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I bought a 16 month old twingo last week....
Mini review of twinge 133
I went to the north York moors on Sunday in the twingo. That meant 65 mi worth of motorway shlep in on direction. The car is thrumming along at 4000rpm and 78 mph. It's neither noisy or raucous at those revs. The car slips into a quiet zone at that speed. If you need to progress further mashing the throttle results in a great induction noise followed by a deep rumble from the stunted rear end. I love the sound.
The engine is willing to rev but surprisingly docile below 4500 rpm. Then you hit vtec yo! Well the vvt bit of the engine. It's no turbo push in the kidneys. It can be classed as brisk at best. A top fuel dragster this car isn't.
Turning off at catterick and pointing for hills i discovered a few things.
Grip. I can't get over how this car is so stuck to the road like a cheesy wotsit engrained into a car seat. It's over tyred not doubt. It's on the cup spec 17s and I worry that when the grip does go it's going to be a lack of talent with some Nebpor style mashing and sawing.
Suspension. The wife "complained" that she felt every rut and bump. I would agree. The car has the optional cup pack ( stiffer and lower ) which makes the car firm. It also allows the car to corner flatter than a witches tit ( use that evo ! ) and push on.
I haven't discovered the traction control cutting in yet , but I have discovered the button that turns it off
Brakes are fine. Modular and erm stop you.
All in all I think its a proper b road bruiser. The five will monster it on the straights. The twingo will creep back again into bends but you would never be able to claw back the difference.
The five is 23 years old. The twingo a mere 16 months. You can really see the development in techs in and on the car.
Five is a road rocket . Twingo a corner merchant that want to be thrashed to an inch of it's life. A satisfying green light flicks on instead of a red line.
If I could change anything on the twingo Id reckon it could handle another 33 bhp. It might uncover some flaws in the twingo chassis - who knows?
Been looking at mods. The usual suspects ( ktec / rs tuning ) offer remaps ( + 7 bhp ) and downpipe / cat removal / exhaust systems.
None are cheap and offer little gains per ??? . I think I'll leave it standard.
For the 7k I paid I could have had a leggy phaeton ( stop shouting David brown ) or a BMW of some description. For me though i wanted a brand that I subscribe to it's ethos of Renault sport , small and compact and relatively affordable.
Since the drive I have also found another of renaults traits it's fragility. I have broken the arb. It's under warranty and parts are on back order from France.
Mini review of twinge 133
I went to the north York moors on Sunday in the twingo. That meant 65 mi worth of motorway shlep in on direction. The car is thrumming along at 4000rpm and 78 mph. It's neither noisy or raucous at those revs. The car slips into a quiet zone at that speed. If you need to progress further mashing the throttle results in a great induction noise followed by a deep rumble from the stunted rear end. I love the sound.
The engine is willing to rev but surprisingly docile below 4500 rpm. Then you hit vtec yo! Well the vvt bit of the engine. It's no turbo push in the kidneys. It can be classed as brisk at best. A top fuel dragster this car isn't.
Turning off at catterick and pointing for hills i discovered a few things.
Grip. I can't get over how this car is so stuck to the road like a cheesy wotsit engrained into a car seat. It's over tyred not doubt. It's on the cup spec 17s and I worry that when the grip does go it's going to be a lack of talent with some Nebpor style mashing and sawing.
Suspension. The wife "complained" that she felt every rut and bump. I would agree. The car has the optional cup pack ( stiffer and lower ) which makes the car firm. It also allows the car to corner flatter than a witches tit ( use that evo ! ) and push on.
I haven't discovered the traction control cutting in yet , but I have discovered the button that turns it off
Brakes are fine. Modular and erm stop you.
All in all I think its a proper b road bruiser. The five will monster it on the straights. The twingo will creep back again into bends but you would never be able to claw back the difference.
The five is 23 years old. The twingo a mere 16 months. You can really see the development in techs in and on the car.
Five is a road rocket . Twingo a corner merchant that want to be thrashed to an inch of it's life. A satisfying green light flicks on instead of a red line.
If I could change anything on the twingo Id reckon it could handle another 33 bhp. It might uncover some flaws in the twingo chassis - who knows?
Been looking at mods. The usual suspects ( ktec / rs tuning ) offer remaps ( + 7 bhp ) and downpipe / cat removal / exhaust systems.
None are cheap and offer little gains per ??? . I think I'll leave it standard.
For the 7k I paid I could have had a leggy phaeton ( stop shouting David brown ) or a BMW of some description. For me though i wanted a brand that I subscribe to it's ethos of Renault sport , small and compact and relatively affordable.
Since the drive I have also found another of renaults traits it's fragility. I have broken the arb. It's under warranty and parts are on back order from France.
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