Renault Wind: Spotted
Could you be blown away by this open-top Renault?
Loosely inspired by Renault's 2004 Paris motor show concept car, the Wind is a two seater convertible to rival the Peugeot 207 CC and the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe; both of which had folding metal roofs. To outdo them, the designers looked to Ferrari and the Superamerica.
Confused? Well, similar to the Ferrari, the Wind's roof pivots back through 180 degrees rather than fold like metal origami into the boot. Unlike the Ferrari, the Renault's roof is at least covered up whilst it's down to save it from collecting rainwater. Just make sure that you have the handbrake on before you try to raise or lower the roof, because safety conscious Renault doesn't want you erecting what amounts to a sail whilst driving. Mind you, that pivoting roof does look like a toupee coming unstuck in a gale.
Underneath the Wind is the chassis from the Twingo, with this one using the same 1.6-litre 133hp engine as the Renaultsport Twingo. Engineers from Renaultsport even provided final suspension fettling for the Wind. That doesn't make it a sun-worshiping Twingo R.S. But, it's still quite eager in the bends and body roll is kept in check nicely too.
Equipment levels are quite generous: with air-con, alloys, cruise control, stability control and an aux connection all standard across the range. Higher spec Dynamique Winds gets you climate control, automatic lights and wipers, and Bluetooth - good luck connecting an iPhone X to that, though.
The car listed might be a tad strong on price, but the weather has given you a great bargaining chip. Open top cars are always less popular in the winter months, so haggle hard, if you're interested. And doing so will save you some money for when something inevitably lets go. Then you can turn to the person at the service department, car keys dangling in your outstretched arm and tell them, "Sorry, I broke Wind."
SPECIFICATION: RENAULT WIND
Engine: 1,598cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 133@6,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 118@4,400rpm
MPG: 40.9
CO2: 160g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 25,000
Price new: 17,300
Yours for: £4,992
See the original advert here.
Max Adams
Not going to win any awards but more interesting and rarer than a 206CC and the like. Some clever engineering and it's a decent, nippy steer. She used it as a town car, which you could put the roof down on, on the longer drives home or at weekends. Perfect for that.
With that being said, i'd just buy a Twingo 133 if i wanted something similar that's small, quirky and cheap to run.
I remember the launch bumpf on the car at the training and the "target audience" narrative, what a joke; as well as the usual middle aged woman, Renault also targeted it at young male designers who like to be a bit different, what a laugh, they were serious too!
Anyhow I think I only ever sold one, not to a woman either.
Never driven a convertible before so thought I'd open the roof as I left the dealership. The novelty wore off after about 2 minutes when I realised how ridiculous I looked. So the next time I stopped - which happened to be at a busy roundabout - I quickly tried to rectify the problem. Little did I know that once moving again, the roof mechanism would stop working.
I couldn't stop halfway round a roundabout though! I had to carry on round to the next set of lights with the roof completely vertical like a big waving hand gesturing: "look at me I'm confused as to which team I bat for".
Took a while for my face to return to a normal colour after that episode...
The 1.6 in this car is quite good fun, wind it up and it goes pretty well. Roof is a novelty but super quick and quite entertaining.
I drove one for a while in white and enjoyed it for a bit of a laugh, interior is not that great though.
2 seats - no point adding the old+ seats behind giving her a much bigger boot than any alternatives with a hard roof.
Handles like a go kart, great fun on little twisty roads as long as they're not bumpy.
133bhp, not so fast that she puts herself in danger but quick enough to enjoy herself.
Well equipped, hers is higher spec than the spotted car. USB connectivity for her ipod, aux in, heated leather seats.
it has its downsides of course
plasticky
roof cannot be operated without being parked
low 30's mpg isnt great but i know how she drives.
noisy, especially on a motorway
ride is stiff, you feel everything
its not to everyone's taste, but she wanted a fun convertible and its lot more fun to drive than a tigra/207cc
The MX-5 is a lightweight, RWD, convertible sports-car. Why you'd pick one of these over the Mazda is lost on me.
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