Renault Scenic
I drive a 1997 Ford Telstar. Not exciting I know, but thankfully I have a job that every little boy dreams of in that I drive a new car basically every week, so I have no need for a car at all really. Unfortunately the old Ford – which has become somewhat of a family heirloom – is showing its age and come to the point where reliability is fading as quickly as the leather seats.
With a long festive stretch ahead of me in which all the manufacturers shut up shop and leave us journo’s out in the cold (or sweltering heat here in Durban) it was inevitable the old girl would start her trouble making precisely when I need her the most. So for the first time in ages I find myself carless.
Thankfully I have a gran kind enough to lend me her car. And while I really am grateful for her generosity, I find myself terribly embarrassed driving around in a pink Daihatsu Gran Move – and yes it’s actually called a “Gran” Move.
The Gran Move is funnily enough the first car in the hatchback-MPV-people-carrier category that I can remember. One of my highschool mates mom’s crashed her car when I was in standard 6 (grade 8 I think) and was given the Daihatsu while her Peugeot was in the shop. And I think it was as embarrassing then as it is now.
I’ve sat myself down in the office this morning, it’s quiet as everyone else seems to be on holiday, and let my mind wander to the Renault Scenic. A car I’ve had some difficulty in writing about. But I now see that the Renault is the Daihatsu, only 10 years on, and much better for it.
I was never embarrassed behind the wheel of the Renault. As much as it might still be a bit of a soccer-mom, the French have managed to add a little flare and some lunacy which in the end comes together in a package that breaks the mould. Or at least makes you feel that way.
Yes people still stared as I, a 23 year old male, drove past. However I like to think it was the car they were looking at, thinking to themselves, “My, what an awesome looking car.” As oppose to, “What is that berk doing is his moms shopping trolley.”
The interior is no less amazing. The key, which is in fact a credit card looking thing, slides into a slot below the gear lever. The instrument panel stretches almost the entire length of the dash, and is more a piece of architecture than car. The rear seats are so manoeuvrable I’m convinced they could be hung from the roof, if you didn’t like your kids very much. There are storage compartments everywhere, some so ridiculously small inside that even a bumblebee bat would have trouble turning around. Yet some so big you could cram a couple kids in there. Only the French could manage such a harmonious mix of practicality and insanity.
The test model I had for the week was a diesel – which to my mind makes the most sense for the Scenic. Considering it’s rather big and will probably be fully laden with children and the accessories that come with those for at least half its road going life, so it’s heavy, you’ll want something economical – which at a push it is. The drive is decent enough as well given the vehicles purpose, although I did find it a bit bus-like at first thanks to a rather unique driving position. None of which matters as no one will buy the Scenic for the way it drives.
The new Scenic provides a breath of fresh air for the hatchback-MPV-people-carrier that I remember from standard 6. It’s spacious, versatile, safe and best of all it doesn’t look like a overweight tramp. Perfect for those soccer moms who want a new image.
Price: R 280 000
Engine: 1870cc turbo-diesel
Power: 96 kW
Torque: 300 Nm
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 10.6
Top speed: 195 km/h
Fuel consumption: 5.5/100km (claimed – 6.6 on test)
Verdict – soccer mom, but not
Miles Downard
Photo Credit: Quickpic