Would I get the piss taken out of me driving a ‘97 Twingo around?

Posted by Imaginary-Turnip7330@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 49 comments

I (24F) have been living in the UK since September with my English partner (27M) but have been traveling over here for a few years. I’m from the states and am adjusting to driving over here okay, just feel like the margin for error is so different compared to the vastness of the roads I am used to so smaller cars have been my go-to.

My partner thinks it is a brilliant idea for us to get a tidy looking 1997 Twingo that’s been imported from Netherlands. I think they are cute and we would always comment on them on roadtrips in France, but it’s another thing to drive one into work in a country where they were never sold. What category is this car put in over here? Would it be older and kinda cool or old and lame. Like I showed my mom, she thought it was cute but showed my dad and he audibly gasped. Ultimately I know all that matters is if I like it and if I’m comfortable when driving around, but like 👀 sorry sue me I care a lil bit about looking lame.

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WitShortage@reddit

Small French cars are cool. 1997 cars have the prefix R or S on their plates (i.e. R111AAA), so look around you at French cars wearing P-V plates. You will see loads of them.

Not Twingos, obviously since they were not officially sold here, but you will see plenty of Clios, Peugeot 106s, Citroen Saxos etc.

If I were you, I'd be more concerned about where you're going to get parts from than I would be with how you look, but then I've always been a function-over-form guy.

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BastardsCryinInnit@reddit

Not Twingos, obviously since they were not officially sold here,

They were. They absolutely were!

Never did big numbers but they were defo "officially" sold in the UK.

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WitShortage@reddit

Per Renault UK the 1993-2007 Twingo was not officially sold in the UK.

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BastardsCryinInnit@reddit

And you are conveniently stopping there, at 2007 😂.

To ignore that from 2007–2014 they were officially sold in the UK in right hand drive, then the next generation ones were sold from 2014–2019 but ultimately pulled from the UK market due to slow sales.

Surely you cant believe all the second hand ones available on AutoTrader right now are imported left hand drive ones???

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WitShortage@reddit

OP is talking about the 1997 Twingo 1 (sold between 1993-2007), and not officially imported, as I cited.

Checking Autotrader, the oldest Twingo currently for sale on the platform was registered in 2007 and is a Mk2.

You appear to be confused about model generations 😉

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ThatBurningDog@reddit

They do electric Twingos right now.

https://www.renault.co.uk/electric-vehicles/twingo-e-tech-electric.html

I was considering getting a Renault 5 at some point but the Twingos looks absolutely adorable when you look at it from the front.

kwlodarczyk1@reddit

I’ve got one and have driven it all over the place. Would recommend if you’re after something a bit fun.

Imaginary-Turnip7330@reddit (OP)

Oh wow very cool! Thanks for sharing!

Ipoopedinthefridge@reddit

I love the old twingo’s - keep a litter picker in the car, it was really helpful for parking barrier machines.

Unable-Ad2927@reddit

people who matter won't mind and people who mind don't matter

😮‍💨 ya get caught up in the day-to-day and forget this. So true, thx

Mate you're about 10 years too old to be worrying about what people think.

No one is gonna take the piss cos people arent even noticing you.

My biggest issue is buying an imported car. It seems unneccsary, especially cos unless I am mistaken, Twingo's are sold in the UK.

You made a lot of great points and the insurance stuff is definitely something to consider. Wanted to attach a pic of the mk1, the Twingo in question.

ArgumentativeNutter@reddit

a left hand drive car as a daily driver in the uk is a bad idea for safety reasons

Tuniar@reddit

It's really not that big a deal. I've driven for years on the wrong side of the road (English car in Portugal). No incidents.

thb202@reddit

That’s my experience of taking my car into mainland Europe, takes 2 minutes of adjustment and it feels completely normal. It also has its benefits on narrow lanes as you can get right up against the bush/kerb

wedontneednoeduc@reddit

Plus higher insurance

tykeoldboy@reddit

If you want to drive a Twingo then go for it, If the car is usable why send it to a scrap yard. There are 1000's of people who drive old cars, either by choice because they like older cars or because they can't afford a newer model. There are many websites for users of older vehicles, maybe even a Twingo owners club

dospc@reddit

Having a small car is not an issue, but why so old? And importing a pretty boring car from another country is very weird. Why not just buy a similar, more recent small car secondhand in the UK?

Desperate_Dinner_307@reddit

You really need a vehicle with the steering wheel on the right, for a multitude of reasons.

Anyone who mocks you for driving a '97 Twingo however clearly knows nothing about cars. Every petrolhead knows the Twingo is a brilliant car.

Elongulation420@reddit

I love those Twingos!

Bacon4Lyf@reddit

They have a big cult following and are pretty well loved in the car scene amongst people your age

Aggravating_Ad_3954@reddit

I think Twingos are a great car, especially the first gen.

However if you’re adjusting to driving I’m not sure a LHD only car would help, if anything I think it might make problems worse.

For a first car look at something like a Toyota Aygo or Citroen C1, they’re just as city friendly and easier to maintain.

James_White21@reddit

Just Google for 'gran turismo twingo' and you will discover that it's not only the coolest car in GT7 but one of the fastest too.

Boboshady@reddit

Some people will obviously take the piss out of you, but I think it's also got to the point where these things are so bad, they're cool.

I wouldn't personally drive one, but mainly only because of the left hand drive aspect, though that alone wouldn't put me off a car I really wanted (I just don't want a twingo!) - I'd definitely have a more modern UK version as a little city runaround.

You might also have problems with repairs, so I'd do some googling to see how the parts situation pans out here - it'll either be cheap as chips or an expensive nightmare, depending on if spares are still made, shared with other common cars, or only available from a dwindling supply of broken twingos.

The reality is, someone osmewhere is ready to take the piss out of your car no matter what you drive, so what you really need to do is be happy with it yourself, and ignore everyone else.

RoutineCloud5993@reddit

It's hard to get parts for old twingos. My wife had a gen 2 twingo but eventually sold it ebcause the clutch failed and nobody could get a new one for a reasonable price.

That and the left hand drive would make it a deal breaker. If you want a twingos, get a right hand drive.

CatBroiler@reddit

I mean, you could get a modern Twingo that's RHD. They're roughly the same size and they're relatively common, although I think only the 2nd and 3rd generation cars are sold here

srmarmalade@reddit

I think they're cool, some people might think old banger - no one is likely to care that much - other then being slightly older and quirky it's not particularly small in UK road terms. I think a newer car will probably be easier to drive, cheaper, more comfortable and less hassle. Left hand drive will make life a little harder as some have noted.

If you/your partner particularly want a classic twingo go for it, but it's a basic 30 year old car that I'd hazard a guess will cost more to run then a 10 year old equivalent - there are many objectively better choices.

Sad_Cardiologist5388@reddit

No. Nobody cares, youre not the main character in anyone else's life

blumpkinator2000@reddit

While I get your reasoning, there are so many better choices out there. We have a plethora of dinky little grocery-getters to choose from, that are newer, safer, more refined, and have the steering wheel on the correct side.

Maybe have a look at the Citroën C1, Fiat 500, Volkswagen Up, or even a Smart. I've driven all of these, and owned the last two, and TBH they suited their purpose perfectly.

Careless-Giraffe-623@reddit

Why an import? It adds complications and expense, unless it's a rare /prestige car just buy something domestic.

There's about 140 twingos for sale on auto trader right now...

AnyOlUsername@reddit

You might for having the steering wheel on the wrong side but other than that..

scuderia91@reddit

I don’t think it’s going to help you with driving on our roads if you buy a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side.

Easy_Effort7985@reddit

There are three types of people/cars I judge;

Flashy supercars. No, I don't think you're cool.

Blingy boy racers. Extra points for a 1 litre with a headachingly droney exhaust, or one that's been mapped to go 'pop pop pop pop pop pop'. No, I don't think you're cool.

Brand new cars from now terrible brands. Such as Vauxhall or MG, what on earth inspired you to buy that NEW?!

However. What I do not judge or even look twice at. Are people driving whatever old car they can afford. People driving cars that they think are fun. Or people driving cars that are extremely practical or economical. Your little Twingo fits neatly into this last group and I think looks a lot of fun, in fact if I saw you arriving to work it would put a smile on my face.

RegularPie5512@reddit

If you're looking for a cheap(ish) small car that's reliable I'd go for a second hand Up/Mii/Citigo.

Geeky_Nick@reddit

It looks like you can easily pick up newer righthand examples secondhand. So I'm not sure you would need to get a such an old imported model.

In terms of "street cred" I probably wouldn't even notice the difference between that and a small city car like a VW UP!

No_Pollution_950@reddit

Given you have said that you are getting a small car because you are unfamiliar with the roads, I'd reccommend you avoid LHD cars.

I'm all for slightly aged french hatchbacks, but I would stick to RHD if i were you. you could get twingo's in this country. What about a Clio? there are plenty of those around and they're great little cars to drive, especially the Renault sport ones, but even the basic ones have a sweet chassis. Just be mindful that cars of that age might not be the most reliable

CaptainAnswer@reddit

Twingo is cool imo, something different in a sea of financed mercedes and BMW:s

simon-g@reddit

They’re all left hand drive. Not so much of a problem for overtaking (you probably won’t be in a twingo) but parking barriers, drive throughs and the like.

It’s also too old for London ULEZ and the various other cities clean air zones so you’ll pay for each day you drive in those. Unfortunately at least 10 years off the classic status where it becomes exempt again.

I own a Japanese import and it does take more work to find parts and good mechanics willing to work on them - if it wasn’t sold here they often can’t look it up in the usual systems.

We do have a lot of great, small European cars here though - have a look at the VW up (aka Seat Mii, Skoda Citigo) or the Citroen C1 (aka Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo) which don’t have any of those drawbacks.

DeapVally@reddit

It would be quite a nuisance to have the steering wheel on the wrong side, and a lot of places have clean air and LEZ's nowadays. A 90s engine, although certainly on the smaller side, is probably not going to be up to scratch.

FornyHucker22@reddit

Seen worse cars but I did giggle when I googled it 🤭

girlwithapinkpack@reddit

Living with a left hand drive car can be annoying but if you're prepared for that and just want to know what we think then
1. I love them because they're so sad looking and so shit, and it's a typically British thing to love something for being rubbish.
2. Perhaps x-post into r/cartalkuk for more input if people's opinions matter

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