Twingo Gordini 100... any good?
Discussion
http://www.renault.co.uk/cars/model/newtwingo/gord...
So, the time has come for me to wave goodbye to my faithful Clio and get something a little more exciting.
Brief research into the area tells me that the Gordini 100 is the old GT 1.2tce, that has been spruced up using up the bits left in Renault's parts bin before a facelift sometime next year.
Unfortunately because the Gordini 100 has been released relatively recently and isn't a massive news story, there isn't much in the way of reviews.
So, I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about them, what are they like to drive and live with, disappointing? or surprisingly fun?
Oh and if anyone has any other recommendations of any other relatively small, fun and decent on fuel cars that would be excellent!
Cheers PH!
So, the time has come for me to wave goodbye to my faithful Clio and get something a little more exciting.
Brief research into the area tells me that the Gordini 100 is the old GT 1.2tce, that has been spruced up using up the bits left in Renault's parts bin before a facelift sometime next year.
Unfortunately because the Gordini 100 has been released relatively recently and isn't a massive news story, there isn't much in the way of reviews.
So, I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about them, what are they like to drive and live with, disappointing? or surprisingly fun?
Oh and if anyone has any other recommendations of any other relatively small, fun and decent on fuel cars that would be excellent!
Cheers PH!
I'd be looking used. Assuming your budget is for one of these new, then you are considering spending £11k+, I can think of many more exiting ways to spend £11k than on a mildly warm new twingo 100..
Panda 100hp
used clio 200
golf gti
130i
etc etc
is insurance an issue - how old are you?
Panda 100hp
used clio 200
golf gti
130i
etc etc
is insurance an issue - how old are you?
That little turbo motor is quite pleasant, but if you want a Twingo, go for a Renaultsport one, preferably with the cup chassis.
For 600 squid extra you get a 133ps 1.6 and a lot more fun. Personally I wouldn't bother about the Gordini bits, but if you like blue....
fast bug is right, though, it does need a sixth ratio!
For 600 squid extra you get a 133ps 1.6 and a lot more fun. Personally I wouldn't bother about the Gordini bits, but if you like blue....
fast bug is right, though, it does need a sixth ratio!
Reason one of these has taken my fancy is that they seem to be good on fuel for the decent power from the 1.2.
Edo: The main reason I'm considering new, is the fact that my local dealer is selling them off on pre-registration deals for around £8500 IIRC, so with the trade in from my Clio a new car for £7000-ish makes sense to me!
I must admit, the lack of 6th gear does worry me. I have the 1.2 16v mk2 Clio atm, and 80mph is around 4k, which over long distances cant be the best for the engine and does grate with the high cabin noise.
The prospect of a new car however for not much over a nice 2nd hand one does look really attractive though!
ETA I just turned 20 and would prefer more affordable insurance and running costs over a clio 200/182.
Edo: The main reason I'm considering new, is the fact that my local dealer is selling them off on pre-registration deals for around £8500 IIRC, so with the trade in from my Clio a new car for £7000-ish makes sense to me!
I must admit, the lack of 6th gear does worry me. I have the 1.2 16v mk2 Clio atm, and 80mph is around 4k, which over long distances cant be the best for the engine and does grate with the high cabin noise.
The prospect of a new car however for not much over a nice 2nd hand one does look really attractive though!
ETA I just turned 20 and would prefer more affordable insurance and running costs over a clio 200/182.
Edited by doodles19 on Monday 4th April 13:39
Edited by doodles19 on Monday 4th April 13:41
Edited by doodles19 on Monday 4th April 13:43
I have a Cup 133 and its a great fun car for the money. I'm surprised theres not more of them on the road, I can't recall seeing another whilst I've had mine. The only thing it could do with is aircon, but then I guess that defeats the object.. Agree that another gear would also improve it.
The main things I'm worried about are:
I understand that its not a sports car, more like a luke warm hatch, but to get it and find its boring and most importantly not that fun would suck rather a lot.
- The car will be more show than actual performance i.e wobbly chassis, brakes susceptible to fade, something I cant especially fully find out on a short test drive round the block.
- That I will be taken for a boy racer in a relatively low powered but fairly showy car. In comparison to a fiesta zetec s for example, that seems to blend subtle looks whilst being fun.
- Does the digital speedo get irritating? I've always been a fan of dials.
I understand that its not a sports car, more like a luke warm hatch, but to get it and find its boring and most importantly not that fun would suck rather a lot.
doodles19 said:
The main things I'm worried about are:
I understand that its not a sports car, more like a luke warm hatch, but to get it and find its boring and most importantly not that fun would suck rather a lot.
Light, modern cars tend not to suffer from undue brake fade, the chassis isn't wobbly, (though I've only driven the 'GT' regular model, not the Gordini 100, but they're broadly the same I think), but you might be taken for a bit of a boy racer. that's a taste decision you'll have to make for yourself, I guess.- The car will be more show than actual performance i.e wobbly chassis, brakes susceptible to fade, something I cant especially fully find out on a short test drive round the block.
- That I will be taken for a boy racer in a relatively low powered but fairly showy car. In comparison to a fiesta zetec s for example, that seems to blend subtle looks whilst being fun.
- Does the digital speedo get irritating? I've always been a fan of dials.
I understand that its not a sports car, more like a luke warm hatch, but to get it and find its boring and most importantly not that fun would suck rather a lot.
For me, the digital speedo isn't irritating, but its positioning - way over to the left of the central instrument cluster - is.
Oh and one more thing that irritates me about (all) Twingos is that the steering column is exposed and very close to the pedals, meaning it rubs against your left foot when you turn at a junction.
Hope that's of some help to you
Riggers said:
Light, modern cars tend not to suffer from undue brake fade, the chassis isn't wobbly, (though I've only driven the 'GT' regular model, not the Gordini 100, but they're broadly the same I think), but you might be taken for a bit of a boy racer. that's a taste decision you'll have to make for yourself, I guess.
For me, the digital speedo isn't irritating, but its positioning - way over to the left of the central instrument cluster - is.
Oh and one more thing that irritates me about (all) Twingos is that the steering column is exposed and very close to the pedals, meaning it rubs against your left foot when you turn at a junction.
Hope that's of some help to you
Excellent, cheers for the reply! For me, the digital speedo isn't irritating, but its positioning - way over to the left of the central instrument cluster - is.
Oh and one more thing that irritates me about (all) Twingos is that the steering column is exposed and very close to the pedals, meaning it rubs against your left foot when you turn at a junction.
Hope that's of some help to you
You have put my mind at ease to a degree, apparently the Gordini has tweaked steering as well as stiffer springs and bushes which hopefully will help make it slightly more entertaining.
Good to know about the light modern cars not especially getting brake fade, although I would have preferred it to have rear discs not drums
.Regarding the 'boy racer' image, I think it will help quite a lot to get rid of the stripes or perhaps get it in black rather than the Gordini blue.
I will have to see how it goes over the weekend with the test drive, hopefully I will like it!
One last question though, was the GT you drove fun to drive? I can put up with some shortcomings if it is guaranteed to put a smile on my face.
t interior, plasticky and I couldn't stand the speedo.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff