Faults:

Front o/s wheel bearing gone at 70000.

Front o/s spring snapped new shock and spring required.

Small rust patch on drivers door.

General Comments:

For a 1.4 engine it is quite quick, acceleration from still isn't brilliant, but once it gets past 40mph, it can beat my mates 1.4 Golf easily.

Handling is nice and predictable, even when it starts to slide you know where it's going.

Some people have said it looks like a shed, but I think it looks good in a subtle kind of way.

Everyone that's been in it however, says they're the most comfortable seats they've ever sat in, especially now I've put the leather seats out of a 16v in it.

If you use Renault dealers, then the service costs can be astronomical, but if you look around, most parts can be found cheaply at scrap yards or on eBay even.

Once my insurance premium drops a bit, I definitely want to get the 16v version.

Faults:

My catalytic converter failed at 55,000 miles.

General Comments:

A very comfortable and smooth ride.

It handles very well and is very quick for a 1400cc engine.

Very economical.

A great car to drive, even at ten years old.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car. Amazing considering it's age.

General Comments:

I bought the car as a stop gap whilst pondering my next purchase and have ended up really enjoying the vehicle.

It's fuel economy is quite staggering-I regularly exceed 50mpg.

The car is very comfortable and has got loads of space inside for family, fishing gear and dogs.

The interior is very plain, but everything works and nothing has dropped off yet.

It handles well and can easily keep up with modern traffic.

An excellent runaround/first time buy.

Faults:

Heated Rear Windscreen wiring, Creaky Drivers door, small patches of rust on bodywork.

General Comments:

A good performer for a 'family' car, a bit heavy on petrol for a 1.4 tho.

Faults:

Speedometer broke when a few months old, fixed under warranty.

At 60k miles a metal coolant pipe leaked due to internal corrosion and was replaced.

New Catalytic Converter needed after 75k.

Water pump started to weep at 85k and was replaced.

Wheel bearings - rear N/S at 90k and front N/S at 115k.

Rocker cover gasket was replaced.

Windscreen washer pump failed. Very expensive for such a small simple part. I bought a new one from Renault which was a mistake - should have looked in a scrap-yard for one.

Front anti-roll bar bushes have been replaced several times.

General Comments:

Great car. Very practical. Space inside quite good, big boot. Extremely comfortable with great seats and supple ride.

Fun to drive with good steering and handling. Performance is very good for a 1.4 8 valve.

Car is noticeably quicker than modern Ford Focus 1.4, Golf 1.4 and Peugeot 307 1.4.

Very economical.

Generally reliable and long lasting. Car is very well equipped with electrical gadgets, all of which have been totally reliable.

Uses no oil after 125,000 miles and is still on its original battery and clutch.

Cooling systems seem to be a weakness. Metal pipes, radiators, and heater matrices can leak due to internal corrosion. Coolant needs to be changed every 2 years so that corrosion inhibitors remain effective.

High quality "iceberg silver" paintwork on my car, still looks new after 8 years.

Car has a lot of character, is an enjoyable drive and in my opinion it looks good with neat styling.

Car is OK for DIY servicing and maintenance. Some parts can be very expensive from Renault dealers.

Overall I've really enjoyed my Renault 19 and don't plan on selling it anytime soon.

Faults:

In previous 19's (I have owned 4 to date) overheating has been a problem, but just keep an eye on the water temperature and you'll be grand - if the fan stops working it's probably just the thermostat (cheap to fix).

The heater matrix went in 2 of them, which is an absolute nightmare to fix, and you will be wearing a heavy coat and possibly gloves in winter!

Just general wear and tear, things you'd expect to replace on a car 6-7 years old.

The light switch (to change between dip & full beam) went at 100,000 miles, but I've a new one in and if it lasts to 200,000 I'll be happy enough!

Don't buy parts from a dealer as they're rip-off merchants.

Insurance is high enough (Group 8).

General Comments:

The seats in the RT are the most comfortable I've ever sat in - quite a few passengers have commented on this - and the head rests are pure class!

Unfortunately I've outgrown this wonderful motor and now require something faster - maybe a Clio 1.8 16v or maybe just a R19 16v!