Vel Satis, am I mad?

[surveyor]

had these thoughts myself.

this was my thread.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Please don't set me off again.

[FoundOnRoadside]

2.5pi said:

I had the 3.0 diesel which was an off the shelf unit made by Isuzu, and also shared by the Saab 95, Vectra, Signum...

Edited for accuracy.

[Fort Jefferson]

farrendahl said:

Okay here's the deal, I love my MG ZT-T but I keep craving a change and for some reason I seem to be developing a something of a unnatural obsession with the Renault Vel Satis. I know it's a different prospect to the ZT-T and I'm fine with that as I like variety but am I insane to be considering a change to one of these or is it a good albeit left field choice?

Buy a Vel Satis and you'll be a cool guy

Make sure you have a PH sticker on it, to tell people you know about cars, but don't give a fk.

[farrendahl]

Okay, A Vel Satis is on the books, but I'm going to take my time on this one and make sure it's exactly the car I want, so no settling on the car just because it is one. Now to find the right Vel Satis

[nagsheadwarrior]

farrendahl said:

Okay, A Vel Satis is on the books, but I'm going to take my time on this one and make sure it's exactly the car I want, so no settling on the car just because it is one. Now to find the right Vel Satis

Hurrah, maybe (hopefully) you buying one will satisfy my need to buy one!

I've been fancying an S type Jag too so have badgered my colleague into buying one, now I dont want one any more!

[Wacky Racer]

I nearly bought a brand new fully loaded one when they first came out for £31k......came to my senses at the last minute.

Different though.....

I deduced it would depreciate like a cast iron parachute.

[eldar]

A guy at work has an 03 reg Vel Satis he bought new. He loves it, and claims it is incredibly reliable, by which he means it doesn't break down that often. It hasn't got any visible rust, and the interior is still good.

Sadly it is a rather unpleasant shade of pinkish red.

[AndrewAWS]

Hi farrendahl

Go for it mate. I was in the same position in April. My diesel Passat estate had been a worthy car, but I wanted some excitement and a project. So I bought it sight unseen, OK saw a photo on the web, from a dealer. And I had a good wodge set aside for eventualities.

Reliability: as with most specialist cars, depends on knowledgable maintenance. Here's some examples of seemng disasters which were not.

Driving it 150 miles home after buying it, the engine intermittently lost power and the display showed Fuel Injector Fault! Ouch. Turned out to be a 2 inch rubber airpipe between the air mass sensor and the engine had perished, letting air in and so was confusing the ECU. Cost five pounds to replace.

Yesterday I thrashed it (a 3.0 V6 dCi which likes to rev): the engine lost power, the display said STOP and the water temp went off scale. A bit of research showed up that the manufacturer (Isuzu) had got the markings wrong on the dipstick, and it needed 2 litres of oil. Topped up, thrashed it again, no problem. Contact me if anyone wants details.

I got it cos I was attracted to the interior space, the light interior ambience, not being run of the mill (am I the only one fed up with the mono-culture of black or silver BMWAUDIMERCS?), the value for money. When people see it, they assume I have spent a fortune, when it was only £2,600; and haggling would have got it cheaper.

Its got all the toys which I've happily lived without up till now but enjoy having: memory seats, auto headlights, auto wipers, auto handbrake, auto start procedure, sun blinds/ privacy screens, quiet diesel. Downside is a poor ride; probably designed for European roads which tend to be smooth, unlike our roads which seem to be a free for all for anyone to dig up and patch up badly.

The petrol 3.5 Nissan engine is reportedly a stunner for performance, but returns only 26mpg. The 3.0 V6 diesel is a favourite and returns 36, and 40 on a motorway run. There is also a 2.2 diesel and a 2.0 petrol turbo.

Trim levels Expession, then up to Privilege, then up to the top of range Initiale.

I could go on but better stop

Cheers

Andrew

[AndrewAWS]

I forgot to say there is a Vel Satis specific forum at vel-satis.org which has also been a great help.

Andrew

[Baryonyx]

em177 said:

Bit different, and can get a high spec mint one for £2k, the forgotten French barge:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-PEUGEOT-607-HDI-MAN...

I've always quite liked the Peugeot barges. I am sure they aren't the last word in quality or excitement, but they seem a better alternative to the equivalent german repmobile at the same pricepoint.

The Vel Satis though, unmistakeably grim and unmistakeably grim. Avoid at all costs, it has a definite whiff of old age pensioner about it...

[Mouse1903]

Only taxed til end of month but a years MOT and only 56k miles...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4052273.htm

Yours for a 3 figure sum

[wormburner]

Mouse1903 said:

Only taxed til end of month but a years MOT and only 56k miles...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4052273.htm

Yours for a 3 figure sum

If that is straight that looks fantastic.

[Mouse1903]

O/P get it bought and mapped!

[farrendahl]

wormburner said:

Mouse1903 said:

Only taxed til end of month but a years MOT and only 56k miles...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4052273.htm

Yours for a 3 figure sum

If that is straight that looks fantastic.

Very very tempting, but I'm thinking the V6 Diesel is more up my alley......of course if thats still going in a couple of months time I may end up changing my tune completely

[V8mate]

farrendahl said:

Very very tempting, but I'm thinking the V6 Diesel is more up my alley......of course if thats still going in a couple of months time I may end up changing my tune completely

V6 diesel is fantastic. And so quiet; much moreso than the Beemer I have now.

Just make sure you post the one you're planning on buying on here first. So I can make sure it's not the one with the fecked gearbox I sold last year

[snotrag]

Ahem.



3 litre. Leather and Wood.

That'll do nicely thank you.

[DoctorX]

Mouse1903 said:

Only taxed til end of month but a years MOT and only 56k miles...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4052273.htm

Yours for a 3 figure sum

SOTW candidate that one

[farrendahl]

DoctorX said:

Mouse1903 said:

Only taxed til end of month but a years MOT and only 56k miles...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4052273.htm

Yours for a 3 figure sum

SOTW candidate that one

I endorse that recommendation, Riggers get it........oh wait

[farrendahl]

snotrag said:

Ahem.



3 litre. Leather and Wood.

That'll do nicely thank you.

Snotrag don't do that to me you bugger, the 166 is my other big WANT car