1990 Renault Espace Quadra 4WD

1990 Renault Espace Quadra 4WD

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Discussion

W00DY

Original Poster:

15,494 posts

227 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Since owning one very rare car with awful parts availability clearly wasn't enough, I've bought a 28 year old plastic French car with a 4WD system that includes a carbon fibre propshaft.






Bought unseen from eBay as always on the basis that it had 12 months MOT and therefore couldn't be that bad. It drives very nicely, although struggles on full lock due to a bad viscous coupling (which could be a big pain). The paint is pretty awful and it is growing it's own eco-system.


Quite well specced with remote locking, two sunroofs, steering wheel controls for the stereo and an equaliser for the stereo. Of course since It's French, some of the electronics aren't perfect, the speedo wobbles about giving a vague approximation of speed and the fuel gauge might eventually register the fuel put in.

It's comfy and goes well enough and with 4WD and a big flat floor it'll be great for throwing bikes into and nestling between modified VW T5s.





Podie

46,630 posts

276 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Wow... bet they sold about 3 of those!

Glasgowrob

3,246 posts

122 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Podie said:
Wow... bet they sold about 3 of those!

Brother D

3,727 posts

177 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Glasgowrob said:
Podie said:
Wow... bet they sold about 3 of those!
Wow didn't think it would be that low!

tobinen

9,239 posts

146 months

Monday 27th August 2018
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You are quite mad. Well done chap.

W00DY

Original Poster:

15,494 posts

227 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
tobinen said:
You are quite mad. Well done chap.
Cheers.


In terms of rarity, I think there are still slightly more than there are mk1 Probes, but I doubt I'll ever see another!

poing

8,743 posts

201 months

Monday 27th August 2018
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This kind of lunacy is why I still love PH.

Well done!

0a

23,902 posts

195 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
How does it drive?

A super purchase!

Cupramax

10,482 posts

253 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
W00DY said:
It drives very nicely, although struggles on full lock due to a bad viscous coupling (which could be a big pain).
0a said:
How does it drive?
hehe

W00DY

Original Poster:

15,494 posts

227 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
To expand on the driving experience, the seating position is odd, you feel a long way back from the windscreen, and the pedals are offset and quite small, but the seats are very comfortable and the visibility is great. It likes to be revved but when you do it goes very nicely. It happily sits at a good cruising speed and lacks the rattles and noises you might expect. The suspension is pleasantly soft and decently damped. Overall it was one of the most relaxed trips home I’ve had in a newly purchased car.

samj2014

554 posts

113 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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Old, shonky and French. I love it!

Church of Noise

1,458 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
Excellent - I still think these are iconic cars.
Good on you for taking care of this one!

anonymous-user

55 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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That right there is one finnnnnnneeeeee looking motherfking automobile.

Rocket.

1,517 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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Great purchase OP, I looked for an original Espace a while ago without luck. Look forward to updates.

SVX

2,182 posts

212 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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Interior pics please!

S100HP

12,688 posts

168 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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Holy st. Epic purchase.

jamei303

3,005 posts

157 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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I grew up on a quiet residential street with a prep school at the end. The only traffic was the school run. I remember when the Espace was what all the parents used, before SUVs became an urban thing. I remember my dad complaining to everyone how they'd "all drive these big people carriers nowadays with just one or two small children lost in the back".

TCEvo

12,743 posts

203 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
Top work OP, great save.

My parents had a (I think) '89 from new in blue, regular FWD one: great thing to move us all about in & for driving about Europe on holiday.

Remember looking at the Quadra in the Renault brochure & thinking it seemed quite exotic with the 4WD & all the other options that our one didn't have.

shalmaneser

5,936 posts

196 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
Madness

I demand more pics!!!!

BuzzBravado

2,944 posts

172 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
28 year old carbon fibre prop.... what could possibly go wrong.