Faults:

Basically is still running and just needed the usual changes, maintenance and replace the normal pieces when cars become older.

Last thing I changed was the driver's seat belt connector.

General Comments:

Reliable, economical if you don't go up 110 km/h, comfortable, but maybe the suspension is too soft, so you need to be cautious with the speed in closed curves.

Faults:

Some oil leaking, seat belts need replacing if you use the car in urban mode.

General Comments:

The car is my jewel, I love driving it, it handles like a dream, the brakes got me out of some serious trouble. It's a wonder they stopped fabricating it... too bad!!!

Faults:

Three months after purchase a lot of smoke came from behind the dashboard, repaired under warranty.

Due to vandalism -someone stole petrol from the tank and bashed the plug into the tank- the fuel tank needed to be replaced.

Windscreen spontaneous cracked.

At 100K fuel pump replaced.

At 110K water pump replaced.

At 130K & 170K battery replaced.

At 150K exhoust corroded trough, replaced.

At 150K front bumper spontaneous fell off while parked inside.

At 180K starting the car (warm and cold) became difficult. The dealer told that the starter motor needed replacement, the car was sold with bad starter motor.

Left and Right wings had serious corrosion.

Overall a very reliable car only the faulty wiring behind the dashboard left me stranded next to the road.

General Comments:

The 18 was a very comfortable, spacious and practical car (I drove the break version).

It brought me all over Europa from Spain to north Sweden, packed four people, two tents and all baggage (with the spare wheel in between the front and back seats, why didn't Renault design a proper space for it normally it was just standing in the boot blocking part of last right window).

Build quality was not the best and steering heavy, but still the nicest car to drive I owned so far (I owned 5 Toyota Corolla's since).

Faults:

- Cooling circuit thermal valve.

- Starter motor.

- Plastic part of the radiator blew up (the radiator was not original though).

- Right axle joint.

General Comments:

I bought this car when it had 180.000km on the counter, but had very little problems with it (made 20.000 km since then).

It has always passed half annual MOT with NO PROBLEMS. The engine consumes just half a liter of oil per 9000km, and there's 200.000 km on the counter. Think about it.

But there is another side to this car. If you have a basic or TL version you better not have any hanky-panky in it, 'cos the upholstery of the seats is far from durable - it will look like the rats had their meal.

The 1397 ccm / 4 speed is a bit to weak when the car is fully loaded, but this engine (and other ones in the R18) is one of the most reliable engines money can buy.

You can get all info on R18 at http://ptikem.free.fr/