MK1 Twingo as an only car?

[Ali27]

I've just started driving again after a few years off for medical reasons. I need a small 3 door hatch, I'm a petrolhead and I've always been a huge fan of the original Twingo.

I'll be driving under 5k miles a year. Given that their underpinnings are largely MK1 Clio how crazy an idea is this??

[white exec]

I've driven an original Twingo on several occasions, and was impressed. A real cutie, with an amazing amount of space inside, and that very flexible rear seat space.

Only ever made in LHD (as you'll know) and so very few in UK. Some extraordinary paint colours, too .

[van ordinaire]

As you've largely cracked the potential problems of parts not originally imported (or achieved cult status - outside of Paris or Berlin, at least), why not?

One came up for sale on the forum, don't know if it ever found a home, needed TLC (& an exhaust, IMRC). Otherwise the biggest problem is finding one. While it's true we never got them, that doesn't mean there are no RHD ones, does anyone know for sure there are no Oz, NZ, SA, Japanese, Cyprus, Malta, even Irish or CI market models, e.g.?

Otherwise, if you have to import one, you'll have to do something imaginative with the headlights & rear foglight. Oh, Y try a specialist insurance broker - or you may be penalised (even if they know what your talking about) for it being LHD.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[white exec]

They were only manufactured in LHD — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo
Still loads of Mk1s here in Andalucia, where they don't rust.

[Michel]

My late father, who lived in Greece bought a brand new one in either 1999 or 2000. Neither him nor his wife were the smallest of people , and they absolutely loved it, often preferring it to their Merc 230 for all sorts of journeys..

That is, until it spontaneously combusted at just over a year and 12,000kms old.. burnt to the ground. Renault refused to admit any fault and the Greek Government took my stepmother to court (car was registered in her name) for endangering my dad's life.

But, while it lasted, they loved it, and they were both picky sods, so go for it.

[moizeau]

When I went to Moto Faro in 98 my mate (who didn't ride there) hired a Twingo at the airport. A small car that could fit 5 people, no idea how much room is in the back. It took us to the beach and pub ('cause after a 1500mile ride in 2 days..), so in my eyes, a great car.

[van ordinaire]

They were only manufactured in LHD — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo

Actually, it says they weren't made for RHD markets - but then goes on to deal with Japan!