Talk:Renault 8
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The Renault 8 was also manufactured in México by Dina, then a state-owned company, under license from Renault. The early models (from '66?) were all R8 Majors (four speed, 1108 cc, one single-venturi Solex carb, generator, four wheel disc brakes). In about '71, the Major was replaced by the R8S (1296 cc, 4 spd, 4 discs, alternator, extra headlights, nice sporty interior with full instrumentation). A handful of so-called R8 Alpine cars were sold as '74 models. These much appreciated cars incorporated bits and pieces from the by then defunct Mexican version of the Alpine A110 (made by Automoviles Dinalpin, a Dina subsidiary): manual choke double barrel Weber carb, higher compression ratio, hotter camshaft, stronger transaxle, four shock rear suspension).
The R8S's final model year in Mexico was '75. The R8 having by then been long out of production in France, a major source of '75 R8 parts was Spain's FASA Renault. In what most R8S fans saw as a gross step backwards, brake drums appeared at the rear wheels. Tacky, cheap looking headlight trim rings and instruments replaced the original Cibié and Jaeger stuff (quality wasn't any different, actually (gauges were made by Veglia), but they didn't really look the part).
A light, rear engined, rear drive car with quick steering, rigid body, excellent brakes and a spirited engine, the R8 was, especially in R8S and R8 Alpine form, delightful to drive, and extensively used for rallying and racing. As late as 1985, when finally outlawed, R8s were still shining in small sedan races in México, consistently beating newer, much more powerful cars.
As everyday transportation goes, it was a gem: attractive, extremely economical in price, fuel consumption and upkeep, very comfortable, practical and better equipped than most other cars of its day. In México's case, unfortunately, it was never as popular as it could have been. After a miriad "teething problems" in early production (which had nothing to do with the design itself), compounded by a general mistrust of anything the government put its hands into (things don't really change much, do they?), the general public slapped a "DON'T TOUCH" label on the poor R8 and, so, it was forever outsold by the VW Beetle, a much inferior car in most counts - and more expensive, too!
NOTE: Dates mentioned were pulled out from my ever fuzzier memory; don't take them as the gospel.
[edit] What is the unit PS?
As in the engine developed 44 PS. What is a PS? That should be linked to the article explaining it. Ideally it should also be listed with the conversion to the unit more familiar to most English speaking people, the Horsepower (HP). Thanks - Taxman 20:08, Jan 30, 2005 (UTC)
[edit] What about adding separated article for Renault 10?
All of us know about the strong relation between them, but I think it would be time to devote a separate article to Renault 10. Otherwise, some confusion might appear among not expertised people who might visit the article and learn about R8 & R10 through it. Versions were different, production years also, etc.
[edit] Renault 8 Gordini picture
Good idea, adding the picture of R8G. But it would better, in my opinon, if we tried to add pictures showing the cars as close as possible to their original state. Catalogue pictures, for instance. Otherwise, people who might know the model through this article, might think that R8G came from the factory without front bumper, with fog lights, racing wheels...
What do you think about it?
