Renault Avantime - would I be mad? Any experiences?
Discussion
I love convertibles but am coming to the conclusion that running two cars two have one isn't too practical as the cabrio only gets rare usage whilst the E36 gets used all the time as it's on the drive, and is bigger for carting work stuff about. An Audi 80 convertible is an option as this seems to be the only cheap cabrio with a reasonable boot but I think the Avantime would solve a lot of problems - airy in full air mode, nice high up driving position and also a hatchback boot.
Anyone had any experience of these? Lots of owners seem to sell them after a year or two which isn't a good sign.
Anyone had any experience of these? Lots of owners seem to sell them after a year or two which isn't a good sign.
My neighbour has one as part of his "Matra collection". It's come out of Winter hibernation again for Summer use.
They're a bit Marmite, love or hate kind of thing, but I think they're kind of funky looking - a Coupé styled 'people carrier'. I think the reason many sell them is that parts aren't so easy to come by, but hooking up with a Matra owners club seems to make parts readily available.
As I understand, they can be heavy on the front tyres, usually pointing to suspension issues, requiring replacement, but there are aftermarket kits that fit, surprisingly.
I wonder what happened to the V6 one that Top Gear used?
They're a bit Marmite, love or hate kind of thing, but I think they're kind of funky looking - a Coupé styled 'people carrier'. I think the reason many sell them is that parts aren't so easy to come by, but hooking up with a Matra owners club seems to make parts readily available.
As I understand, they can be heavy on the front tyres, usually pointing to suspension issues, requiring replacement, but there are aftermarket kits that fit, surprisingly.
I wonder what happened to the V6 one that Top Gear used?
Six Fiend said:
I test drove one at a Renault launch day. 3.0 V6 - was excellent fun and soooo comfy. Great with all the windows down and for my money looks great today 
Tried the Vel Satis too, 3.5 V6 iirc and quite capable with it. Great interior, dislike the front tho.
It was probably great with all the windows down, but remember its a Renault and the windows probably wont go back up.Tried the Vel Satis too, 3.5 V6 iirc and quite capable with it. Great interior, dislike the front tho.
we've had ours from new, bought it in November 2002 (for £30k!!!), and she's lovely, never let us down, nothings fallen off of it, and she now runs on LPG, so is actually 'affordable' to use now.
We've got a 3.0i V6 Privilege Automatic, in Nocturne metallic (purple) with black leather.
She's only done 45,000 miles, and is coming up for her 3rd set of tyres - we can get them for around £50 each through a trade contact - originally they were only available from Michelin at £350 each! We've had the front steering arms replaced due to knocking (around 30k), and they've gone again, so Renault are replacing them free of charge under warranty. We are also having some paintwork done and the wheels under warranty, as she has the balance of her 12 year anti corrosion/paintwork warranty. Servicing is every 18,000 miles or 2yrs, what ever comes first.
We're taking he to Monthlery (sp) racetrack just south of Paris in September for the 10th anniversary Avantime meet which is being organised by Amicale Avantime. A good UK group is http://www.avantime-owners.com/ you'll get lots of help and advice on there and there will probably be info on cars for sale and what to look out for too.
Here's ours at a French car night at the Ace Cafe
Claire
We've got a 3.0i V6 Privilege Automatic, in Nocturne metallic (purple) with black leather.
She's only done 45,000 miles, and is coming up for her 3rd set of tyres - we can get them for around £50 each through a trade contact - originally they were only available from Michelin at £350 each! We've had the front steering arms replaced due to knocking (around 30k), and they've gone again, so Renault are replacing them free of charge under warranty. We are also having some paintwork done and the wheels under warranty, as she has the balance of her 12 year anti corrosion/paintwork warranty. Servicing is every 18,000 miles or 2yrs, what ever comes first.
We're taking he to Monthlery (sp) racetrack just south of Paris in September for the 10th anniversary Avantime meet which is being organised by Amicale Avantime. A good UK group is http://www.avantime-owners.com/ you'll get lots of help and advice on there and there will probably be info on cars for sale and what to look out for too.
Here's ours at a French car night at the Ace Cafe
Claire
Guinney1971 said:
we've had ours from new, bought it in November 2002 (for £30k!!!), and she's lovely, never let us down, nothings fallen off of it, and she now runs on LPG, so is actually 'affordable' to use now.
You do know "she" is an inanimate object, so therefore in the English language genderless?It. Not She, or He.
HTH.
Prof Prolapse said:
Agoogy said:
Gorgeous cars...
For me they were near a perfect concept for when I had my family - except the lack of performance of the 2.0t or the mpg of the V6.
Now.... as single man, it's too big for just me..
They're not in the boot of the Vectra or under the patio are they?For me they were near a perfect concept for when I had my family - except the lack of performance of the 2.0t or the mpg of the V6.
Now.... as single man, it's too big for just me..
err no, don't have a Vectra...or a Signum anymore.. They're safe at home with the new man...whereas I'm in new digs with new women
Edited by Agoogy on Thursday 26th May 14:57
I've owned a high mileage one for a year and a half. It's done over 100k miles and never let me down. My one major expense was new front springs required for the MOT. You can get parts from your Renault dealer, but they can be expensive as there's no other source for the parts unique to the Avantime e.g. the plastic wheel centre trims are £50 each! Mine's a V6 auto and I get 20mpg in varied use. Common faults tend to be niggles, such as the storage compartment lids not shutting or the CD player not working. The cambelt replacement is v expensive on the V6.
Please note that I own an Avantime so maybe a little biased!
Overall running costs are very low, especially if you use a decent independant to do the cambelt change which is every 5 years/72,000 miles. There are several independants recommended by owners scattered round the country. Fuel economy isn't great, but then it's a 2 tonne 3.0 V6 - what do you expect? If you are doing decent mileage then LPG it and you'll get payback straight away. Or as at least one other owner has done install the engine from a R.Sport Megane and get 225-230bhp out of the 2.0 litre turbo (rather than the normal 165bhp).
Most issues are niggly points and again over the years solutions have been found, including ways round some of the more expensive OE parts from Renault.
The owners forum is very useful and full of committed (in all sorts of ways) owners, and being a one make, 2 model car makes diagnosis of issues a bit easier.
I've had my car for over 3 years now and apart from 1 coil go down just after I got it, it has been very reliable.
For any potential owners I would say use the owners forum for advice on what to look for when buying, as with any classic car.
Overall running costs are very low, especially if you use a decent independant to do the cambelt change which is every 5 years/72,000 miles. There are several independants recommended by owners scattered round the country. Fuel economy isn't great, but then it's a 2 tonne 3.0 V6 - what do you expect? If you are doing decent mileage then LPG it and you'll get payback straight away. Or as at least one other owner has done install the engine from a R.Sport Megane and get 225-230bhp out of the 2.0 litre turbo (rather than the normal 165bhp).
Most issues are niggly points and again over the years solutions have been found, including ways round some of the more expensive OE parts from Renault.
The owners forum is very useful and full of committed (in all sorts of ways) owners, and being a one make, 2 model car makes diagnosis of issues a bit easier.
I've had my car for over 3 years now and apart from 1 coil go down just after I got it, it has been very reliable.
For any potential owners I would say use the owners forum for advice on what to look for when buying, as with any classic car.
Another owner here, I've had a 2litre one for just over a year now and it's great. I needed something more practical than my 350z but dreaded getting some dull as ditchwater euro box so the avantime ticked all my boxes.
Only real negatives are it's not a drivers car in any way shape or form. Motorways are fine, pootling round town us fine but it's not a b road blaster. Also, don't buy a 2litre assuming it'll be cheaper on petrol as I rarely get above 23 to 24 mpg (mainly town driving) which seems on a par with the V6.
When buying make sure the cam belts been done, the silver roof rails always have rust bubbles (apart from mine!!), the drawers and cubby holes inside are notoriously weak and the original cd changer has a habit of not working.
Overall though it's great fun and is now fantastic value for money plus shouldn't depreciate any more!!
Only real negatives are it's not a drivers car in any way shape or form. Motorways are fine, pootling round town us fine but it's not a b road blaster. Also, don't buy a 2litre assuming it'll be cheaper on petrol as I rarely get above 23 to 24 mpg (mainly town driving) which seems on a par with the V6.
When buying make sure the cam belts been done, the silver roof rails always have rust bubbles (apart from mine!!), the drawers and cubby holes inside are notoriously weak and the original cd changer has a habit of not working.
Overall though it's great fun and is now fantastic value for money plus shouldn't depreciate any more!!
Guinney1971 said:
we've had ours from new, bought it in November 2002 (for £30k!!!), and she's lovely, never let us down, nothings fallen off of it, and she now runs on LPG, so is actually 'affordable' to use now.
We've got a 3.0i V6 Privilege Automatic, in Nocturne metallic (purple) with black leather.
She's only done 45,000 miles, and is coming up for her 3rd set of tyres - we can get them for around £50 each through a trade contact - originally they were only available from Michelin at £350 each! We've had the front steering arms replaced due to knocking (around 30k), and they've gone again, so Renault are replacing them free of charge under warranty. We are also having some paintwork done and the wheels under warranty, as she has the balance of her 12 year anti corrosion/paintwork warranty. Servicing is every 18,000 miles or 2yrs, what ever comes first.
We're taking he to Monthlery (sp) racetrack just south of Paris in September for the 10th anniversary Avantime meet which is being organised by Amicale Avantime. A good UK group is http://www.avantime-owners.com/ you'll get lots of help and advice on there and there will probably be info on cars for sale and what to look out for too.
Here's ours at a French car night at the Ace Cafe
Claire
Nice car and a good post, not sure why someone needed to post the sarcastic response (but then that's the problem with this forum).We've got a 3.0i V6 Privilege Automatic, in Nocturne metallic (purple) with black leather.
She's only done 45,000 miles, and is coming up for her 3rd set of tyres - we can get them for around £50 each through a trade contact - originally they were only available from Michelin at £350 each! We've had the front steering arms replaced due to knocking (around 30k), and they've gone again, so Renault are replacing them free of charge under warranty. We are also having some paintwork done and the wheels under warranty, as she has the balance of her 12 year anti corrosion/paintwork warranty. Servicing is every 18,000 miles or 2yrs, what ever comes first.
We're taking he to Monthlery (sp) racetrack just south of Paris in September for the 10th anniversary Avantime meet which is being organised by Amicale Avantime. A good UK group is http://www.avantime-owners.com/ you'll get lots of help and advice on there and there will probably be info on cars for sale and what to look out for too.
Here's ours at a French car night at the Ace Cafe
Claire
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff