# What is this little car I keep seeing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299 "2005-08-09T17:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/21 "2005-08-09T20:53:57Z")
Could it be the [Subaru 360](http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/subaru360.html)? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/22 "2005-08-09T20:59:17Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > Not a Type 3–too sedany. Definitely not a Peugeot 306. They aren’t new cars. They’re old and made of metal, like Bugs. The Duck seems to be the same as the 2VC. The only reason I’m not certain, I think, is that the doors on the 2VC seem too plain. I’m pretty sure the cars I’ve seen have retagular depressions stamped into the door panels. No, no. I wasn’t saying it was a Peugeot 306. I’m saying it’s almost certainly a Citroen 2CX. The 2CX was produced from, I dunno, the 30s or 40s into the 90s. That’s the trademark French car. The Peogeot 306 comment was me rueing the fact that I don’t see many French cars in the US, even though I think they have some very nice models. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/23 "2005-08-09T21:47:00Z")
It wasn’t a [VW Thing](http://www.frontiernet.net/~dooda/thing.htm) was it? They sort of looked like squared-off Beetles. It doesn’t have a curved top, though, so probably not what you saw. But they are more common than some of the other cars mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/24 "2005-08-09T21:49:22Z")
No, I’m familiar with Things. The cars I’m seeing are much smaller than a Thing, although the doors on that do remind me of the pattern I was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![sishoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@sishoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sishoch)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/25 "2005-08-09T22:16:25Z")
Maybe an Autounion? [http://www.auto-union-veteranen-club.de/](http://www.auto-union-veteranen-club.de/) (scroll to the bottom) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/26 "2005-08-09T22:21:48Z")
[Nash Metropolitan](http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1960-1969/1961-Nash-Metropolitan-Aqua-White-le.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/27 "2005-08-09T22:25:31Z")
Oh, what the heck. The only reason I hesitate now with the Citroen 2SV designation is that you said it’s smaller than a Beetle. The 2SV isn’t. Perhaps the [NSU Prinz](http://www.rider.dk/graziella/grazi04b-602.jpg), which definitely is smaller? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/28 "2005-08-09T22:47:57Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > [Nash Metropolitan](http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1960-1969/1961-Nash-Metropolitan-Aqua-White-le.jpg)? Mmmmm…no. I’ve seen a few of those around, too, though. It’s not the Prinz either, but how cute! I’m not sure it’s a lot smaller than a Beetle. It may just look smaller because it’s narrower and lower to the ground, which might strengthen the argument for the Citroen. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/29 "2005-08-09T23:12:24Z")
A [Daihatsu Copen?](http://www.kakaku.com/kuruma/images/car/DAIHATSU_copen.jpg) I thought from a distance they were an old Peugeot of some sort. A bit of a long shot probably. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/30 "2005-08-09T23:16:57Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > A [Daihatsu Copen?](http://www.kakaku.com/kuruma/images/car/DAIHATSU_copen.jpg) I thought from a distance they were an old Peugeot of some sort. A bit of a long shot probably. Too fancy. These are very utilitarian-looking things. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/31 "2005-08-09T23:22:10Z")
The picture I’ve seen here that resembles it most is the gray car in the background of **Can Handle the Truth’s** link in post #5, although the one’s I’ve seen were red and yellow, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/32 "2005-08-09T23:40:12Z")
That grey car is also a Citroen 2CV, I think. It definitely wasn’t a [Smart Fortwo](http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/smart.html), then? Those are in current production. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/33 "2005-08-09T23:41:13Z")
Like [these?](http://www.cats-citroen.net/images/photos/az/az_b009a.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/34 "2005-08-10T02:17:04Z")
Here’s a better picture of the [Citroen 2VC](http://www.voitures-d-ingenieurs.com/citroen_2cvL.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/35 "2005-08-10T02:27:33Z")
Where are you seeing these cars? In the US, Europe or Asia? Are these cars you are seeing now, or back when the beetle was being built for the first time? If the answer is now, do they look new or do they look 30 years old? Anyway if we are going for old cars, my money is on the 2CV. If we are talking about modern cars, how about the [Audi TT Coupe?](http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-abc/Audi-TT-Coupe-Yellow-Side-Trees-1600x1200.jpg) Looks a whole like a new Beetle from the correct angles. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/36 "2005-08-10T08:22:57Z")
I used to own a 2CV (fantastic car, in many ways); they are _roughly_ comparable to a VW beetle in size (that is to say that a casual observer probably wouldn’t describe one as significantly bigger than the other), although the 2CV is narrower, taller and has a bit more ground clearance. Citroen also made the less curvy (and less attractive, IMO) [Diane](http://web.onetel.com/~janandbobspencer/Citroen_Diane.jpg). And I haven’t seen anyone mention the Ford KA yet, which is in current production, although it doesn’t quite fit the description. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/37 "2005-08-10T08:32:10Z")
Some of Citroen’s current production range is also quite curvy and beetle-like, such as the [C3/Pluriel](http://www.auto-sfondi-desktop.com/Wallpapers_Citroen_/Citroen-C3-Pluriel/Citroen-C3-Pluriel-03/Citroen-C3-Pluriel-03_800.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/38 "2005-08-10T13:28:09Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Where are you seeing these cars? In the US, Europe or Asia? Are these cars you are seeing now, or back when the beetle was being built for the first time? If the answer is now, do they look new or do they look 30 years old? I think we’d home in a bit more easily if we knew these facts. **cher3** , how close did you get to it? I assume there wasn’t a large name badge on it, any symbols of any sort inside or out to help identification? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/39 "2005-08-10T13:41:10Z")
Another smallish, beetle-esque car is the Nissan [Micra](http://www.autogazeta.com/g/429/Dsc06629.jpg) And there’s a very small goods van I keep seeing about; obviously in current production and very reminiscent of the 2CV van, only more curvy at the back. Can’t seem to find a picture of one anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/40 "2005-08-10T14:20:21Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Another smallish, beetle-esque car is the Nissan [Micra](http://www.autogazeta.com/g/429/Dsc06629.jpg). Reminds me of the [Toyota Echo sedan](http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/19/wo/Home.Vehicles.Go.Echo-oR9QlQVbKcMA7hsgaZWrn0/0.15?fmg%2fecho%2fintro%2ehtml). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299.md?page=3)