Renault Symbol: which generation to buy, and what the catalogue actually measures
If you are choosing a Renault Symbol, the catalogue does not give you a trim list to rank. Every generation is listed as Sedan. Every generation is listed with 0 versions. Engine output, gearbox, drive, 0–100, mpg, kerb weight, tank size and wheels are not measured in this dataset.
If you are choosing a Renault Symbol, the catalogue does not give you a trim list to rank. Every generation is listed as Sedan. Every generation is listed with 0 versions. Engine output, gearbox, drive, 0–100, mpg, kerb weight, tank size and wheels are not measured in this dataset. The only numbers you can use to choose are calendar dates, how long each phase ran, and the fact that the model has two generations with two restylings inside the first — not four separate “generations” to pick from.
That is the buying answer in one paragraph: you are not choosing between a 4.0 AT and a 3.3 AT, because those names are not in the data. You are choosing between the first-generation sedan window (1999-06-01 through 2008-10-31, including two restylings) and the second-generation sedan window (2008-01-01 through 2012-12-31). Those two windows overlap by 10 months. Horsepower per litre, weight per horsepower and “what the extra money buys” cannot be calculated: power, displacement and weight are not measured.
Renault Symbol years, body and how many generations the buyer actually faces
Renault Symbol is the English name for this model (`imya_en_est` true). The catalogue records 4 generation keys (`pokoleniy`: 4) and Sedan as the body (`body`) on every key. Restyling is not a new generation for a buyer. Counted that way there are 2 generations: generation 1 with two restylings, then generation 2.
- Generation 1 original (`8501`): 1999-06-01 to 2002-02-28, Sedan, 0 versions.
- Generation 1 restyling (`8502`): 2002-03-01 to 2006-10-31, Sedan, 0 versions.
- Generation 1 restyling 2 (`8503`): 2006-11-01 to 2008-10-31, Sedan, 0 versions.
- Generation 2 (`8504`): 2008-01-01 to 2012-12-31, Sedan, 0 versions.
Production as a whole runs from 1999-06-01 to 2012-12-31. No other body type appears. No modification name appears, so no version string can be used as a page anchor.
Generations: what changed on the calendar, not on the dyno
Generation 1 (1999-06-01 – 2008-10-31), Sedan, 0 versions — plus two restylings
The first-generation Renault Symbol sedan starts 1999-06-01 and, if you include both restylings, ends 2008-10-31. That span is 9 years and 5 months (113 months from June 1999 through October 2008). Inside it there are 0 + 0 + 0 = 0 listed versions. You cannot rank a first-generation Symbol by hp, Nm or gearbox because those fields are empty.
Original phase (`8501`). 1999-06-01 to 2002-02-28. Sedan. 0 versions. Duration: 2 years and 9 months (33 months). This is the shortest first-generation phase. Relative to the full first-generation window of 113 months, the original phase is 33 / 113 of that window — about 29% of first-generation time. Relative to the whole model run from 1999-06-01 to 2012-12-31 (163 months from June 1999 through December 2012), it is 33 / 163 — about 20% of all Symbol years in the catalogue.
Restyling (`8502`). 2002-03-01 to 2006-10-31. Sedan. 0 versions. Duration: 4 years and 8 months (56 months). This is the longest single phase of the Renault Symbol in this dataset. It is 56 − 33 = 23 months longer than the original first-generation phase, and 56 − 24 = 32 months longer than restyling 2 (24 months, below). It is 56 / 113 of first-generation time — about 50%. It is 56 / 163 of the whole model — about 34%. If “which version” has to mean “which years the factory spent most time on,” this restyling is the mode: more catalogue months than any other Symbol phase.
Restyling 2 (`8503`). 2006-11-01 to 2008-10-31. Sedan. 0 versions. Duration: 2 years exactly (24 months). That is 9 months shorter than the original first-generation phase (33 − 24 = 9) and 32 months shorter than the first restyling. It is 24 / 113 of first-generation time — about 21% — and 24 / 163 of the model — about 15%. Restyling 2 is also the only first-generation phase that overlaps generation 2: generation 2 starts 2008-01-01, restyling 2 stops 2008-10-31. The overlap is 10 months (January 2008 through October 2008). For those 10 months the catalogue lists two concurrent Sedan keys, both with 0 versions. A buyer looking at a 2008 Renault Symbol cannot use engine or dimension numbers from this dataset to tell which key it is; only the generation key (`8503` vs `8504`) and the date bounds distinguish them.
First-generation restylings therefore do not add versions. They add time. Original 33 months + restyling 56 + restyling 2 24 = 113 months, matching the June 1999–October 2008 window. The extra time after the original phase is 113 − 33 = 80 months — more than twice the original run. In calendar terms, most of generation 1 is restyled production, not the 1999–2002 start.
Generation 2 (2008-01-01 – 2012-12-31), Sedan, 0 versions
Generation 2 is one key (`8504`), Sedan, 0 versions, 2008-01-01 to 2012-12-31. Duration: 5 years (60 months). Compared with first-generation phases:
- 60 − 33 = 27 months longer than generation 1 original.
- 60 − 56 = 4 months longer than generation 1 restyling — almost the same length as the longest first-generation phase.
- 60 − 24 = 36 months longer than restyling 2, i.e. 2.5 times restyling 2’s 24 months.
- 60 vs 113: generation 2 is 53 months shorter than the full first generation including restylings. First generation is 113 / 60 ≈ 1.88 times as long as generation 2.
- 60 / 163 of the whole model — about 37% of all Symbol months. Generation 1 including restylings is 113 / 163 — about 69%. Those two shares sum to more than 100% because of the 10-month overlap in 2008 (10 / 163 ≈ 6%).
Generation 2 does not add a second body. It does not add a measured version. What it changes in this dataset is the end date of the model (through 2012-12-31) and a start date that cuts into restyling 2. If you need a car from 2009–2012, only generation 2 is in range. If you need 1999–2007, only generation 1 is in range. If you need 2008, both keys are in range for part of the year.
Engine and specs: every version cell is not measured
There are 0 modifications on `8501`, 0 on `8502`, 0 on `8503`, 0 on `8504`. The instruction to name versions exactly as in the base (4.0 AT, 3.3 AT, and so on) has nothing to attach to: those strings are not present. Two versions with the same name distinguished by horsepower also do not appear.
| Generation key | Phase | hp | Nm | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8501 | 1 generation, 1999-06-01 – 2002-02-28, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8502 | 1 generation, restyling, 2002-03-01 – 2006-10-31, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8503 | 1 generation, restyling 2, 2006-11-01 – 2008-10-31, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8504 | 2 generation, 2008-01-01 – 2012-12-31, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Power per litre cannot be computed: both power and displacement are not measured. Cylinder count and layout are not measured; they are not to be filled from outside knowledge. Fuel, boost, gearbox and drive labels are not measured, so English dictionary tags such as Gasoline, Automatic or AWD are not available to copy from this launch data.
Performance and economy (0-100, top speed, mpg)
0–100, top speed and fuel consumption are not measured for every Renault Symbol phase in this dataset. That is not a gap in one trim; it is the entire table.
| Generation key | Phase | 0–100 | Top speed | Fuel consumption / mpg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8501 | 1 generation, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8502 | 1 generation, restyling, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8503 | 1 generation, restyling 2, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8504 | 2 generation, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured |
You cannot say generation 2 is quicker or generation 1 restyling uses less fuel. Those differences would be numbers that are not in the data. “Not measured” here means the catalogue did not record the figure, not that the car has no acceleration or tank.
Dimensions and weight
Kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, fuel tank and wheel sizes are not measured on all four keys.
| Generation key | Phase | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8501 | 1 generation, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8502 | 1 generation, restyling, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8503 | 1 generation, restyling 2, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 8504 | 2 generation, Sedan, 0 versions | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Weight per horsepower cannot be calculated: both weight and hp are not measured. Ground clearance cannot be used to prefer one generation for rough roads. Tank size cannot be used to prefer one generation for range. Wheel sizes cannot be used to prefer one generation for tyre cost. Body type does not help either: every key is Sedan, so there is no hatch-versus-sedan arithmetic.
Problems and reliability: what this dataset does and does not support
This launch data has no problem counts, no reliability scores, no recall lists and no mileage-to-failure figures. Reliability is not measured. A buyer who searched for Renault Symbol problems or Renault Symbol reliability will not find a ranking of versions here, because there are 0 versions and no failure numbers.
What you can state without leaving the data:
- All four keys are Sedan. A body-related failure mode that differs between a sedan and another body is not a comparison this catalogue can make.
- Generation 1 including restylings covers 113 months; generation 2 covers 60 months. Longer production is not a reliability score. It is only more calendar time in the catalogue.
- The 10-month overlap in 2008 (`8503` still running while `8504` has started) is a classification problem for a used-car advert dated 2008, not evidence that one key is more or less reliable.
Which version to choose — comparison using only the given numbers
There is no version name in the base to choose. The choice is which generation key and which years.
If you want the longest-running first-generation phase: generation 1 restyling (`8502`), 2002-03-01 to 2006-10-31, Sedan, 0 versions, 56 months. That is 23 months more than the original first generation and 32 months more than restyling 2. It is the single largest share of first-generation time (56 of 113 months). Specs that would tell you whether that extra time came with more hp or a different gearbox are not measured.
If you want the earliest Renault Symbol: generation 1 original (`8501`), 1999-06-01 to 2002-02-28, Sedan, 0 versions, 33 months. It is the only phase that exists before 2002-03-01. It is 23 months shorter than the following restyling. Engine, mpg and weight that might justify taking the shorter, older window are not measured.
If you want the last first-generation cars: restyling 2 (`8503`), 2006-11-01 to 2008-10-31, Sedan, 0 versions, 24 months. This is the shortest phase (24 vs 33 vs 56 vs 60). From 2008-01-01 to 2008-10-31 it shares the calendar with generation 2. Choosing restyling 2 in 2008 rather than generation 2 is a key choice (`8503` vs `8504`), not a measured spec choice.
If you want the newest catalogue window: generation 2 (`8504`), 2008-01-01 to 2012-12-31, Sedan, 0 versions, 60 months. It is 4 months longer than the first restyling and 27 months longer than the original first generation. It is 53 months shorter than first generation as a whole. After 2008-10-31 it is the only remaining key. After 2012-12-31 the model is out of this dataset.
If you hoped to buy on power, mpg or size: stop. hp, Nm, displacement, fuel, cylinders, layout, boost, gearbox, drive, 0–100, top speed, fuel consumption, kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, tank and wheels are not measured on every row. Arithmetic such as hp per litre or kg per hp has no inputs. “What the extra money buys” has no price and no spec delta. The extra time the factory spent is measurable: 56 months on restyling versus 33 on the original first generation (difference +23 months), 60 months on generation 2 versus 24 on restyling 2 (difference +36 months), 113 months of first generation versus 60 of second (difference +53 months), and 10 months when both generations are listed at once.
Practical rule from these numbers only. Pick by date first, then by generation key. Before 2002-03-01 the only match is `8501`. From 2002-03-01 to 2006-10-31 the only match is `8502`. From 2006-11-01 to 2007-12-31 the only match is `8503`. From 2008-01-01 to 2008-10-31 both `8503` and `8504` match, both Sedan, both 0 versions; this dataset does not separate them by engine or weight. From 2008-11-01 to 2012-12-31 the only match is `8504`. Do not invent a 4.0 AT or any other modification name: none is in the data, and renaming would break modification anchors that do not exist here.
Renault Symbol remains one model, two generations, Sedan throughout, 0 versions throughout. The buyer’s comparison in this catalogue is time and overlap, not horsepower.