1985 Renault 4 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

I'm besotted with her!

Faults:

All problems are cosmetic.

Paint peeling from the grille, missing door cards, messy/damaged dash and loose wiring!

However, the reverse lights don't seem to work either...

General Comments:

Fantastic little runabout, get comments, stares and waves all the time! Reliable and adorable, I shall own her for many years.

Just needs a little TLC!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd August, 2014

1985 Renault 4 GTL 1.4 cc petrol from Argentina

Summary:

Paradise for amateur mechanics

Faults:

I rebuilt the car entirely. Nothing wrong yet. CV joints aren't OK. Small rust holes on rear floor. Erratic starter solenoid.

General Comments:

I bought it from a friend.

It's very easy to work on, everything is accessible and the gearbox & engine are easy to take out. The engine is upgraded to 1397cm3, has a 34-34 carburetor, 4 to 1 exhaust manifold, R18 GTL camshaft, R9 electronic ignition, CD player, 1" widened wheels with Goodyears GPS-2, etc... Performance is awesome, but i'm still trying to tune it up right. Front disc brakes (originals from 1984) are a great improvement from old drums, but still short of power for safe braking. In the future i'll bolt on a servo. Dash is stock R4 (+ RPM & oil pressure gauges). The interior is narrow and noisy, but gives a great feel of the car.

The R4 is usually overlooked for tuning up, since people prefer the R5. But it's great to have this R4, stock on the outside, but with a lion's heart that eats Fiat Unos for breakfast...

It cost me about 1000 Euros + 200 euros for building it up, and it's worth every penny.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th June, 2003

1st Jul 2005, 23:01

So far I replaced lots of other things, brake compensation valve, rear brake cylinders, I re-wired the blinkers circuits to have also hazard lights, upgraded non-functioning hand brake for one from a R18, replaced front and rear floor pans, fixed rear hatch (dumb taxi driver rammed it).

I can´t imagine myself driving anything else. Will keep my R4 for some time.

I get great feedback from other drivers, and girls too... except when they get up because the noisy upgraded engine. At least once a week someone asks me if i´d sell it, to which I answer not for the moment being, thanks...

Even though there were a lot of R4 made here in Argentina, R4 became somewhat scarce because of government-sponsored car renewal plans of recent years.

The R4 owner is a special character.. half of the times I cross my way with another R4, we both blink our headlights at the same time, a way of saying "hi there!!"

1985 Renault 4 GTL 1.1 petrol from Netherlands

Summary:

A funny, cheap and very practical classic

Faults:

The platform slowly rusted away, it needed some welding and a proper anti corrosion treatment! But next to that, my Renault 4 GTL only got the usual maintenance (fluids, filters, spark plugs, etc.) and parts that required replacements. Only time the engine didn't start was with a worn starter motor. Very reliable car!

General Comments:

The car is really fun to drive, extraordinarily cheap, and a real joy for relaxed daily usage (yes, it is!). I'm very sorry I've sold mine, but am already looking for another one.

The reason I sold my Renault 4 GTL is that I had three cars at one time. I guess two must be enough, so I had to sell one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th May, 2001

2nd Feb 2005, 16:26

Shame you had to sell your 4. We've got at four cars which are all on the road!! We have another five waiting for restoration.

We've just bought a 4 - what a funny little car, but as you say extremely good fun!!

1985 Renault 4 GTL from Portugal

Summary:

Fantastic...

Faults:

Exhaust. It's a very reliable car.

General Comments:

Fantastic car, economic, fun, and with its almost 40 years, it's a very modern car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th June, 2000

1985 Renault 4 GTL 1.1 petrol from Netherlands

Faults:

Rust on steel panels.

Normal maintenance.

General Comments:

Owned it for 4 years and driven more than 100.000 with it yet. Car is cheap, availability of spare parts is very good and quite cheap, Dutch owners club is one of the good reasons that I will never sell the R4 GTL. Hope to restore it in a few years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th March, 1999