1995 Renault 19 BeeBop (RL) review from UK and Ireland

Well, three days after I collected the car, I got into it after finishing work, started it up and everything in the interior was shaking, it turned out to be a engine mount. Things were well for a while, when I was driving home on a wet Friday evening, switched on the wipers, and they came up and completly locked into each other. This turned out just to be a loose wiper, I had these replaced and have had about 10,000 trouble free miles. (So far!)

When Renualt launched the 19 it was pitted against the Ford Escort, Vaxuhall Astra, Rover 200, and Volkswagon Golf, these were all good cars, but the little Renault shined over most of these, excluding the great VW Golf. The Renault 19 is a comfy car to travel in even compared to many modern hatches, it's a comblination of great seats, comfy suspention and even handling that make this car such a great ride. The interior of the car is rather drab, but no worse than any other car of the early 90's, there are a few squeaks and rattles, but generally its well put together.

The BeeBop is basclly a special edition that Renualt knocked out to try and boost sales of the RL model late in the 19's production, it is of very similar 'poverty' spec, it includes a rear wash/wipe, special material on the seats, and some rather tacky graphics on the rear.

In general though it's a great car with good strong engines, great, confident handling (with a suprising amount of grip -- should you wish to test it!) and a great ride to complete.

It's a shame that Renualt replaced this car with the megane, I have driven a base spec megane 1.4, and after steping out of my 19 into that I know witch I would choose!