RE: New Sandero R.S. 2.0 announced... for Brazil

[PistonBroker]

I chuckled when I saw a bog-stock Sandero in white this morning with tuning stickers on the upper rear quarter - TSW etc etc.

Clearly it was really one of these in semi-sleeper spec!

[daemon]

culpz said:

I also think it's rude to judge it just yet, seeing as no-one has even driven it, yourself included.

Amazing how an opinion works, isn't it?

I've no issue with the car per se, and i am sure its probably a decent enough little thing. There have been many cars that on paper shouldnt have worked but it turned out were a real hoot - the Skoda Rapid 136 and the Skoda Fabia VRS TDI spring to mind. I'd love it to be up there with those.

Its just not a "cheapened" RS200.

culpz said:

Also, giving a hatchback a load of power doesn't automatically make it an amazing hot-hatch either.

And neither does sticking an "R.S." badge on the back of it.

[culpz]

daemon said:

I've no issue with the car per se, and i am sure its probably a decent enough little thing. There have been many cars that on paper shouldnt have worked but it turned out were a real hoot - the Skoda Rapid 136 and the Skoda Fabia VRS TDI spring to mind. I'd love it to be up there with those.

Its just not a "cheapened" RS200.

Exactly. The Swift Sport does so well so i'm not sure why something that has been developed via Renaultsport that is quicker, lighter but ultimately a similar formula shouldn't work in the same way.

I already agreed with you that it's not the case, but i'm sure it does have a similar essence of the older fast Clio's. That's what i was getting at.

daemon said:

And neither does sticking an "R.S." badge on the back of it.

True, but I'd say this is more of a true hot-hatch than the majority of these big, heavy and overpowered equivalents today. It's all just a pure numbers game now and that's not what hot-hatches are about.

[daemon]

culpz said:

Exactly. The Swift Sport does so well so i'm not sure why something that has been developed via Renaultsport that is quicker, lighter but ultimately a similar formula shouldn't work in the same way.

I already agreed with you that it's not the case, but i'm sure it does have a similar essence of the older fast Clio's. That's what i was getting at.

Lets hope so. I just cant help but think its a cynical marketing exercise with a warmed over engine.

Better a pessimist proved wrong....

culpz said:

True, but I'd say this is more of a true hot-hatch than the majority of these big, heavy and overpowered equivalents today. It's all just a pure numbers game now and that's not what hot-hatches are about.

Yes, though its logical rival is the likes of the fantastic Fiesta ST or decent Corsa VXR. Both very nimble, sharp cars that arent overpowered for the sake of it. Those are still real "hot hatches".

Warm hatch budget rivals its up against are going to be the likes of the Suzuki Swift Sport - again a really great car.

Its also worth noting - in determining hot hatch status - that the original Fiesta ST from around 2005 / 2006 was very much seen as an "also ran" with 150BHP and that was 10+ years ago. That level of power now just isnt going to cut it.

Again, happy to be proved wrong. We may never know anyway...

[culpz]

daemon said:

Lets hope so. I just cant help but think its a cynical marketing exercise with a warmed over engine.

Better a pessimist proved wrong....

You could be right. I'd like to know the final price too. Saying that, since we're not getting it here in the UK anyway, i'm not sure that i really care.

daemon said:

Yes, though its logical rival is the likes of the fantastic Fiesta ST or decent Corsa VXR. Both very nimble, sharp cars that arent overpowered for the sake of it. Those are still real "hot hatches".

Warm hatch budget rivals its up against are going to be the likes of the Suzuki Swift Sport - again a really great car.

Its also worth noting - in determining hot hatch status - that the original Fiesta ST from around 2005 / 2006 was very much seen as an "also ran" with 150BHP and that was 10+ years ago. That level of power now just isnt going to cut it.

Again, happy to be proved wrong. We may never know anyway...

I'm not so sure. I'd need to know the stats to know who to put it up against. Giving that it weighs only a tonne and has 150bhp, that probably is on par with the Fiesta ST and etc. That being said, that could give it a similar power-to-weight ratio to something like the Fez and the Corsa.

The UK isn't going to be getting it anyway. I just think it's a shame in general as it could be a good little seller.