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Renault Twingo II, a continuation of the first generation Twingo or a two doors Clio ? Renault Twingo II, an almost fun almost car.

The first generation Twingo was an interesting car, to say the least. So the Renault Twingo II had some small but intense shoes to fill. Except that in a world suffocated by electronics and safety, what chance would the first Twingo have, a car that weighed 45 kilos and came without power steering but with independent suspension and lots of fun?


And yet they succeeded with the Renault Twingo II. Even if most of the car is made as a joke, because why pay 20,000 euros for a Twingo when you can pay 18,000 euros for a Clio with 4 doors or even a Duster? However, the second-generation Twingo came with more technology, especially more safety features and technology. Furthermore, the Renault Twingo II is based on the Clio II platform so the question arises “Why not just buy a Clio?”

Yes, it’s a relatively reliable car, yes it’s a nice and practical city car, but the fact that it only comes with two doors and a galactic price tag has made the Renault Twingo II a rare presence on the streets of the Europe, especially in it’s Eastern parts, where the car has to have 4 doors, a boot, and sound like a diesel. And speaking of diesel, this Twingo really did get a diesel engine. Diesel engine. In a Twingo.

Renault Twingo II Engines

Petrol

1.2 MPI of 60 and 75 horsepower – Actually, I should specify that it has 61 horsepower because every horsepower counts when you have so few. In parallel, this was also the base engine for the Dacia Sandero I and it’s a decent engine for the city. You don’t want to take it out on the open road too often instead.
1.2 TCe of 101 horsepower – We’re already talking about something else. Or the same engine, just with a turbo attached. There are urban legends about piggly oil consumption, but that’s not the case with the Twingo because no one is going to do astral mileage or drive a Twingo like an E46 picked up from the UK for 400 euros and registered in Bulgaria.
1.6 MPI RS of 133 horsepower  – Reserved for the Gordini RS version, you might say 133bhp isn’t a lot. Trust me, for a car that weighs somewhere between 3 to 4 pounds, 133 horses is a lot.


Diesel

1.5 dCi K9K 86 horsepower – Really? Really? A diesel for this class of car? Whatever. Watch out for the injectors and the high-pressure pump that requires quality diesel, like a stray dog that lives at a restaurant and won’t eat cheap leftovers such as bread. A yes, necessarily replace the timing belt every 4 years or 50,000 km.

Renault Twingo II General Issues 

• Like any 2005 Renault, expect many minor issue on the electrical side. A window doesn’t work, a light bulb doesn’t light, and an cigarette lighter doesn’t work. That sort of thing.


• In keeping with the 2005 Renault tradition, the Renault Twingo II has a habit of eating headlights, and changing the bulbs is much more painful than it sounds.


• Apparently, according to statistics, three people have actually bought an automatic gearbox on their Renault Twingo. Big mistake, even bigger character.


• Petrol engines have a habit of eating spark plugs and for engines with enough miles under their belts the excessive oil consumption starts.

Renault Twingo II Verdict

Buy a Clio III. It’s cheaper. The Renault Twingo has never sold in Europe strictly because of the price. I also look at the current used market and a Sandero or even a Clio is cheaper than a Twingo. More car, from a superior class, from the same manufacturer, which also cost less than Twingo. A fatal mistake to come with a small and expensive car in a sector where the price is one of (if not the) most important criteria when it comes to purchases. In the city car area, the price has the final word, not the equipment, not the performance.

Which engines do I recommend? The classic 75 horsepower 1.2 should be simple and muscular enough for city life. As for the diesel, it just doesn’t make sense. No.