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Post by Jamie on Feb 13, 2019 7:16:39 GMT
Oh, and I’d love an original, unmolested R5 GT Turbo, but really good ones are far too much money now sadly 😟 We in America were blessed with the Renault 8 and 10, good cars deprived of adequate dealerships. As a result, the reliability and reputation of Renault collapsed and never recovered. It's always a damn shame when something so promising is done half-assed.
Sadly, dealers were few and far apart even for the more popular English sports cars. I was lucky to live relatively close to Hollywood Sports Cars, which would massage my Sprite Mklll back to reliability until the next time we returned behind a tow truck. Joseph Lucas haunted my dreams. Beyond this, inadequate dealer networks plagued many otherwise very cool European cars.
I badly wanted a Renault 5 Turbo. The closest I came was the very talented Patrick Jacquemart, Renault Competition Director in America, whose R5 Turbo made 914/6s, RX-7s and 280Zs nervous in IMSA's GTU class. His tragic death at Mid-Ohio inspired two close friends to develop the HANS device.
Interesting Carl, those R5 Turbo 2's were brilliant, especially when being flung around the Col du Turini by Jean Ragnotti! And you're not the only one left with a soldering resentment of Lucas electrics   |
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Post by mikael on Feb 13, 2019 11:00:51 GMT
It will be interesting (kind of ...) to see if the cars have become a bit longer yet again, or if their length have converged, finally. (The German "Auto Motor und Sport" typically make careful analysis of such things, based on photographs.)
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Post by charleselan on Feb 13, 2019 13:00:26 GMT
A very interesting discussion about Renault cars. I will whisper this as I hope not everyone will hear ; I don't have a lot of time for French cars, or for that matter the majority of products that come from that country. I have been let down on many occasion by products that I have bought in my 10+years living in France, the quality of which never match that of some other nations, including the UK. On top of that there is truly appalling customer service especially from the larger companies, something else I have experienced on many occasions. If these companies were operating in the UK they would be out of business quicker than a Lewis Hamilton pole lap! Having said that, I have in the past come very close to purchasing a Renault car, especially back in the 1980/90's when I used to buy a new vehicle on a regular basis. I was very taken with the little Renault 5 Turbo and almost bought one in pearlescent white, but after a few weeks of bartering with the dealer and a Rover franchise I ended up with an MG Maestro EFi. The latter had the potential of being a good car, but mine was the worst car I have ever bought and after numerous major problems in the first 12 months of ownership was traded for a superb Toyota Corolla GTi. I did regret not buying the Renault 5 turbo as it was a very quick little car, but I doubt that the longevity of the build quality would have been good. In the early 1990's I came very close to buying a Clio Williams and that was a cracking car, which now has outstanding residual values. Should have bought one without a doubt, but for some reason did not. Incidentally, I may have mentioned this previously, I met a guy here in this locality who works for Renault Headquarters but has a home near me, and he has an amazing collection of Renault cars in his barn/workshop, one of which is the very first Clio Williams ever built. |
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Post by René on Feb 13, 2019 16:32:55 GMT
Two of the big guns have shown their new weapon today and also the new Stroll toy. The Merc looks like a winner already!   The Bull with Japanese power.   And the new Racing Point. No lack of sponsors but they should have thought of a better name...  |
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Post by Carl on Feb 13, 2019 16:56:47 GMT
The Red Bull colors, bringing to mind wartime ship camouflage, are beautiful!
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Post by René on Feb 13, 2019 19:33:24 GMT
The Red Bull colors, bringing to mind wartime ship camouflage, are beautiful! Yes it looks really good but apparently it's only a one-off presentation livery. I would also like to see them race it, it looks different and aggressive. |
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Post by chrisb on Feb 13, 2019 20:45:14 GMT
striking! that does look good, mean and aggressive - it would probably suit the two drivers and heighten their eagerness and cause a few envious looks,
the Merc looks gigantic but no doubt will be there or thereabouts,
the Stroll-line special puts me in mind of the Porsche Pink Pig - bulbous
I do hope that the Honda and Renault are as good as their hopes and their engines can take the fight to the others,
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Post by René on Feb 14, 2019 16:34:35 GMT
The new McLaren.   And the first images of the Alfa at Fiorano.   Photos: Autosport |
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Post by Carl on Feb 14, 2019 17:09:44 GMT
Rene,
Your photos are a superb source for initial impressions! Looks can deceive, but sometimes are revealing. The McLaren is a nice design, but has too much black and blue, the colors of bruises.
The Alfa-Romeo will hopefully be red once the season starts. Doesn't its nose resemble the one on a previous Ferrari?
All part of the anticipation of a great season!
Cheers, Carl
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Post by charleselan on Feb 14, 2019 17:15:47 GMT
Well the Alfa looks to be a sort of plum colour and has the same finish as the fruits own skin; a la Red Bull. The new gloss . Carl I believe the two cars share the same designer, Alfa's current design boss is the guy who was responsible for much of last years Ferrari. Quite a few of the technical guys moved over last year which adds some weight to the Alfa Romeo enterprise. I cannot see much in the way of BAT insignia on the McLaren; maybe it is subconscious  . |
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Post by René on Feb 14, 2019 18:26:31 GMT
Rene, Your photos are a superb source for initial impressions! Looks can deceive, but sometimes are revealing. The McLaren is a nice design, but has too much black and blue, the colors of bruises. The Alfa-Romeo will hopefully be red once the season starts. Doesn't its nose resemble the one on a previous Ferrari? All part of the anticipation of a great season! Cheers, Carl Carl, the photos are of course not mine. I take them from the well known racing sites. But I think it’s nice to have them here for first impressions like you say. The McLaren’s design does look rather good. I sincerely I hope they will improve and move up the order where they belong. The Alfa’s livery is just like the Red Bull livery a one-off and will change, certainly before Australia but probably already next week for testing. I have no idea what the Alfa will look like. Red would be cool but if they have a new title sponsor that could change. I find the cars very impressive so far to be honest and am really feeling the excitement for the new season. Tomorrow.... Ferrari.  |
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Post by René on Feb 14, 2019 18:30:06 GMT
I cannot see much in the way of BAT insignia on the McLaren; maybe it is subconscious . It’s the ‘A Better Tomorrow’ branding. Like Philip Morris, BAT is now concerned with our health and future.  |
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Post by charleselan on Feb 14, 2019 19:42:40 GMT
I cannot see much in the way of BAT insignia on the McLaren; maybe it is subconscious . It’s the ‘A Better Tomorrow’ branding. Like Philip Morris, BAT is now concerned with our health and future. For what is claimed to be the "Title Sponsor" it takes quite a small amount of space compared with other advertisers  . Ironic isn't it that these two companies are now trying to put forward a gospel of clean living, even though they still manufacture the product for which they are best known, and which continues to kill millions world wide. Hypocrisy appears to be acceptable and all in the name of filthy money. |
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Post by chrisb on Feb 14, 2019 19:50:40 GMT
money = power doesn't it? look at the PD and how he mangled so many lives in pursuit of the loot, but you do have to question what BAT and P Morris are doing, incidentally I do wonder if these companies manufacturer the vape stuff or whatever it is called
I do like the colours of the Alfa, but then I am biased, incidentally wouldn't it be fun if the Alfa actually beat the Ferrari - sorry Ferrari fans but,
does anyone think the rule changes imposed this year - by consensus that is- will make any difference to the actual racing?
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Post by Carl on Feb 14, 2019 21:01:39 GMT
I cannot see much in the way of BAT insignia on the McLaren; maybe it is subconscious . It’s the ‘A Better Tomorrow’ branding. Like Philip Morris, BAT is now concerned with our health and future. In the 1950s, pretend doctors endorsed cigarette brands on television. You could smoke almost anywhere. Curiously, those halcyon days started to fade when the Marlboro Man died of cancer.
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