Hello from a potential Wind owner

Hi everyone!

Currently having an early midlife crisis (I'm 37 years young!) and have my site set on something where the roof pops off. I do like the wind and have had a test drive of two 1.6's but just not sure whether to pull the trigger on getting one. I currently have a 2009 two door 1.8 Toyota Yaris SR which does everything I need and the wife has the sensible Peugeot 107.

Did have an idea to get a smart roadster as a weekend/fun commute to work car but after some research it could end up expensive to keep due to age and high mileage.

So that brings me back to the Wind! The wife wasn't to keen on a blue one but doesn't mind the black. I did enjoy the test drives but it never gives you a proper idea of what they are like to drive 'normally', always feels like a driving test with the salesman sitting shotgun.

Also eyeing up a mx5 but there is something about the way the wind looks that makes me coming back.

What I would like to know honestly what are they like to live with? I would use it daily for work which is a 30mile round trip on B roads One of my big concerns is the reliability being a French car and the lack of side and rear vision resulting in quite dangerous blind spots! I've had a celica and a Hyundai coupe so I'm used to all round vision compromises.

Thanks in advance

Gregg

First off, look at a 1.2 it has a turbo. Black.... if you like banter buy black but it does show marks. If you want a little gamble on investment find a red or grey, very rare. White looks good but blue is best. Lol. They are due Cambelt changes at 6 years or 72k the 1.6 is more expensive. I have had mine nearly 6 years and I love it. Nothing comes close to the roof opening and boot space with the roof down.

Side and rear vision you get used to using your mirrors.

Hi barbs,

Thank you for the reply had considered the 1.2 but have yet to try one and tbh I did like the grunt from the 1.6 I actually like the blue but though the black would be a bit more subtle lol

So if I was to get one I might end up having to get the cambelt done. Any idea how much that is ?

Do you have the 1.2?

I do love the roof on them!

Yes I have a 1.2. Cambelt, service and MOT £357 including VAT. Not a main dealer,  after warranty expires as long as the service book is stamped not sure it makes much difference.Think 1.6 was a lot more.

That's great thank you.

Does it get any better saying that you own a wind? Lol

If I'm honest I'm worried about that it might be a bit girly hence why I quite liked the black ones.

TBH there are not that many women owners. You will hear comments about hairdresser cars but isn't the better that what BMW, AUDI and MERCEDES drivers are called. Lol. Take a risk. 2000 cars in the UK .

Cool

Well I've ones I've got my eyes are on
1.6 black 19k £5495
1.6 black 9k £5800
And a 1.8 blue one with leather and parking sensors 30k £4995

All are '11 plates and I reasonably priced I think.

Will keep you posted as might be joing the wind club

Watch the 1.8 ... they only made 1.2 and 1.6. Look for GT line withe heated leather seats or Gordini's.

Oops sorry typo! I meant 1.6

How blowy are they? All the review seem to say they are noisy. I didn't thing they were from the test drives I've had and a brief go with the roof down which seem fine but was only 30-35mph.

I have been on motorways, country roads  but with the roof off you hear birds singing. You feel the sun, the fresh air. One bit of advice buy a cap or hat,  when we do get good weather you will get burnt.
Oh forgot to mention the important thing you gain a family.

Cheers for the info.

I might go to look at the one with the 19k mileage on my way back from work as it's only 8 miles out of the way.

Well we are here if you decide to join us.

Went from various older sports cars to a V6 Alfa Spider, to an MGTF160, to the Wind.

Despite loss of performance & true sports car feel we think we made the right decision getting our 1.6 GT Line which is my car; my wife has a Captur. We also do long European trips in it.

Renault really clever in leaving out the seemingly obligatory rear seats for legless midgets & converting it all to boot space.

So what is the Wind to us?

It's a roadster which is much more refined than a sports car on long runs in hot climates. (Air Con, softer springs, less noisy, etc)

It carries all my golf gear & our holiday luggage no problem.

Give it some revs & the 1.6 responds well whilst being very flexible & easy to drive around town at low revs.

Driving position & seats great for long trips. Even though I'm nearly 6ft tall I have my seat set at max height!

Slight downside re fuel consumption: I get little more that 34mpg average. That said I'm not adverse to a few revs when the opportunity presents itself. Also: Overall gearing on 1.6  rather low for long distance cruising: 70mph is approx 3700rpm. That said it's not unrefined at those revs.

It's our "geriatrics fun car". Trust me at 37 you are not not yet midlife. We are in our 70s, so as far as we are concerned mid life starts in ones late 40s!!

Cam belt for 1.6 is officially a 5.5 hr job at a main dealer so do shop around if it hasn't been done yet.

On balance I say: Go for it.

Just to add my 2p worth as a 36yr old fella, go for it

I came from an E-Class 2.2, and honestly apart from long distance motorway cruising, the 1.2 is fine. Even then, it will run at 70 (and perhaps a bit more if you're ahem abroad) just dandy. You just have to grab it by the scruff of the neck and drive it. No turbo lag or anything like that.

No problems with visibility once you get used to it. Given that the rear wind is by your neck, you just turn your head and look out if necessary.

Just make sure you have a hat and sunglasses on sunny days.

And as for reliability, I've got two Winds (a 1.2 and a 1.6) and have done around 185,000 miles in them. No real issues other than the usual ball joints and bits and pieces, just make sure you service on the dot (the 1.2 is every 12,000 miles, the 1.6 every 18,000 but I get it done at 12,000 instead) and use a decent petrol rather than the cheapest. Ace cars. Get one while they're still cheap and low mileage.

Hello and welcome Gregg. 
I've had mine, a black 1.2 gt line, for 6 months and I love it! Best thing since sliced bread!! 
All of the wind family on here are brilliant, any problems you have there is always someone to help! 
Go on, you know you want to! 
Cheers, 
Don.

And the weekend forecast is topless....

Topless up here all week, started to get the LOOKS..just love it.

How is the Wind hunt going Greg?

Agree with everybody ,go for it you won't regret , we've had ours one day and it's brilliant ,much bigger inside than I thought,no bangs ,no rattles and an enormous boot, the 1.2 turbo really has got some shove,it surprised me and my car is Laguna Monaco go 180.Enjoy!!

i have a 1.2 pushing 140 bhp being how light and small the car is it does move

Spotted this a bit late, not sure if Greg is still monitoring the thread?

"What I would like to know honestly what are they like to live with? I would use it daily for work which is a 30mile round trip on B roads"

I'm doing 30 miles each way on B roads over the Peak District in a 1.6, and I think it's great for that type of road. Perfectly usable everyday if you don't need to carry more than one passenger and get the shop to deliver your new white goods. The only thing I wish was better is the fuel economy, I'm getting about 35mpg for that kind of driving. Roof down knocks the fuel economy bit as the drag increases. For comparison I got 40mpg from a 2.2  150BHP X-type Jag and 48mpg from a 1.6 109BHP Mk2 Focus estate (both diesel). A lot of the time I don't think I have the rpm high enough for the best economy, when I do get it revving freely (3000 rpm+) the mpg improves.

It was better through the winter than I expected too. I haven't had the roof down at anything lower than -5 degC, although experience now tells me that the roof mechanism slows down below freezing, so I use that as my limit now, I worry it might get stuck. :-)

Barb mentioned rarity of red and grey models. A search on Autotrader and Cargurus today shows 3 red and 1 grey for sale.

I started originally wanting a black one. Ended up with white and I love it. Having test driven both 1.2 and 1.6 I don't think there is that much to choose between them, but 1.2 if you do a lot of city driving and 1.6 for lots of motorway driving. For b roads I don't think it matters much either way, though I'd like a turbo on the 1.6.

We are missing a White Wind for Silverstone. Hint hint

Can't find the details on here now Barb (thought it would be in Meets and Events?) but from what I remember this is at the Silverstone Classic, 20/21 July? We are at a wedding that weekend so can't make it (over near Doncaster as it happens).

Typical we could of had a mini meet....