Renault Twingo 1.2 16v 2004

[Neddo]

CYLINDERS
4
DISPLACEMENT
1149 cm3
POWER
55 KW @ 5500 RPM
75 HP @ 5500 RPM
74 BHP @ 5500 RPM
TORQUE
77 lb-ft @ 4250 RPM
104 Nm @ 4250 RPM
FUEL SYSTEM
Multipoint Injection
FUEL
Petrol
CO2 EMISSIONS
138 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS
TOP SPEED
104 mph OR 167 km/h
ACCELERATION 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH)
11.7 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS
CITY
30.9 mpg US OR 7.6 L/100Km
HIGHWAY
49 mpg US OR 4.8 L/100Km
COMBINED
40.6 mpg US OR 5.8 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS
DRIVE TYPE
Front Wheel Drive
GEARBOX
Manual, 5 Speed

BRAKES SPECIFICATIONS
FRONT
Discs
REAR
Drums

TIRES SPECIFICATIONS
TIRE SIZE
155/65 R14S

DIMENSIONS SPECIFICATIONS
LENGTH
135.2 in OR 3434 mm
WIDTH
64.2 in OR 1631 mm
HEIGHT
56 in OR 1422 mm
FRONT/REAR TRACK
55.7/54.1 in OR 1,415/1,374 mm
WHEELBASE
92.4 in OR 2347 mm
GROUND CLEARANCE
4.7 in OR 119 mm
CARGO VOLUME
9.2 cuFT OR 261 L
CD
0.33

WEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS
UNLADEN WEIGHT
1995 lbs OR 905 kg
GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT
2767 lbs OR 1255 kg
http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/renault-twingo-1998.html#aeng_renault-twingo-1998-12-16v

Let's be honest, we have all at one stage or another had this little crush on somebody we really, really shouldn't. We're only human after all, right? Sometimes we unexpectedly end up lusting after something we shouldn't. Well, this is exactly what happened to me in Paris with the Mk.1 Renault Twingo.

Not particularly pretty, devoid of performance, and (I'm told) woefully unreliable, the first generation Renault Twingo is a car I have been attracted to since I first explored France. You might say it was an unconventional example of the holiday romance.

There can be no doubt that the French have a certain way with us Brits. We're really rather defenceless when it comes to putting up a resistance against their most dangerous weapon – charm. The first generation Renault Twingo is positively bursting with the stuff, and when you combine that with a Parisian backdrop and French culture, it's not surprising I couldn't help but go a bit gooey over it.

Read more roadmag.co.uk
The interior of a Renault Twingo is a garish array of bizarre seat upholstery and loud coloured dash and control trim plastics, but the centrally mounted electronic instrument panel is very cool, despite being a weird design decision. Strangely, only a single strip of warning lights is located behind the steering wheel, and what does that tell you about French build quality in the early 1990's?

My French Crush: First Generation Renault Twingo
2

It's quite possible that charm is the sole redeeming feature of the first generation Renault Twingo. As I haven't driven one yet I honestly can't tell you how it drives. But, I can tell you that my friends in Paris certainly tell some interesting tales about their experiences in a Twingo, and none of them are particularly flattering on the car. One thing is for certain though, the Twingo is the perfect car for Paris and perhaps that is why the city is chock-full of them.

Driving through Paris is like pushing a trolley through a packed shopping centre. Everybody is doing their very best to not bump into each other, but we all know how that story always ends. The Renault Twingo is perfect because it's small, inexpensive to buy and maintain, and easy to repair should the worst happen – and it usually does. If (rather than when) it gets damaged, it's no big deal. Like the stray cats of the city, nearly all Parisian Twingo's come with battle scars, and it's a challenge to find one that does not have some sort of bodywork damage.

If it's not pretty, terrible to own, and not much fun to drive, why do I like it? The truth is, I really don't know. There is an honest and peculiar charm to this car which is very hard to define. It may well be flawed but it's incredibly cute and actually rather tough, still surviving in the hands of numerous owners. Perhaps I love it purely because of the fact it is so utterly French, and I'm just another British national charmed by our friends across the channel – seduced by the quirky French and absolutely unashamed.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/my-french-crush-first-generation-renault-twingo-1622122953

 

[HatchbackFlak]

You not only decided to post a 2004, you posted a 2002, a 1998 and a 1992. Make up your mind. Also, oppositelock, really?

 

[Neddo]

You not only decided to post a 2004, you posted a 2002, a 1998 and a 1992. Make up your mind. Also, oppositelock, really?

What's wrong with oppositelock? This car isn't any performance car, something very often in Gran Turismo. Sometimes posting only specs about a car like this isn't good enough. So I posted something different as well.

 

[HatchbackFlak]

Nevermind, I was in a bad mood because of the pictures. Inaccuracy in pictures kinda gets on my nerves.

Anyway, the story you posted is better than 90% of the stuff people post on that website but I'm just happy for is that you changed the pictures.

 

[Matej]

I saw one with sunroof a while ago. I think only the most expensive models came with that option (and leather inside).

Twingo I used to be very popular on Croatian roads. Many of them can be found in mint or decent condition. Prices are still quite high due its reliability; owners often claim how this is one of the most reliable Renault of that age. I would buy one for sure, for city conditions there aren't many candidates that could outclass Twingo, especially if we measure space in cabin.

The car should have been introduced in GT a long time ago, now it doesn't present any excitement due to available high-performance Twingo II model. I presume it would barely keep up with middle-range Kei cars, so it isn't very fast either.

Nevertheless, it is an iconic model both for people who lived in cities and smart engineers who designed the thing, so if anything, it should remain here as a reminder of what cars should have been introduced in the series in order to prevent losing status of theirs that deserves to be nurtured for eternity.

* I apologize for the flashy and from certain angle useless post, but that is how my agenda works when it encounters such important machines. No need to be upset, it could have been worse, much, much worse...