Extinct Renault

[bezzabsa]

OK, so where did all the Espace's go???

 

Haven't seen 1 on the road in at least 12 months...and that even excludes the Horrid Mk3 ones!!!!

Would have thought being Galv chassis and plastic body they'd be around longer than cockroaches!!!

[Bren]

It's everything else though - electrics/engines/gearboxes.

 

In a few years I would venture that the number of survivors would be able to fit into the fruit and veg section of a Glaswegian branch of Mace.

[bezzabsa]

for my sins i've owned 2 mk2's...1 petrol which spent 9 of the 12 months i owned it off road, 2 fooked driveshafts, then engine mounts..was a nightmare..

then had a diesel which wasnt too bad ( in a relevant way)

[Talbot]

They are inhabited by school-run parents and sticky children, and consequently the engines are all shagged, the gearboxes don't any more, and the interior looks like an explosion at Nestle.  Not to mention the thousand parking dents and the fact that no-one has washed one, ever.

 

All big people-carriers lead a very hard life.  Early Galaxy SHAAAARAAAN and Alhambrahambrahambras are also basically all gone now too.

[mercrocker]

I thought the Espace had a bit of a future in Mk1 form but as above, they were wasted on the school run.   Back when I had a job involving corporate bollocks we took a load of customers out for a blether around an "activity" track - mini-hovercraft, quads, that kind of thing.    Anyhoo, a fleet of "luxury" cars was laid on twixt hotel, restaurant and mud pool which included a 7 series, Series III XJ (it was in olden times) and I think a Senator.    A  brand new Renault Espace made up the numbers and it was this everybody wanted to ride in.   It was the first one most of us had seen and it looked properly out of place amongst the other barges.

 

  It was all beige 80s shag-pad inside but the view, the ride and the general feeling of Tomorrow's World (Judith Hann stylee) made a good impression on me as well.  Pity indeed they all ended up being sick-ed in and stinking of mongrel and nappies.   

[Zelandeth]

There's still a mk 1 example up in Leicester, or at least there was last time I had a dentist appointment...

[jonny69]

If they were anything like the Scenic, the order in which the car was assembled probably meant it was a nightmare to change anything. The Scenic production line looked something like two strings hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the factory. Onto those they tied the front lights and then assembled the car around them. This is why you have to take all four doors off*, strip the interior out*, then wings and front panel off, just to change the fucking headlight units.

[beko1987]

You know, I saw a Y plate one yesterday. Didn't think much of it apart from "You know, I cannot remember the last time I saw any espace..."

 

Timely thread

 

You watch, now we've done this they will be everywhere

[doubleyeller]

I would say the most critically endangered Renault here in the UK and in France is the R14. Easily explained by Ferrous Oxide!

 

Followed in the UK (although less so in France) by the R20 and R30. - are there even half a dozen left running over here? They were very very rare even by the 1990s, and I haven't spotted one on the road since probably 2002. What's happened to them all??

 

I would expect that the R18 might be getting thin on the ground too, although I think the saving grace there was the Turbo versions, which are still a fairly common sight.

 

I imagine the Velsatis will be a rare beast given another 10 years too....

[doubleyeller]

There's still a mk 1 example up in Leicester, or at least there was last time I had a dentist appointment...

 

 

I seem to remember Harold Shipman's motorcar of choice was a red MK1 Espace!

[DaveDorson]

Didn't they fit the UN1 gearbox to the earlier V6 cars?

 

If so, then that's a good explanation as to where a lot of them are now.  That gearbox gets used a lot in exotica and kit cars.

[fordperv]

I still see a maroon k reg one knocking around with morette quad headlights its a clean looking thing

[panhard65]

I have got a customer with a late mk1 that he still uses to go back and forth to his house in France. It doesn't give much trouble but getting parts for it is now really difficult. There are a lot more about than you think really. I had a 4x4 a couple of years ago, there are a handfull of those left and they were the rarest of the lot. 14's are probably the rarest but as they are worth bugger all and really know how to rot so it won't be long until they are extinct. I expect the Laguna 2 and megane 2's to become close to extinction soon enough as they are total shit.

[willswitchengage]

They are inhabited by school-run parents and sticky children, and consequently the engines are all shagged, the gearboxes don't any more, and the interior looks like an explosion at Nestle.  Not to mention the thousand parking dents and the fact that no-one has washed one, ever.

 

All big people-carriers lead a very hard life.  Early Galaxy SHAAAARAAAN and Alhambrahambrahambras are also basically all gone now too.

 

Weirdly the Mk1 Zafira seems to be the great survivor. Plenty of those around less attractive parts here still.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Did you know that the 'official' way to change the heater matrix on these is to saw the dashboard in half. As part of the matrix kit you receive a bit of plastic to glue it back together with

[Pillock]

Is that true? That's incredible if so!

 

Does it have a three spanners plus one Stihl Saw rating in the Haynes manual?

[Broadsword]

One of our neighbours owns two. Both sit on the drive, one never moves so I guess it’s a donor. The main one is white, slightly shabby but solid. He runs it on chip fat pretty successively by the looks of it but boy oh boy does it stink. Since we’re on the topic of extinc Renaults. How about the Renault 21? They are mega rare. We had one years ago in turbo diesel form (same as Espace I take it) and it was just fantastic. It had bags of character. Wouldn’t mind another of those but they just don’t turn up.

[sierraman]

Harold Shipman had one for running from the surgery to old ladies houses via the solicitors.

[anonymous user]

I have forgotten who has ended up with the ( ex Practical Classic?) one on here

[bramz7]

I saw a low mileage V6 Automatic one recently, on an L plate. It was unbelievably mint too. Should have left a note...

 

There's a road in Bournemouth with 4 MK2 Espace. Think 75% are laid up however.

[MiniMort]

There’s a mid 90s Espace in my local area, but I don’t think it sees much attention. Haven’t really been looking out for the Espace... but then again I totally forgot about the 206, thinking that they were no longer popular in everyday traffic... then today I looked out for them and they’re still everywhere! I’ll look tomorrow

[flat4alfa]

[capsuleboy]

There's still a mk 1 example up in Leicester, or at least there was last time I had a dentist appointment...

Would that be in Birstall? If so it was mine, scrapped a rough silver one and sold my nice blue one last year...

[25v6turbo]

Near me I have 2 Phase 2 Espaces I see floating around and I,ve seen at least one Phase 1,add a Phase 1 Safrane to the almost extinct list with just over 30 left on the road of all versions.

[capsuleboy]

Half thinking of buying this, on gumtree in Leicester for £495 with long mot...

[bezzabsa]

I still think theyre a 'pretty ' car....but wouldnt touch one again!!!

[uk_senator]

Someones got a H-reg daily round my way. Seems to have been resurrected after a long lay up this year, so obviously a shite enthusiast.

[Zelandeth]

Would that be in Birstall? If so it was mine, scrapped a rough silver one and sold my nice blue one last year...

 

Not exactly sure, just round the corner from Smile Essential dental practice...sure Google maps can find it.  On my phone just now so linking to stuff is a pain...

[Ghosty]

Mk1 Espace is proper shite.

 

I very occasionally see mk2 and 3 Espaces but not much.

Any old Renault is a sight to behold now really - always makes me smile to see a 5 or mk1 Clio.

[Bucketeer]

I have a feeling Skattrd was planning to do the heater matrix on his MK1 2000/1. Maybe that's why we haven't heard from him for a while.