Allow me to introduce, the Citroen C15

C15 as Symbol of Utility and Simplicity

• The C15 is portrayed as a near-indestructible, ultra-practical rural workhorse: simple mechanicals, huge interior volume for its footprint, cheap parts, and easy repairs with basic tools.
• Anecdotes include million‑km lifespans, engine swaps into boats, and use as everything from farm van to camper and “mobile bedroom.”
• It’s contrasted with modern pickups and SUVs that are heavier, more expensive, and often underused relative to their capability.

Old-School Reliability vs Modern Complexity

• Fans argue older vehicles like the C15, early VW diesels, old Hiluxes, Pandas, etc., embody a “vehicle as tool” era: minimal electronics, no ECUs to brick, no DRM, little that can strand you.
• Critics respond that modern cars are objectively more reliable and far safer, with fewer breakdowns, better engines, and life‑saving systems like ABS, ESC, airbags and crumple zones.
• There’s disagreement on repairability: some insist modern diagnostics and aftermarket tools make most repairs feasible; others say proprietary software, serialized parts, and sensor faults make DIY and field repair much harder.

Emissions, Pollution, and Low Emission Zones

• A strong countercurrent notes that C15‑era diesels are extremely dirty on NOx and PM2.5, lacking particulate filters and modern controls; some sources claim >200× more particulates than a new diesel.
• Low emission zones that restrict such vehicles are defended as vital for public health, particularly in dense cities and for people with respiratory issues.
• Others criticize LEZ designs (e.g. France) that key off vehicle age rather than actual emissions, favoring new heavy SUVs over older small cars.
• One thread explores LPG/propane conversions as a way to make older engines locally cleaner, and laments past policy pushes toward “clean” diesels.

Safety and Size Tradeoffs

• Old vans like the C15 are described as “tin cans”: excellent utility, terrible crash outcomes. Comparisons to modern small cars show dramatic gains in survivability.
• Some argue large SUVs are safer overall; others stress they are safer mainly for occupants, more dangerous for pedestrians and other drivers, and enabled an arms race in vehicle size.

SUVs, Pickups, Status and Culture

• Many comments frame modern pickups/SUVs as status and fashion items (“costumes”), especially in the US and affluent rural‑adjacent areas, often hauling one person and little cargo.
• There’s recurring mockery of oversized trucks used mainly for commuting, alongside recognition that some trades and rural uses (towing, serious payloads) do justify larger vehicles.
• Cultural contrasts appear: European tradespeople commonly use vans; US buyers gravitate to pickups. Some see truck culture as “compensating,” others push back on that stereotype.

Desire for a “Modern C15” and Constraints

• Several people dream of a modern C15‑type: small, cheap, crashworthy, with ABS/ESC and a simple interface (physical knobs, phone for infotainment) but without subscriptions or intrusive connectivity.
• Examples suggested include the Citroën Berlingo, Dacia Sandero/Dokker, Fiat Panda, small EVs, and basic Japanese models—many not sold in the US.
• Explanations for their rarity range from regulations (safety, emissions, mandated tech like backup cameras, anti‑speeding systems), to consumer preference for comfort and gadgets, to industry economics and dealer upselling.
• There’s broad agreement that the market heavily favors value extraction and “features” over longevity, simplicity, and repairability, even though a niche of enthusiasts clearly wants the latter.