Friday 7th October 2011

SOTW: Renault 19 16v Chamade

As cool as an F40? Riggers thinks so...

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When I was a nipper, my dad and I used to do a bit of casual karting, and one of the tracks we frequented was Buckmore Park in Kent (still a fabulous track, should you ever get to go). And the boss of the place, at the time, had a Renault 19 16v Chamade, with the registration plate K4 RTY. Or possibly K14 RTY (I can't really remember - I was only 11 years old...).

For some reason, the combination of plate, car and place struck a chord with me and, for a while, I wanted nothing more than to be the owner of Renault 19 K4 RTY (and the kart circuit to go with it, if you please). Seriously, nothing less than ownership of a Ferrari F40 could have been cooler in my eyes.

Of course, after a few years I did slowly begin to realise that my object of youthful lust was actually little more than the booted version of a good-but-not-spectacular hot hatch, and my ardour for it cooled somewhat.

K4 RTY has left more than a lingering trace of love for the 16v Chamade with me, though. But that is (in part) justified by a gutsy 140hp 1.8 and a surprisingly low 1070kg kerbweight that actually endow the 19 with a decent turn of pace.

I'm perhaps not as smitten as the vendor, however. He reckons the 19 Chamade is "One of the best driving sporty 90s cars on the road today" (it probably isn't), and that it "looks like a 2008 car" (it really doesn't). He also proffers the suggestion that "if you want to be noticed and want a slice of retro Renault, then this is the car for you", which we might politely describe as mild exaggeration.

Be that as it may, the 19 16v is a quirky, moderately quick and oft-overlooked budget performance car, and this one does seem to have been well looked-after (146k careful miles, don't yer know...).

£950 for the car that, for a while at least, I considered to be as desirable as an F40?* Quite a bargain I'd say...

*I realise people who aren't me may not feel the same way

Advert is reproduced below

Renault 19 16v Chamade For Sale (1993)
£950 Or near offer

One of the best driving sporty 90s cars on the road today fast, reliable and looks like a 2008 car. This car has a history file to die for and includes recent battery, clutch and braking system and has a long tax and MOT. 146k careful miles. The car is finished in dark blue metallic and is well finished with unmarked leather interior, electric sunroof and expensive cd system. The car has PAS and remote locking and excellent alloys wheels with good tyre thread. Genuinely if you want to be noticed and want a slice of retro Renault then this is the car for you! Delivery to mainland can be arranged.

 

[Hitch78]

For a minute I read that you still considered it to be more desirable than an F40! Lovely cars - even the vert had go faster humps on the deck.

p.s. 146,000 'careful' miles...right

Edited by Hitch78 on Friday 7th October 07:20

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Love it!

My friend had a Phase 1 19 16v Chamade Executive back in the day, with Momo Ferrari wheels and a large stereo. Oh to be young again

God, we had some fun in that car. I haven't seen one for ages.

He is now in the motor trade and recently , out of interest, looked at what it was now worth on one of the trade car valuation systems.

It came up as Good £75, Average £50, Poor £25.

[mrtwisty]

Hmmm, not sure about that one riggers... Even if you got it for £750 the seller would still be pulling your trousers down.

146k on an L reg frenchie is bloody leggy in my book!

To each his own though, I guess...

ETA - It does have good tyre thread though I suppose, worth a few quid those threaded tyres what?

Edited by mrtwisty on Friday 7th October 07:23

Edited by mrtwisty on Friday 7th October 07:23

[MrDarkBlack]

My exact thoughts when reading the ad, "I'm not sure about this one..." Just as has just been said already!

"It's not my bag, baby."

[forzaminardi]

The owner is a little too enthusiastic, but I have to admit to quite liking these too, although I don't have any excuse other than I quite like it. It shows how much cars put on lard during the late 90s and early 2000s when a fairly averagely sized car like this weighed relatively little.

Interesting, left-field shed.

[williamp]

Ahhh, viva l'hanger de la semaine (hdls)

At last a difference to the usual Ferrai F40 sheds which you seem focused on...

Not a good car in its day, even worse now. Therefore a proper shed for shedding about. Would be hilarous on track days round Sainsburys car park, with an M-people cassette blasting out the 'toons. The you'll be "moving on up...."

[Schnellmann]

I don't even remember that they did a booted version on the 19. Did they sell many?

I did look at buying a hatchback 19 16v many moons ago (so car at that time must have been 3 or 4 years old). The example I drove felt a bit flaky then so not confident about a 146k mile one that is 15 years older!

I suppose at least it is a different choice for SOTW.

[X5TUU]

Tremendous Shed'age ... love a bit of Renault goodness and all the electrical hocus pocus that goes with them (always fancied a 19, but never made it to one... i cant seem to look past the Megane Coupe & Cab's [owned 6 in total])

BEST SHED EVER...

[MJK 24]

These felt very quick 'back in the day'.

[loudlashadjuster]

Not a bad car from what I can recall, if you can get past the looks, but hugely optimistic pricing!

[bob1179]

I remember these, I actually always fancied the hatch. I almost bought one many moons ago, ended up getting a Rover 220 Coupe instead...

[Domingo Bash III]

137BHP!

My first car! 625GBP from the auction! Brilliant car to drive! Bettered only by my elise!

[Drivebyabuser]

Its got a bonnet vent - Why would you not want a car with a bonnet vent!

[BILL PAYER]

Always thought it was a much nicer looking car than the Ford Orion and Vauxhall Belmont offerings that were around at about the same time.

[Leptons]

These were 138 BHP standard IIRC. I had its cousin, a clio 16v for 4 years and loved it to bits! When I knocked the (ex) bird up I was going to swap to one of these but they were all ropey, over priced or been barried!

[exgtt]

Had one as my first car - a phase 1 on a j plate in Monaco (i think?) blue. Had a superchip, cone filter and full ss exhaust. Felt nippy when i first got it but i wouldnt describe the engine as gutsy. Needed the arse caning off it to get anywhere.

Brilliant handling though and the interior felt pretty solid for a 90's Renno.

j525 hhw if anyone should know the car.

[Kaiser_Wull]

150 bhp? You're thinking of the version of the engine that was installed in the Clio Williams. The 19 16V (and the Clio 16V) had to make do with 137 bhp.

I had the hatch version of the 19 16V back in the day. I can't say that it never missed a beat in the three years I had it, but it was a lot of fun - would have been ever better with a bit more power.

[Liquid Knight]

A friend of mine had one when I had a 309 GTi. Not bad cars at all and getting prety collectable now.

[rsv gone!]

My sister had one (hatchback). Great fun. It hung on around roundabouts like a limpet, even in the wet.

Cool cars, crappily built.

[Civpilot]

I had one of these for a few years, series 2 in Gunmetal grey with full leather interior.

It was actually a really nice car to own, brisk enough, very comfy (those seats are actually pretty supportive) and from memory a pretty good gearchange.

Minus point?

Clutch cables!

I think in 3years of ownership the car went through 4 clutch cables. If fact one time rather than leave my car in a particularly bad part of bracknel I drove back to camberley without the use of a clutch, trial by fire in engine/braking/car control. I used to get it sorted by a Renault specialist who had a few trials cars about and apparently this was a very well known fault that happened to certain cars, and others could go 100K without needing one. And to fit a new one was a bleeding nightmare due to the huge heat shield that used to stop the inside of dash catching fire.

Other then that, great car