Guys, Later This Year

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
01/23/2017 at 22:16 • Filed to: public service announcements, hon hon, renault twingo

We’ll be able to import Twingos to the US. Hon hon hon hon hon hon hon!

DISCUSSION (26)

Flavien Vidal > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/23/2017 at 22:18

Please take them all out of my sight... :)

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/23/2017 at 22:28

That last picture accurately describes 14-year old me back in 2011 when I first rode in a Twingo. Fun times.

Matt Nichelson > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/23/2017 at 22:31

Does it go by model year or build year though? If it was first sold as a ‘93 model, it wouldn’t be available until next year though I would assume.

E90M3 > Matt Nichelson
01/23/2017 at 22:33

I thought it was build date.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Matt Nichelson
01/23/2017 at 22:35

Pretty sure it is build date. AFAIK the first ‘93's were built in late 1992, although it didn’t really kick into full production speed until 1993.

Matt Nichelson > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/23/2017 at 22:40

I dunno. I just looked and it seems it wasn’t launched until April 1993. It was shown at an auto show in late 1992.

Matt Nichelson > E90M3
01/23/2017 at 22:40

Then it would be next year. It was launched in April 1993.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Matt Nichelson
01/23/2017 at 23:02

I would think they were making them a few months before the launch to build up stock, just like how Chevy Bolts just getting to dealers now have October 2010 build dates on them. But maybe not. In either case, finding an early production one is going to be easier said than done - especially since these were pretty much cheap, throw-away cars. Realistically it will be another 2 years before it would be realistic for someone crazy enough bring one over could do it without a ton of pain.

E90M3 > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
01/23/2017 at 23:33

TIL you’re 7 years younger than me.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 00:36

Just watched an old top gear review of it. I WANT IT SO BAD!!!

Svend > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 00:57

I don’t know if you’ll be interested but last year there was some plushie Twingos going about. Well last week I got an e-mail to say they were making another batch. I’ll be home in an hour so if you want the Web address or e-mail address and prices, let me know.

duurtlang > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 07:07

I believe it was 1993, like others mentions. Still though, take the example below. Date of first registration (as in, when it got its plates and was delivered to the first owner): October first 1993. We don’t do model years here. They’re asking a mere €699 (old used cars are cheap).

http://link.marktplaats.nl/m1127356977

Kinja'd!!!

So, 147k km, which is less than 100k miles. Even the buttons on the radio are color coded with the exterior!

edit: oldest I could find in Germany (“always driven by my grandpa” “always well maintained by professionals”) is from April 1993. Even lower kms, even cheaper and clean as well.

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=238421710

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > duurtlang
01/24/2017 at 07:16

Probably was 1993 then. I had read 1992 somewhere. Damn you internet! In any case... I do want one. At those prices shipping would be much more than th cost of the car. But since they are small I suspect the best thing might be to buy 4 at a time and pack them into one Conex.

duurtlang > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 07:20

RoRo won’t be the best option, I agree. Stuff two good ones and a parts donor in a container and you’re good to go. Maybe a 4th one if it fits.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Svend
01/24/2017 at 07:23

That would actually be awesome. I don’t know if it would be too expensive to ship to the US but I’d like to see.

Matt Nichelson > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 07:48

I could see the folks at Lane Motor Museum getting one. They have some Renaults already and it fits the bill of a funky little car. The already have some other cool Renaults like the R5 and Alpine.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Svend
01/24/2017 at 07:50

Sorry to ask, but is there any way you’d be willing to let me know as well? I’ve been dying for one of those Twingo plushies.

duurtlang > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 07:55

Roll on, roll off is what, $1500 or so? Depending on where in the US it should go to. A container is probably more, but you could fit more Twingos inside. Or Fiat Pandas, Peugeot 205s and 106s (protip!), Citroën AXs, Minis (€), and all those other subcompacts.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > duurtlang
01/24/2017 at 08:23

In this particular comment I was talking about shipping the plush toy :) As for the actual cars, I thought it was a more like $3k, but you have more experience than I do. Also, there are other fees/middlemen to pay before it actually gets to the door. I like the route in your other comment - try to find two really good ones and one average one. Keep one, sell one, and keep the last one for parts that will obviously not be easy to find in the US. This whole post was more for a laugh than anything, though we do like the idea of the Twingo in the US, because the cheap cars we got over here back in the mid 1990's we just so bland. The Twingo may not be a good car, but at least it was more interesting that a typical subcompact. What I really want to know is are there still good condition 406 Coupe’s around. I’m actually serious about importing one of those in a few years (just need to convince my wife), because I think they are just so damn beautiful. If I could find a V6-manual in blue with a tan interior in good shape in 5 years when they are US legal, I’d be a happy man.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
01/24/2017 at 08:27

This one?

Yep, it just looks like a fun city car. Also, big SUV in small French city at 4:00?!

duurtlang > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 09:19

406 coupes are still around. Very sturdy cars too (reliable, no rust issues), I obviously own one. Good condition should be okay, they were never huge sellers but they’re still there. Sadly they don’t cost anything so they’re treated poorly as well. Many are used as highway cruisers, my own included. So low mileage will be harder to find.

Svend > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/24/2017 at 10:24

Here’s the e-mail in entirety. (I’ve changed the ampersand to some spaces and and wrote ‘at’ in it’s place, in case any bots are watching).

Hi everyone!

It’s been a long time since the last run, more than a year. But, lots has been going on during that year! The new plushies return and are just as much of a plushy goodness as the previous ones. Also, there’s options now - five colors and a limited harlequin plushie!

I write to you because you were one of quite a few people who were interested and wrote to me at the old autoplush at hotmail.com address.

The ride has been great so far, I’ve learnt a lot about how to get things like this done. Many fields to explore, starting with communicating my wishes with the factory to figuring out what things I need to do to be allowed to sell them in such numbers (yes, they’re actually CE certified!). Additionally, I’ve learnt a lot about shipping (both from the factory to here as well as from here to you).

But, you don’t want me rambling on about how interesting this has been so far, you want plushies!

All things done, they’re cheaper this time, down from 27$ (13$ for the plush and 14$ shipping) to 24$ including shipping. They’re easier to order at the website (paypal works automagically, bank transfer / special snowflake mode is the same... wire transfer, cash-in-envelope, etc).

Head on over to www.autoplush.com/shop and give it a shot! I just hope the site doesn’t break when all of you head there instantly!

Have Fun!

Hans

here’s the one I got last year.

Kinja'd!!!

Hans was very prompt and polite when I dealt with him last.

Svend > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
01/24/2017 at 10:28

Hi, I replied to Trail of gaskets... above with all the e-mail I received and a couple of pictures of the one I bought from Hans last time round.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Svend
01/24/2017 at 10:36

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I’m going to have to buy one of the blue or wine red ones. They look so cute.

Svend > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
01/24/2017 at 10:48

No worries.

If you like Ford and have a kid, there is a Fiesta one on eBay.

The Fiesta is a childs neck rest.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Ford-Childs-Neckrest-Plush-Ford-Fiesta-Car-Seat-/252411138290?hash=item3ac4e050f2:g:r5QAAOSwPhdVTdm~#shpCntId

It’s GBP£7.00 plus GBP£10.41 for postage.

Kinja'd!!!

There is a Transit one but the price is ridiculous for what it is plus postage (about GBP£45.00)

greasemonkey235097 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/25/2017 at 20:07

The shifter is terrible!