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R4L virgin question

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BobJohnson

Enthusiast
Messages
12
Location
Cannes
Greetings everyone

I have recently moved to southern France, and am looking for some wheels, which I would prefer to be classic french since I live in France, and I have of course fallen for the R4.
My only concern is that I not only live surrounded by "mountains", but I will be parking in a parking building with very steep ramps up and down, and I'm a bit concerned if this will be a daily stress element due to the limited power of the engine?
Am I underestimating the torque and low gearing of the R4, or is this something I should consider before getting one?

More info:
- This will be my daily driver (mostly city).
- The car will most likely be a mid 70's with the smaller engine.
- I have a 3 y/o kid who will be backseating it.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks guys
/Bob
 
I think you'll be fine. The good ground clearance will help with up/down ramps and the small size will be ideal for negotiating tight spots. The car is light so I don't think you'll have problems with the mountains. Other folk on here with more mountain experience will hopefully confirm that.

Good luck!
 
The car is light, so the small torquey engine deals with pulling the car up hill. We have our 845cc TL in the Lot and drive up from, and down into, the Dordogne River valley, with about 150m climb with hairpins, and the car does it, in third so at 30-40, but usually the hairpins stuff the faster cars because going faster is so uncomfortable, especially for the passengers , so that nearly every one drives slowly. There are a few bullies, aren't there always, and you just let them pass. And coming down you can be with the traffic, just keep tabs on the shoes. Our car is drums all round, which work well. It will do 70, but 60 is comfy on the motorway with the odd 65 mph burst to get past a lorry. As mentioned above, its a change of pace. I find very little horn beeping, because nearly everyone likes seeing a Quatrelle on the move, and there is a lot of respect. And if you don't like it, use it for sunny weekends, or sell it on here.
 
jjad said:
I think you'll be fine. The good ground clearance will help with up/down ramps and the small size will be ideal for negotiating tight spots. The car is light so I don't think you'll have problems with the mountains. Other folk on here with more mountain experience will hopefully confirm that.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Hi jjad

Thanks for the input, I appreciate that.
I guess my main concern is if the R4 has enough power/torque to climb the steep ramps between the parking building floors without too much fiddling with the clutch.
 
It has enough umph to do the job, just maybe in a lower gear than the one you use now, but slower improves accuracy, and the car is so small compared with cars now, that there is always space. It will be fine.
 
edwin said:
The car is light, so the small torquey engine deals with pulling the car up hill. We have our 845cc TL in the Lot and drive up from, and down into, the Dordogne River valley, with about 150m climb with hairpins, and the car does it, in third so at 30-40, but usually the hairpins stuff the faster cars because going faster is so uncomfortable, especially for the passengers , so that nearly every one drives slowly. There are a few bullies, aren't there always, and you just let them pass. And coming down you can be with the traffic, just keep tabs on the shoes. Our car is drums all round, which work well. It will do 70, but 60 is comfy on the motorway with the odd 65 mph burst to get past a lorry. As mentioned above, its a change of pace. I find very little horn beeping, because nearly everyone likes seeing a Quatrelle on the move, and there is a lot of respect. And if you don't like it, use it for sunny weekends, or sell it on here.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Edwin.

Beautiful place Dordogne River Valley. Doesn't sound like the worst place in the world to drive :)
I wouldn't spend much time on the highway, so hopefully that won't be an issue. It would most be daily drives from Cannes to Antibes by the coast.
The mountain rides would be once in a while south of Cannes where the daily commuters are a bit aggressive, but nothing that would stress me out too much.
My main concern is actually just if the R4 can manage going up the steep slopes in the parking building,.or if that would be a daily stress element to have to fiddle with the clutch and momentum.

Thanks again
 
edwin said:
It has enough umph to do the job, just maybe in a lower gear than the one you use now, but slower improves accuracy, and the car is so small compared with cars now, that there is always space. It will be fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Sounds like I underestimate the handling only looking at the low horsepower. I guess low weight + decent torque(?) + low gearing does the trick.
They do use R4's in the hundreds each year in the Trophy from France to Morocco after all, so they must be tough :)
 
Hello Bob, welcome to the forum. These little cars are tough, and designed for just about all conditions, and with their light weight, low gearing and nice little revy engine, can tackle just about any situation you throw at it. I'm sure your chosen steed will be just fine.
Regards Brian.
 
Cornish4 said:
Hello Bob, welcome to the forum. These little cars are tough, and designed for just about all conditions, and with their light weight, low gearing and nice little revy engine, can tackle just about any situation you throw at it. I'm sure your chosen steed will be just fine.
Regards Brian.
Click to expand...

Hi Brian

Thanks for both the reassurance and the greeting. It's great to see that there are enthusiasts willing to give advice :)
 
Hi Bob.... if you're planning on a car seat for your 3yr old, check there will be factory-fit 3-point rear seat belt mountings. Our 70's UK TL (845cc) didn't have them, but the '83 UK GTL (1100cc) did, with the upper mountings on the tailgate frame, lower mountings in the floor and inner wings. In my opinion, the GTL/1100cc with the larger engine has more torque, together with front disc brakes and the handbrake operating on the back wheels (drum braked cars have the handbrake on the front wheels) may be the more 'conventional' choice, but the smaller engines (845 cc or less in France) are very willing powerplants.....8 million buyers can't be wrong!
 
I live down a dyke here in Holland and yust rivived an 839 782cc 27horses engine. It can climb my driveway with 2 kids and 2 adults even when yust started and on choke. It has plenty of power for that. Its really steap! It has the HAO or 354 tranny.

Its a 1975 french import. And had all the mountains holes and treads for 3point belts in the back.

Now go and buy the sucker! It will give you a great smile every day to work!
 
I can vouch for that Bob. I was on the same trip with harbourseal last year in my 1108cc GTL, and his smaller engined car gave sterling service, and that was fully laden with his camping gear, spares, tools etc, and I can tell you we climbed some pretty steep hills with hairpin bends added. Both cars worked hard, and survived. 20190705_111145.jpg
 
Mine has got me just about everywhere and never not been able to cope, area I live is popular with the ‘off grid’ camping and 4x4, the 4 has been to most of the sites popular with these, often drawing bemused smiles from the owners of said vehicles, its taken a full on sound system to the top of a mountain for a festival ( 3 trips due to amount of equipment) up tracks that a Renault Espace just could not get up, drives around Santiago/A Coruna no problem in traffic, motorways 90/100 km, let them pass if there rushing to get there, enjoy the scenery, your looking out of you own flatscreen, not rushing to see whats on the one hanging dormant in the living room and to me the most important thing a 4 puts back into motoring, Fun, if you enjoy driving you will like a 4,they can,will and have got to most everywhere....4BA5D7E1-780E-45BE-9E1B-6E5BF5CE4457.jpeg
Sometimes even before a speeding bulldog..
 
John Edmonds said:
Hi Bob.... if you're planning on a car seat for your 3yr old, check there will be factory-fit 3-point rear seat belt mountings. Our 70's UK TL (845cc) didn't have them, but the '83 UK GTL (1100cc) did, with the upper mountings on the tailgate frame, lower mountings in the floor and inner wings. In my opinion, the GTL/1100cc with the larger engine has more torque, together with front disc brakes and the handbrake operating on the back wheels (drum braked cars have the handbrake on the front wheels) may be the more 'conventional' choice, but the smaller engines (845 cc or less in France) are very willing powerplants.....8 million buyers can't be wrong!
Click to expand...

Hi John

I will definetly look into the child seat, although Google doesn't seem to come up with many results.
It makes sense with the layer models. The one I have my eyes on at the moment is a mid 70's (small engine) model. There are not a huge selection for sale in my area in France at the moment in the budget range I prefer.
 
Cornish4 said:
Hi Bob, I'm glad that John mentioned the later 1108cc car, with its more modern layout, and a bit more grunt. It maybe an option worth looking at.
Click to expand...

Hi Cornish
I will see if there are some older models within my budget in my area. Otherwise it's gonna be a mid 70's I think
 
Crelesy said:
I live down a dyke here in Holland and yust rivived an 839 782cc 27horses engine. It can climb my driveway with 2 kids and 2 adults even when yust started and on choke. It has plenty of power for that. Its really steap! It has the HAO or 354 tranny.

Its a 1975 french import. And had all the mountains holes and treads for 3point belts in the back.

Now go and buy the sucker! It will give you a great smile every day to work!
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's very good to know, and cool to hear about your ride :)

In 'my' parking building, the ramps are pretty steep and curved, and at the top you need to look for crossing cars as well. That's mainly my concern. Sounds like the pulling power itself isn't an issue though which helps a lot.

We'll see soon if I get to join the tribe :)
 
harbourseal said:
I drive a 845cc Sinpar 4x4. It has taken me all the way from the Netherlands to southern France and back. All on back roads with plenty steep incline.
the small engine is a powerhouse. Not fast but plenty torque.
Click to expand...

Super cool with the Sinpar. There doesn't seem to be a whole bunch of those for sale in my area. How does the 4x4 on those hold up in regards to reliability etc, and is it constant 4x4?
 
Cornish4 said:
I can vouch for that Bob. I was on the same trip with harbourseal last year in my 1108cc GTL, and his smaller engined car gave sterling service, and that was fully laden with his camping gear, spares, tools etc, and I can tell you we climbed some pretty steep hills with hairpin bends added. Both cars worked hard, and survived. View attachment 27094
Click to expand...

Looks like a fun trip :)
And glad to hear that the smaller engines can keep up.
I'm currently looking at a model with the smaller engine and no 4x4, but I don't think I will be doing any hardcore off-roading (at least before the apocalypse sets in), so it sounds like I will be okay.
 
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