1978 Renault 12 1.4 petrol

Summary:

Individual, fun, reliable

Faults:

Most of the problems I have had with the car are due to age related wear rather than poor design or shoddy workmanship. It wasn't very well looked after by the previous owner.

New motor after about 100 000 km's of owning (piston collapse). Replacement motor also eliminated starting problems which were the most annoying thing about the car: refused to start even in comparatively mild Australian winter mornings of +3 to +9 C.

Brake performance fades quite quickly after servicing.

Floor carpet wears out very fast in the front - 20 year old pristine carpet will be destroyed in a matter of months.

Dashboard gauges prone to inaccuracy/blowing/dying completely.

Windscreen wiper pivot rusted completely through (driver's side, of course!)

General Comments:

Acceleration is pretty underwhelming. If you buy one, get the 1.4 L engine.

Desperately needs a 5th gear: 3700 rpm at 100 km/h in top 4th.

Has amazingly comfortable seats for a 70's car - excellent for long drives and sleeping on.

With a bit of proper maintenance these cars are extremely reliable. The motor is absolutely bulletproof. Great long distance car.

Economy is not too bad, somewhere around 8-9 L/100 km if kept tuned and not hammered on the highway.

Oddball body shape and quirky accessories still endear and turn heads 20 years later.

Three nuts per wheel is a tribute to French engineering - tyre changes are very quick.

Door lock design makes these almost theftproof.

Back seat a bit cramped, but heaps of boot space.

This is a car you really have to DRIVE.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th March, 2001

14th Oct 2001, 10:49

I have had a Renault 12 TS for 24 years and have almost 480k on it - the most comfortable, reliable and best built car of its time. Pity the build quality of todays cars aren't the same as the good old 12.

12th Jan 2002, 15:42

Renault R12 wagon, I found that the car was robust and very easy to repair. Parts were easy to get, taillight lenses were damaged when I bought the car. It does have very comfortable seats and roomy front cabin space.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the car was working in all departments and had no oil leaks and all the bushes were in good condition. After some TLC was applied and fresh paint, it was a enjoyable car to drive and yes people did comment on the model.

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1974 Renault 12 GL 1.4

Summary:

Bargain

Faults:

A few things went wrong with this car, however things did wear out as you would expect from an old car.

General Comments:

The R12 was put on to gas a few years back and it runs forever on a tank, there was no power drop like most cars.

I also found some imported alloy's so I popped them on and the car looks hot.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th May, 2000

1976 Renault 12 TS R1177 1.6

Summary:

The most problem-free car on the road

Faults:

Virtually nothing, except for oil leaks from the gearbox.

General Comments:

This car would have to represent the very peak of automotive engineering, manufactured in the days when cars were built to last. Fortunately, this ensures that there will be cars of this model available for many years to come.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th April, 2000

14th Aug 2001, 02:48

I agree, the R12 is one of the best cars of all time!!! I have got a 1978 model and it is really good. It also leaks oil from the gearbox!!!

4th Feb 2006, 00:17

True. My 1975 R12 is still my daily driver, and leaks some oil here and there, but will probably last forever. It just blows me away how easy it is to keep such an older car road worthy! I do some frequent trips to USA on it (800km same day round trip) and find all kinds of newer cars left in the ditch for one reason or other, and I can't believe this one is still going. I also own a 1990 Nissan Sentra wagon and I don't trust it as much. For those long trips I stick to the Renault.

16th Jun 2006, 12:37

First of all: please excuse my writings if they are not 100% correct, but I am not an English speaker (Romanian).

I don't think my comment is really about this car's reliability, but it's tangential to the subject.

So:

Please consider that this car, the Renault 12, was made until 2003-2004!! Yes, it's real!! In fact, the name wasn't Renault 12, but Dacia Berlina (or Dacia 1300), which is a licensed version of the french car that was produced in Romania for almost 30 years, since the 70's. Today they are still produced as commercial versions (pick-up) of the old car.

But the problem is that, after 1980, when the communist regime forced the economy and the original parts were assimilated and updated in Romania, their quality was poor, and the car lost its reputation of reliability.

1975 Renault 12 GL 1.3

Summary:

A great car, if you buy it you'll love it!

Faults:

Nothing, absolutely wonderful car to drive, reliable as anything. Recommend it to anyone.

General Comments:

Buy this car! It is fantastic for getting around town, not that powerful, but economical, very comfortable and extremely reliable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th March, 2000

6th Feb 2001, 15:31

R12 TL 1.2 1970 240.000km's.

No problems in daily use here in Finland. The heater was excellent in -35C temperature. The 12 was my first car!