"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo)
07/13/2015 at 09:10 • Filed to: Renegade, Jeep, Test drive
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"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo)
07/13/2015 at 09:10 • Filed to: Renegade, Jeep, Test drive | 1
| 19 |
Reposting for the weekday crowd.
I had some time this morning so I decided to check out the Renegade. My buddy is looking at the Crosstrek and I figured some cross shopping would be solid.
First off, this is the baby turd green...I mean...tank green...that I drove. Edit: color was commando. Guy said “commando or tank green.” Edit: This was one of just two manual transmission Renegades they had on the lot (out of maybe 20 on hand) with one more on order.
Floor model, an automatic 2.4L, was in white. White looks pretty good on this little guy.
Impressions?
First off, it looks better with larger wheels/tires. Otherwise it seems awkward. Next, steering is light...really light. I would say very little feel but at the same time you know what to expect from it. Third, it feels bigger than it is. Maybe this has to do with not having high ground clearance but maybe it has to do with the amount of headroom I had. Overall interior space is, well, fine. Rear leg room. Is adequate unless you have a tall driver or passenger. Trunk space is narrow due to speakers on this model but it is made up by being a deep trunk. No spare, inflation kit only.
Now the thing that irks me...the clutch. NO feel whatsoever. I went to put it in reverse (oh look, tiny screen for a backup cam) and my foot nearly went through the floor. The only time in my life I have ever put a pedal down this fast and without resistance was when the brake line of my family’s truck failed in my high school parking lot. Engage point was apparently high on the pedal but there was no resistance nor could I feel the friction zone. I’m sure it could just be me but the handful of manuals I’ve driven have never felt like that.
Gearing was a mixed bag. The test drive wasn’t a great route so couldn’t get that high but first had some punch once you found it, second was useless (including from a dead stop), third had power in higher rpms. I did a pass on a long uphill so I know there is some kick in the 1.4L.
The ride was surprisingly nice. Solid. Quiet. Comes with the selectable terrain drive modes as well. Electronic parking brake (confused me).
For just under $25k, you get a capable little thing with some pretty nice features. Once you feel out the clutch, that is. My buddy will likely go Crosstrek unless he suddenly hates that styling or finds something better in the segment with a manual (small selection). He isn’t a fan of the boxiness of the Renegade (or small wheels) so this has moved down the list
Pardon any errors or formatting...posting from mobile.
whoarder is tellurium
> cazzyodo
07/11/2015 at 12:26 |
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Flat Dark Earth bro. FDE
Its tacticool.
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cazzyodo
> whoarder is tellurium
07/11/2015 at 12:49 |
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The picture is deceiving...wasn’t the tan one but that weird green. Funny how it was captured via potato
thedevilinside
> cazzyodo
07/13/2015 at 09:45 |
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What region of the country was this in? I can’t find a Renegade manual anywhere I look.
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cazzyodo
> thedevilinside
07/13/2015 at 09:46 |
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The Northeast...outside of Boston.
They only had 2 out of the 20-something in stock with one more in white on order. Where are you?
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cazzyodo
> thedevilinside
07/13/2015 at 10:05 |
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You in Denver?
I typed in a random, Denver-ish zipcode Google spit out at me and found these . Just select manual, for some reason the link won’t hold my specifications.
boxrocket
> cazzyodo
07/13/2015 at 10:07 |
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I know the CX-5 is one class-size up from this, but it does have an excellent manual. Pity the US isn’t getting the manual in the upcoming CX-3. The previous generation Escape (the boxy one) also had a manual available. I don’t remember if the current one does in the US, though it’s Focus-based so I’d be mildly surprised if it didn’t.
Despite the interior improvements, after driving a few Renegades, I’d rather have a gently-used (CarMax-warranted, probably) Patriot Limited than a Renegade. The newest ones are much improved from the first batches, and they look properly Jeep-ish, rather than Jeep cues shotgunned onto a funky tall body.
But that’s a moot point since I like the CX-5 so much.
fhrblig
> cazzyodo
07/13/2015 at 10:11 |
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That’s too bad about the clutch, that usually ruins a car for me. My 500 has a somewhat light clutch, but it’s not bad. I’m surprised to hear that about the Renegade.
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cazzyodo
> fhrblig
07/13/2015 at 10:15 |
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Caught me off-guard. Stepped and heard “thud” as my foot his the floor. I would have thought that you’d want some clutch manipulation for the various conditions you can drive in.
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fhrblig
> cazzyodo
07/13/2015 at 10:28 |
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Both the Mirage and Spark have clutches like that. It sucks.
Meatcoma
> cazzyodo
07/13/2015 at 10:32 |
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For whatever reason I just cannot seem to like these. I’ve seen them in person and they are just ugly in my opinion.
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cazzyodo
> fhrblig
07/13/2015 at 10:34 |
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If they adjust that it would be pretty solid all the way around. It would help out with the perceived gearing issues, for sure.
I really wanted to like it a lot. My gf pointed out that perhaps it was a good thing I didn’t like the clutch because then I’d have one less car to want.
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thedevilinside
> cazzyodo
07/13/2015 at 10:34 |
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Only for a couple more days. It looks like they have finally arrived. I guess I haven’t checked recently enough. I’m planning on trying one out soon
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cazzyodo
> Meatcoma
07/13/2015 at 10:36 |
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The guy I mention in the post is the same way. He feels they are awkward looking, particularly in lower trim with the smaller wheels. They are the same size (different length, though) as the Cherokee...which caught me off-guard. Overall, it’s polarizing. I really like the front, am ok with the rear 3/4 view and am not completely sold on the side. Quirky enough for me but not absolutely gross.
But that’s where opinions lie. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I appreciate when vehicles are different, particular in today’s design style.
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cazzyodo
> thedevilinside
07/13/2015 at 10:38 |
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Let me know what your impressions are...particularly on the clutch and gearing.
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> cazzyodo
07/13/2015 at 21:54 |
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I like that flat colors are coming back.
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> cazzyodo
07/15/2015 at 11:01 |
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This was my feeling about the Dart MT as well. All the little cars these days have ridiculous too-light clutches. The new Fit is better than some, but feels pretty much like the brake pedal on my Driving Force GT gaming wheel. The plane-jane Fiesta is also lighter than I’d like, but “OK”... hell, even the clutch on the FieSTa is lighter than I’d like, but it’s no worse than the one on my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring was (and the shifter is better, which is saying something, ‘cuz that Hyundai was pretty nice). I weirdly miss the leg-press machine that was the clutch in my ‘92 Alfa 164-S... and especially the nearly-perfect-in-every-way clutch from my 1998 Mazda Protege LX, or even the weakly-sprung-but-not-lifeless clutch in my 2000 Corolla, or the nice, solid, easily modulated clutch in my Dad’s old Mazda B2600... sad times.
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cazzyodo
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/15/2015 at 11:16 |
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I didn’t get a chance to try the MT Dart...I wanted to but couldn’t track one down in my area. Glad to know I didn’t miss much.
I just want some sort of feedback or manipulation. It’s impossible to manipulate something without a little resistance (phrasing!).
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thedevilinside
> cazzyodo
08/18/2015 at 21:03 |
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Still trying to drive one, whenever I get a chance to go to dealers they don’t have manuals.
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cazzyodo
> thedevilinside
08/19/2015 at 02:14 |
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Still? I’m not completely surprised cuz most places around me only have one manual for models, regardless of manufacturer. Sucks cuz my buddy still can’t do test drives of things he wants then.