So i thought of that : The 2cv survived from 1948 to 1990 (1988 in France) and stopped production due to the regulations During that Time Renault sold the 4cv , and Peugeot, their pre-war models and the 203 , wich both had more (color) options, but the 2cv survived against them. Then , ZAZ tried to sell their 1102 Tavria , wich was CHEAPER than a 2cv and more modern than a 2cv , yet the 2cv survived against it , and kicked it out from it's territory Heck , Citroën tried to replace it with the dyane and the Acadyane , YET , the 2cv stood against it. So , doesen't that make it a car that Can't be killed by the competition ?
Heck , a dealer (Didier magne if you Ask me) Saïd that when the end of production in France was announced and the sales where running down , he has been able to sell 4-5 per week one year , and that he could've sold more if it keeped going on . So even if it's outdated af,people wanted it to keep going , probably due to nostalgia
Even PSA , who killed the Sm (depsite having all the material to fix it) the Citroën Axel and the GSA. But they still let the 2cv . Another thing i forgot to mention, was the Renault 3 and the Vespa 400 . One was the killed killer , the other got kicked.
Well the original beetle continued production untill 2003, so I guess cheap simple round cars is a good idea.
I mean , the Yugo is considered one the , if not , THE worst car sold in U.S (or even History. But it seems like it had something more to be apreciated by the USDM more than a Lecar , probably the fact that it was cheaper (might as well make a thread about that comparaison)
Beetle had the advantage of being sold in a developping country by a brand that Never got owned by anyone. The 2cv was sold in chile , and argentina ( You know, Citronetta) so perhaps would it be a success in Brazil, and maybe even Maghreb, as a cheap car to take your family and your olives to a Big city (Casablanca , Alger or Djerba)through bumpy road , to sell your olives from the last harvest What the 2cv was missing was a true refresh , with updated components, engine and more plastic. Hack , a visa on a 2cv longitudinal suspension would be a great modernisation