Twingo 133 or 133 Cup
Discussion
I've always wanted a Renaultsport Twingo since I passed my driving test 3 years ago. Now 21, I'm finally in a position to realistically afford it along with the insurance. However I'm a little confused in regards to the subtle differences between the non-cup and cup chassis cars. Is the difference between the two noticeable and in the real world of imperfect British B-roads which is the better drive?
I've found a nice looking 133 without the cup chassis but would be willing to wait for a cup chassis car if its worth it. I plan to use the car as a normal daily drive to work and the occasional brisk drive on backroads.
So has anyone tried them both or had one of the two for a period of time? I'd be really interested in your input.
Cheers.
Edited to add 2008+ used cars
I've found a nice looking 133 without the cup chassis but would be willing to wait for a cup chassis car if its worth it. I plan to use the car as a normal daily drive to work and the occasional brisk drive on backroads.
So has anyone tried them both or had one of the two for a period of time? I'd be really interested in your input.
Cheers.
Edited to add 2008+ used cars
Technomatt said:
The Twingo is not a popular car. Bear that in mind.
Always go for Cup.
I wouldn't bother with the 197. An expensive gearbox exploding time bomb.
If your budget is limited have a think about the 172/182. Much better than a 197 as cheap, fun and dependable bit of kit.
Thats something that is a concern (in regards to the Twingo), reliability. My price range puts me with cars with around 40-50k on the clock. What are they like for holding together at that kind of mileage? Always go for Cup.
I wouldn't bother with the 197. An expensive gearbox exploding time bomb.
If your budget is limited have a think about the 172/182. Much better than a 197 as cheap, fun and dependable bit of kit.
rb26 said:
Technomatt said:
The Twingo is not a popular car. Bear that in mind.
Always go for Cup.
I wouldn't bother with the 197. An expensive gearbox exploding time bomb.
If your budget is limited have a think about the 172/182. Much better than a 197 as cheap, fun and dependable bit of kit.
Thats something that is a concern (in regards to the Twingo), reliability. My price range puts me with cars with around 40-50k on the clock. What are they like for holding together at that kind of mileage? Always go for Cup.
I wouldn't bother with the 197. An expensive gearbox exploding time bomb.
If your budget is limited have a think about the 172/182. Much better than a 197 as cheap, fun and dependable bit of kit.
Just avoid the 197 unless you have the spare budget for a gearbox (or two...)
There is a chap on the clio197.net that is on his 4th gearbox. He is now getting shot of it.
C2james said:
Again, do not listen to this guy and do the research yourself.
Agree entirely. Unless you speak to people who have actually owned certain cars and can tell you of their own personal experiences or of course motoring experts, avoid people who don't know what they are talking about or who have an obsession, or who are mad or sad or all of the above
C2james said:
Again, do not listen to this guy and do the research yourself.
Of course, it’s always best to get some information from the horse’s mouth.Here is the chap on his 4th Clio 200 gearbox:
http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?37423-...
And here is the overall Clio 197/200 gearbox failure poll:
http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?15851-...
Some owners are so biased they just can’t accept any realities.
A balanced viewpoint is always the best way ahead.
Jesus Christ you're a boring, obsessed b
d. Maybe you'll grow out of it when you start growing pubes and stop wrecking peoples threads with your one man bullst campaign.
Anywho...
I love the look of the Twingo. Not driven one but seen a few about and have been keeping an eye on the ever falling prices myself. I gather the cup version is quite stiff so take your missus with you on the test drive. You may think it is fine, she may not and will hate the car/you forever if you buy it.
d. Maybe you'll grow out of it when you start growing pubes and stop wrecking peoples threads with your one man bullst campaign. Anywho...
I love the look of the Twingo. Not driven one but seen a few about and have been keeping an eye on the ever falling prices myself. I gather the cup version is quite stiff so take your missus with you on the test drive. You may think it is fine, she may not and will hate the car/you forever if you buy it.
I've had my cup nearly 3 years. I have replaced the cup suspension for BC coilovers after man maths (cracked spring) necessitated the purchase. They're set softer for the daily grind though, about the same as non cup. It can do silly things around corners and can do speeds that as a driver, I am not good enough to exploit. The cup chassis isn't too bad for UK roads tbh. If you're considering it, you're likely to be okay with it anyway. It's never going to be a Rolls Royce.
In the non cup you probably know what you're getting anyway. Air con, Split seats, auto lights and wipers (although these were removed at some point around 2011 I think) and tints.
Cup chassis adds the lower chassis and different wheels.
Cup has no tints, no air con and a bench seat with cup wheels and chassis. Some even have cup badging.
The cup wheels look great, one of my favourite OEM wheels. BUT they do come with a stupid and rather uncommon tyre size as standard. I've also changed the wheels to 16" 182 alloys (for the offset and better range of tyres). I drove a non cup and a cup when looking at mine and tbh the non cup isn't bad at all, I just preferred the cup wheels (even though I replaced them) and I bought a proper cup not a full fat with cup chassis. I also drove a ZS (nothing wrong with it, but nothing to write home about and far too common - not a bad thing), abarth 500 (cracking powertrain, but I just don't like how they look, didn't have that magic handling) and the swift sport (last gen - bit soft, not sure on the looks and the seats were woeful). The Twingo isn't perfect but at a price and how it drove I had to have it.
Issues to generally look for:
Ball joints on the front wishbones are prone to splitting. If you catch it quickly, sort it. If not, pray you dealer is one of the good ones. Most get replaced by RUK.
Rattling from the boot - simple fix - just needs the boot striker realigning
Steering column squeaking/cracking - as far as I can see it has only affected a few.
Coilpacks can corrode. Easy enough to prevent, a small gap in the scuttle can lead to water dripping onto the coil pack.
Exhaust - typical problem with Renaults tbh.
And some gearboxes can make a crunch between 1st and 2nd if the driver is too enthusiastic. This is driver error supposedly, and not a bad box.
If I were looking again, the new Swift Sport would be hard to ignore. As an ownership proposition the 133 can sometimes be hard to justify. But when it's on the right road, the noise and the character are hard to beat.
In the non cup you probably know what you're getting anyway. Air con, Split seats, auto lights and wipers (although these were removed at some point around 2011 I think) and tints.
Cup chassis adds the lower chassis and different wheels.
Cup has no tints, no air con and a bench seat with cup wheels and chassis. Some even have cup badging.
The cup wheels look great, one of my favourite OEM wheels. BUT they do come with a stupid and rather uncommon tyre size as standard. I've also changed the wheels to 16" 182 alloys (for the offset and better range of tyres). I drove a non cup and a cup when looking at mine and tbh the non cup isn't bad at all, I just preferred the cup wheels (even though I replaced them) and I bought a proper cup not a full fat with cup chassis. I also drove a ZS (nothing wrong with it, but nothing to write home about and far too common - not a bad thing), abarth 500 (cracking powertrain, but I just don't like how they look, didn't have that magic handling) and the swift sport (last gen - bit soft, not sure on the looks and the seats were woeful). The Twingo isn't perfect but at a price and how it drove I had to have it.
Issues to generally look for:
Ball joints on the front wishbones are prone to splitting. If you catch it quickly, sort it. If not, pray you dealer is one of the good ones. Most get replaced by RUK.
Rattling from the boot - simple fix - just needs the boot striker realigning
Steering column squeaking/cracking - as far as I can see it has only affected a few.
Coilpacks can corrode. Easy enough to prevent, a small gap in the scuttle can lead to water dripping onto the coil pack.
Exhaust - typical problem with Renaults tbh.
And some gearboxes can make a crunch between 1st and 2nd if the driver is too enthusiastic. This is driver error supposedly, and not a bad box.
If I were looking again, the new Swift Sport would be hard to ignore. As an ownership proposition the 133 can sometimes be hard to justify. But when it's on the right road, the noise and the character are hard to beat.
Edited by Maggi112 on Wednesday 2nd October 20:06
Edited by Maggi112 on Wednesday 2nd October 20:10
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