Yeah, I am that old. Dust used to be a problem with this technique/trick, but no longer! I use a much-hated silicone pie mold to hide it under the passenger seat. If I take it out in the dry days of summer to tan, it seems to have no expiration date. Also, not only have I found a use for the much-detested silicon tart form, but it can hold more than one 'draft protector' By the way. I love "Wicked", my Citreon monAMI. So much so that I am in the process of transforming her into a luxury mode of transformation.
Note: I look forward to your videos. Thank you for going through all the efforts and costs to make them. If you're ever up this way, let me know. I have a plug for your monAMI some Tex-Mex enchiladas for you!
One of my all time favourite comments! We will definitely look you up if we get to Paris and we hope to!!
so Susannah do you place said amputated, and filled tight leg on top of the dashboard for maximum effect ? Seriously where do you place it to do the job while 'on the go' ?
Elton should be renamed Tina. Steamy Windows?
Simply the best;
Be careful guy's, with a driving licence in a so-called 'real' car, you can get a ticket if the windows are not clear to look through! The gendarme is not that easy on that issue!
I’ve always wondered how they take your licence away if you don’t have one…
@@MeandMonAmi Don't you have to have a scooter licence in fance? You do here...
I know. It’s bizarre that you drive a licensed road vehicle , that if you are drunk or crash, needs insurance and a biometric license to prove you are who you say you are and for vehicle registration purposes. Yet you drive on the roads without any paperwork at all?? Surely that’s not right. Are you insured Mon Amy? Because if you crash into someone you will be prosecuted for not having any. Moped users all have driving license,insurance even as teenagers. This must be a serious loophole. Well brought up @Richard&Bas
I found this info though;
“Described by the French automobile manufacturer as a "non-conformist object", the Ami car is classified as a fully electric quadricycle, and can therefore be operated without a driving license.
This means that people as young as 14 in France, and 16 in other European countries, will be able to drive the car, granted that they have passed a road safety certificate - a short course offered in some European countries that does not require a test.”
@@MeandMonAmi...... But they can take your car away....... 👀
Unusually for me, serious technical question…… does Elton have ABS Tim? I know you have done little skids on gravel, but if he/she (or however Elton identifies today) has ABS, don’t worry too much about braking in the wet….
I don't think it will have ABS. It's a legal requirement for cars but not Quadricycles. TBH I don't think it will be a problem unless you fitted cheap chinese tyres which are too hard. I bought a used Suzuki Grand Vitara (without ABS) a few years ago which came on hard tyres and it would lock up on a dry road far too easily. Changed to Goodyear all seasons and had no problems at all after that.
The Ami comes on Barum tyres (part of Continental) which are European made so these should be fine, just stay away from the chop suey makes.
Thanks Bimble
I don’t think it has..
Turn the fans around too face the windscreen
Doesn’t solve it we’ve tried!
Why not point your fans to the windscreen?
Thanks Paul we are going to try that!
Have you tried pointing your fans at the window so they can wipe it for you whilst you drive?
Sorry, couldn't resist.
You couldn’t resist!
p.s. turn the fans 180 degrees!!!!!
We’ve tried it Paul. Helps but only a bit
@@MeandMonAmi Oh ok; another possibility…..when I started driving the old cars I could afford suffered from this a lot cos they didn’t have “through flow ventilation” - fresh air in at the front, warm humid air out at the back (the second is more important). Might be worth checking if there’s an expel air grid/valve you can open and close?
@@paulrogers8837 That’s very good thinking. There isn’t a specific valve but cooler air definitely gets in at the front so maybe it need a little valve ‘installing’?
@@MeandMonAmi leave that drill alone!!!!!!
@@MeandMonAmi My VW Golf has a button on the dashboard to open/close the ventilation; it’s shows a car outline with an arrow circulating inside the outline..
😮
👍
OMG HOW CAN YO KEEP it WARM
Thermal undies!
@@MeandMonAmi may have to send you some warmers
Could have done with a Tina Turner soundtrack 🤣
Very good !!!! he he ...
Would have loved to…
Not good sweep area + foggy screens = you are in danger
Certainly have to keep an eye on it
Passenger side = Drinkers side !!
True!
You need better fans! 😄
You mean, “we need a bigger fan” 😂
just keep the b----y windows open ! Man up people !! (no offence to you Tim and Richsrd
Oh I’m not complaining Bill it’s part of the deal with Ami but I think it’s worth thinking about for some people who may not realise this is a very lovely simple vehicle
@@MeandMonAmi sure Tim but its always going to be an issue - goes with the course as they say... its just inherent with the spec of the vehicle- realise big prob is having the front widow and front quarter lights out of driver and passenger's reach as you are sitting so far back & restrained by seat belts - stuck in moving traffic without ability to stop it could become a dangerous situation ... no wish on my part to 'poo poo' the issue - however it remains the case that the best solution is window ventilation so you have atmospheric parity inside and out...