Twingo - predictable disappointment

[TWPC]

Autocar has published a first drive of the new Twingo. I suppose it was naive to expect anything other than the following comment:

"What is it like?

Hardly anything like a rear-drive car. The new Twingo, by Renault’s own admission, has been tuned to be as similar to a typical front-drive city car as possible."

It's a reasonably positive review but the fact that the turning circle & comfortable motorway cruising are what generates most excitement from Hilton Holloway has rather popped mu bubble of enthusiasm.

See http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/renault/twingo/first-drives/renault-twingo-tce-90-dynamique-first-drive-review

[Kawasicki]

Tuned to be like a fwd car? That's impossible.

[SonicShadow]

It's a city car. Reading the review, it seems to be a decent one.

How is that a disappointment? Were you really expecting a mini 911 just because It's rear engine rear drive?

[Fast Bug]

SonicShadow said:

It's a city car. Reading the review, it seems to be a decent one.

How is that a disappointment? Were you really expecting a mini 911 just because It's rear engine rear drive?

You took the words out of my mouth!

[TWPC]

SonicShadow said:

How is that a disappointment?

Because I entertained some irrational, childish hope of a positive surprise.

SonicShadow said:

Were you really expecting a mini 911 just because It's rear engine rear drive?

Not exactly, but hopefully something marginally more engaging than the fwd opposition. Auto Express' review is more descriptive.

"Yes it may have a rear-engine rear drive set up like a Porsche 911, but don't go thinking this makes it in anyway sporty because this little Renault lacks the fun factor of a VW up! or a Hyundai i10. It's just not eager, darty or as grippy as either rival. Get a little too enthusiastic on an open road and the front wheels soon start to wash wide. The high seating position nor that slightly unnatural variable rate steering don't help as they make you feel less connected to the road.

Obviously a city car's primary objective is for getting you around town as cheaply as possible, and the Twingo does this in quite some style. But the very best in this class do all that while putting a smile on your face. And it’s this key missing ingredient which means that while the Twingo is a very good car, it's not quite the truly great car we all hoped it would be."

See: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/renault/twingo/88372/renault-twingo-dynamique-tce-2014-review#ixzz3BhAX2Y7h

[IanCress]

Sounds exactly like the criticism that was levelled at the Smart car. I wonder if the lack of weight over the front wheels is to blame for the poor grip? However, i'm not a chassis engineer.

[AnotherClarkey]

TWPC said:

SonicShadow said:

How is that a disappointment?

Because I entertained some irrational, childish hope of a positive surprise.

SonicShadow said:

Were you really expecting a mini 911 just because It's rear engine rear drive?

Not exactly, but hopefully something marginally more engaging than the fwd opposition. Auto Express' review is more descriptive.

"Yes it may have a rear-engine rear drive set up like a Porsche 911, but don't go thinking this makes it in anyway sporty because this little Renault lacks the fun factor of a VW up! or a Hyundai i10. It's just not eager, darty or as grippy as either rival. Get a little too enthusiastic on an open road and the front wheels soon start to wash wide. The high seating position nor that slightly unnatural variable rate steering don't help as they make you feel less connected to the road.

Obviously a city car's primary objective is for getting you around town as cheaply as possible, and the Twingo does this in quite some style. But the very best in this class do all that while putting a smile on your face. And it’s this key missing ingredient which means that while the Twingo is a very good car, it's not quite the truly great car we all hoped it would be."

See: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/renault/twingo/88372/renault-twingo-dynamique-tce-2014-review#ixzz3BhAX2Y7h

I think it was fairly inevitable. When rear-engined small and family cars were popular, contemporary road tests always explained how they were set up with lashings of understeer to help banish the prospect of the weight in the back taking control of the situation. My hope was that with modern stability control the situation could be handled less clumsily, retaining excellent handling but keeping it idiot-proof via electronic intervention rather than dialling in huge amounts of understeer.

[TheInternet]

Fixed link:

TWPC said:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/renault/twingo...

[TWPC]

TheInternet said:

Fixed link:

TWPC said:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/renault/twingo...

Thank you

[kambites]

I think the question was less how the standard car drives than what RenaultSport can do with it.

[AnotherClarkey]

kambites said:

I think the question was less how the standard car drives than what RenaultSport can do with it.

Very much this.