Discussion
I've just bought a Renault Avantime, and I thought I'd share my first impressions. Just 400 odd of these were sold in the UK, so it's a bit of a rare beast, and it certainly turns a few heads in a "WTF was that?" sort of way. Mine is the top spec Privilege model with a 210bhp 3.0 V6 and 5 spd auto. It's one of those cars that's lovely to drive slowly, very relaxing but with a respectable turn of speed when needed.
I'm enjoying the benefits of the lofty driving position, no longer looked down on by RR sport drivers! The ride is very good as you'd expect of a french car. You run out of grip between your bum and the seat before the tyres run out of grip with the road, but it's not the ideal B-road weapon - but that's not why I bought it.
The interior is the Avantime's reason d'aitre, and it doesn't dissapoint, being unlike any other car I've been in. It's not the materials that make it special but the architecture. The roof consisits of 2 massive glass sunroofs (sunrooves?) and fill the car with light. The front roof opens electrically and the rear one is fixed, both have sunblinds. The side windows are pillarless, which gives excellent visibility for motorway lane changes. It's party piece is that with a one button push, all 4 windows and sunroof open simultaneously. With so much glass, the cabin temperature can change noticably when going from sun to shade. The a/c is powerful enough to cope, but there is a lag.
The car isn't quite as big as it looks in pictures, it's no longer than a Laguna for instance, so not difficult to squeeze into parking bays. The boot is huge, easily big enough to fit the luggage of the 4 people it can seat, or buggies etc if you're carrying kids.
If there's one thing that lets the car down, it's the build quality. They were built at a low rate of about 15 per day by Matra on the old Espace production line. In total they made less cars than some manufacturers do on their pre-production run, so I suppose it's not surprising.
Overall I'm loving it. I bought it to replace both an elderly Porsche 928S and Fiat Punto, and it's doing a very good job of it.
I'm enjoying the benefits of the lofty driving position, no longer looked down on by RR sport drivers! The ride is very good as you'd expect of a french car. You run out of grip between your bum and the seat before the tyres run out of grip with the road, but it's not the ideal B-road weapon - but that's not why I bought it.
The interior is the Avantime's reason d'aitre, and it doesn't dissapoint, being unlike any other car I've been in. It's not the materials that make it special but the architecture. The roof consisits of 2 massive glass sunroofs (sunrooves?) and fill the car with light. The front roof opens electrically and the rear one is fixed, both have sunblinds. The side windows are pillarless, which gives excellent visibility for motorway lane changes. It's party piece is that with a one button push, all 4 windows and sunroof open simultaneously. With so much glass, the cabin temperature can change noticably when going from sun to shade. The a/c is powerful enough to cope, but there is a lag.
The car isn't quite as big as it looks in pictures, it's no longer than a Laguna for instance, so not difficult to squeeze into parking bays. The boot is huge, easily big enough to fit the luggage of the 4 people it can seat, or buggies etc if you're carrying kids.
If there's one thing that lets the car down, it's the build quality. They were built at a low rate of about 15 per day by Matra on the old Espace production line. In total they made less cars than some manufacturers do on their pre-production run, so I suppose it's not surprising.
Overall I'm loving it. I bought it to replace both an elderly Porsche 928S and Fiat Punto, and it's doing a very good job of it.
d.
I'd been looking for a while trying to find an Auto one, and then this came up on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
ever since it was used as a project car on 'top gear', i always kinda liked the look of it
especially when the customised it into a track day car. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoojW1g7D_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55_8Cn1nsuc&NR=...
especially when the customised it into a track day car. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoojW1g7D_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55_8Cn1nsuc&NR=...
Edited by jord294 on Thursday 5th November 11:10
A quick update for those interested...
We've decided to call the Avantime "Homer" because it's Illiad blue, plus the name seems to fit it's character somehow, although this is more a reference to The Simpsons than classical greek literature! It's now passed the 100k mile mark and nothing has gone wrong electrically or mechanically.
I've recently discovered the Avantime scored a "Sub Zero" on the TG cool wall in Series 1 Episode 6.
All in all, it continues to delight and hasn't caused any grief.
We've decided to call the Avantime "Homer" because it's Illiad blue, plus the name seems to fit it's character somehow, although this is more a reference to The Simpsons than classical greek literature! It's now passed the 100k mile mark and nothing has gone wrong electrically or mechanically.
I've recently discovered the Avantime scored a "Sub Zero" on the TG cool wall in Series 1 Episode 6.
All in all, it continues to delight and hasn't caused any grief.
TheRoadWarrior said:
There was a discussion about the Avantime on PH before, seems like a lot of people really like it- I personally think it looks great- i mean sure, its a big ol' bus.. but at least its different! Never understood why they sold so few of them.
Because there's a world of difference between paying £4k for one rather than £30k?V8mate said:
TheRoadWarrior said:
There was a discussion about the Avantime on PH before, seems like a lot of people really like it- I personally think it looks great- i mean sure, its a big ol' bus.. but at least its different! Never understood why they sold so few of them.
Because there's a world of difference between paying £4k for one rather than £30k?Gassing Station | French Bred | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff