[mitch]

i keep updating my list of possibles for lease end in may 26 and each time the symbioz is up there due to the relatively low ap of 0-1242 on wpms.

i am only tracking hybrids as i cant have a home charger and the mpg is a big factor.

i search for videos etc but still not sure. will have to bite the bullet and go and look myself at some point when the weather warms up. any thoughts gratefully received.

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[72 dudes]

@mitch

Yes, I have. Not as a Motability car but as a second car for myself last year (Mrs 72 dudes is the Motability customer)

We’d looked at it very closely in the showroom and were reasonably impressed although I did have some misgivings about the amount of scratchy plastic on the doors.

I spent an hour with the Sales Manager working out a good PCP deal and had decided on the colour and trim level. Obviously I didn’t proceed to order and deposit as I hadn’t driven it.

There wasn’t a demonstrator available that day, so we returned 48 hours later when they’d got one in.

Within a minute of setting off I’d decided it was not for me. The suspension was ridiculously hard, giving an over-firm ride.

Road noise was unacceptably loud, with constant roar even at low speeds, combined with “bump thump ” for the suspension adding to the noise.

The engine was noisy when it kicked in, which it seemed to do at unexpected moments.

All in all a fairly horrible experience, especially as a few months earlier I’d driven a new Scenic EV which was impressive.

The sales staff didn’t seem all that surprised when we returned early and told them of our findings!

All of this goes to reinforce the old addage of “drive before you buy”, because what seems great in the showroom can be deceptive.

As a side note, I bought a new Mazda MX-30 R-EV following a test drive immediately after the Symbioz. Quiet, comfortable, superb ride, quality cabin. No good for you though as it’s nearest description is PHEV, even though the rotary engine never drives the wheels.

I would urge you to try a Symbioz before you go any further.

My experience was early September last year and I don’t remember seeing any on the road since then. That AP is low for a reason, Renault can’t sell them.

 

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by 72 dudes.

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[mitch]

@72dudes thanks for that, i did wonder why i hadnt seen many i know it seemed to take an age from launch to get it into showrooms.

with my back and knees i always get at least a couple of hours test drive so i can cover my usual commutes etc as the roads are crap, so it does need to iron out the bumps.

i am torn now between the nissans and going back to a petrol countryman as i know that fits and even the petrol i got 40+mpg on average.

 

[Author]

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