Faults:

The accelerator cable snapped at 40,000 miles.

The exhaust needed replaced after 60,000 miles and then again after 110,000.

Some minor sill welding was required after 18 years.

General Comments:

The car has been extremely reliable since day one.

In 20 years, it has never failed an MOT and has always started, irrespective of the weather.

The front seats were the best that Renault have come up with for any car.

Faults:

New radiator, there was a small leak, I could have got it welded, but decided a new radiator was the best option.

Drivers window won't wind down (you have to help it with your hand!).

Digital Clock packed up years ago.

Sunroof rattles after I took it out a few times.

General Comments:

As most of the other reviews state, these are very underrated cars. Every mechanic that I've ever taken this car to tells me how they are good reliable cars with fantastic engines.

I'm about to reluctantly sell my 11 after five very happy years. As this is my first car I've really driven it hard, and its still started every time. Its big, the boot is cavernous (especially with the seats down). Compared to my friends first cars (Rover Metro's, Fiesta's, Polo's) it was bigger, faster and in a different class as far as reliability was concerned. It does suffer from body roll, but if you learn how to drive it properly you can minimize this and it can be a fun little drive.

Although they are quite old now (they stopped making them in 1989), I'd definitely reccommend them as a first car. You can drive them to the limit for years and they just refuse to break. Mines been through everything with me (moving house, holidays, the daily rush hour) and always come up smelling of roses! Yes bits of trim will break, but you'll have to do something pretty serious to break the engine. Faster than you'd think only the fact that I can now afford a sports car has meant I'm saying a fond farewell to my 11.

Faults:

Clutch cable detached from the clutch pedal. Minor fault as it could be reconnected without being replaced.

Fuel sender cracked.

General Comments:

The car is spacious and comfortable.

Reliable, considering it's age.

Faults:

Gearbox oil leak fixed under warranty at 12000.

Lost count of the number of failed clutch cables, about one every 15000 or so.

Front shock absorbers failed at 20000 replaced with originals which lasted untill I sold the car.

Brake pads every 20000.

Exhaust rear section every 18 months.

Headlights replaced due to internal corrosion at 60000.

Steering rack replaced at 75000.

General Comments:

This was the series 2 model which I think looked a lot nicer. Very comfortable and pretty interior, seats lacking in support for spirited driving though!

Very underrated car which didn't attract too much attention, but had plenty of performance and an excellent chassis.

Very reasonable on fuel if it was driven on torque rather than revs, rev it hard and the fuel consumption suffered. On holiday and keeping to speed limits would return 40 miles to the gallon though.

I found the brakes to be only just adequate and found it easy to make them fade. (dealer pads were always fitted)

Very awkward to work on with very little space in the engine bay. Still had the original clutch and turbo unit when the car was sold.

No rust anywhere as to be expected with later Renaults.