31st Jan 2001, 16:46
The Allegro's Hydragas is much better than anything the Citroen had to offer - simply because they are too heavy - therefore Citroen's system similar to Hydragas always failed, that's why the only time you'll see a CX is when the suspension is sagging - and that's not it being leveled!! The Allegro's Hydragas was so good that sports cars today such as the MGF use the same system!!
18th Feb 2001, 10:35
Agree, and when you start an Allegro you don't have to wait until your car is finally getting in the air, the Allegro is there already and you can just drive away.
22nd May 2001, 00:46
I remember Metros having the hydragas system, but everyone who had one complained they were awful. However, When I owned an Allegro, it only needed pumping up once in three years.
Austin Allegro: excellent car with two minor problems, failed the MOT every year at a cost of approx £150 a time, and the back window fell out when jacked up!!
20th Jun 2001, 18:14
Having owned Allegros, Ambassadors, GSs and CXs I find it hard to believe that the harsh, bouncy ride of the former can be considered to be better than the smooth, almost floating ride of the latter. However, both systems have now been bettered by less complicated conventional methods. To the second commentee, my friend WAS killed when the rear of his Datsun Sunny crumbled to dust due to corrosion at 50mph causing loss of control. There is a horror story attached to EVERY car ever built. The vast majority of Datsuns did not kill their owners and neither did Citroens.
17th Jan 2005, 02:01
I would just like to add that no car is the 'best' car, as everyone's needs and wants are different. German and Swedish cars are too expensive to tinker with, while fords seem to rust out earlier that other makes. (Just look at all the fiestas that are gettin on for ten years old. Others just have a poor reputation. I had a 1275cc Allegro from '76. It leaked oil like a sieve, rattled, smoked, screeched and needed the clutch doing twice and the suspension pumping up 3 times. I eventually sold it for NZ$50 (£20) because the gearbox bearings failed. I learned a lot about maintaining cars in just two short years of Allegro ownership. My brother had a 1500 Lada from '87 and the air filter was a piece of our mum's stockings. The thing went for years until the differential went. I am currently working in the UK and need a reliable car so run a '95 Renault Clio 1200. It's cheap on insurance and fuel, but I think it's a little granny's shopping cart because I am used to bigger fords and holdens. I would love a car like my dad's award winning Rover P6B with a nice 3.6 litre V8, but just imagine the running costs in the UK. In the UK, people regard a 2 litre as a 'big' car. In NZ, a 2 litre is still a small car. A powerful car does not make you a better driver. I have no time for boy racers who do cowboy jobs and put decals on 1600 cc escorts. It is not cool. I rest my case, mate!
4th Dec 2005, 14:47
I've just bought a partially restored 78' Allegro, and I would just like to say how impressed I was with the handling- it feels very modern and the grip is fantastic. I have found the brakes to be quite scary at low speeds (Seem fine at higher ones?) and as for the engine I love the 1275 A-series, but it wasn't really designed for a car this big. Oil leaks are usually easy enough to cure on this car though, mostly being caused by rubber seals wearing out. Maintenance schedules do seem to compare to 1950's cars, but that is probably because that's when this engine first appeared. Anybody wanting to create a go-faster one use mini tuning bits, its just a bigger version. I'm fitting a 120bhp mini cooper 1275cc engine in mine! In all honesty, most people slagging this car off have either never driven one (Its not the greatest looker in the world) or have bought a complete nail expecting wonders. I think you have to look at the time when this car was built and at the sum of its components and show a little understanding of the hows and whys? It's a great little car if you like to fiddle, maybe not so great if you want Japan style dependability.
23rd Feb 2007, 14:50
Only if you do 30,000 miles a year which thank God I don't. The front spheres on my GSA are original and with 50,000 miles on the clock I can tell you that this car is still superb for roadholding and ride. It is also extremely practical and reliable.
1st Jan 2008, 15:08
A GSA with only 50,000 on the clock? ANY GSA still in one piece?? I am frankly stunned. but then, if its only done 50,000 miles in a minimum of 26 years its hardly a car and more a garage ornament, wouldn't you say, and unlikely to be wearing ANY components out any time soon. Yours is the exception rather than the rule, I haven't seen one in any condition for about 18 years.
5th Feb 2014, 17:45
I drove the very first Allegro in Bolton when they had the Quartic steering wheel. Problems I had were squeaking brakes and baulking when driving slow.
Other than that, I have to say the criticism leveled at the Allegro is largely unfounded. A great car when new, and if you get a good one, a great car now.
21st Jan 2001, 14:18
So you think Citroens are the best then - far better than any old car. Well, the last experience a member of my family had with a regularly serviced, fairly new, good condition Citroen was when they were driving down a steep hill and the brakes failed and they were nearly killed, so you might think you have a better car than this persons Allegro or my 21 year old, "never broken down" Datsun, but I think a lot of people would disagree with you.
And yes, the Datsun does perform smoothly and superbly at very high speeds on a bad road. I find it interesting how so many people say "Yes, my car's so reliable, it's brill", then I see it's got an AA sticker in it. Well, that's doesn't make sense to me. There's no AA sticker in mine and probably not in this persons Allegro.