2023 Renault Twizy, or: Calimero the amusing commuter egg
Discussion
Today, after three months, the Twizy windows have arrived...
The local Renault Garage got them on, and they are quite a clever design:
The windows are pressed tight to the chassis and under the roof when the doors are closed:
Ah, I can already hear you saying: "but there is a large triangle shaped gap at the rear!" - Yes, but that has to be there because of regulations. Fully enclosed and the Twizy wouldn't be a quad anymore, but a car. And that would mean game over in therms of safety demands. Also the Twizy cannot be airtight or the inside would fog up, as there is no heating. - Btw, that strap you see in the middle of the door was wrongly placed by the garage, it should hang into the inside, not the outside. (I changed this later on).
Anyway, just a few minutes after the assembly, the ordered test rain came rolling in:
Here you see the deliberate gap at the front, allowing air to flow along the inside of the window, but without any of it reaching the driver. To open the door you push against the upper part of the spring steel window frame (where the sticker is) and at the same time you grab the door handle with your other hand. With that the door can lift upwards past the roof:
Btw, the whole window can be mounted/demounted in seconds by just two thumbscrews.
All in all, good stuff!
The local Renault Garage got them on, and they are quite a clever design:
The windows are pressed tight to the chassis and under the roof when the doors are closed:
Ah, I can already hear you saying: "but there is a large triangle shaped gap at the rear!" - Yes, but that has to be there because of regulations. Fully enclosed and the Twizy wouldn't be a quad anymore, but a car. And that would mean game over in therms of safety demands. Also the Twizy cannot be airtight or the inside would fog up, as there is no heating. - Btw, that strap you see in the middle of the door was wrongly placed by the garage, it should hang into the inside, not the outside. (I changed this later on).
Anyway, just a few minutes after the assembly, the ordered test rain came rolling in:
Here you see the deliberate gap at the front, allowing air to flow along the inside of the window, but without any of it reaching the driver. To open the door you push against the upper part of the spring steel window frame (where the sticker is) and at the same time you grab the door handle with your other hand. With that the door can lift upwards past the roof:
Btw, the whole window can be mounted/demounted in seconds by just two thumbscrews.
All in all, good stuff!
And here is the everyday setup, with the windows placed in the right door (which I never use), ready to be deployed. - Mounting them takes a stop of just 20 seconds. I measured it. 
The fixed velcro strap that was initially designed to hold the rolled-down windows when the are zippered open, workes fine too for holding the windows in place. Btw, the transparent parts of the windows don't touch themselfs or anything else, so they don't get scratched.
Granted, 95% of the time (atleast until fall) I will drive the Twizy open, but it's good to have a cozy thunderstorm-solution at the ready.
Btw, we are at 7000km (4530mi) on the clock!
The fixed velcro strap that was initially designed to hold the rolled-down windows when the are zippered open, workes fine too for holding the windows in place. Btw, the transparent parts of the windows don't touch themselfs or anything else, so they don't get scratched.
Granted, 95% of the time (atleast until fall) I will drive the Twizy open, but it's good to have a cozy thunderstorm-solution at the ready.
Btw, we are at 7000km (4530mi) on the clock!
Saw a Estrima Biro today, one of the few Micro-EVs that's actually smaller than the Renault Twizy. And granted it's somewhat cute too by being basicly a cube of plexiglass. On the other hand because of that it looks even more like a old-people runabout, which stands in stark contrast to the young urban time-porn hipsters that are driving these sort of cars in all of the manufacturers avdert clips.
By the yellow plates this was the 45km/h (28mph) version, but there is actually a 60km/h (37.2mph) version on sale. Still not enough, and no match for the Twizy, but atleast one step better than the rest of the 45km/h rolling-roadblock cucumbers.
Btw, we are at 8'000km (4'970mi) with the Twizy, done in just 3 and 1/2 months! - In contrast my estimate when I bought it was just 5000km (3'100mi) per year. - But hey back then I had no idea of how much fun this thing really is!
By the yellow plates this was the 45km/h (28mph) version, but there is actually a 60km/h (37.2mph) version on sale. Still not enough, and no match for the Twizy, but atleast one step better than the rest of the 45km/h rolling-roadblock cucumbers.
Btw, we are at 8'000km (4'970mi) with the Twizy, done in just 3 and 1/2 months! - In contrast my estimate when I bought it was just 5000km (3'100mi) per year. - But hey back then I had no idea of how much fun this thing really is!
Edited by lipadier on Monday 14th August 23:41
Cambs_Stuart said:
Do you ever take a passenger in it? What's it like in the back, in the rain?
Even in the rain it's all well at the front as you're protected from wind and water, but you do get some draft and the occasional ricochet sprinkle in the back. Totally fine for short trips, but longer than say 15mins in the backseat and you have to be more the outdoorsy type who loves life no matter what.And yeah, the GF is usually ok with being a passenger, especially when we go to our favourite sunning spot at the lakefront during the weekends - And like myself she enjoys the positive road-puppy attention the Twizy gets, especially when we park at the free motorbike space right infront of the pool entrance, where a gaggle of amused spectators is always garanteed. - Granted me pulling the slim but unsporty lady out of the Twizy like a cork out of a bottle isn' so graceful, but bystanders are usually amazed by the fact that two people and their beach accessoires (including two parasols) can fit into the cute little thing with ease.
And while I'm totally and utterly smitten with my Twizy bucket since day one, the GF isn't too keen on driving it herself. And as soon as it rains, she usually insits that we use her car, even for short trips regardless that the Twizy has windows now, and regardless that it bores the pants off me to drive that utterly generic and bland and lifeless and bloody Corsa.
And yes, now and then I take friends for fun rides, and coworkers on the commute, no complains there, enjoyment all around. - Sure the Twizy is a bit of a shaker with its short suspension travel (but that's also the reason why it's so competent in corners), but in Switzerland the general road upkeep is very high and it's not such a neverending pothole party as in the UK.
Btw, now that the sun comes lower and earlier, sunshade was needed: Very light and does the job, just 5 Euros on Temu:
Edited by lipadier on Monday 28th August 22:19
Went to a Twizy meet in the South of Germany at Saturday.
I live at the Swiss/german border, directly at the Lake Constanze shore, so for me it was only a 40min ferry ride and just "half a tank" to the meeting point.
On the ferry I had a thing parked behind me that also had only 20hp. Next to his other 700...
The actual meetup, were were 12 Twizys.
The afternoon group drive was a hoot, cue real life Mario Cart!
A former Twizy owner that went rouge and bought a Microlino was also with us, barely tolerated of course.
Together we went to a local car/tractor museum. - Look, 17hp, 450kg, no windows! = That's 100% a Twizy!
Farming with style!
Guess which one is mine?! - Yep, in Switzerland Twizys are authorized as motorbikes hence I don't need a front plate, in comparison with all ze Germäns and their ugly baking trays.
Talking shop until deep into the night. As I have my Twizy only since 5 months and there were people there who had theirs for over 10 years, I took their combined knowledge in like a sponge.
Fischer-Haus in Salem, Germany, beautiful hidden hotel with only 5 rooms were I stayed the night. Apparently the owner did a google search for "Renault Twizy" before I arrived and so very kindly prepaired a long electrical cord so I could charge the Twizy even on the outlying parking lot.
Driving home again on sunday morning, waiting for the ferry in Friedrichshafen. - It has been a great weekend!
I live at the Swiss/german border, directly at the Lake Constanze shore, so for me it was only a 40min ferry ride and just "half a tank" to the meeting point.
On the ferry I had a thing parked behind me that also had only 20hp. Next to his other 700...
The actual meetup, were were 12 Twizys.
The afternoon group drive was a hoot, cue real life Mario Cart!
A former Twizy owner that went rouge and bought a Microlino was also with us, barely tolerated of course.
Together we went to a local car/tractor museum. - Look, 17hp, 450kg, no windows! = That's 100% a Twizy!
Farming with style!
Guess which one is mine?! - Yep, in Switzerland Twizys are authorized as motorbikes hence I don't need a front plate, in comparison with all ze Germäns and their ugly baking trays.
Talking shop until deep into the night. As I have my Twizy only since 5 months and there were people there who had theirs for over 10 years, I took their combined knowledge in like a sponge.
Fischer-Haus in Salem, Germany, beautiful hidden hotel with only 5 rooms were I stayed the night. Apparently the owner did a google search for "Renault Twizy" before I arrived and so very kindly prepaired a long electrical cord so I could charge the Twizy even on the outlying parking lot.
Driving home again on sunday morning, waiting for the ferry in Friedrichshafen. - It has been a great weekend!
Edited by lipadier on Monday 18th September 20:49
Let's talk sound: As already mentioned in this thread my Twizy has a integrated bluetooth audio system, including two speakers left and right above the drivers head. And while that works well for phone calls, GPS instructions or podcasts/audiobooks, it's absolutely useless for any music, as there is no bass, at all. Nada. Rien. Nix.
Sure there are some aftermarket options for replacing the speakers with bigger/better ones, but in reality there just isn't enough volume in the roof bar to give good results.
So the easiest update is to simply ignore the integrated system and to buy a modern bluetooth box for placing it right next to the seat, which is what I've done this week, I've got me a big Sony SRS-XG300 party noisemaker:
This thing is awesome, the bass capabilities are truly impressive and bone dry without any unwanted booming. It will also blast music up to 25hrs per charge. The Hifi shop also lent me two Sony SBS-XB23 demo models after I purchased the big box so I could directly compare, since these are capable of one-button link to give stereo sound. But while they sounded impressive in the shop (they are surprisingly very bassy for their size), and genuine stereo sound is more immersive, volume isn't replaceable, and as soon as I went over 50km/h (31mph) the Twizy's unique jet engine sound would simply drone them out, which isn't the case with the big XB300 barrel, that one is still capable to slap some bass around the Twizys rear view mirror ears with ease, even when going full tilt at 85km/h (53mph):
Also the smaller speakers, while handy and light, were still too big to mount on a good place:
A better placing would be down there, but then the sound drowned even more:
The big XB-300 is a way better option, as I've now placed it centrally right infront of the drivers seat. It's fixed in place with a velcro loop that goes trough the seats metal base. That may look flimsy but that loop can hold my own weight when used as a footstrap (I've tried it) so it has no problem to keep the box's 3kg in place in any case. It also will not allow movement even during excessive downhill cornering. But it's still very easy to take to box in and out for charging or for external use. Turned upwards so that the high and middle speakers look straight up instead of directly towards my head, the sound comes now centrally towards me from about the upper side of the steering wheel:
The Twizy is already a daily joy to drive, but I've doubled that joy now since I can hoon around with blasting my favourite "Mucke" (engl: awesome music experience). - Ah, yes, I know what you are thinking in this very moment: "But lip, the Twizy isn't really enclosed or isolated, even with the windows in place." - Yeah, but while I would get angry looks from the public in any other car blastic loud music like this, people still smile at me.- It's simply like with a little child, they have the small-and-cute bonus and hence are allowed more leniency for their behaviour, same goes for the Twizy.
And in the future when I want even more immersive sound, I can just buy me a second XB300, link that with my example for true stereo and then place them left and right of the seat! Woof!!
Sure there are some aftermarket options for replacing the speakers with bigger/better ones, but in reality there just isn't enough volume in the roof bar to give good results.
So the easiest update is to simply ignore the integrated system and to buy a modern bluetooth box for placing it right next to the seat, which is what I've done this week, I've got me a big Sony SRS-XG300 party noisemaker:
This thing is awesome, the bass capabilities are truly impressive and bone dry without any unwanted booming. It will also blast music up to 25hrs per charge. The Hifi shop also lent me two Sony SBS-XB23 demo models after I purchased the big box so I could directly compare, since these are capable of one-button link to give stereo sound. But while they sounded impressive in the shop (they are surprisingly very bassy for their size), and genuine stereo sound is more immersive, volume isn't replaceable, and as soon as I went over 50km/h (31mph) the Twizy's unique jet engine sound would simply drone them out, which isn't the case with the big XB300 barrel, that one is still capable to slap some bass around the Twizys rear view mirror ears with ease, even when going full tilt at 85km/h (53mph):
Also the smaller speakers, while handy and light, were still too big to mount on a good place:
A better placing would be down there, but then the sound drowned even more:
The big XB-300 is a way better option, as I've now placed it centrally right infront of the drivers seat. It's fixed in place with a velcro loop that goes trough the seats metal base. That may look flimsy but that loop can hold my own weight when used as a footstrap (I've tried it) so it has no problem to keep the box's 3kg in place in any case. It also will not allow movement even during excessive downhill cornering. But it's still very easy to take to box in and out for charging or for external use. Turned upwards so that the high and middle speakers look straight up instead of directly towards my head, the sound comes now centrally towards me from about the upper side of the steering wheel:
The Twizy is already a daily joy to drive, but I've doubled that joy now since I can hoon around with blasting my favourite "Mucke" (engl: awesome music experience). - Ah, yes, I know what you are thinking in this very moment: "But lip, the Twizy isn't really enclosed or isolated, even with the windows in place." - Yeah, but while I would get angry looks from the public in any other car blastic loud music like this, people still smile at me.- It's simply like with a little child, they have the small-and-cute bonus and hence are allowed more leniency for their behaviour, same goes for the Twizy.
And in the future when I want even more immersive sound, I can just buy me a second XB300, link that with my example for true stereo and then place them left and right of the seat! Woof!!
DamnKraut said:
Looking at ze German baking trays, some of those fellas did cover quite a distance for your meet up. Hats off - must have been quite a few charging stops just to get there.
Granted partially there was some cheating involved: Atleast one Twizy had a selfmade 20Kw CATL battery with a range of 220km (140mi), and another brought his Twizy like Doc Brown brought his DeLorean: In a van: 
But overall some did quite impressive roadtrips to get there. - Me on the other hand I just parked my Twizy on a ferry for a bit and after that had only a short pleasant drive to get to the meeting point.
Btw, that blue Microlino... Function following Form in this case: That massive front flap, it's just utterly stupid. (As is any other Micro-EV that seats 2 people next to eachother like in a regular car). You basicly have to be shamelessly in love with your passenger or your driver to tolerate the tight seating position for more than a few minutes, or the fact that the passenger has to present his or her bent backside up-close to the driver everytime she or he has to get in or out. Also in bad weather when you open the door it rains inside half ouf your car. - A big price to pay for the fact that your bubble car resembles some antique vehicle and because of that looks like a fat frog.
Ah, yes, a bit of ranting brightens up any day.
"So lip, you had if for half a year now and the honeymoon phase is over... do you still like to drive it?"
Answer:
Rear tires were gone at 10'000km (6'210mi), and the front ones have now reached the "stern-look-from-policeman" -state too as seen on this picture, at 12'500km (7'760mi).
Probably going directly to winter rubber this week.
Answer:
Rear tires were gone at 10'000km (6'210mi), and the front ones have now reached the "stern-look-from-policeman" -state too as seen on this picture, at 12'500km (7'760mi).
Probably going directly to winter rubber this week.
Edited by lipadier on Sunday 15th October 09:50
Caddyshack said:
I was looking at the 13kwh replacement batteries today, it is £5k fitted so not cheap. It more than doubles the battery capacity without taking up any more space or weight. Range goes up to 100 miles max (60 miles if used flat out and hilly) which is pretty useful…I expect I will get one if my battery begins to decay.
I'm on a german Twizy forum and some members there are quite active in building denser and more modern batteries for the Twizy. On the above mentioned meet was a guy with us who had a a 20kw one built in (= range +200km (+125 miles), with a weight of only 109kg (compared to the standard 6kw one with 98kg) = battery technology has marched on quite a lot during the last decade. - As soon as the warranty on my Twizy runs out I'm going to be very VERY interested in such a replacement.Tango13 said:
Does it wheelie too?
Nope, not even on a steep uphill road. ^ But as good as all of it sounds, currently most Twizy battery projects are still only hobby garage solutions from enthusiasts.
As far as I know the only ready-to-install replacement battery that comes from a established manufacturer, is this 10kw pack:
https://www.power-and-storage.de/en-gb/shop/CATL-P...
So for about 2000 Euros (plus installation, minus selling old battery) you gain about +30% range.
As far as I know the only ready-to-install replacement battery that comes from a established manufacturer, is this 10kw pack:
https://www.power-and-storage.de/en-gb/shop/CATL-P...
So for about 2000 Euros (plus installation, minus selling old battery) you gain about +30% range.
Here is a Youtube series about how to replace the Twizys original 6kw battery with the above mentioned 10kw one. - Naturally it's in german but it has english screen commentary written on top, so you will get the gist. Not really plug-and-play, but it's doable, even by a non-pro:
Edited by lipadier on Friday 20th October 23:53
lipadier said:
For longer winter journeys (I know they will happen) I'm simply going to buy me a electric heating jacket.
Bought me one, for 40 Euros (£34) from Internet-China. Plus a 20000mAh battery pack from a local shop. - Tought it will be utter crap, but it actually works, the less layers you have on underneath the better of course. I had it on with just a T-Shirt during a 60km (38mi) evening Twizy loop at 5°C in wind and rain yesterday. The middle setting was just right, the highest one too hot, so that one will be fine in proper winter. - Granted, it's a bit of a wierd feeling, but you feel very cozy at the same time. - With the big battery pack this should work for many hours, if needed. - I simply ordered one with the most heating elements:
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