RE: Renault Avantime V6 | Spotted
Discussion
thegreenhell said:
ate one too said:
Even the undoubted skills of the Top Gear team couldn't make an Avantime go that quickly...
They applied F1 technology to make it slower.A wooden splitter was stuck on, really cutting edge F1 stuff (and it caught fire iirc)
They also stuck an old Honda F1 rear wing on. Without even thinking of checking on aerodynamics etc
Which in hindsight is like saying, ‘ooh, I know, wings help things fly so let’s stick one on a pig and see what happens...’
Back on topic, I actually like these although I’d always be worried about the fragility if a Renault of that age (thinking trim, electrics etc?)
Despite it looking like it should handle well it’s no surprise that it’s a cruiser not a bruiser.
SweptVolume said:
I'm sure these were £3k not so long ago.
They are if they're going to sell. This chancer will have it for years, there is virtually no demand despite several people trying to change that (buying up loads etc), and as much trim is made from unobtainium, it doesn't take a lot for them to be scrapped. See £1500 windscreen above as an example.I have one of these down here in the Dordogne. Always liked the design and it has a very useful load bay especially with the rear seats removed. The view out is excellent with such a large glass area, and the rear passengers enjoy raised theatre seating. Dynamically it’s no Lotus, but it is reasonably quiet and smooth. Reliability has been challenging, and some parts are tricky to source. Even here in France, they are a rare sight and it often receives favourable comments. A great shame that they were such a commercial failure. 
I wonder if, at launch, the seasoned analyst believed that this car could succeed in mainstream markets of Europe. I suspect not.
In its fully-optioned form, the specification and likely use cases of this car, if not also its pricing and its brand, appear to be most aligned with markets such as Switzerland, the Middle East, and the US.
I'd love one, simply because of the fantastic futurism. Several years to go, yet, to fulfil the 25-year rule. And by then, will there be any of quality extant?
I remember when it came out work sent me to Stirling by plane and I remember seeing one of these at the arrivals area of Edinburgh airport. Despite liking art deco styling queue I remember at the time being deeply unimpressed.
Another 10 years down the line and I really did fancy one of these but they were already rare and too much for my budget at the time.
While I had my Citroen C6 I passed an Avantine coming the other way and regretted not trying one - having said that there were a couple of members of the C6 club who had owned them and the impressions I got was "labour of love" and "with the heart" and both had got to the stage where they could no longer get key parts and their cars were falling apart.
Another 10 years down the line and I really did fancy one of these but they were already rare and too much for my budget at the time.
While I had my Citroen C6 I passed an Avantine coming the other way and regretted not trying one - having said that there were a couple of members of the C6 club who had owned them and the impressions I got was "labour of love" and "with the heart" and both had got to the stage where they could no longer get key parts and their cars were falling apart.
BonRoutesGite said:
I have one of these down here in the Dordogne. Always liked the design and it has a very useful load bay especially with the rear seats removed. The view out is excellent with such a large glass area, and the rear passengers enjoy raised theatre seating. Dynamically it’s no Lotus, but it is reasonably quiet and smooth. Reliability has been challenging, and some parts are tricky to source. Even here in France, they are a rare sight and it often receives favourable comments. A great shame that they were such a commercial failure.
Oui, great colours on your car, nice chateau, and very good lurking, monsieur!Tres bien!
I have one of these. First bought as a daily driver in 2011, I now mainly use it as a weekend cruiser.
I originally did a lot of miles, hence I went for the diesel. 240K kms now and counting. Not too much has gone wrong with it, and electronically everything still works as well. Engine is not great (as a weekend car I now wish I had the V6 obviously) but the rest still puts a smile on my face. Wonderful design, very happy to keep one on the road.
I originally did a lot of miles, hence I went for the diesel. 240K kms now and counting. Not too much has gone wrong with it, and electronically everything still works as well. Engine is not great (as a weekend car I now wish I had the V6 obviously) but the rest still puts a smile on my face. Wonderful design, very happy to keep one on the road.
Fab, especially in the Iliad blue with silver. Surely a great modern classic that can accommodate family use.
Have an Espace 2.0 T petrol which is the best family hack ever and a nice steer with plenty pace so i would not rule out the lesser engine options. Also have Clio V6, so really should find space for their wierd sibling.
Have an Espace 2.0 T petrol which is the best family hack ever and a nice steer with plenty pace so i would not rule out the lesser engine options. Also have Clio V6, so really should find space for their wierd sibling.
2006, travelling to Le Mans as a passenger in a VX220 with the roof off.
We were doing 100ish, when we were overtaken by a blue Avantime (French reg) doing a bit more.
We followed it for a bit, and the bloody thing kept speeding up! The VX (N/A!) Was by now, a bit turbulent, so we backed off.
The Avantime looked quite imperious as it, and it's occupants wafted off into the distance.
Quite impressive for what was then, a large French box. Can't recall the last time I saw one.
We were doing 100ish, when we were overtaken by a blue Avantime (French reg) doing a bit more.
We followed it for a bit, and the bloody thing kept speeding up! The VX (N/A!) Was by now, a bit turbulent, so we backed off.
The Avantime looked quite imperious as it, and it's occupants wafted off into the distance.
Quite impressive for what was then, a large French box. Can't recall the last time I saw one.
1878 said:
Absolutely superb! One of the last examples of crazy French car design.
And also a sad example of what happens when manufacturers design something that isn't the normal boring box - no one buys it.
It did inspire the Mk 2 Megane though, with its big arse, which was one of the more interesting family hatchback designs of the last, uh, 40 years probably. And which sold quite well. And even the Mk 3 Clio adopted a little bit of the pronounced posterior.And also a sad example of what happens when manufacturers design something that isn't the normal boring box - no one buys it.
But look at the Renault range now. Bland econoboxes. They could be Nissans. Oh wait...
My oh my....sod binning my old barge of an Audi A8 D2 for a Tesla Model 3, I'd rather swap it for this bonkers French loungeroom on wheels....what a way to waft along !
But how on earth did that thing ever get past the design phase ?....They must have known they would sell in tiny numbers, even to the French who buy anything with a Renault or Citroen badge on (or did back then)
Wonder if it will ever be revered as a special piece of design as it really was/is pretty way out when compared to ANYTHING else.
If it was £4K i'd be tempted just for the bizarre looks you would get when driving it....wearing beret and onions of course to complete the look !
But how on earth did that thing ever get past the design phase ?....They must have known they would sell in tiny numbers, even to the French who buy anything with a Renault or Citroen badge on (or did back then)
Wonder if it will ever be revered as a special piece of design as it really was/is pretty way out when compared to ANYTHING else.
If it was £4K i'd be tempted just for the bizarre looks you would get when driving it....wearing beret and onions of course to complete the look !
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