Renault Symbol test drive since 2008 sedan
It's all about the skin
A few years ago, after the debut of Logan, few doubted that the days of his ideological predecessor and the actual competitor of the symbol were numbered. But the calculating French did not even think to discount a model, which in ten years managed to charm 600,000 buyers. Where will we do the waist?
How she managed to do this with such an appearance a question, which had long become rhetorical. Obviously, the Turkish relative of the previous generation of trump cards was worse than a magnificent stern, which hid a super -fit (more than the five BMW, by the way) trunk. The machine did not break, was economical and hardy, and cost acceptable money. But if this foreman attracted customers even in such a guise, they thought to Renault, then why wouldn't she embellish the skin?
And now, please, a completely French little thing came out. In the profile, it somewhat resembles the predecessor, but in front and from behind, not on the iot. Elubicated, maybe slightly large, but fashionable faceted headlights crawled into the hood and wings, like bays with sapphire water on the rocky shores of the Aegean Sea, where, in fact, we met her. Noticeable in the past puffiness gave way to strict facial sides. The main thing, the feed has become much more graceful and proportional to, it turns out, to make a separate trunk both spacious and pretty at the same time. At first glance, you can see: unlike many competitors, including the same Logan, the waist of the symbol is really where it is necessary, and not under the throat.
But the French are the French, in order not to spend extra money on the launch of the model in production, neither the chassis nor the internal frame of the car almost changed. But for example, triangular windows appeared in the massive rear posterity of the body and the symbol seemed more, more solid. Everything in a small Renault is now completely in vice, including safety. The power elements of the body are made of alloy steels of different strength, and even with programmable deformation. For a small car that will not protect the mass and volume, the circumstance is very important.
In general, I am even a little sorry that she was not called the waist. Under this elegant name, the baby is recognized in North Africa, for which, in addition to Eastern and Central Europe, the novelty is intended. After all, touching the waist is much more pleasant than to the symbol of anything. Although grace and, it seems, the fragility of her plastic door handles causes some fears. Well, we will check. After all, our acquaintance with the novelty is not on smooth French highways, but in the vicinity of the city of Bodrum. It is extremely successful: the roads in Turkey were akin to our autobahn and write disappeared.
Originally from Bursa
The production of Klio Simvol began at the end of 1999 at the Oyyak-Reno factory in the Turkish city of Bursa. The company cost its construction in 112 million, on which 3800 people work, maybe working in two shifts, to produce 160 thousand cars a year. 100 million and 26 months were spent on developing a new symbol. Not only the elements of the body and suspension of the previous model, but also the design technology, borrowed from Nissan, contributed to Nissan’s technology unheard of saving.
The suspension starts and wins Only 14-inch cast discs, shod in high-profile rubber, although there are more fashionable, 15-inch, soothe. There is no question of any pneumatics and tricky structures of the suspension. Everything is extremely simple, as it was before: McEferson in front and the transverse torsion beam, however, with springs of variable stiffness at the back. Here is the first surprise: on such an asphalt, the car should chat as a ping-pong ball, but the light symbol is almost not subject to fluctuations. But in the cabin there are only two, and even then in front, and a 506-liter trunk is empty.
Wow a few minutes ago, sitting behind the wheel, I was thinking about a pillow that helped to get in a plane chair without prejudice to the back. In appearance, although velor in the most expensive configuration, small seats without a clear profile were not at all impressive. But now, where the frisky cars are barely weaving on the highway, I boldly let the symbol with the most awake gait. And I do not feel the slightest discomfort, even flying for the bedridle police. And they, I must say, in Turkey much more well -frenzier than Russian. Definitely better than a configured suspension for that kind of money, perhaps, cannot be found.
By plains, not by hilles Simplicity, as you know, is not good in everything. And if, when turning on the odd row of the good old 5-speed manual man transmission, I do not experience the slightest difficulties, then it is not always possible to go down from it to the second or fourth gear, and even more quickly, it is not always possible. Yes, the owners of the version with a 4-speed adaptive automatic transmission will be more lucky. Although it has its own characteristics.
The even straight goes into a protracted rise with steep turns, farthering further to the mountains. Nevertheless, the steering wheel does not break out of the hands, and the stern does not throw aside from the point of view of controllability the baby behaves perfectly. Here is the third gear, only the machine, instead of smoothly switching down, pulls on it to the last. Why are you saving everything, I need a moment in the mountains! I trample in the hearts of the gas pedal, hoping at least so to spur the automatic transmission. Click, eat! But why was it necessary to wait for the situation when, except for the first, no other transmission is suitable?
However, I am making a discount that the box has not yet had time to get used to me, and the mountains are not its element. As an option, I also consider the fact that the 1.4-liter engine is the only one that is still in Russia is designed for a city ride. However, go in with this with this in Moscow with a non-clinning for Christmas on the lower jelly but at some point I understand: it is more likely not the weakness of the engine of 98 forces per ton of nearly equipped mass, but that the accelerator is greatly sorted out. Indeed, with any box, the car in a straight line goes very smoothly, and on the lifts you just need to learn how to dispose of 127 Nm of torque, adding speed to 3750, where the craving is maximum.
Going down with a grille on the mechanics, I just released the gas, leaving the short second gear turned on (there is the same opportunity in the automatic transmission, if you put the selector in position 2), and the machine, as if with the help of Hill the assist, smoothly went down to the orange gardens without a single press for the brake.
Only for money
Perhaps I forgot that the symbol must be constantly kept in good shape, only because much in the cabin looks much older than the budget supermini is laid. The two-color finish of the front panel is stiff, but with metal inserts, climate control, a grip steering wheel and traditional rotary steering wheel switches with clear fixation for Renault. One presence among them even that is responsible for managing music suggests that the symbol got rid of the budget. True, all my praise relate to the most advanced privilege. In the version of the Otchent, do not wait for anything like a goal as a falcon, and in the express air conditioning will be.
The most commonly used buttons are made larger than the rest are convenient. But holders for containers limit the height of bottles or cans
The chairs have no electric drive. But their universal form does not often force their mechanical adjustments
As for ergonomics, the predecessor was not so bad. But it’s still not clear to me why it was necessary to mark the speedometer up to 250 km/h and deprive the tachometer of the red zone for the sake of the black and white gamut of the shield. Naturally, the automation of cutting fuel supply at maximum speed is present, but show me at least one instruction for the operation of the car that is said about this. Or is a choleric temperament just not laid to the buyer of the symbol?
The buttons of the rear windows you will not immediately see between the front seats. But a small child will not reach
A small but soft sofa is designed for three children or two adults
The jumper between the salon and the trunk limits the height of the long cargo with the folded back of the sofa, but makes the body harder
An ashtray in the back door is not the best decoration. In addition, it is small and plastic
A suitcase, a backpack and a road bag were lost in a huge trunk. Its volume is 506 liters, and the width is 110 cm. A small giant of large cargo!
Fascinated, bewitched
However, the aggressive character has never been among the virtues of the symbol. And his fans of a completely different warehouse of cars chose his calm, reasonable, lean. Renault designers decided to brighten up their lives, offering a much more cute car in appearance. The unpretentious clio-fall, dropping a frog skin, turned if not into the princess, then certainly into a fashionable, modern girl capable, working, not capricious. With everything else, including a modest character, you can come to terms.
Although in the range of French engines produced in Turkey there is a powerful 1.6-liter motor. Alas, it is better to forget about him, while there is a logan on the market, but you can count on a traction diesel in the near future. But a 1.4-liter gasoline symbol is a rather profitable offer. The main competitors of the basic version for 371 275 rubles. Aveo at a price of 371 300 rubles. Yes, the Pejo-206 sedan of the Iranian assembly (368,000 rubles) are sold with us relatively recently, and therefore cannot argue with the authority of a little Renault, behind whose shoulders are eight years in Russia. Spectra, emphasis and Chinese are even cheaper. But they are unlikely to take them into account. The first two due to antiquity, the rest, alas, in quality. If someone says, they say, and the symbol is a well-forgotten old one, we will answer: but it’s nice to look at it.
Naked with a machine gun - especially for Russia
The symbol begins with 371,275 rubles. And a unique case! The almost empty version of the otent (with a single pillow, central lock, side comprehensive compliance, front -line electric windows adjustable in the angle of inclination with an amplifier and steel protection of the crankcase) can be bought with automatic transmission for 400,275 rubles. Of course, such a car will suit only the most unpretentious. By adding 53 thousand, you will receive more elegant outside and convenient expressions inside with air conditioning, electric packet and even music. Another 30,000-strong surcharge will require a privilege for climate control, alloy wheels, side pillows and a very desirable heating of the front seats in our conditions. As in the gingerbread, the machine in any version costs 29,000 rubles.
Renault Symbol 1.4MT (AT)
common data
Body, number of places/doors
Sedan, 5/4
Equipped mass, kg
980
Length x width x height, mm
4260x1640x1143
Base, mm
2470
Front/back, mm track
1406/1385
Road clearance, mm
140
Speed, km/h
185 (180)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, with
11.5 (13.9)
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
5.4/9.9 (5.8/10)
The volume of the fuel tank, l
fifty
Engine
Location
Front transversely
Design
4-cylinder, in-line, 16-valve
Working volume, SMZ
1390
Power, L.S. at rpm
98/6000
Torque, kgsm at rpm
12.7/3750
Chassis
Drive unit
On the front wheels
Transmission
5 (4) -st. mechanical (automatic)
Suspension:
spring
front
Independent, such as McEferson
behind
half -dependent, working for twisting, transverse beam
Steering
rhealenic type with hydraulic power steering
Front/back brakes
disk/drum
Tires
175/65 R14
Car
from 5.11 rubles/km
+
Wonderful suspension; good handling; Competitive price
-
Poor basic equipment; fuzzy work of gearboxes
Kirill Savchenko, photo of the author
Source: Magazine buy a car [10/2008]
