Renault Avantime, would you ?
Discussion
been looking for a new motorway muncher as the old Honda Legend is 240k old now and im bored of her now. So a quick flick though the autotrader revealed a Avantime, 60k, 03 plate, silver over blue, black leather, 2.0 turbo. £2999. Always loved the strange look of this car. Anyone owned or been thinking same as me.
Papa Hotel said:
Deerfoot said:
I love the way they look too.
I`d never spend my own hard earned cash on one though.
Good luck if you decide it`s for you!
Pretty much exactly this. Hugely undesireable yet strangely hugely desirable, I'd love one but I'm never buying one. I`d never spend my own hard earned cash on one though.
Good luck if you decide it`s for you!
blearyeyedboy said:
It's quite a cult car, so you're unlikely to lose much money on it
True if nothing goes wrong.I understand certain parts (notably the funky double-hinged doors, the lamp units, some of the glass) are very difficult/expensive to source now. Not many of these made, so even breakers rarely have parts.
I share the same view as everyone else: interesting cars, like the way they look, but I don't think I would.
Shame really.
Every time a Renault head honcho came along to our dealership they were in a different one, obviously trying to get the last lot registered.
I sold a couple of the ex Renault ones, they were almost giving them away at the time, £5k deposit contributions, £5k margin and 0% finance and these were the late used ones.
Great cars but deeply flawed and really only produced to keep Matra going, until the inevitable.
I sold one a few years ago, it had a massive margin however it was all but wiped out in prep, it was a V6 and needed a cambelt, amongst other things, it's an engine out job.
If you are brave enough, go for it, however I wouldn't think any less of you if you bottled it.
I sold a couple of the ex Renault ones, they were almost giving them away at the time, £5k deposit contributions, £5k margin and 0% finance and these were the late used ones.
Great cars but deeply flawed and really only produced to keep Matra going, until the inevitable.
I sold one a few years ago, it had a massive margin however it was all but wiped out in prep, it was a V6 and needed a cambelt, amongst other things, it's an engine out job.
If you are brave enough, go for it, however I wouldn't think any less of you if you bottled it.
I owned a fairly low mileage one. Lovely drive (2-litre turbo) if you like soft cruisers. Flawed in many ways: Rear seats don't fold down properly, fronts seats don't go back to where you left them after letting someone into the back, no foot room under the front seats for rear passengers (and the seat on a comfortable height setting), huge body-shell flex (thought it was going to break up) when running at 60mph with the windows and sunroof open, etc. Only 400 UK examples, so you'll be off-road if unique parts fail. Renault reliability, so likely to go wrong at this age (the turbo failed on mine at around 50K).
Buy with your eyes open. Enjoy the one-touch pillarless window and sunroof opening button (very James Bond) whenever you can. And don't worry about engine size, as the turbo is plenty fast enough.
Buy with your eyes open. Enjoy the one-touch pillarless window and sunroof opening button (very James Bond) whenever you can. And don't worry about engine size, as the turbo is plenty fast enough.
ArnieVXR said:
I owned a fairly low mileage one. Lovely drive (2-litre turbo) if you like soft cruisers. Flawed in many ways: Rear seats don't fold down properly, fronts seats don't go back to where you left them after letting someone into the back, no foot room under the front seats for rear passengers (and the seat on a comfortable height setting), huge body-shell flex (thought it was going to break up) when running at 60mph with the windows and sunroof open, etc. Only 400 UK examples, so you'll be off-road if unique parts fail. Renault reliability, so likely to go wrong at this age (the turbo failed on mine at around 50K).
Buy with your eyes open. Enjoy the one-touch pillarless window and sunroof opening button (very James Bond) whenever you can. And don't worry about engine size, as the turbo is plenty fast enough.
But it is a 2 seater luxury car from the planet zorgBuy with your eyes open. Enjoy the one-touch pillarless window and sunroof opening button (very James Bond) whenever you can. And don't worry about engine size, as the turbo is plenty fast enough.
So what you list as flaws is basically you not treating the car as a 2 seater luxury car from planet zorg.
Ignore the rear seats and it makes utter sense.
Its very high up in my lottery win list, but i would have it converted to electric and bin the rear seats to make it almost perfect as a everyday car for me
Cunning Punt said:
I understand certain parts (notably the funky double-hinged doors, the lamp units, some of the glass) are very difficult/expensive to source now. Not many of these made, so even breakers rarely have parts.
For me this was the showstopper. The same argument applies to the Vel SatisGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff