1990 Renault Espace Quadra 4WD

[Shakermaker]

W00DY said:

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.

This was what I found with an old Espace that I bought for a banger rally - the pedals position is so clearly set up for a LHD motor, where the clutch would be the awkward one to get to, rather than the bizarre foot shape you need to keep the throttle on in one of these

But - yes, wonderfully comfortable other than that!

[W00DY]

Good to see how much love there is for the old bus! I too remember when Espaces were common, but now I believe we don't even get one over here.


Here's some interior pics. Check out the amplifier with equalizer functions above the stereo and the on board computer above the steering wheel



There are many strange features, but this whole stalk is pretty odd. Luckily, it does have a full book pack, despite 3 MOT certificates being the only other history I have.

[RicksAlfas]

W00DY said:

It's like something from Silent Witness.

[W00DY]

RicksAlfas said:

It's like something from Silent Witness.

It needs a lot of cleaning! I made the mistake of turning on the air vents only to get more dust than air.

[vikingaero]

I see the bulbs and fuses are kept "to hand"

[W00DY]

vikingaero said:

I see the bulbs and fuses are kept "to hand"

There's a concerning number of spaces in the "bulb kit"! I will do a full electrical systems check at some point, but there's already plenty of things that have "gone French".

[TCEvo]

Presume that's a Trip Computer on the column below the binnacle?

[Krikkit]

I remember my first trip up front in that age of Espace and being astounded how much dashboard there was... Puts a Transit to shame!

[Usget]

You can see how much the pedals are offest just from that picture! It looks like you need legs like an Esher painting.

Quick question. WHY does it have a carbon fibre propshaft? Just cos?

I think bouncy speedo syndrome must be an old Renault thing as I've driven a couple of 90s Clios that had it and a second generation 5 which also suffered.

[shalmaneser]

Usget said:

You can see how much the pedals are offest just from that picture! It looks like you need legs like an Esher painting.

Quick question. WHY does it have a carbon fibre propshaft? Just cos?

I think bouncy speedo syndrome must be an old Renault thing as I've driven a couple of 90s Clios that had it and a second generation 5 which also suffered.

If it's anything like my 205 GTI then bouncy speedo is primarily caused by an old cable thats lost a lot of it's lubrication. It tends to 'wind up' due to the added friction as it turns resulting in the bounciness.

Easy fix (if you like bleeding hands and cramp as you fumble under the dashboard), assuming you can source one!

[chris4652009]

W00DY said:

Good to see how much love there is for the old bus! I too remember when Espaces were common, but now I believe we don't even get one over here.


Here's some interior pics. Check out the amplifier with equalizer functions above the stereo and the on board computer above the steering wheel



There are many strange features, but this whole stalk is pretty odd. Luckily, it does have a full book pack, despite 3 MOT certificates being the only other history I have.

I love this, never even knew they did an AWD variant until now.
Chapeau

[el romeral]

Awesome purchase. Beam me up Scotty!

Reckon Dr. Manlove would have a field day on the interior

[W00DY]

TCEvo said:

Presume that's a Trip Computer on the column below the binnacle?

It's a multi-function computer. It tells the time (as does the digital clock above the heater controls about 6 inches to the left) or which radio frequency/preset you're using. And that's it.

Usget said:

You can see how much the pedals are offest just from that picture! It looks like you need legs like an Esher painting.

Quick question. WHY does it have a carbon fibre propshaft? Just cos?

I think bouncy speedo syndrome must be an old Renault thing as I've driven a couple of 90s Clios that had it and a second generation 5 which also suffered.

According to the internet, the weight and stiffness means that it doesn't need a central bearing. Which is one less thing to go wrong.



Here's a good contemporary review


https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

[W00DY]

One of the sides that didn't feature in the advert.



And yes that is the exhaust. The previous owner told me he recently fitted it. It looks stupid and somewhat limits the ground clearance, so I might have to do something about it.

[anonymous-user]

I hate to say it but a drop and some rimzzzz would look pretty cool on that old girl!

[hondansx]

Love it! Would be great to see it restored.

[Rocket.]

To me they still look like a 1970's vision of 'the car of the future' that actually came true...

Something so right about them

[poing]

Krikkit said:

I remember my first trip up front in that age of Espace and being astounded how much dashboard there was... Puts a Transit to shame!

I was just thinking that the screen is so far away there won't be any finger prints on it which is good for my OCD. The rest of the interior not so much. Maybe the dash is designed for an extra passenger, a child could sleep on there no problem.

[W00DY]

DoubleTime said:

I hate to say it but a drop and some rimzzzz would look pretty cool on that old girl!

It'd definitely look cool lowered with some dished wheels, but it's a Quadra and I love the original wheels so it's staying as it is. Although part of me would love a snorkel and a ladder up the side.

hondansx said:

Love it! Would be great to see it restored.

This won't be happening either. There are just too many parts that are impossible to get hold of to commit to that. Use it and improve it, is the plan.

poing said:

Krikkit said:

I remember my first trip up front in that age of Espace and being astounded how much dashboard there was... Puts a Transit to shame!

I was just thinking that the screen is so far away there won't be any finger prints on it which is good for my OCD. The rest of the interior not so much. Maybe the dash is designed for an extra passenger, a child could sleep on there no problem.

It's ridiculous and I have no idea how to use the space. And yet the glovebox really lives up to its name with only space for a couple of mittens.

[Sa Calobra]

Chapeau

That exhaust position is mad