Any Twizy owners here?
Discussion
So, for a couple of reasons I'm looking at getting a Twizy.
Of course I'm poking a dealer to rent one for a week at a reasonable rate, just to see if all the potential drivers here (5 in total!) are comfortable and actually like it.
I just wanted to hear some opinions on it from actual owners, ex-owners or people who have driven it.
Serious question here: how do you think it'll drive on a grass field in the summer?
- The budget is there and the bike needs to go
- we do a lot of short (<20km) trips
- I want a convertible, open air experience but no room in my life nor garage for a convertible at this point
- It'll be ideal for the wife's work situation, where she could really benefit from a small nimble vehicle in the summer
Of course I'm poking a dealer to rent one for a week at a reasonable rate, just to see if all the potential drivers here (5 in total!) are comfortable and actually like it.
I just wanted to hear some opinions on it from actual owners, ex-owners or people who have driven it.
Serious question here: how do you think it'll drive on a grass field in the summer?
Had one for around six months. An absolute hoot on fine days and short journeys.
Battery leasing is the killer, although Renault now give you a residual battery value figure that reduces the longer you pay the battery lease which eventually allows you to own it with no battery costs. It also includes breakdown cover and a warranty on battery health, so there is some value.
For city/urban use they're great, but they're just too basic and limited to be a keeper, more a toy. Great introduction to EVs though.
They're a great conversation piece, people love them!
Battery leasing is the killer, although Renault now give you a residual battery value figure that reduces the longer you pay the battery lease which eventually allows you to own it with no battery costs. It also includes breakdown cover and a warranty on battery health, so there is some value.
For city/urban use they're great, but they're just too basic and limited to be a keeper, more a toy. Great introduction to EVs though.
They're a great conversation piece, people love them!
ash73 said:
Death traps, imo.
Poor visibility compared to a bike, plastic shell offers zero protection in a crash, and you can't bail out.
Plus you have to rent the battery, iirc.
You don't have to Poor visibility compared to a bike, plastic shell offers zero protection in a crash, and you can't bail out.
Plus you have to rent the battery, iirc.
.That said, usually she takes the bike but it's a bit cumbersome as she ideally would then need an electric cargo bike of some sorts. Which costs nearly half what the twizy costs and still isn't as safe, fast or convenient imo.
ZesPak said:
That said, usually she takes the bike but it's a bit cumbersome as she ideally would then need an electric cargo bike of some sorts. Which costs nearly half what the twizy costs and still isn't as safe, fast or convenient imo.
Maybe its karma, but I cannot see how a Twizy is more dangerous than any kind of bike, pedal, electric, or motor. Went for 28km/h to zero pretty sharpish this morning ended sprawled across a T junction with a Range Rover having to slam on the anchors, no ones fault but my own - slick 23mm tyres + wet roads don't mix well with 90 degree turns, you think I would know that by now
A Twizy looks really good fun, without any where near the same risk to limb!!
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 8th July 10:34
We've got one of these at work as a pool car. My thoughts:
- it's made to be an occasional town runabout. It lacks any sort of grunt or refinement. Top speed is circa 30ish mph. I wouldn't take it anywhere near a national speed limit road, you'd feel horrendously exposed, moreso than on a push bike where people expect you to be slow, whereas in this you'll catch some people unawares.
- the suspension travel is non-existent. Incredibly harsh ride. The seat slides forward and back. Beyond that, there's no means to adjust your sitting position, so if you don't get on with the ergonomics you're screwed. Try one first on this count.
- even with the zip-in windows, which are an optional extra, you still get wet. There's no de-mister either, so screen has the capacity to fog up and be a b
h to clear on occasion.
- you get very limited carrying space - think over-sized panniers and you're about right.
- it's quirky and gets plenty of looks.
- the doors pivot up, which makes it a piece of piss to park in a tight space.
- battery seemed to last a reasonable distance, but will largely depend on length of your commute and ability to plug in at both ends to charge. Comes with an in-built 3 pin charger (so slow charging speeds).
In all, it's kind of fun, but I wouldn't own one personally .
- it's made to be an occasional town runabout. It lacks any sort of grunt or refinement. Top speed is circa 30ish mph. I wouldn't take it anywhere near a national speed limit road, you'd feel horrendously exposed, moreso than on a push bike where people expect you to be slow, whereas in this you'll catch some people unawares.
- the suspension travel is non-existent. Incredibly harsh ride. The seat slides forward and back. Beyond that, there's no means to adjust your sitting position, so if you don't get on with the ergonomics you're screwed. Try one first on this count.
- even with the zip-in windows, which are an optional extra, you still get wet. There's no de-mister either, so screen has the capacity to fog up and be a b
h to clear on occasion.- you get very limited carrying space - think over-sized panniers and you're about right.
- it's quirky and gets plenty of looks.
- the doors pivot up, which makes it a piece of piss to park in a tight space.
- battery seemed to last a reasonable distance, but will largely depend on length of your commute and ability to plug in at both ends to charge. Comes with an in-built 3 pin charger (so slow charging speeds).
In all, it's kind of fun, but I wouldn't own one personally .
Venom said:
- it's made to be an occasional town runabout. It lacks any sort of grunt or refinement. Top speed is circa 30ish mph. I wouldn't take it anywhere near a national speed limit road, you'd feel horrendously exposed, moreso than on a push bike where people expect you to be slow, whereas in this you'll catch some people unawares.
Not planning on NSL road travel with it . As for the top speed, you can order it with the 30 mph limit for people without a license, probably that's what you drove around in? The normal one should have a speed limit closer to 50 (takes ages to get there apparently)Venom said:
- the suspension travel is non-existent. Incredibly harsh ride. The seat slides forward and back. Beyond that, there's no means to adjust your sitting position, so if you don't get on with the ergonomics you're screwed. Try one first on this count.
Yep, I won't buy one if I haven't had one for a week. Looking into that right now. Want to surprise her with it just for that week.Biggest worries from what I've seen are:
- Comfort & performance, or lack thereof
- There's a 50/50 chance she'll love it or hate it.
Venom said:
- you get very limited carrying space - think over-sized panniers and you're about right.
My wife checks pieces of land in the neighborhood in the summer and has minimal distance to cover but she's still a professional and has documentation/laptop maybe with her. A backpack on a bike in the summer just isn't that professional, a cute electric runabout would serve her great. Backpack/briefcase can go on the passenger.ZesPak said:
Not planning on NSL road travel with it . As for the top speed, you can order it with the 30 mph limit for people without a license, probably that's what you drove around in? The normal one should have a speed limit closer to 50 (takes ages to get there apparently)
One I drive isn't limited, but getting it much past 30mph takes so long you can feel measure it in years, never mind seconds so is sort of irrelevant as a consideration. You wouldn't want to assume you could match prevailing traffic speed outside 30mph areas, for lack of ability to get to the speed in a responsive manner.. As for the top speed, you can order it with the 30 mph limit for people without a license, probably that's what you drove around in? The normal one should have a speed limit closer to 50 (takes ages to get there apparently)As said, for pootling around urban conditions, it might be a viable proposition for you. Anything more than that I'd give it a wide berth.
So, just talked to a dealer and almost no discount on the list price.
Took one home for a week, was a bit disappointed at first at the hard suspension combined with typical Renault "disconnection" on the controls. As in overly assisted steering wheel, slow throttle response,...
By the time I got home, about 15km further, I started to enjoy it a lot. I can imagine the doorless versions to be quite terrifying but on a longer stretch I got it just over 80km/h and while you felt that was the limit for the vehicle, it was still very stable.
The one they gave us now is fully kitted, with doors, glass roof, heated windshield, Parrot,...
Around urban areas it's magnificent. Beat my 100D home by sheer virtue of being able to slip through all the gaps, and it turns on a dime, I can literally drive circles on my driveway, a 4-point turn in most cars.
Took one home for a week, was a bit disappointed at first at the hard suspension combined with typical Renault "disconnection" on the controls. As in overly assisted steering wheel, slow throttle response,...
By the time I got home, about 15km further, I started to enjoy it a lot. I can imagine the doorless versions to be quite terrifying but on a longer stretch I got it just over 80km/h and while you felt that was the limit for the vehicle, it was still very stable.
The one they gave us now is fully kitted, with doors, glass roof, heated windshield, Parrot,...
Around urban areas it's magnificent. Beat my 100D home by sheer virtue of being able to slip through all the gaps, and it turns on a dime, I can literally drive circles on my driveway, a 4-point turn in most cars.
Edited by ZesPak on Friday 31st July 16:27
ZesPak said:
So, just talked to a dealer and almost no discount on the list price.
Took one home for a week, was a bit disappointed at first at the hard suspension combined with typical Renault "disconnection" on the controls. As in overly assisted steering wheel, slow throttle response,...
By the time I got home, about 15km further, I started to enjoy it a lot. I can imagine the doorless versions to be quite terrifying but on a longer stretch I got it just over 80km/h and while you felt that was the limit for the vehicle, it was still very stable.
The one they gave us now is fully kitted, with doors, glass roof, heated windshield, Parrot,...
Around urban areas it's magnificent. Beat my 100D home by sheer virtue of being able to slip through all the gaps, and it turns on a dime, I can literally drive circles on my driveway, a 4-point turn in most cars.
Overly assisted steering? It doesn't have power steering. Agree about the extraordinarily hard ride though.Took one home for a week, was a bit disappointed at first at the hard suspension combined with typical Renault "disconnection" on the controls. As in overly assisted steering wheel, slow throttle response,...
By the time I got home, about 15km further, I started to enjoy it a lot. I can imagine the doorless versions to be quite terrifying but on a longer stretch I got it just over 80km/h and while you felt that was the limit for the vehicle, it was still very stable.
The one they gave us now is fully kitted, with doors, glass roof, heated windshield, Parrot,...
Around urban areas it's magnificent. Beat my 100D home by sheer virtue of being able to slip through all the gaps, and it turns on a dime, I can literally drive circles on my driveway, a 4-point turn in most cars.
Edited by ZesPak on Friday 31st July 16:27
AnotherClarkey said:
Overly assisted steering? It doesn't have power steering. Agree about the extraordinarily hard ride though.
It did feel assisted. I can easily turn it with a finger even when standing still. Anyway, it felt more "disconnected" than I was expecting in a car of that type.Owners' forums say a powerbox fixes the lazy throttle response though.
The Arcimoto FUV www.arcimoto.com seems to be a more modern take on a Twizy, max speed of 70 mph, 100 mile range, although only available in the US and starting at $20k.
I'd love one of these for open air electric vehicle fun, but they ain't cheap!
https://vanderhallusa.com/edison-eu/
No first hand experience of the Twizy. It looks fun though.
https://vanderhallusa.com/edison-eu/
No first hand experience of the Twizy. It looks fun though.
Humm I do wonder how a Twizzy would have coped with something like this...
https://youtu.be/zbgbClRKpP0
https://youtu.be/zbgbClRKpP0
ash73 said:
Shouldn't be allowed on the roads with no safety cell, imo. At least on a motorcycle you can abandon ship, or be thrown clear... the Twizy is basically a plastic coffin; you'd be mad to buy one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9WgaoDF3_Q
Safer than a scooter no? If you think being ‘thrown clear’ is a better option, it’s probably not. You’re more likely to end up wrapped around something solid or under the wheels of another car.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9WgaoDF3_Q
As I said, the Twizy doesn't have any competition and that's a shame.
I found that it works as a second car for our family of 4 (!) 95% of the time.
The wife seems to love it, the main thing I can't get over is that the 6 kW "buy battery" option is 4500 EUR.
That seems enormously steep for a battery imho.
I found that it works as a second car for our family of 4 (!) 95% of the time.
The wife seems to love it, the main thing I can't get over is that the 6 kW "buy battery" option is 4500 EUR.
That seems enormously steep for a battery imho.
ash73 said:
Death traps, imo.
ash73 said:
I had a quick go in it and would never get in one again. Try before you buy.
Unlike a Smart car, there's no safety cage or anything, it's just plastic...
Unlike a Smart car, there's no safety cage or anything, it's just plastic...
ash73 said:
Your wife's safety not a priority then?
ash73 said:
Shouldn't be allowed on the roads with no safety cell, imo. At least on a motorcycle you can abandon ship, or be thrown clear... the Twizy is basically a plastic coffin; you'd be mad to buy one.
ash73 said:
It's your funeral, but letting the rest of the family get in it is irresponsible.
Your record is broken mate.
This is what it replaces:
Oh and "abandon ship" or "be thrown clear"... sure... safety features on a bike you might want.
Look at your own car history... MG Midget, Porsche 911 and so much other known death traps (what's the NCAP on a 911 again?)
Please, go buy yourself a Tesla instead of the death traps you decided to buy.
Oh, I've got a Tesla, we do over 95% of the miles in that. So on average my family is a lot safer than yours. Don't you care about the safety of your family at all?
Let's do a test.
Pick which one you want to be in in a head on collision of both, at let's say 50km/h:
Jaguar XJ vs Tesla Model S
Smart vs Alfa Giulietta
Ducati vs Twizy
Edited by ZesPak on Wednesday 5th August 11:50
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