I’ve never known a Renault to be anything other than garbage.

Except in Formula 1. I think they’ve got the know how to build an excellent sports car.

Formula 1 racing is quite a difference from the street.

Oh man. When Renault does funky, they do it right. Alpines are always strangely desirable.

The last good sports car from Renault was the 5 Turbo. I welcome a new Alpine though.

I can see Mazda brass crapping their pants reading those news, not. So far it is unclear whom Renault will compete with: 4 cylinder fun to drive Miata or 6 cylinder Alfa wannabe Z350? If they to compete with their brethren Z350 will Renault use Nissan engine? Where do they plan to compete? Z350 is not European destined car (I am sure you can get one, but why?) and there are no Renault dealer in US. I think it’s a brainfart.

^^so you’ve never seen the renault A610.

They’d have to make a hell of a roadster to compete in the US. Not only do we have Miata, we have Solstice and Sky.

Although F1 technology is completely different from street tech, Renaults F1 experience does trickle down to their production cars. Honda and Ferrari are the only ones that put the most of F1 tech into their street cars, but anyone who has been to Europe and had the opportunity to drive the Renault Clio V6 will agree that Renault knows how to make some wicked cars. As for reliability, Renault engines are the European equivilant of Honda engines. Its not uncommon to see a 20yr old renault with 400k on the original motor. I look forward to see what this alpine will be like. Its a shame it won’t be sold here, but who knows, in the future they might.

planet_drive:
You hit the nail on the head. A lot of people don’t realize that a good 80% or more of the technology we’ve all come to know and love in our road cars came from auto manufacturers involvement in motorsport. And F1 derived technology is a huge chunk of that. The question was never whether or not many of these manufacturers… Renault included… CAN build us better cars. It’s whether or not they WILL.

I drove my cousins Renault clio v6 while in australia and that thing is hardcore! Believe me renault knows how to make amazing cars when they want to. If renault sold the Clio v6 here in the states, it would be a hot seller. Imagine a mid engine rear drive hatch, with a high rev 255hp v6 in a car slightly bigger than a civic hatch. Thats what the Clio v6 is and it handles like a gokart! I like renault tech, the 350Z and new G37 engines are basically renault engines and those engines are regarded as bullet proof.

I haven’t seen them in Europe and did not drive (that is not kind of cars you get from Hertz or Avis in Europe on biz trip). However, Renault exited from US market because of reliability problems. They basically shot themselves in both feet and testicles for good measure. By same token I haven’t seen Z350 in Europe. The point I was trying to make: what vehicle and where Renault is competing with? Perhaps some one can enlighten me or not.

I don’t really see this competing all that well with the Miata, since it’s going to be MR rather than FR. I’m sure it’ll steal some sales, but probably not enough for Mazda to be concerned.

I suppose there’s more of a history of MR roadsters in Europe (a couple of MGs come to mind). But in North America there’s been what; the MR2 Spyder, the Elise (if you can count a targa as a roadster) and the Boxster? The first two being almost totally uncompromising and the third well out of the Miata’s price point.

But then again, I don’t really see why this would come to North America at all, unless it was badged as a Nissan.

Renaults are fine vehicles.I have 2: The 2001 Laguna break MK2 and a Diesel powered 2003 Clio that does 65 MPG!!!!!! Never had any problems what so ever with them.

jamaicandude WAS correct about the trickle down effect of racing technology finding its way into what we drive. Unfortunately, F1 has decided to freeze engine development for the next 4 years, NASCAR’s still running carburetors and all the rest of them together don’t account for much more than dog**** on an anthill. And now you’ve got supercars that put out more horsepower than virtually any racing engine outside of the NHRA that anyone with enough scratch can put in their garage and take out on Sundays. Motorsports today has become too much about the stars and not enough about the cars. They need to return to their roots. If one manufacturer is mopping the floor with all the other guys- so be it. It’s called competition baby.

In North America there is the perception that French vehicles have lousy quality. Most French manufactures left the market in the late 70’s, with Renault and Puegot hanging on due to a business arrangement with AMC and Chrysler until the early 80’s. At that time, while North America quality and reliability were in the toilet, French quality and reliability were in the sewer that the toilet emptied into. As we all know from this forum, perceptions don’t die easily.

Reliability and quality aside, there is something to be said for the design of French vehicles. While most of the cars we get in North America have become homogenized to the point of universal blandness, French designs have a character and,in some cases, quirkiness to at least ensure that they have some personality.

With the big three’s (2.5) market share continuing to dwindle, it’s no surprise that manufacturers who had abandoned the market are now looking to return.

Over Thanksgiving, I saw a guy in Portland driving a ’90s Renault Megane Scenic. It looked pretty cool, actually.

We need more cars like that here.

I know that Renault is not known for reliability, but if they came back to this country, I’d seriously consider a Clio, Megane, Modus, or even Laguna.

And if they introduce a new Alpine, that’d be great!

I hate the fact that VW is the only “attainable” European full-line automaker available in the US.

My cousin had a Renault alliance. terrible car.

CA36GTP: Miata and its knockoffs are hot, though I don’t get them.

pd: “As for reliability, Renault engines are the European equivalent of Honda engines.”
Thinking of my cousin’s alliance, ditto. Otherwise, no.

moto-racer13: My Clio-driving experience has been limited to GT4. Not bad.

autonut: “They basically shot themselves in both feet and testicles for good measure.” I imagine the feet were shot first. Hard to think straight with buckshot in your nuts — not that I know anything about that.

buenos: Yeah, I agree, the French know design. Especially on hatchbacks, which Americans for some reason don’t like.

inline6: which Portland?

Renault do know how to make an excellent car. It’s just that they don’t always try their best (a bit like myself). The first twingo was amazing, the Vel Satis was an interesting flop, but a flop nonetheless. The Megane is very popular, and I gather the 230 Cup version is very fast.

A 90’s Megane Scenic isn’t exactly regarded the the epitome of cool across the pond, but the Espace is pretty good, and the new Laguna is going to be a solid, chunky saloon.
Obviously Renaults are extremely popular in France, along with their Peugeot and Citroen ilk. The French can make a good car, they just can’t be bothered most of the time.

must be the short work-week

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I’ve never known a Renault to be anything other than garbage.
Comment by CA36GTP, posted on November29 at 10:08 am
Hey Dumbass have you ever even driven a Renault, let alone set eyes on one?

LP640, yes and yes. Weren’t expecting that, were you wiseass?

I had an ‘81 LeCar. I was young and it was one of the few new cars I could afford. Before long I wanted to run over Renault senior management with it. No jury would have convicted me.

#

LP640, yes and yes. Weren’t expecting that, were you wiseass?
Comment by CA36GTP, posted on November29 at 5:31 pm
No(!) It came as total,complete shock to me(!) ive had a heart attack beacuse of it(!) DUMBASS !

Autonut, why would they want somebody to compete with? Surely they would be better off finding a sector with no competition, which is something that they have always been very good at.

A610 is awesome…

Renault’s aren’t that bad, but would never buy French - even the Laguna had good reviews overall but with reliabilty pointed out as an issue… I’ve driven the 2.0 diesel for a couple of months and it’s torquey and handles okay, but not my cup of tea entirely.