Back in the day, the story was the Citroen DS was by far the favorite car of French bank robbers. The hydropneumatic suspension allowed insane speeds over urban terrain that simply wrecked chasing cars. Like down staircases?
My BIL had a '67 Mustang. You opened the hood and there was ... just an engine. There was so much room in the engine compartment you could actually stand in there. There weren't wires and hoses going everywhere, just the few that were needed.
yeah I fiddle around with Mercedes stuff. Indeed, generally it is not "good". It is shitty, but only that works. "Good" meant as working vs not working.
Of all the cool ass features they used to put into cars but stopped because they were "too expensive" Built in jack stands and hydraulic suspension is just really damn useful and cool.
Quite a few 4WDs come with air suspension, which can do this. It's mostly used for towing (so you can add a bunch of towball weight and cargo without needing either too-stiff suspension for normal driving or too much sag when loaded), but it can be used this way too!
The problem is, how often do you really use these features? Every couple of years? Gears and drives and cranks lock up over time and disuse. Plus, you're paying to haul the weight of it all the time, everywhere you drive.
I get that it is *cool*, I agree it is. But it's just not practical.
I change the tires to my car two times a year, greetings from Finland (different tires for summer and winter time). Plus its not unusual to have to drive on a road that is not paved and has lots of holes and bumps, so being able to increase the distance to the ground would be cool. But I understand that the more complex systems in a car the more probable are all kinds of faults that need fixing.
This is an added feature, not a carry around extra. The car has a hydropneumatic suspension (air and oil) that is in constant use. It sets ride height, balances load shift (drives with one wheel off), and makes for easy tire changes when needed.
Well hydraulic suspension is in use always. completelly superior ride comfort. Mercedes used to have an option for hydraulic system until 2003. All stationwagons had it in rear until that as standard.
You got it wrong. The car an oleo-pneumatic suspension. The fact that she can drive on 3 wheels is a consequence of that. You use your suspensions all year.
My point is it's not 'extra parts'. It's another system that works well. You just need mechanics that understand how to replace the spheres or change the oil, which is fairly easy. It failed in the US where mechanics had no idea wth they were looking at.
When I was throwing news papers on a rural paper route, I was changing at least one tire a month, and fixing a flat at least once a week, because rural routes are filthy with sharp objects. Secondly, I keep a jack and tire changing kit in my car because if I'm not hauling it around, then I'm not going to have it when I'm stranded on the side of the highway. So having a simple flip down jack stand on either side of the car isn't something that's going to seize up, especially if it's made with >
modern materials. And the hydraulic suspension would be great for all KINDS of uses, from dealing with pot holes, dealing with unusual terrain, etc. that would actually protect the car.
But in those conditions, do you trust for this mechanical contraption to work through surprise sleet or even snow that just dropped overnight with no prior warning. That's a lot of extra moving parts to break. Not that modern cars don't have those a plenty anyway.. but even morer than that >:O That being said, built in carjack would be handy. One that draw power from car's motor to run the hydraulic, but if it breaks can be easily replaced, and doesn't take entire wheel with it when it breaks.
I don't think generally speaking cars suspension does what we see in gif? So. Some extra moving parts are required to manipulate how that works. Some motor or hydraulic apparatus that affects the part. Which, without this dynamic setting would be quite a bit more static and sealed. Buuuuuut. I do admit my experience with car mechanics is mostly from not touching the car in My Summer Car, so I'm probably way off here :P
nabps
Class
executivedisfunction
Back in the day, the story was the Citroen DS was by far the favorite car of French bank robbers. The hydropneumatic suspension allowed insane speeds over urban terrain that simply wrecked chasing cars. Like down staircases?
DasBeaker
Patric Jane would like a word…
a2s2020
False. All you need is this keyring and you can drive off in a new Citroën
Zetor
This car was designed by a time traveler from the future. He did his best with the technology we had at the time
Phimukhi
average Citroën engineer:
Sebastopol140
The DS is magic on wheels.
bastardof69
I knew they did this but I have never seen the process before. Awesome
CorgisButtsDriveMeNuts
Hydraulic suspension ftw !!!
JellybellyBushroot
I remember being in one and took a thick speed bump at 12mph and didn't even feel it.
tymonaSmasher
Anyone else know of the De Gaulle assassination attempt
ChloeRed
"He's been shot and it took out a wheel" "I'll drive directly to a hospital with out the wheel!"
hotaru251
NGL never udnerstood why car frames didn't have a built in lack. would be so simple to add onto the thing
hotaru251
built in jack*
jappie348
Man i wish they still made cars that are repairable at home. Nowadays you need a degree in co.lmputer science to fix a car
SecurityBadger
My BIL had a '67 Mustang. You opened the hood and there was ... just an engine. There was so much room in the engine compartment you could actually stand in there. There weren't wires and hoses going everywhere, just the few that were needed.
SergeyPrkl
Not just degree, but have to pay for the digital tool use. Good diagnostics software is expensive.
Evenmoreuselessname
"Good" have you seen the interfaces of manufacturer software? More like "shitty diagnostic software with the encryption keys is expensive."
SergeyPrkl
yeah I fiddle around with Mercedes stuff. Indeed, generally it is not "good". It is shitty, but only that works. "Good" meant as working vs not working.
AnythingMuchShorter
I have a degree in computer science. You need their custom interface electronics and software packages even if you do know how it works.
MCpeepantz
For anything German, you will need special tools as well. Cause why not make something super overcomplicated just because you can.
Jandegrote
Well no not just because they can but if you or any basic shop can fix it you aren't coming back to the dealership (:
CyberHexx
Of all the cool ass features they used to put into cars but stopped because they were "too expensive" Built in jack stands and hydraulic suspension is just really damn useful and cool.
exploradoresciclos2018
Cierto. ...👍
Agouti
Quite a few 4WDs come with air suspension, which can do this. It's mostly used for towing (so you can add a bunch of towball weight and cargo without needing either too-stiff suspension for normal driving or too much sag when loaded), but it can be used this way too!
zer0vector
The problem is, how often do you really use these features? Every couple of years? Gears and drives and cranks lock up over time and disuse. Plus, you're paying to haul the weight of it all the time, everywhere you drive.
I get that it is *cool*, I agree it is. But it's just not practical.
kooooll
I change the tires to my car two times a year, greetings from Finland (different tires for summer and winter time). Plus its not unusual to have to drive on a road that is not paved and has lots of holes and bumps, so being able to increase the distance to the ground would be cool. But I understand that the more complex systems in a car the more probable are all kinds of faults that need fixing.
edalton454
This is an added feature, not a carry around extra. The car has a hydropneumatic suspension (air and oil) that is in constant use. It sets ride height, balances load shift (drives with one wheel off), and makes for easy tire changes when needed.
SergeyPrkl
Well hydraulic suspension is in use always. completelly superior ride comfort. Mercedes used to have an option for hydraulic system until 2003. All stationwagons had it in rear until that as standard.
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ChloeRed
Obviously my car wasn't modern enough
Evenmoreuselessname
When was the last one?
ChloeRed
After that one? 2 weeks later. My last puncture recently was 6 months ago, and 8 months before that, and...
Snooj
One on hand, yes, but on the other hand, you still carry some of this stuff with you at all times in case you get a flat.
GordonFreeman59
You got it wrong. The car an oleo-pneumatic suspension. The fact that she can drive on 3 wheels is a consequence of that. You use your suspensions all year.
ChloeRed
And in the DS it also runs the brakes and steering. How often do you not use the suspension, brakes, and steering in a car?
GordonFreeman59
My point is it's not 'extra parts'. It's another system that works well. You just need mechanics that understand how to replace the spheres or change the oil, which is fairly easy. It failed in the US where mechanics had no idea wth they were looking at.
ChloeRed
Yes, I was adding to your comment the other systems the DS runs on it's hydraulic system which are in constant use *nods*
popeyeNL
Twice a year changing summer tires to winter tires.
CyberHexx
When I was throwing news papers on a rural paper route, I was changing at least one tire a month, and fixing a flat at least once a week, because rural routes are filthy with sharp objects. Secondly, I keep a jack and tire changing kit in my car because if I'm not hauling it around, then I'm not going to have it when I'm stranded on the side of the highway. So having a simple flip down jack stand on either side of the car isn't something that's going to seize up, especially if it's made with >
CyberHexx
modern materials. And the hydraulic suspension would be great for all KINDS of uses, from dealing with pot holes, dealing with unusual terrain, etc. that would actually protect the car.
zer0vector
I mean, congrats, you have an extremely specific use case. That doesn't change anything I said.
CyberHexx
Having a tire changing kit in your car isn't a specific use case. There's a reason your car comes with one.
SergeyPrkl
Modern cars doesn't come witt tire or tools. Just a bottle of liquid foamstuff and a tiny 12V compressor.
ChloeRed
I had to modify my last 3 cars to take a spare wheel, as they didn't come with the ability to change a wheel...
PanNonOpticon
Twice a year, if you live where winter tires are a must.
SergeyPrkl
AHum it is in use every day, as it is active suspension, making the ride super comfy.
Felberin
But in those conditions, do you trust for this mechanical contraption to work through surprise sleet or even snow that just dropped overnight with no prior warning. That's a lot of extra moving parts to break. Not that modern cars don't have those a plenty anyway.. but even morer than that >:O That being said, built in carjack would be handy. One that draw power from car's motor to run the hydraulic, but if it breaks can be easily replaced, and doesn't take entire wheel with it when it breaks.
PanNonOpticon
There is no surprice sleet up north. You can tell by the calendar pretty accurately when it is time to change winter tires.
ChloeRed
This "mechanical contraption" is the car's suspension, it's in use every time the car is driven. It's not extra moving parts.
Felberin
I don't think generally speaking cars suspension does what we see in gif? So. Some extra moving parts are required to manipulate how that works. Some motor or hydraulic apparatus that affects the part. Which, without this dynamic setting would be quite a bit more static and sealed. Buuuuuut. I do admit my experience with car mechanics is mostly from not touching the car in My Summer Car, so I'm probably way off here :P