Don't have to remember far, since Renault variants are currently sold in the USA. They're just labeled Nissans

For example the current Sentra is a slightly restyled Renault Megane and the Versa is the Renault Clio...

 

I drove a Reanul Le Car in 79 & 80 in Boston. It was a great car...

 

I had horrible luck with a used R5/LeCar I had in the early 1980s. To be fair, the engine had been rebuilt poorly, but I like to refer to it as the car that wanted to kill me.

The first time was a combination of car design and my stupidity. I was changing the oil, lifting the car by it's less than adequate jack to loosen the drainage bolt (my stupidity). A few seconds after I rolled out to get something the entire car crashed to the ground. The jack actually broke. Due to the incredible low ground clearage I would have been crushed had I still been under it.

The worst of numerous times it stranded me was one below zero winter night when when I tried to drive home from out in the country. Not one, two, three, but all four tires failed to hold their seal and were completely flat.

My take on French cars is that many are cool either for exotics or pure funkiness. I too once rode across Europe in a friend's Citroen "Duck" complete with wicker seats and shirt coming out from the dash. Later a friend back in the US paid high bucks for a Peugeut. The first time he tried to check the oil it took us and all the guys at the station about 10 minutes to find the dip stick. As it turned out, you had to take off a spark plug wire to get to it. Also, it was impossible for a normal sized person to see the 50-70 mph range of the speedometer because the top of the steering wheel obliterated it. Yes, though, it rode well.

 

Hmm..I posted last night but it's not here so I'll post again. I had R5 (Le Car) in the late 80's. It was a beat 80 model and not the best example of that car, it was fun to drive and it could corner on it's door handles-or whatever those little buttons were called- the top end was about 60mph and cost me all of $800.00. It was my first car. I am surprised at how many former R5 owners are here-maybe we just really like the box with wheels at the corners look! I used to dream of having the R5 turbo. My R5 took it's own life by throwing a rod and having a small engine fire on the way to a salvage yard where I intended to sell it- I got $50 for it.