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The Petrolhead Lounge

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  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,294
    Except for a few "icons", like the R 4, R 5, and Twingo, Renault never had much of an identity. They failed to follow a design concept, mostly with their larger models. Look at what has been called the Mégane over the years, there is no continuity that yells "Renault" anywhere. Granted, at the opposite end is Audi where every generation of every model looks so similar as to make it next to impossible to know if it's a recent A 3 or an old A 6 when, invariably, they flash their headlights at you in the fast lane. That may be a desired family similarity, but it's also kind of boring.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited March 14 Posts: 14,190
    The Safrane was a nice looking car, at least I think it was. You don't seer many of them around these days. I can't remember the last time I saw one.

    Safrane-scaled.jpg

    That C pillar vaguely reminds me of the mk III Granada.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,594
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Except for a few "icons", like the R 4, R 5, and Twingo, Renault never had much of an identity. They failed to follow a design concept, mostly with their larger models. Look at what has been called the Mégane over the years, there is no continuity that yells "Renault" anywhere. Granted, at the opposite end is Audi where every generation of every model looks so similar as to make it next to impossible to know if it's a recent A 3 or an old A 6 when, invariably, they flash their headlights at you in the fast lane. That may be a desired family similarity, but it's also kind of boring.

    Fair enough, I'm not the biggest Renault fanboy out there anyway. Though some older models and a few new ones look pretty good imo. The newer ones that look good seem to be modelled on the older ones that I like, or at least that is my impression, hence my comment. I might be wrong though, I can live with that when it comes to Renault :p

    Spot on about Audi's btw, it appears they also come without indicators.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    Posts: 2,694
    £3m Bond Villain Jag C-X75 vs TG Test Track! Stig Laps
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,434
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Except for a few "icons", like the R 4, R 5, and Twingo, Renault never had much of an identity. They failed to follow a design concept, mostly with their larger models. Look at what has been called the Mégane over the years, there is no continuity that yells "Renault" anywhere. Granted, at the opposite end is Audi where every generation of every model looks so similar as to make it next to impossible to know if it's a recent A 3 or an old A 6 when, invariably, they flash their headlights at you in the fast lane. That may be a desired family similarity, but it's also kind of boring.

    Not following a design concept over longer periods of time made Renaults difficult to instantly recognize after a model change, but within model lines there were some very interesting designs that stood the test of time. I am thinking of the Twingo (as you also noted), which I saw featured at the Museum of Modern Art in the 90s. Then there was the futuristic looking Fuego, which even today makes me turn my head. Also, R14 (very clean design with smooth surfaces), R15 and R18 looked pretty advanced back then (and still look good today).

    Renault celebrates these models with an online "originals" museum (link) and it should be noted that Renault's small cars were beloved and super-abundant in the 80s-90s. Mind you, my mother had an R5 (1980) and when she sold it after a mere 5 years or so it was badly rusted below the rear seats. I never was a fan of the "quality".
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 14,190
    Yesterday marked 20 years since the collapse of MG Rover. After a centenary of British build cars for the masses, it was a sad ending to say the least. While BMW could take some of the blame, ultimately is was the Phoenix Four who drove the final nail in (and lined their own pockets), with the Project Drive penny pinching.

    _102574513_mgrover187.jpg
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    edited June 18 Posts: 9,294
    I just came across this beautiful 1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon (RHD!) in our little village today when walking my dog. I talked to the guy who owns it (he's quite voluntarily in the second picture, but I decided to blur his face for privacy), and he said he's had it for 20 years. Before that, the car had, among other uses, been in the employ of a British diplomat to Thailand, also for two decades, complete with a chauffeur etc. The present owner is an American (senior) citizen who has been living in the next town for quite a while, but I had never spotted this car before. Imagine it having a coupe/roadster body, and you're quite close to Bond's Bentley from the novels, since it is still heavily based on the pre-war design.
    Bentley-Front.jpg
    Bentley-Left.jpg
    Bentley-Rear.jpg

  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,594
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    Yesterday marked 20 years since the collapse of MG Rover. After a centenary of British build cars for the masses, it was a sad ending to say the least. While BMW could take some of the blame, ultimately is was the Phoenix Four who drove the final nail in (and lined their own pockets), with the Project Drive penny pinching.

    _102574513_mgrover187.jpg

    Just saw this a moment ago. My grandfather had two Rovers and considrred the 75 when it came out. For me it's a marque with a nostalgic ring to it. Just like SAAB. A shame these brands aren't around anymore.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 18,288
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    I just came across this beautiful 1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon (RHD!) in our little village today when walking my dog. I talked to the guy who owns it (he's quite voluntarily in the second picture, but I decided to blur his face for privacy), and he said he's had it for 20 years. Before that, the car had, among other uses, been in the employ of a British diplomat to Thailand, also for two decades, complete with a chauffeur etc. The present owner is an American (senior) citizen who has been living in the next town for quite a while, but I had never spotted this car before. Imagine it having a coupe/roadster body, and you're quite close to Bond's Bentley from the novels, since it is still heavily based on the pre-war design.
    Bentley-Front.jpg
    Bentley-Left.jpg
    Bentley-Rear.jpg

    Wow that must be an unusual sight in Germany- don't see them often in the UK! :D
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