La baleine bleue - Renault Grand Espace 3.5 V6
Discussion
Skip this if you don’t want some history and general thoughts on the Grand Espace
About four years ago after a series of Volvo V70s, we were looking for something with a bit more space. I did a lot of research and with the rise in popularity of SUV-type vehicles, most people carriers were derived from van platforms with the consequent impact on refinement.
The Espace IV stood out amongst legacy people carriers for a number of reasons, including having seven full-size seats which were individually removable, offering both a high degree of configuration of the interior and also a fully flat and capacious load area if needed by removing all rear seats.
However, they also have a bit of a reputation for reliability issues, especially the 2.2 and 3.0 DCI or “Death Comes Instantly” diesel engines.
So I had my sights on a 2.0 turbo diesel in the full-fat ‘Initiale’ trim level. Ideally a manual box too, to avoid the additional bork potential of an autobox.
After some searching I found exactly what I wanted, a 2006 model, for sale privately in Kent. The original buyer ticked pretty much every box on the (pretty limited) options form - as well as the standard spec it had the glass panoramic roof and split tailgate, and the top-line Cabasse system with voice recognition, Bluetooth and 6CD changer. Somewhere along the line it had Dynamat treatment too, to further reduce road noise which can be an issue in such a boxy / high-volume vehicle.
With hindsight I may have jumped in too quickly - it was a bit tired and within a few months of buying it I’d paid purchase price again on a new set of tyres all round (anticipated) but also a full front suspension rebuild and some work on the brakes (unplanned).
And after doing all that, an immaculate 3.5 V6 came up for sale. I felt I’d already placed my bets, so let it pass but it planted a seed.
Fast forward nearly four years.
The current Grand Espace has been reliable (and has carried some remarkable loads) and never failed to proceed. Being French, it occasionally had minor electrical issues but usually these can be resolved by ignoring them until the car decides it’s going to start behaving again.
But it’s going to need some expenditure to get it through its MOT. It seems to sporadically forget it has a boot and won’t open it. And most importantly, it’s going to get hammered by the new ULEZ extension in the autumn since we live inside the extended zone.
So we needed a new car....
About four years ago after a series of Volvo V70s, we were looking for something with a bit more space. I did a lot of research and with the rise in popularity of SUV-type vehicles, most people carriers were derived from van platforms with the consequent impact on refinement.
The Espace IV stood out amongst legacy people carriers for a number of reasons, including having seven full-size seats which were individually removable, offering both a high degree of configuration of the interior and also a fully flat and capacious load area if needed by removing all rear seats.
However, they also have a bit of a reputation for reliability issues, especially the 2.2 and 3.0 DCI or “Death Comes Instantly” diesel engines.
So I had my sights on a 2.0 turbo diesel in the full-fat ‘Initiale’ trim level. Ideally a manual box too, to avoid the additional bork potential of an autobox.
After some searching I found exactly what I wanted, a 2006 model, for sale privately in Kent. The original buyer ticked pretty much every box on the (pretty limited) options form - as well as the standard spec it had the glass panoramic roof and split tailgate, and the top-line Cabasse system with voice recognition, Bluetooth and 6CD changer. Somewhere along the line it had Dynamat treatment too, to further reduce road noise which can be an issue in such a boxy / high-volume vehicle.
With hindsight I may have jumped in too quickly - it was a bit tired and within a few months of buying it I’d paid purchase price again on a new set of tyres all round (anticipated) but also a full front suspension rebuild and some work on the brakes (unplanned).
And after doing all that, an immaculate 3.5 V6 came up for sale. I felt I’d already placed my bets, so let it pass but it planted a seed.
Fast forward nearly four years.
The current Grand Espace has been reliable (and has carried some remarkable loads) and never failed to proceed. Being French, it occasionally had minor electrical issues but usually these can be resolved by ignoring them until the car decides it’s going to start behaving again.
But it’s going to need some expenditure to get it through its MOT. It seems to sporadically forget it has a boot and won’t open it. And most importantly, it’s going to get hammered by the new ULEZ extension in the autumn since we live inside the extended zone.
So we needed a new car....
And then for the last four years, I keep thinking about this:
https://www.press.renault.co.uk/en-gb/releases/203...
“Renault Grand Espace 3.5 V6 to act as specialist response units for British Transport Police...
... The Grand Espaces chosen were the top of the range petrol engined 3.5 V6 version which with 245hp and 0-62 mph acceleration in only 8.1 seconds is the most powerful MPV available.”
https://www.press.renault.co.uk/en-gb/releases/203...
“Renault Grand Espace 3.5 V6 to act as specialist response units for British Transport Police...
... The Grand Espaces chosen were the top of the range petrol engined 3.5 V6 version which with 245hp and 0-62 mph acceleration in only 8.1 seconds is the most powerful MPV available.”
So the search began. Could I find a 3.5 Grand Espace?
To begin with I was a bit obsessed with trying to get a higher tier of spec. In the meantime I missed out on a base spec model which had just had a good amount of engine work, and then I passed up an Initiale spec model at auction which looked very dog-eared.
I was wondering whether I was asking the impossible when an alert popped up just before Christmas. Not everything on the list, but some of the key boxes ticked. Panoramic roof (makes the car so much airier) and mid-range Dynamique trim (half leather). No parking sensors, which is an inexplicable choice on something the size of a SuezMax, but there you go.
Even more pleasant “beggars can’t be choosers” surprises were that it had less than 70k, a clean-looking MOT history and was a fetching light blue shade.
So, a friend who lived locally was dispatched to take a look. Four matching good brand tyres all round, pretty decent condition for a 7-seat family car, and it was reported to drive well.
The radio wasn’t working, the panoramic roof was sluggish and the electronic handbrake needed servicing but a deposit was left on the understanding the dealer would service the car and resolve these issues.
To begin with I was a bit obsessed with trying to get a higher tier of spec. In the meantime I missed out on a base spec model which had just had a good amount of engine work, and then I passed up an Initiale spec model at auction which looked very dog-eared.
I was wondering whether I was asking the impossible when an alert popped up just before Christmas. Not everything on the list, but some of the key boxes ticked. Panoramic roof (makes the car so much airier) and mid-range Dynamique trim (half leather). No parking sensors, which is an inexplicable choice on something the size of a SuezMax, but there you go.
Even more pleasant “beggars can’t be choosers” surprises were that it had less than 70k, a clean-looking MOT history and was a fetching light blue shade.
So, a friend who lived locally was dispatched to take a look. Four matching good brand tyres all round, pretty decent condition for a 7-seat family car, and it was reported to drive well.
The radio wasn’t working, the panoramic roof was sluggish and the electronic handbrake needed servicing but a deposit was left on the understanding the dealer would service the car and resolve these issues.
And then Tier 4 and Lockdown got in the way. No way of actually getting to a car halfway up the country. So the car had to come to me. A quick chat with the dealer and they agreed to match a Shiply quote.
So one dark evening last week it arrived, and then promptly sat there until the weekend. First run was yesterday, just out to fill up and check everything works.
It’s apparent, despite the suspension work on my old diesel one, that it has less than half the miles - it feels fresher and more composed.
There’s not a noticeable level of increased road noise despite not having the Dynamat treatment.
But we don’t want to hear about that. What about the engine? Roughly as expected for a normally aspirated 3.5 - smooth and unobtrusive if needed, but also an amusing experience pressing the accelerator and feeling it gain momentum quicker than anything that large deserves to do so.
So one dark evening last week it arrived, and then promptly sat there until the weekend. First run was yesterday, just out to fill up and check everything works.
It’s apparent, despite the suspension work on my old diesel one, that it has less than half the miles - it feels fresher and more composed.
There’s not a noticeable level of increased road noise despite not having the Dynamat treatment.
But we don’t want to hear about that. What about the engine? Roughly as expected for a normally aspirated 3.5 - smooth and unobtrusive if needed, but also an amusing experience pressing the accelerator and feeling it gain momentum quicker than anything that large deserves to do so.
Always had a secret hankering for a 3.5 - that Hermione Norris drove one in Spooks...
We had an 05-plate 2.2dCi Dynamique Grande Espace from new until it threw a rod at 98k miles/8 years old.
We’d had most of the usual 2.2 dramas by then - including a split inlet manifold and broken (manual) gearbox.
It was brilliant, but needed batteries, alternators, track rods and rear brake calipers almost as often as it needed servicing and opening the pano roof was a bit of a gamble.
We had an 05-plate 2.2dCi Dynamique Grande Espace from new until it threw a rod at 98k miles/8 years old.
We’d had most of the usual 2.2 dramas by then - including a split inlet manifold and broken (manual) gearbox.
It was brilliant, but needed batteries, alternators, track rods and rear brake calipers almost as often as it needed servicing and opening the pano roof was a bit of a gamble.
Had an ‘04 dci from 18m to 7y old 30k-80k miles. Seemed like a spaceship compared to Mondeo 1.6 hatch it replaced. Loved it as did other half who drove it mostly. Rear springs collapsed (found coils on driveway!) which happened to another owner we knew of. Traded after ‘fly by wire’ rheostat throttle jammed open at motorway speeds on local dual carriageway (manual so other half pressed clutch...). Replaced with v70...sad to see it go nonetheless. Same colour as OPs 3.5 with panoramic roof and Harmon Kardon sound (Initiale model).
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