+mundotaku well that is not hard if they keep designing uglier and uglier cars these days. This generation of the Twingo here was on sale for a long time, that says it all (1993-2007). Only got some facelifts now and then.
Firemarioflower Renault Twingo (1992) Cute-hugy-awesome Renault Twingo (2004-7) Cute-modern-more awesome Renault Twingo (2014-7) Practical-nice colours-more modern
I´ve got a low mileage sky blue 1999 Twingo with sunroof. Bought it as a stop gap, but it´s a keeper. It´s a true 90´s icon that brings me back to a more relaxed era, dare I say better days?
I love my original Twingo, I will never get rid of it. The very early models were not that great, the 1.2 liter engine was carburated, the color you could choose were dull, the model that came few years later were much better, with injection, nice options and choice of colors... etc. It is such a nice car, it is not perfect but it is still economical by modern standards, fast enough for trafic, very good to see out, really roomy for passengers, cheap to ensure, cheap to run and mend and super easy to drive even without power steering. And the smile factor... you just can hate this car. I drove it once in the UK while doing an internship there, it turns more heads that a Ferrari.
I have one from 1999, has all the features that are absent from the model in the video. I love it. No issues, but it only has 185 000km. I think the engine was very well built. Never heard anyone complain from serious issues.
“the color you could choose were dull” That's weird because the only available colors when the car was released were literally green, blue, yellow and red, and all of them are very bright. x) They did added more colors later, including tamer ones such as white (originally only available for company car models), black and even metallic colors for Initiale trim level or some special editions.
This was the precursor of what are now small city hatchbacks. I own the 2003 model. Bought it for only 1750 quid over 10 years ago in mint conditions with about 30,000 miles. For my small commute is perfect. Very low fuel consumption. My model has powersteering, bigger glove compartment andside compartment, air-conditioning, electric windows. It's now run 90,000 miles, never had an issue, just standard maintenance. Did the timing belt at 60,000. I normally drive alone or one passenger, it's much better than any SUV and most hatchbacks for my needs. Doesn't burn a drop of oil. Unless new regulations force me to buy a new car, I don't think I'll ever change it.
Do you have 8v or 16v engine? I'm really interested in getting this car but I cannot decide which engine version would be better. I read somewhere that 16v is a lot less efficient than the 8v but in this video it is mentioned that 8v version has trouble with steep hills.
The Twingo (mk1) was the best little car ever made (with the 500), the simplicity, reliability, comfort, space... For a city car i can't think of a better cost/performance car in the world even now, and at this time.... The Micra was also a great city car (and very reliable) but much more complicated. Now the new Twingo and micra are shit like Focus and KA. :/
what's lovely about this car is the view from inside is fantastic in really all directions, almost like riding a bike. driving a 3-series BMW feels like being imprisoned in comparison. downside is the engine stinks heavily when cold and has litte low-RPM-torque for a 44kW. the fuel gauge is infamous for being nearly useless.
Jef Van Gool I had the same problem. Its not really useless but at one point your gauge just drops to the bottom out of nowhere. But I gotta say its a lovely car and my first car too.
I've always wanted a Twingo since I first saw one back in France in 2007, I'm not 17 yet but when I'm allowed to drive the Twingo will be the car I'll be putting my savings towards. A little Initiale model with the panoramic roof although I wish I could have the lovely canvas roof but that's not available on the Initiale trim.
I remember reading the manual at some extremely boring party and and I was pretty hyped when the manual told me that you can sleep in it. I slept before that once in it but would have loved to try the folding seat thing.
I N F I D È L E F I E R كافر there are waaaay too many of these in France. I'd imagine they're quite cheap used, so you could always get the ferry down or a plane to pick it up and drive it back
I have a silver grey 2002 Renault Twingo 1 Phase 2 1.2 16v Privilege Specs. 140,000 km, never a problem with the car. Maintenance is cheap. With a maximum power of 75 hp at 5500 rpm and a maximum torque of 105 Nm (77 lb.ft) at 3500 rpm, you might think first this car is slow. But with just a weight of 920 kg (2028 lbs) and a weight- power output ration of 12 kg/hp (27 lbs/hp), the car can be really fast and agile. The car comes with electrics doors, better sound system and other quirks. I just love it!!
I just bought a 2003 Twingo for 950 euros... I needed a small economical car for the daily commute to work... I've been driving a Fiat Seicento my wife's had for 17 years... Unfortunately the car couldn't get through the yearly checkup because of rust damage... Now then...that Twingo... Well, it's the best small car I've driven! It feels very sturdy...no rattles at all on rough roads and it's handling is great! One downside of it is the engine noise that is prominent at highway speeds... The Fiat Seicento was very quiet compared to the Twingo on that matter... But in general I'm surprised how the Twingo is to drive... I always thought they were far from sturdy car's to look at and therefore I thought they would drive crappy too... But that's obviously been a misconception...
It made me realize that Renault never released the 1st generation of the Twingo in the UK. Also I like how some of the downsides mentionned in the video were fixed in the facelifted models, some of which were even fixed a few months after its release!
I just got my drivers license and this is my mom's car, It is a 2001 model, I just drove it today for the first time and it was like a tank compared to the 2011 fiesta I got my drivers test on. It's fun and quirky that is for sure! Too bad the gear shifting is not that great due to the holders for the gears or whatever (the path you move the knob) is kinda wobbly and I can't find 2 and 3rd is really hard to find too.
I bought 1996 1.2 Twingo 3 years ago. I thought I'd sell it quickly because it looked incredibly ugly. In these three years, not a single breakdown has occurred. I'm a mechanic, I regularly transport motorcycles in it. The entire Jawa 350 fits in it and I even manage to close the trunk. Once I even managed to fit a Yamaha Virago 535 in it. I think I'm going to ride it until it falls apart on its own.
Tecnovlog It's not just uk but where I'm from india, japan, hong kong, pakistan, and many many more countries. For us your driving is on the wrong side.
A shame the UK never received the original mk1 Twingo in RHD as it would have made a relatively decent alternative to the original Ford Ka, that said a shame the Twingo never received a larger engine displacing around 1.4-1.6-litres. Understand the Renault Energy engines were unable to fit into the Twingo, though not sure about the K-Type engines that no longer featured the previous unit's Hemi cylinder head.
At that year actually no small car had them (correct me if I'm wrong), so you had to go for a bigger car or wait a couple of years to get a small car with airbag, whatever the brand. Good thing is that, if you wanted extra safety in a small car of that year, the 1993 Corsa was the first car in its class with side-impact bars and seatbelts with pretensioners, the airbags coming a couple of years later
Jonathon Churchill No, only right wheel drive. I have a 95' for 7 years already. I will never sell it, I have done already about 70K Km. Total is 260K.
The Twingo mk1 was never officially sold in Britain but people have imported them here, I personally think that this was a very stupid decision of Renault, it would have sold well here. From the mk2 version onwards they did make RHD versions one I have owned a mk3 version which is the only car I've ever missed but I will find her get her back
+mandark24, to be honest I wouldn't say "all naked" - it sounds a little too extreme, but "barefoot" - she only bares her feet, nothing else. At least, she could show us her feet, and at the same time, test what I'd call "shoeless driveability" - what do you feel when you pump the pedals sans shoes?
@juananism No they're not better. Old top gear is better than new top gear but lots of young stupid people don't realise because they never really got to see the original top gear.
I own 1996 model. Unreliable brakes, unreliable fuel meter, weak heating, uncomfy seats for a man taller than 1.70. Not hating it, but it's an unpredictable, unreliable and uncomfortable car.
+BGKaos I think that properly maintenance was the key for the years, looks like a very reliable car, of course its not a 1.8 or 2.0cc and the city its his natural habitat, An ideal car for first timers.......and im about to buy an 2000 or 2002 model. Sorry for my bad english
