Faults:

This car had a certain amount of rust.

Its sills needed work.

Some pipework underneath needed welding.

The seats were coming away.

The fan switch gave up.

The speedometer seized up and sheared the speedo cable.

General Comments:

As you can see, this car suffered a lot of faults, but is that so unusual for an eleven year old vehicle?

The electrics were a little temperamental, which is something I understand Renault sorted out in later models.

Eventually, I had to get rid of it as the garage told me it would probably not pass the MOT the following year, but I still miss it.

The control console was beautiful, a real work of 1980s art, with stepped slopes and sliders.

The interior was incredibly spacious, not so much a cabin as a piece of real estate. Some laughed at the sheer amount of beige, but I found it made the whole thing light and airy.

The engine made an endearing whine when I put my foot down on the accelerator. No other car I've driven has that.

This was a car with spirit, which never actually left me stranded anywhere.

I once backed the car into a Volvo by mistake and the Volvo came off very badly (as did my insurance, rightly) but the Renault just shrugged it off with barely a scratch; that's how solid she was.

The most impressive thing about it was the forward tilting bonnet hinge, which meant that, if you opened the bonnet and stood behind the boot, the open bonnet looked almost impossibly distant.

This car had a sort of stateliness, like a Citroen Xantia in some ways, even if she was a base model, and I can't believe I traded "up" to a Rover 214, even if it did have more gadgets.

Faults:

Front off-side shock absorber replaced at 65000 miles.

Noisy cam tensioner replaced at 79000 miles. Replaced timing belt at same time as a precaution.

Front off-side wheel bearing replaced at 80000 miles.

Anti-roll bar bushes replaced at 85000 miles.

General Comments:

86000 miles and the engine is as sweet as a nut.

The interior trim is in superb condition and the seats are the most comfortable I have ever encountered.

This car inspires confidence. I love the cavernous cabin and find the driving position to be excellent.

The engine starts first time whatever the weather and to date has not let me down.

I own a Ford Mondeo 2.0 glx estate. It is good, but the Renault is my favorite.

Although it is now 16 years old there is still no rust to be found anywhere and, given that I can still obtain parts for it, I intend to keep this vehicle to my dying day.

Faults:

Had to replace the rear brake cylinders, and starter motor.

The petrol gauge failed and needed replacing. The switch for the heater fan also needed replacing.

This car featured an electronic 'dip stick', this also failed.

Suffered from hot start problem which I believe was due to the location of the carburetor and was never solved.

General Comments:

This is a very roomy car with a well fitted interior.

I've yet to find another car which is as comfortable. It has a cavernous boot and six footers can sit in the back with plenty of leg room.

It has good performance and reliability.

Only the failure of some of the interior equipment lets it down.

Faults:

Large hole in subframe under scrapped petrol tank fell off on the motorway.

Rusty straps.

Ball joints.

Wheel fell off at junction.

Electrics.

Clutch.

Steering linkage.

Drivers seat sheared off when driving.

Passenger mirror fell off.

Gear stick got loose and came off in my hand.

Seatbelts.

Sills.

General Comments:

This has got to be the worst car I have ever owned, in the 9 months I had it I spent twice its value just keeping it on the road. Street cred - none, it was an ugly smelly French creation, which had heavy steering and poor fuel economy.

Faults:

2 wheel bearings 128,000, 141,000.

Radiator 144,000.

Turbo 153,000.

General Comments:

Superb car so far, eats the XR brigade for lunch, even with 166,000 clocked up. Usual rusty door bottoms and back arches but never failed an MOT, and never let me down.

Not bad for 700 quid 5 years ago.

Faults:

Clutch at 175,000, Radiator at 175,000, Exhaust at 175,000, Turbo at 180,000, Water pump at 245,000, Alternator at 245,000.

General Comments:

Has never left any one stranded in 250,000 miles. Does 40mpg at 70mph.

Don't let Olympian Renault Service them.

Will top 140mph (and do 17mpg). ABS a pain in the nuts and about the only unreliable thing about the car.