Like a pov spec V6? You'll love this....

[R9UKE]

There's always one idiot who posts an advert they've spotted online which you would've missed that ends up costing you a bloody fortune you didn't need to spend. This is a prime example.

 

A guy on the Irish region Renault Owners Club stuck this up last week....

 

https://www.donedeal.co.uk/vintagecars-for-sale/renault-laguna-3-0-v6-24v-rare/13589470

 

It caused a bit of a stir amongst us Laguna II geeks - and I know there's a few of you on here. These fine gentlemen will look at this car and quickly notice there's something a bit odd about it. "Expression" spec alloy wheels, black plastic door handles and rubbing strips, the most basic interior trim, no front fog lights, and a whopping big petrol V6 sitting in the engine bay.

 

I messaged the seller enquiring as to its history. It is a bloody Australian car!!!

 

Apparently the guy he bought it off lived in New South Wales, and bought this Lamb Bhuna new with Aussie dollas. He relocated to Ireland in 2009, which his company paid for. Only there was some screw up with shipping and there ended up being a free container which had been paid for, so he stuck the Laguna in.

 

So yes, it's an Authentique V6 24v! A model not available at all in the UK, the Authentique only came as a 1.6, 1.8 or 1.9 dCi as it was propa peasant spec! The lowest spec a UK customer could have his V6 in was a Dynamique - which still had nice sporty alloy wheels and leather sport seats.

 

After expressing a slight interest, I was HOUNDED by the seller. The road tax in the Republic of Ireland for this would be around €1200 per year. He knew he hasn't a chance selling it down there and that I was in Belfast, land of her majesty's £295 V6 rate.

 

I wanted it, no doubt I wanted it. A bloody Laguna II from Australia. Owners barely want to take them to the shops, let alone to another chuffing continent.

 

But I played it cool.

 

 

Sorry mate, I ain't shelling out €650....

 

More hounding ensued and ended rather nicely with this.

 

 

#takethefuckinglagunaandnevercomeback

 

I promptly agreed and headed to the post office where I got well and truly shafted by the Brexiteers

 

 

We filled up my other half's Mégane and off we set on the 2.5 hour cross border drive.

 

 

I know what you're thinking. This guy has set off to collect a Laguna II auto in another fecking automagic Renner.... Yes, I'm THAT hardcore.

 

It wasn't without fault. The little Meg threw up its ABS light after three years of faultless service. It went off when we got back and hasn't come on since. I guess it was warming me up for Laguna II ownership. Also, the little thing did 48.6 mpg on the trip, no wonder she won't get rid of it.

 

 

We agreed to meet at a typical Irish pub just outside the village of Ashbourne across the Co Meath into Dublin border. After the beating down I had given him on price, we had kind of agreed that I was handing over the money regardless of what the car was like, and I didn't even take a drive. I didn't need to. I saw (and heard) it coming and pulling in.... Magnificent.

 

 

He was a really nice guy, and not at all what I expected from the messages. I apologised for not wanting to pay more but he just seemed relieved to have actually found a buyer.

 

After a quick drink, we set off home again. I know, she deserves a medal.

 

 

What a car! Slight wheel bearing hum at motorway speeds but a silky smooth engine and box.

 

 

As you can see, I was chuffed.

 

 

It purred home without incident on the petrol he'd left in it. The spec is bizarre. That nasty Authentique cloth, no anti whiplash head rests, not even map pockets in the backs of the front seats or rear arm rest. It has cruise control, climate control, ESP and electric windows all round. It doesn't have a trip computer, it doesn't have front fog lights, it doesn't have a spoiler. It is the definition of a sleeper!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has the typical oil leak from the rocker cover gasket that these V6s all seem to suffer from. There's a bit of damage over the drivers side rear wheel arch and the front bumper has had a bit of a knock. One electric window doesn't work and the speakers are shit. I presume the Clubland CDs he left in it with the bass up to max were just too much for the tinny French sound system to take.

 

Overall, chuffed to bits with it. Something a bit different and if it provides faithful service over winter I'll love it even more.

 

On another note, I had two detectives from CID in Coleraine (North Antrim coast) visit me yesterday and I ask if I was the owner of HV52 AOG - the Laguna II Dynamique V6 I had sold a few weeks earlier. Apparently it was used in a serious robbery by the character who bought it and I had to give a statement and full description of the car. Probably safe to say I'll never see that Gooner again!!

[Tamworthbay]

You deserve a medal, well bought.

[Hendry]

Still love the look of the Laguna 2, interior still looks modern now!!

 

Very strange spec not just because of being a V6 Authentique but UK Authentiques from memory didn't have rear electric windows, alloys etc from memory did they?

[dollywobbler]

Amazing. I really like that. Should I be concerned?

[R9UKE]

Still love the look of the Laguna 2, interior still looks modern now!!

Very strange spec not just because of being a V6 Authentique but UK Authentiques from memory didn't have rear electric windows, alloys etc from memory did they?

Exactly - from a bit or reserch the Aussies only got three trim levels - Authentique, Privilège and Privilège Lux. So I presume their specs are all a bit different to the ones we got. Would love to stick UK spec Authentique wheel trims on it!!

[hairnet]

mental

 

not for the car but for 2.5 hours from beal fearste to an mhi

 

reverse??

[Hendry]

Exactly - from a bit or reserch the Aussies only got three trim levels - Authentique, Privilège and Privilège Lux. So I presume their specs are all a bit different to the ones we got. Would love to stick UK spec Authentique wheel trims on it!!

Slightly off topic but seeing as you are the resident Laguna guru, what was higher spec out of the Privilege and Initiale Laguna trims?

 

Suppose being Australian it's not that hard to fathom a low spec big engines car, there's probably a lot of similar cars from Holden and Ford over there so a 1.6/1.8 Laguna wouldn't be able to compete against larger engined offerings from them.

[Cavcraft]

Quality stuff, love it.

[purplebargeken]

That is bloody ace. A real sleeper indeed. Remove all V6 badges for a laugh

 

Excellent looking car.

[Asimo]

Ace. Nothing will go wrong.

 

I hate the poncey, wankey spec that most Brit-sold cars come with.

Give me povvo-cloth seats, tiny tin wheels and manual everything WITH THE BIG ENGINE.     Please.

[Kiltox]

Love it.

[Negative Creep]

Minus points for WHUTS LOWEST PRYCE ULL TAYKE M8? Text though

[RoadworkUK]

What a wondrous car! With a story like that I'd find it very hard to get shot of. Makes conventional high-spec models look rather dreary.

[Sir Snipes]

I'd want to see steel wheels and manual windows for a true misery spec. 

[SiC]

Aussies are a bit like Americans in that they like big engined cars. But then the tight arse in the Aussie doesn't like spending too much...

 

Those genuine Authentique seats always look so dismal! Good work buying it though.

 

Given the lack of spec, I bet it shifts even better than the high-spec uk models due to weighting feck all. Also given the bulletproof nature of these v6s, one in povo base spec must be exceeding reliable means of transport!

 

I'm still loving my Laguna II v6. They're such a fabulous thing.

[SiC]

Just had a thought. Did Renault skimp and remove the intake sound muffler on this?

 

Mine sounds so much better with it removed! Probably breaths much better too.

[406V6]

A mid-size car with a V6 engine should always have cloth seats

[25v6turbo]

Great buy!

So we have another member of the Laguna 2 V6 club on here......

Lovely pov spec that is,i would loose the badges and stick steels on it to give it that maximum affect.

Mine is  a V6 Initiale sports tourer(estate)facelift 05 plate,drives lovely and actually pretty builtproof

Advice buy one while you still can and enjoy it,until something goes wrong with it......if so let me know as I just broke one for spares.

This could be a cheap one?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/renault-laguna-3.0-v6-auto-swap-cash-ect/1193961503

[Dave_Q]

That is well hot, nice story too.

 

Well played with the negotiation, I guess you knew you had the ultimate distressed seller if he was paying about 50 euro A WEEK in tax.

[wuvvum]

The only thing that would make this better is if it had a manual 'box.

[SiC]

Apparently Renault couldn't do this as there wasn't enough room to fit in the gear linkage to a manual box.

[Pillock]

In this day and age, of computerised production lines, we should surely be able to order any combination of trim and engine. This looks lovely!

[Doctormop]

I'm just trying to work out who has the most courage here, a well heeled Crocodile Dundee type who would set off on a 500 mile journey into the Northern Territory 'Going Bush' I believe the expression used to be* in a Renault auto or a would be armed robber from Antrim trusting your old Goona as a getaway car; maybe the self igniting reputation this model enjoys was a plus point when the would be Stoppo driver concerned realized his Zippo lighter went missing during the last blag!

Seriously though, looks like a cracking, probably unique car for not a lot of cash, it deserves to be looked after and appreciated by an enthusiast,

 

* My knowledge of all things Australian is gleamed from a misspent youth watching The Sullivans and The Flying Doctors on daytime telly; apologies for any inaccuracies, any similarity to persons living or sane is purely coincidental.

 

ps I know its the dizzler spec engine  that is known for spontaneous human combustion but just thought I'd write it anyway!

[SiC]

You realise that in Australia, they class Renaults as "premium" cars?

[Noel Tidybeard]

its like a wierd police spec'ed car from 80's west mids plod eg 2.0i base montego & 2.8 sierra base/L

[cort1977]

You realise that in Australia, they class Renaults as "premium" cars?

Renault Australia may class them as premium, I think the general public and industry takes a different view...

 

That looks class though, has it got an ADR compliance plate on it anywhere?  Also, will it pass an MOT with the km/h speedometer?

[LostnotFound]

Renault Australia may class them as premium, I think the general public and industry takes a different view...

 

That looks class though, has it got an ADR compliance plate on it anywhere? Also, will it pass an MOT with the km/h speedometer?

 

My ropey knowledge given I'm trying to register a French bike (at some point once I've stopped making things worse trying to fix it.) is its in the grey area of it'll mot happily as long as the speedo works, but may not be looked upon kindly if you get pulled.

 

More importantly congratulations, if you can get that much knocked off a price surely you're the man for our Brexit negotiations.

 

'what will you take for Belgium? '