Slowest NEW car on sale? Stylish. Fun. Doors optional // Cassis Eden Mehari review

[@davidmatthews3093]

Useless fact #453 I have slept in the bedroom where the inventor of the Mehari was born. He was also a a WW2 war hero pilot. The hotel is a Dutch owned château near Issoire.

[@FuManchu5ltr]

Plot twist: @@davidmatthews3093 has also slept in the room where Jonny Smith was born, the room where Jaun Fangio was born and the room where Richard Hammond was born. I think it’s gone far enough! This must cease immediately.

[@martinlaver007]

In the modern world, two things please me about this: a) there are still people eccentric enough to build these and b) there are still people eccentric enough to buy them. OTSOT.

[@UberLummox]

Right on!

[@JC-he7yk]

Two things disappoint me in the modern world about this. 1) not enough people build solid, basic simple cars, and 2) not enough people want solid, basic, simple cars

[@anthonyxuereb792]

They are not eccentric.

[@TimInertiatic]

​​@@JC-he7yk yep. I'd love a super basic citroen ami style car that could do maybe 50mph, just for minimal A- road usage. No mod cons at all, just the bare minimum to allow it to be sold. Perfect commuting/town hack I need to look at a Dacia Spring

[@Deontjie]

Yes, but for that price I would rather buy a full size double cab 4x4 pick-up with leather seats and air-con.

[@jamesmacd]

Perfect for the wee islands like Bermuda with a speed limit of 30 or 40mph.

[@Tourist1967]

Not in the rain! Or after a heavy downpour. Bermuda's official speed limit is 35km/h (21mph). Unofficially, 50km/h (31mph).

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Same for the channel islands 🇬🇧 solar roof and roll up canvas sides.. 2 CV suspension go most places lift it out of holes 💪🏼 😂🧙🏻‍♂️😉 Be great if they replaced the GRP with Basalt fiber or Hemp fiber with epoxy made from sugar cane waste like some of the top boat makers are working with. Both tougher and really green 💚 to produce compared to GRP and eventually cheaper.

[@djedUVprojector]

1:08 instantly shows the classic roll & pitch of the 2CV but even more pronounced due to weight up front in the engine bay... 🌊🥴🤢🤮

[@fastEdCanuck]

What a neat little thing. That first rolling shot leaves no doubts as to its 2CV origins. 😁

[@grumpyto5]

What a hoot. With a galvanised chassis and plastic body it should last a very long time making the most of your investment.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

I hadn't thought of that. In theory it'll last flipping yonks.

[@MrOlgrumpy]

At a price like that it would have to last forever !

[@calibrazxr750]

It will last as long as it takes for the motor or batteries to die, when replacing either is not financially viable. Most, if not all, electric cars have astronomical depreciation and insurance costs are going through the roof, that is if you can get insurance, due to the propensity of electric cars to suddenly burst into flames.

[@stevencorrea8032]

​@@calibrazxr750in Colorado you can get a Nissan Leaf for $20 a month a 2024 500 down

[@volvo480]

​@@calibrazxr750🥱🥱🥱 when will the fossil fuel lobby start making up new stories, I'm getting tired of this one.

[@Mexxx65]

French perfection!!!! French madness!! Nice one Jonny!!

[@radleyg9486]

Hired one decades ago in Majorca, loved it.

[@volt8684]

In a day when you could hire these and 2cv in Europe. I absolutely loved all of them. My boss had an ami 8 and drove from uk to Greece every year despite owning some very posh cars. It was his mode to go that far.

[@yanboa]

Wow, I’d love to get this and act like I’m in one of the “Gendarmes” movies with Louis de Funes!! 😂

[@AnagramAutoclassics]

@@yanboa Or with Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau?

[@andyd3177]

How bizarre, we’ve just spent a week in the south of France admiring/laughing at the many derivations of this type of car, and now in the Alps, one of the Gendarmes films is on the telly.

[@sebastiend.5335]

So nice to see the 'over the top' body roll still exists. The mother of my school friend had an original 2CV and she would get us to and from school for lunch in it. In the 80's in the French Somme, near the town of Albert. Brillant times. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@mrshifter5007]

I like the blue, i remember them in orange, my dad had one as a rental in Majorca 1978 for a few days when i was 10 years old. I loved it , he hated it!

[@quma001]

Our family had a Mehari when I was a kid in the 80s. My dad was a film maker and liked this car for filming because the windscreen could be folded down and the suspension was smooth.

[@besenzon1]

There are plenty of these still used as daily drivers here in Mallorca. Not cheap either , 10k€

[@YoYo-db3uj]

My nan❤ used one in the garden. The lawn survived my, 8-year old, driving skills.😊

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

In the garden? What, as an ornament or mower tower?

[@YoYo-db3uj]

​​@@TheLateBrakeShow To haul clibbins and stuff. ;) Pretty big garden BTW

[@MDA-no8eb]

We have a 1972 original Mehari and we buy spares from these guys, shipped directly from South France. They are a blessing! 🚗🥇

[@DiscoFang]

Club Tropicana yes! I had to check just now that Lewis Capaldi's "Forget Me" video homage to Club Tropicana also uses the Mehari too! He went all-in with that vid, white Y-fronts sunbathing and all. Instant fan of his sense of humour.

[@petermooney2016]

Brings me back to driving a rented Mini Moke on holidays in Cyprus 30 years ago, a super experience. And a world away from modern one size fits all porky cars, full of safety kit and circuitry.

[@McKluskie]

had one whilst living in france, I also had a knackered old 2CV which was brilliant for off road :)

[@AlanODuffy]

Wow… 40 years later… the legend lives on … fab review big time

[@jespernystad]

Sweet summer and beach memories of my little green 74 Mehari. When you removed the soft top, doors, and tailgate and put down the windshield, it was actually quite fast

[@human_brian]

I love this car. If I lived in the French or Italian Riviera, I'd 100% have something like this for puttering around the coastal roads. If they sold them in the US, I might get one for doing the same in South Florida where I live.

[@BenOliver999]

I was born and raised around Marseille, this is a bit of a blast from the past

[@MGBranco]

Oh Portugal was full of those back in the day! Specially in the sunny Algarve! Just love it!

[@Patriiiiick]

If I became an ultra zillionaire, this would be the car I would use to swan around my estate, looking like a cross between Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast and a beatnik.

[@PadraigDenis]

My friend who was in the Foreign Legion said that on manoeuvres in germany with American troops, they were really impressed with the Mehari. They thought it was meant to be parachuted into a combat zone then abandoned when the mission was over.

[@ruk2023--]

Safer is very much a relative concept here but I support anything that has an essence of 2CV about it.

[@Redmi-j4i]

I learned to drive in the Mehari who belong to my late grandfather. He was a proper Citroen fan but only had old cars. DS, 2CV and and old Ami and the Mehari. He teach me everything and I inheared the love of old cars. Just different brand - VW 😊

[@stevenkelby2169]

Hi Jonny. Looks a lot like a mini moke. My dad always wanted a moke, and I always wanted to buy him one but it never happened. Great video, and great production too. Cheers, ya droopy tail pipe 🍻

[@patrickcowan8701]

I've had tons of fun driving mokes.

[@simong6855]

THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS !!!😂

[@staceybirch5716]

Madness!

[@benllewelyn98]

Yeah for something that isn't even a proper car that's ridiculous

[@toyotaprius79]

​@@benllewelyn98it's more than a "proper car"

[@klanny22]

It’s like most electric vintage vehicles, or weird things like the Citroen Ami or Renault twizzy - it’s either a little plaything you get on finance because it’s cool, or you have enough money for it to not matter that you buy a little expensive toy. Just matters that it’s French they’re the only people who seem to keep doing it 🤣

[@ashliehiggins]

It's a marina car, for when you park your yacht.

[@mikeolly67]

I thought “thank god” until Johnny said “and it’s fully electric “😂

[@sammyvanhorenbeke6735]

The driving experience is much better without roof. When stopped at a red light you can't see the green without yoga. I put the roof in long term storage. It makes sense to have it electric, just the typical 2CV noise...

[@peterpanda1970]

How many memories of one of these in greeny yellow colour when I was a kid

[@anthonystevens8683]

I'm a big fan of the 2CV. I don't recall seeing the Mahari in the flesh but I have seen plenty of videos and articles. Not ideal for the UK as a daily driver but my word they look like fun and ooze character. Would I consider a car without doors? Yes, I rode motor bikes for decades but it would have to be affordable and I'd have to liver near to the cost. Many thanks for sharing.

[@yas92]

The Gendarmes in the south of France or in the sunny places like the West Indies used to use them as patrol vehicles. They were around till the mid 80’s

[@AnagramAutoclassics]

I've always preferred the Mehari to the VW Thing. As an EV holiday vehicle for the well-heeled or hotels, I think it makes sense, as long as the sun shines! You've got to smile when you drive one 😊

[@nickfarrow9032]

We went on a family holiday to Ibiza in 1987 when I was 7 (before it was the clubbing capital of the med!) and Meharis were everywhere! Most of them were owned by rental agencies as I remember, not privately owned, so I wonder if these will be the same? Someone could defo make a killing renting these out in Ibiza or Majorca.

[@nicholaspayne8151]

Car without doors (or roof in my case) I built a Lomax 3 wheeler kit car based on a 2CV in 1991 and used it every day to go 30 miles round trip to work. 22:28

[@Allgone-b4k]

The night club rope, lol haha

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

VIP drinks area...

[@Allgone-b4k]

@@TheLateBrakeShow dam right great video

[@PG-gs5vb]

@@TheLateBrakeShow It should have holders for your glass of Martini.

[@user-andyc]

Reminds me of that old joke. Buying a car with no doors - how the hell do you get in? Boom boom.

[@gordonsimpson3235]

I have always fancied a Mehari Jonny....albeit with a proper engine! Apparently the Dutch managed to cram GS 4 cylinder engines into 2CV's....or the BMW boxer (motorbike engine), which we have all seen a road test on YT. Having the headlights on in the sunshine, sounds a bit daft....probably half the usable range! The matching watch is a bit kitsch😎

[@FuManchu5ltr]

I was watching Jonny’s other channel, The loose gate show, where Jonny explores French farms hunting out loose gates to fix. However it wasn’t to my taste so instead enjoying this episode of The Late Brake Show.

[@XY-ep8uz]

While at it, give The Goose Late show a watch too where Johnny tries to deliver geese on time but fails miserably because all the gates are worked on by farmer men not letting him go through until the gate is all sorted out

[@DiscoFang]

The Light Broke Show is worth a watch but it gets pretty dark.

[@FuManchu5ltr]

@@DiscoFang 😂

[@jamesrodrigues7391]

great little car!

[@James-gf9jl]

These found their way into quite a few countries in Francophone Africa. There's still a number of them running around in Madagascar. As many of the taxis there are 2 CVs, spares are readily available.

[@marcbrasse747]

The wife and I are seriously thinking about spending our old days in Sardinia. We went on Holliday there last year and saw 3 Mehari’s. 2 where’re actually parked on opposite sides of the same street at the same time (Got the pictures to prove it). Now I have found the car that fits our plans. Afraid to ask for the price though.

[@PeterCrosland]

I had one in the UK with full weather gear, with the 602 petrol engine it would lollop along at an easy 65mph. With all the top up it was more or less waterproof but it was like driving a tent.. Bet they will still sell you a petrol one if you asked, Makes way more sense.

[@HelenGarland-d2q]

I bloody love these things and as we live in Spain it's an ideal runaround. Very Mod❤

[@broadsword6650]

It's from the Shixties. It was a different time...

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Very. It has ashtrays.

[@Gretschbeach]

Awesome! Another cool vehicle that Ford and GM will hire legal teams to make sure will never be registered in the USA.

[@steveyoung3869]

Here in the US the Moke starts at $23k, although by the time you add things like roof and battery (yep, that's extra!), you're going to be closer to $28k or even $30k. Still, that's quite a lot cheaper than the Cassis Eden, although obviously the Eden will not be sold in the US market.

[@1183newman]

Makes little sense for the uk but lots of sense if you live along the coast of the mediterranean.

[@rushja]

I don't know. There are entire shops that just sell garden furniture. That makes little sense in the UK too but we still buy it! You could only get it out when the sun shines

[@jamesengland7461]

The UK, home of the leaky convertible sports car? 😂

[@CaptainPakka]

Would look good with a terracotta tile print roof.

[@quanchyplimp]

😂

[@UberLummox]

I like the way you think.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

And terry towelling seats? Because we would (and it's on the option list!)

[@nickwinn7812]

Would look better with me at the wheel.........................

[@chrispig7748]

I remember the original, I think they are brilliant and amazing engineering

[@johnknight9150]

I understand the Citroen connection, and whatever authenticity one might be chasing, but if we're going down this route with the Moke and Mehari, surely the Chinese or the Indians could build something extremely similar for a few grand?

[@cedarcanoe]

Lovely ❤ little throwback to my youth

[@DouglasJWalker]

Best electric car review so far, I think.

[@micheltebraake7915]

Unfortunately, I have never driven it. Sounds like a lot of fun to me.

[@myMotoring]

oh i would drive this to town every single day

[@stevecarter5084]

Another great video,thanks Jonny. Must be a nice relaxing life style once you have one of these. Nice to see you with a colour coordinated watch strap…taking the job seriously 😂

[@jonford6119]

Nice concept, but far, far too expensive, either as a purchase or as a tribute to the original.

[@michaelbacon561]

There were a couple of immaculate petrol examples owned by locals where I was staying in Mallorca. There and then I decided that if I actually lived there, or somewhere with a similar climate, I would definitely own one. They are just fantastic motorised gazebos, regardless of how they are fueled!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Motorised gazebos - wish I'd said it like that Michael!

[@alanjust]

Starting to see a few of these around us here in Provence down in the South of France. They look fun but can really hold up the traffic in summer 😂😂😂 They are certainly selling well albeit production is small.

[@logicalChimp]

Hmmm - given the price, wonder how much an 'aftermarket upgrade' to the motor would cost, just to give it a few more ponies :p

[@robertcarless7445]

35,000 for a toy? I can think of many convertables that I would buy first

[@seanf4154]

Always loved the Mehari. This would be fantastic in Jersey with side panels for winter. Great for small islands generally

[@billybobbassman]

I love this little car, if i lived somewhere mostly hot and had enough spare change in my pocket, i would own one. It might not suit my life and financial circumstances, but who cares, its great this sort of thing is still available on the market

[@michaeltrigg6087]

Love it. An extra benefit of electric is that it seems to be encouraging more quirky, low volume cars.

[@BraveDeterminedMerciful]

Well done again, great review of an icon 👏

[@XB75015]

We say deux chevaux in French (2 horses), cv is a contraction of tax able chevaux.

[@mikenco]

I bloody love that! Pricey, though.

[@grayfool]

Very cool. I love all these nutty niche thingys. Bit pricey though.

[@ljubog]

Why does it cost that much? Ok, it's assembled in a garage. But why isn't there a vehicle made of recycled plastic and with the sodium battery that is subsidised by EU and costs less than 10 k €? Why isn't there a ban on SUVs that would reframe the whole "safety" question?

[@ianjohnhorwood2605]

37 grand is ridiculously way too expensive for what it is 😳😳😳

[@urbanstrencan]

Perfect for coastal regions, like Mediterranean, Florida, great video ❤❤❤

[@AtheistOrphan]

Bognor Regis.

[@chrisphipps4589]

Was interested until you said 35k. That's a lot for a slow runabout that you can't use unless the sun's out.

[@BillyNoMates1974]

well the twizy was sold without doors so yes there is a market for it. being a sevco controller and motor, I bet a Twizy powerbox could be connected to fully unlock the RAW power. lol Twizyś with the powerbox are a riot to drive.

[@americanrambler4972]

At 10:17, I have decided I file this cute little run about putt putt. It’s whimsical and entertaining. It looks like a real car verses the electric moke which looks and feels a little too much like a golf cart.

[@5cylinderturbo]

Always loved the Mehari. My parents used to take us to the south of France for a month every summer, and these were commonplace. Very popular with small business owners etc, normal to see them stacked with trays of fruit and veg or whatever. They came in fantastic bright colours too. While I'm not a fan of EVs I can see this making perfect sense as a local runabout in Mediterranean countries today. I might worry about crash protection though!

[@pedropinheiroaugusto3220]

If there was only 2cv's and derivatives in the world, there would be Peace.

[@jlmfoy365]

Perfect for touring ones country estate.

[@markdawson4625]

Very pricey, not doubt, but it is bespoke. Electric?, well personally I’d prefer an efficient 1.0 petrol engine. However, for people staggered at the price, there are morons who pay 200k plus for a Porsche or BWW something or other. I’ll have one of these thanks.

[@Tagora2664]

I thought you said 37k for a minute! 😂😂😂 Wait....... What! 😳

[@lecrab]

Very nice. I have seen many when I was a young boy. But at €8k, the new plastic Ami makes more sense to me. Still, lovely car, fantastic that they bought so much original stuff from Citroën.

[@joshuaknight1748]

These have always been on my bucket list. As values of 2CVs have now climbed to the point where its out of my range as a second 'fun' car. And this is the same. Also, probably needs a single speed gear set fitting into the transaxle and 50kW. Good efforts to Cassis Eden and the authenticity of the build. One day, I will own a car with inboard brakes!

[@stacyplant9327]

Absolutely wonderful video Jonny! Really enjoy the channel, and I’ve just started getting into the podcast! Feel like I’ve missed out but catching up now

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Welcome aboard #smithandsniff

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Well you’ve got the Mehari at the right time of year!!

[@ellinolast]

You can slot a BMW 1150 boxer twin bike engine in the originals

[@davidcolin6519]

Love the Mehari, loathe the "music". I get that these things are a small run offer, but I wish that a big company would do something like this and get the costs down. I live in.a part of the world (Sppain) where something like this would be fine for day-to-day driving, but at €35K I simply can't justify it as an only car.

[@motorvatorv888]

Classic resort car. And why not? So glad it exists and you drove it for us.

[@gileshalliwell3591]

I’d prefer it with a genuine Citroen steering wheel! Love it! Next please do an electric Citroen GS?!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Entry level steering wheel is the stock item.

[@gileshalliwell3591]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Suggest the GS idea. I know it’s very niche but how good would that be electric!?

[@remog38]

Great review Great car thanks Jeannot

[@jamiedufrayer5461]

Lovely vista Johnny.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Indeed. It had been noted. #pissvista

[@RandallSlick]

Love it. I live on a luxury yacht in Daventry and this would be perfect for my wife Felicity to buzz along from the galley to the poop deck to serve me my breakfast veal. I may buy five.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Great to hear Cap'n Daventry

[@rotwang2000]

Back when I was very young, maybe 5 or so, we went to Nice and they had a Mehari in a shop or a showroom and I completely broke down in tears asking my mom to buy one ...

[@LeadfootGSi]

1:08 Body rollllll! 😂

[@heiner71]

Probably not amazing on a track day.

[@bartvanhoof6278]

Oh Jonny you've done it again ... the car, the watch ... Magnifique!

[@bren106]

Love it, but I loved my Dyane as well. I'd have one without hesitation if I lived in a climate like Jonny was in.

[@howardsportugal]

This is what an EV should be - light, slowish, fun ...not these megahorsepower trinkets.

[@EvanMoon]

Here in the United States, every beach side area would be able to rent those out so well. Right now they use gas golf carts… these are ridiculously cool Just sell them as kit cars and send them in crates . The car is so easily put together. have a dealer set up for connecting the electronics

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Petrol or Diesel gators and golf carts just annoy me.

[@korolev-musictodriveby6583]

Je l'adore ! C'est fantastique !

[@jbmaru]

Loved it, thanks Jonny!

[@CambridgePunk]

I need one of those for our place in Morocco. Oh my god, it’s wonderful.

[@SirBoden]

Perfect candidate for a Hayabusa swap.