MG4 Trophy in Volcano Orange, collecting before end September🤞

[dirk362]

Surely it was the only way that they could get the price down to a competitive point? The Ariya shows what happens when you don't.

Fair point. I don't know the challenges they had of course, nor how much of an impact post-Brexit they were having to deal with.
I guess it's because they changed a couple of key things, one of which is the main interaction interface between the driver and the car. Had they saved money elsewhere and left that alone, perhaps the perceived fall-out wouldn't have been quite so bad.

 

[weedavemac]

May I ask what Renault have done to the Mégane in the UK, compared to its European counterpart please?

 

[Robf]

Only to a very small extent. Most of the increase in size is a marketing thing where they are pushing that bigger means safer. It doesn't, and the opposite is partly true as it makes people feel invulnerable and drive with less care.

Partly due to the fact that people generally become more risk averse as they get older, and partly due to the ever increasing numbers of badly driven excessively large vehicles. Personal mobility, be it walking, cycling or illegal e-scooters all have to share space with cars and have no such protection.

Errrmm, Sorry but size really does matter in car safety, crumple zones are a life saver but do take up a lot of space.
Its nothing to do with being ageing risk averse, its all to do with being in a tiny car with little safety gear.

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

May I ask what Renault have done to the Mégane in the UK, compared to its European counterpart please?

• 9" infotainment screen on all specs instead of 12" on higher ones.
• "Digital" rear view mirror (reversing camera on all the time) on Launch spec only.
• Low spec fabric seats on all specs instead of leather massage seats on higher ones.
• Harmon Kardon audio on Launch spec only.
• No heat pump, even as an option.

There are only 300 "Launch Edition" cars coming to the UK.

 

[BugEyed]

crumple zones are a life saver but do take up a lot of space.

Some space, agreed.

size really does matter in car safety

Don't conflate size with safety either for the occupants or other car occupants let alone pedestrians etc. Some large cars have much lower safety standards than some smaller ones, and most large cars are considerably more dangerous to other car occupants and pedestrians. Part of the SUV fad comes from this falsehood.

 

[chrisno21]

• 9" infotainment screen on all specs instead of 12" on higher ones.
• "Digital" rear view mirror (reversing camera on all the time) on Launch spec only.
• Low spec fabric seats on all specs instead of leather massage seats on higher ones.
• Harmon Kardon audio on Launch spec only.
• No heat pump, even as an option.

There are only 300 "Launch Edition" cars coming to the UK.

No heat pump, smaller touchscreen and lack of (synthetic) leather power seats even on the top limited edition release was pretty poor - when they still charge European pricing (Brexit innit).

Am still into the car, and am down for a launch version so still tempted by it - it's just 10K more than a Trophy. Was guaranteed one this year though...

 

[Robf]

Some space, agreed.

Don't conflate size with safety either for the occupants or other car occupants let alone pedestrians etc. Some large cars have much lower safety standards than some smaller ones, and most large cars are considerably more dangerous to other car occupants and pedestrians. Part of the SUV fad comes from this falsehood.

I think we shall just have to agree to disagree, for me, everything else being equal, the larger the car the bigger the crumple zones and the slower the decelaration in an accident. More metal between you and the incoming projectile.

 

[BugEyed]

• 9" infotainment screen on all specs instead of 12" on higher ones.
• "Digital" rear view mirror (reversing camera on all the time) on Launch spec only.
• Low spec fabric seats on all specs instead of leather massage seats on higher ones.
• Harmon Kardon audio on Launch spec only.
• No heat pump, even as an option.

There are only 300 "Launch Edition" cars coming to the UK.

To me (with an MG5) none of those are deal breakers. Heat pump are a "nice to have" but the efficiency gains are more relevant to the days of LEAF24. The infotainment screen is just being tight for no purpose - it may make sense to encourage people to buy a more expensive model but it'll date the car.

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

To me (with an MG5) none of those are deal breakers. Heat pump are a "nice to have" but the efficiency gains are more relevant to the days of LEAF24. The infotainment screen is just being tight for no purpose - it may make sense to encourage people to buy a more expensive model but it'll date the car.

There is currently no "more expensive model" of the Megane to jump to for a bigger screen.
All trim levels only have the 9" in the UK.

 

[chrisno21]

I tried to compare the screen size reduction in the megane as it is a pretty big change (not to derail the thread to be about the megane) .

 

[weedavemac]

I think we shall just have to agree to disagree, for me, everything else being equal, the larger the car the bigger the crumple zones and the slower the decelaration in an accident. More metal between you and the incoming projectile.

I always remember the NCAP score for the Chrysler Voyager, and Grand Voyager, along with the comment, "significant risk of severe injury or death" (from memory so may not be 100% correct). Massive car, terrible in a crash.

 

[weedavemac]

• 9" infotainment screen on all specs instead of 12" on higher ones.
• "Digital" rear view mirror (reversing camera on all the time) on Launch spec only.
• Low spec fabric seats on all specs instead of leather massage seats on higher ones.
• Harmon Kardon audio on Launch spec only.
• No heat pump, even as an option.

There are only 300 "Launch Edition" cars coming to the UK.

Thanks. The steering wheels looks like it had less buttons too

 

[weedavemac]

View attachment 10821
I tried to compare the screen size reduction in the megane as it is a pretty big change (not to derail the thread to be about the megane) .
[/QUOTE

Thanks.

 

[CSL]

Does anybody know - I assume Yes - but I need to ask the forum (I think I have bombarded my poor dealer enough already). The SE does not have navigation package and wireless phone charging - which is fine - I always default to CarPlay or Android anyway. But - does anyone know if the SE car has hands free telephone functions built into the entertainment system?

It just occurred to Me - although I do not use it much and only ever rarely make out going calls whilst driving - but occasionally if I am on my way somewhere to meet someone - they might call Me For an ETA or whatever.

I cannot find this listed as one of the convenience features - is that because it is no longer a stand out feature and maybe just a standard across most new cars nowadays?

 

[Whiskey Foxtrot]

You could use AA or ACP in the SE as I will be and it will be business as usual when making calls. Phone connectivity is pretty standard across all manufacturers.

One question I have, and I'll find out in due course no doubt is how adaptive regen works in the SE. Watching electroheads, lady tish states that adaptive regen utilises the in built navigation system.... SE doesn't have nav

 

[WalkingBootWeather]

I think tish is talking tosh.

If anything the adaptive regen will be based upon radar to sense if you are approaching another vehicle.

 

[D1no]

I always remember the NCAP score for the Chrysler Voyager, and Grand Voyager, along with the comment, "significant risk of severe injury or death" (from memory so may not be 100% correct). Massive car, terrible in a crash.

Also recall one of the car shows (probably 5th gear) showing a crash test of a new Renault Modus into an older Volvo estate. You were only walking away from one and it wasn't the biggest one.

If it was two 5* cars, I'd probably want to be in the bigger one, but size alone is meaningless. Cars have become bigger and heavier due to all the safety gear anyway - the current Fiesta is slightly bigger than a Mk 2 Escort and I happened to stop next to a BL version Mini when I had my 595 and couldn't believe how big my 'tiny' Fiat 500 looked

 

[Whiskey Foxtrot]

I think tish is talking tosh.

If anything the adaptive regen will be based upon radar to sense if you are approaching another vehicle.

Poor tish, but how would that work on an open road (rare I know) and you're rolling downhill for example, you might wanna coast and use momentum or you might want to regen. Just how adaptive is adaptive when set.

 

[BugEyed]

I think tish is talking tosh.

If anything the adaptive regen will be based upon radar to sense if you are approaching another vehicle.

It could be like the VW where in some modes it slows itself for speed limits, junctions etc. But that system only does so with a route set in the Sat Nav which is absent in the SE, so perhaps not.

 

[WalkingBootWeather]

Poor tish, but how would that work on an open road (rare I know) and you're rolling downhill for example, you might wanna coast and use momentum or you might want to regen. Just how adaptive is adaptive when set.

I would expect lower level regeneration to be set when the radar doesn't detect another vehicle. The level would be increased based upon distance to the obstacle and speed of travel. Don't forget that the first part of brake travel also regenerates power with friction brakes kicking in as you brake harder.