SAFRANE owners thread.

[andyberg]

The Safrane is a FAR, FAR better place to sit than the Jag that’s why I’m considering using it more. I have barely used it until I sold the Jazz and the Jag needed some work. As I said previously I had forgotten how bloody lovely it is. Don’t get me wrong the Jag is nice and I’m glad I have it, but it doesn’t make me want to drive it like the Safrane does. 

[andyberg]

Took the Jaaag to Heathrow yesterday, first long trip since getting the boost sorted. Cruise set at 75 and no hold ups there or back, computer says 57.2mpg. Still running as cold as a cold person in the arctic but I’ll take that. Also the headlights are properly rubbish, a common problem apparently, so I gave them a polish. Let’s see if that helps. Before and after below. If not then I’ll just put up with it, I’m not spending on any type of upgraded lights. 

[Cookiesouwest]

16 minutes ago, andyberg said:

Took the Jaaag to Heathrow yesterday, first long trip since getting the boost sorted. Cruise set at 75 and no hold ups there or back, computer says 57.2mpg. Still running as cold as a cold person in the arctic but I’ll take that. Also the headlights are properly rubbish, a common problem apparently, so I gave them a polish. Let’s see if that helps. Before and after below. If not then I’ll just put up with it, I’m not spending on any type of upgraded lights. 

57 mpg, running cold. That's really good

[andyberg]

Been using the Safrane a bit more recently. Bloody love this car. Jaaag is still my daily but I’m just not really gelling with it. It is a nice car and the air con is icy cold and the engine has a nice bit of go and economy. But I’m just not really ‘feeling’ it. Musing on being a single car owner, the first time in many years, but I don’t want to ruin the Safrane by using it everyday. BUT it is the more enjoyable car to sit in and drive. I’ll decide once I’m back from my holiday next month. 

[RustyNuts]

On 22/05/2025 at 17:42, andyberg said:

Been using the Safrane a bit more recently. Bloody love this car. Jaaag is still my daily but I’m just not really gelling with it. It is a nice car and the air con is icy cold and the engine has a nice bit of go and economy. But I’m just not really ‘feeling’ it. Musing on being a single car owner, the first time in many years, but I don’t want to ruin the Safrane by using it everyday. BUT it is the more enjoyable car to sit in and drive. I’ll decide once I’m back from my holiday next month. 

I've known many safrane drivers over the years, they're all the same as you and me lol. 

I knew one guy who had 5 of them over the years and he'd have another in a flash of it had LPG.

[andyberg]

21 minutes ago, RustyNuts said:

I've known many safrane drivers over the years, they're all the same as you and me lol. 

I knew one guy who had 5 of them over the years and he'd have another in a flash of it had LPG.

The Safrane is being used this week as my daily to work and back. I have a budget for fuel, if it comes at or below that then the decision will have been made. 

[RustyNuts]

13 hours ago, andyberg said:

The Safrane is being used this week as my daily to work and back. I have a budget for fuel, if it comes at or below that then the decision will have been made. 

Don't rely on the safrane being cheap on juice. I've just about hit 36mpg on a motorway but that's rare. Around town my typical mpg is 17 - 30 limits etc. I live in an area that has dual carriageways between different areas of the town so I've got my MPG up a bit - the trip computer (which hasn't been reset for months) shows an average of just under 21mpg at present.

I typically spend £40 a week on fuel just for school runs BUT that expense is peanuts compared to the cost of something news that cost 4-500 per month for a lease that leaves me with a car i'll never own. As with so many things it depends on how you look at it.

[andyberg]

19 minutes ago, RustyNuts said:

Don't rely on the safrane being cheap on juice. I've just about hit 36mpg on a motorway but that's rare. Around town my typical mpg is 17 - 30 limits etc. I live in an area that has dual carriageways between different areas of the town so I've got my MPG up a bit - the trip computer (which hasn't been reset for months) shows an average of just under 21mpg at present.

I typically spend £40 a week on fuel just for school runs BUT that expense is peanuts compared to the cost of something news that cost 4-500 per month for a lease that leaves me with a car i'll never own. As with so many things it depends on how you look at it.

Mine is the 2.0 compared to your 2.5 so I reckon I should be a little bit better. I’m reckoning around 30mpg or £30 a week in fuel for the work commute. My commute is mostly national speed limit type roads with some bends and hills, but I reckon an average of 45mph over the 30mile round trip. If it’s around that then my man maths has worked out that’s the same cost as insurance and tax for the Jag along with the £18ish a week in fuel that uses for the commute. Plus I would only have maintenance costs for one car! Along with your previous advice as a serial Safrane licker. You see how I’m talking myself into it 🤣🤣 

[andyberg]

With the sale of the jaaag the Safrane is now my daily. It’s an impressive thing to drive everyday, when did modern cars become so boring and bland?

Anyway my maths wasn’t too far off with the mpg’s, she’s doing around 28-29 in my commute so I’m not disappointed with that. As she is now my only form of transport I took the liberty of buying a spare catalytic converter from BM in case they decide to stop making them. That should get me through the next 7 years hopefully. When I return from holiday I’ll order some new rear shocks as one was an advisory on the MOT with slight misting. 
Next thing on the list is to try and sort out the cruise control to see if I can find out why it has stopped working. 
All is good. 

[andyberg]

How does the Safrane reward me for making her my daily??? The alternator doesn’t want to alternate anymore 😡😡😡 do you think I can find a reconditioned one anywhere?? Nope, more chance of finding a double decker bus on the moon! A second hand one ordered from Renbreakers but if that’s goosed then it’s potentially goodbye Safrane ☹️☹️

[Arthur-walker]

there's plenty of new alternators for safranes on ebay?

[Schaefft]

15 minutes ago, andyberg said:

 

How does the Safrane reward me for making her my daily??? The alternator doesn’t want to alternate anymore 😡😡😡 do you think I can find a reconditioned one anywhere?? Nope, more chance of finding a double decker bus on the moon! A second hand one ordered from Renbreakers but if that’s goosed then it’s potentially goodbye Safrane ☹️☹️

When mine died I just got a new voltage regulator or diode pack, which cost next to nothing. That's what's usually the issue with most alternators.

[andyberg]

34 minutes ago, Arthur-walker said:

there's plenty of new alternators for safranes on ebay?

Yes I looked but as far as I can see they are for the phase 1, diesels or the V6. 

[andyberg]

Update

A place called Lancs Auto Electrical will supply a guaranteed new one for £130. I think I would trust them more than EBay, at least I spoke to an actual person who guarantees it is the correct one. Duly ordered, should be here tomorrow. Not enough time to fit before I go on holiday so my wife’s Panda will be the mode of transport to Heathrow tomorrow afternoon. Still it’s not all bad, the petrol cost will be much less 🤣

[andyberg]

Well. The new alternator didn’t fit! It’s too long to fit in the gap in the engine bay. Luckily the second hand one I got from Renbreakers is exactly the same as the one on my car so that was fitted. Battery light is now off. West Lancs auto have agreed a refund on return of the unit. 
My old alternator has a Volvo sticker so I will see about getting that repaired. 
 

[andyberg]

Possibly the end of my Safrane. Some c*nt ran into the back of me on my way to work. He has admitted fault. But the wing bumper and rear lights are damaged. Pretty sure the lights are unobtainable. Even if everything can be found and replaced good luck matching the paint after 27 years. Gutted isn’t the word. 

[Wibble]

6 minutes ago, Soundwave said:

Light: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145315383864

A competent bodyshop should be able to sort the rest out, I guess it's more a matter of cost and what you're willing to pay?

I think this one is the correct one, above is wrong as needs red lower, smoked upper:

https://ebay.us/m/xCXh4F

[Soundwave]

9 minutes ago, Wibble said:

I think this one is the correct one, above is wrong as needs red lower, smoked upper:

https://ebay.us/m/xCXh4F

What link? There's no link, I never posted a link, especially not to completely the wrong thing... 😬  Woops. 

That looks like a winner, albeit in Lithuania so the postage might take a while. 

[andyberg]

It depends on how much I can buy it back for? And then whether it's cost effective to get a respray on  a car that’s been written off 🤷‍♂️ and whether that respray will match the existing paint after years of sunlight. I’m slightly pissed off to say the least. I have no idea on the cost of repairs but I am guessing £300+ just for a quality respray with out the dent fixing. 

[Soundwave]

1 hour ago, andyberg said:

It depends on how much I can buy it back for? And then whether it's cost effective to get a respray on  a car that’s been written off 🤷‍♂️ and whether that respray will match the existing paint after years of sunlight. I’m slightly pissed off to say the least. I have no idea on the cost of repairs but I am guessing £300+ just for a quality respray with out the dent fixing. 

Depends how much you like the car; you could try doing it without getting insurance involved, which would spare it from being written off but is riskier. 

[andyberg]

1 minute ago, Soundwave said:

Depends how much you like the car; you could try doing it without getting insurance involved, which would spare it from being written off but is riskier. 

I really, really like the car but my skills are not anywhere near good enough to make repairs I would be happy with. And I don’t have the money to send it to a decent repair shop for it to get done properly. Both insurance companies are calling me in the morning, I’ll go from there. 

[MrGTI6]

Absolutely gutted for you. 

If you do go through the other party's insurance, my only advice would be to ensure they don't take the car away.

They can send someone round to assess it. That way the car stays with you and it keeps far more options open for you going forward.

[andyberg]

32 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

Absolutely gutted for you. 

If you do go through the other party's insurance, my only advice would be to ensure they don't take the car away.

They can send someone round to assess it. That way the car stays with you and it keeps far more options open for you going forward.

Yeah, I have already decided that. I have heard stories of cars going to be assessed and never coming back….

[fatharris]

Absolutely keep the car with you if at all possible, and explain that you'd like to buy the salvage back if the car does get written off.

Hell, that's an incredibly gutting bump, but it won't affect the cars running at all.

[RoverFolkUs]

Look at it this way, either settle for a total loss, receive a payout of market value (ha!) but hopefully you'd be able to negotiate that as £1000-1500 or whatever you think it would cost to replace it with a like for like? 

Take off a salvage value of 2-300 and whatever your excess may be (if applicable) then that leaves you a chunk of cash in the bank to do as you please with the car. 

The dent in the quarter could probably be popped out to look a bit better and I'd be willing to bet a lot of that paint transfer would simply polish out. 

I'm not an expert on the matter but I'm sure you can claim directly from the other party's insurance without involving yours (only notify yours, don't claim off it) - in such instances if you forward a bona-fide repair estimate from a body shop (lets say £800) then they'll pay that out to settle the matter

[Wibble]

Let the other party’s insurers deal with it, not your own. You’ll end up better off. 

[andyberg]

I have notified my insurance but the other party’s insurance have already said that they are footing the bill as he was to blame. 

[loserone]

Seems like you've getting a free respray then

[alcyonecorporation]

Hope the repairs are going to plan. 

I did my shitty shelf model corner this evening and thought you might want to look: 



The theme is: 'Um, Renault...' 
I was old enough to be in Tignes when the 1992 Winter Olympics were taking place in Albertville. 

[andyberg]

19 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

Hope the repairs are going to plan. 

I did my shitty shelf model corner this evening and thought you might want to look: 



The theme is: 'Um, Renault...' 
I was old enough to be in Tignes when the 1992 Winter Olympics were taking place in Albertville. 

I have the same model Safrane you have on the bottom right. When I went to Retromobile in Paris earlier this year I looked for a Safrane model, couldn’t find one anywhere 🤷‍♂️