Readers wife's car... Twingo
Discussion
As I am now carless again while my M5 is returned I thought I would start a reader's rides post on my wife's car.
It is a Renault Twingo RenaultSport 133 which she has had for around 5 years. It has the optional cup pack (suspension, wheels and roof spoiler) which means that it corners like it on rails but also knocks your teeth out every time you run over a pebble.
It is completely standard and has covered less than 22k miles. We have taken it to Amsterdam and Belgium, up to Hull a few times and general trips out. It isn't the fastest thing around nor is it great on a motorway due to having short ratios and only 5 forward gears.
It is booked in to BeanieSport next week for a full service and cambelt change, as well as the dephaser. It doesn't need it but while the belt is off it makes sense to do it for another £89.
I do enjoy driving the car, it is a good b road blaster at legal speeds, but I do not fit in it very well, the drivers seat doesn't go back far enough for it to be comfortable on longer drives unfortunately. I imagine one of these with a Megane 225 engine fitted and bucket seats would make an excellent track car.
I gave it a clean and polish today so here are a few pics.
It is a Renault Twingo RenaultSport 133 which she has had for around 5 years. It has the optional cup pack (suspension, wheels and roof spoiler) which means that it corners like it on rails but also knocks your teeth out every time you run over a pebble.
It is completely standard and has covered less than 22k miles. We have taken it to Amsterdam and Belgium, up to Hull a few times and general trips out. It isn't the fastest thing around nor is it great on a motorway due to having short ratios and only 5 forward gears.
It is booked in to BeanieSport next week for a full service and cambelt change, as well as the dephaser. It doesn't need it but while the belt is off it makes sense to do it for another £89.
I do enjoy driving the car, it is a good b road blaster at legal speeds, but I do not fit in it very well, the drivers seat doesn't go back far enough for it to be comfortable on longer drives unfortunately. I imagine one of these with a Megane 225 engine fitted and bucket seats would make an excellent track car.
I gave it a clean and polish today so here are a few pics.
Edited by TheAngryDog on Monday 27th May 19:49
Butter Face said:
Pretty cool little car, the facelift didn’t do massive favours for the Twingo but overall they were a pretty awesome little package. I always thought they could have done with a little more power but they are ace fun.
Love this on cap red, just looks right.
We prefer the facelift tbh. There are some other differences that also make it worth while. Love this on cap red, just looks right.
It could certainly do with more power tbh, but as the wife isn't into cars that way it'll probably just stay standard. I think red is the best colour for them.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Very. No issues in the 5 years of ownership. andyc123_123 said:
Beaniesport in Milton Keynes do a great Megane Conversion package on these. Don't see many of these on the road either. Nice example.
I might have to ask Chris how much it is, market research n all that 
There are definitely thin on the ground, but then I don't see many Twingo's full stop. Thanks, it's worth keeping on top of.
If your wife isn’t into cars then I am shocked she’s lived with the Cup suspension for so long. It is one of the stiffest cars I’ve ever driven - always thought it takes some determination to own one long term!!!
Agree on the power and short 5th gear comments - these are the car’s main drawbacks. Then again hasn’t stopped us from doing roadtrips to Italy, France and Croatia (from Poland) in it
With the separate rear seats it’s also extremely practical, with far more room than you’d expect. We rarely needed anything bigger.. and now with our daughter’s arrival it’s still performing the main household car duties! Took one of the rear seats out (2min job) so we can get the stroller in, isofix up front for the baby seat. Don’t need much more on a daily basis
Someone asked about reliability. There are several known weak points - front lower balljoints (practically available only as whole with wishbones), clutch slave failure (we had this happen in the Austrian Alps), splitting centre muffler.
Agree on the power and short 5th gear comments - these are the car’s main drawbacks. Then again hasn’t stopped us from doing roadtrips to Italy, France and Croatia (from Poland) in it
With the separate rear seats it’s also extremely practical, with far more room than you’d expect. We rarely needed anything bigger.. and now with our daughter’s arrival it’s still performing the main household car duties! Took one of the rear seats out (2min job) so we can get the stroller in, isofix up front for the baby seat. Don’t need much more on a daily basis Someone asked about reliability. There are several known weak points - front lower balljoints (practically available only as whole with wishbones), clutch slave failure (we had this happen in the Austrian Alps), splitting centre muffler.
menoy said:
If your wife isn’t into cars then I am shocked she’s lived with the Cup suspension for so long. It is one of the stiffest cars I’ve ever driven - always thought it takes some determination to own one long term!!!
When she bought the car she didn't know that it had cup suspension, just that it was hard. I didn't go with her to buy it (joy's of working shifts) and didn't know much about Renault's at the time. I had a search on the interwebs and found that it may have the cup pack as it had the spoiler, wheels and the hard suspension. I had a look at the suspension and found that it was a cup pack car (option) but not a cup, as it (thankfully) has a/c and the 2 rear seats. We don't mind it tbh, it's just when going over bumps that it can jar a bit. menoy said:
Agree on the power and short 5th gear comments - these are the car’s main drawbacks. Then again hasn’t stopped us from doing roadtrips to Italy, France and Croatia (from Poland) in it With the separate rear seats it’s also extremely practical, with far more room than you’d expect. We rarely needed anything bigger.. and now with our daughter’s arrival it’s still performing the main household car duties! Took one of the rear seats out (2min job) so we can get the stroller in, isofix up front for the baby seat. Don’t need much more on a daily basis
Yep, 5th is way too short, but I guess it is in keeping with the car. A 6th gear would have been ideal. 150-160bhp would have been much better. Like you this hasn't stopped us taking it on long trips. Longest was to Bruges, Brussels and Amsterdam, via Ghent on the way home. Cobbled roads in Ghent are not this cars strong point! It could do to be larger tbh - the trip above filled the car up, and shopping last year around Christmas time meant the car was well loaded as well. My M5 would have been better had it not had been (still) broken. As a daily it is great though, easy to throw around safely at road legal speeds. With the separate rear seats it’s also extremely practical, with far more room than you’d expect. We rarely needed anything bigger.. and now with our daughter’s arrival it’s still performing the main household car duties! Took one of the rear seats out (2min job) so we can get the stroller in, isofix up front for the baby seat. Don’t need much more on a daily basis avenger286 said:
Brilliant cars and so underrated! Had mine over 6 years now. Mine runs the 163 kit so doesn't lack the power . The biniesport uses the Clio 197 engine not a Mégane engine. You can always turbo the k4m engine and there are a few Twingos running that setup.
I was at BeanieSport today dropping it off. Had a quick look at Chris' Twingo 197. Looks really well, especially lowered on 205 section tyres. For her car a 163 kit would be a waste lol. IIRC that is filter, tune, cams, exhaust? There was a car there also midway through a Megane 225 conversion. . The biniesport uses the Clio 197 engine not a Mégane engine. You can always turbo the k4m engine and there are a few Twingos running that setup. I've seen posts about a turbo k4m, but it probably isn't much more hassle (more cost though) doing a 225 conversion.
Feirny said:
Love it, I have the pre facelift in same colour. Sadly mine will have to make way soon, and I’m not looking forward to the day it departs. Enjoy it more than the previous R26 it replaced.
It is a shame that you're moving it on. I think I will be disappointed when this goes, but given the low miles and that my wife really likes it and cannot think of anything else to get, I think it'll be staying away. Might even last until its next timing belt kit!So as it is now at BeanieSport, I have been loaned a Clio until I collect it next weekend. Good times.
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