Faults:

- The car was bad maintained, so had to replace piston rings. Luckily, the Dacia 1100 (which was a Renault 8) had the same rings and I found some new. Repair was easy. Did it myself. Worked like new. The car came from a driving school.

- Worn clutch. Easily repaired.

- Dirty and smelling like a smoker inside. Cleaned.

- Paint (golden beige) was tarnished. Had it repainted.

- Replaced rear left light; the car had been in a light accident.

- Fitted light alloy Renault rims and 155/70R13 tyres.

After these, the car went good, not anymore trouble.

After 2004, got quite rusty.

General Comments:

It was my first car when early 19 in 1999. My parents divorced, I had a 2 years younger than me sister, and I was a student, and working, so I needed a car. I had to work to help my mother and sister, while studying. I was not a wealthy or rich, so I bought what came first cheaper. The Renault 9 tc. Was very badly maintained, but lucky me, the Dacia 1100 (Renault 8) engine parts were compatible.

Other repairs were cheap. It was a work horse.

Sister to school, college, sister from school, work, girlfriend. In weekends, sometimes to the seaside or mountains. Very economical, cheap to run. Performance was very low, 138 km/h is a low top speed, however I drove it to 143, while the speedometer was showing 148.

Anyway, it was my biggest help. Quite robust, simple, repairs were easy, cheap, fuel consumption low.

However, in 2004 I found out it got rusty, and, just used it until late 2006, when it was severely damaged by rust, until I scrapped it for a new Dacia Logan in mid 2007 in a car renewal ecological program. I still miss it, but could no more use it. In 2005, our first child came. So by now, the car was already being outdated and not any more safe for a family. Even so, it kept going, but not usable for long trips. Now I have a 2018 Dacia Logan, but still miss the 9.

The 9, especially the 1.1 TC, 48 HP, was nothing special, except good fuel economy, despite modest performance. But was a hard working car for me, took me everywhere; on that car I learned how to repair a car. It gave me the freedom to move and go everywhere. It was the car that took me to my first love girlfriend, the car with which I brought home my first child. The car that did not let me down. Without demanding more, just some fuel, maintenance and some minor repairs. It was a poor man's car. And I was poor back in those times. Both me and my girlfriend. But with low costs, it took us everywhere. The Dacia Logan is also a Renault and both are reliable. Just like the 9.