Renault Wind (2010 - 2012) 1.2 TCE GT Line 2d (2011/11) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

We dont have kids, or we have a second car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They like it, they all assume its a proper sports car. It does look good from some angles, but not all angles.

Would you buy this car again and why?

It's still under warranty, and we have only had the one thing to get fixed so far, so I've been pleasantly surprised given Renault's reputation. They arent imported into the UK anymore, so replacing it isnt an option.

What are you likely to buy next?

My wife still pines for her old Fabia vRS and a second row of seats. I offer her the use of my Panda but she never wants to drive it. Maybe when its time to trade in I can convince her to let me keep the Wind and she can trade in the Panda for a more practical hot hatch.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£12,000

When did you buy the car?

September 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

Good deal on our trade in and price was reduced as it had been pre-registered by Renault two months previously.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Not many reasonbly priced soft tops on the market these days. Not everyone can afford a Ferrari.

What was the dealer like?

Arnold Clark. Havent used the same dealer since as they are not the closest.

What's it like to drive?

The handling is pretty good especially with the wide tyres it comes on, it corners very flat but the suspension is still pretty compliant over potholes and the like. The engine is very good for its size once the turbo gets going, but obviously it isnt an out and out sports car.

What's it like to park?

I've parked worse. The view out the back is pretty restricted as you would expect, but no worse than the Kia Proceed and Seat Leon I've owned previously. The only major downpoint is the raised rear wings which make it difficult to spot traffic when reversing out of supermarket car parking spaces. The mirrors are a decent size and the spoiler on the boot make it easy to judge how much room you have behind.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Boot lid gas struts both failed while my wife was using it. Could have been dangerous in my opinion and the local Renault dealer werent very helpful. A call to Renault UK soon got the dealer to pick up and return the car with the struts replaced.

What's most practical about your car?

It has a decent sized boot which isnt affected if you put the roof down.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Has to be the roof, otherwise why bother? Also find the automatic wipers very useful and pretty good at judging how often to clear the screen.