Early Renault Kangoo vans – any good?

[MK5 Escort]

I may soon be becoming into possession of a 1998 'S' plate Renault Kangoo D65 van, that an old plumber friend of my father’s wants shut of by the weekend. He retired just after new year and it’s basically sat on his driveway since then, occasionally taken out on the odd ‘tip-run’ every so often during the building of an extension. He’s had it for the last four years.

 

I have no pictures so I’ll describe it the best I can.

 

Mechanically, it’s got the 1.9D under the bonnet. I’ve never experienced this engine so advice appreciated! I’d imagine it to be kind-of Ford naturally-aspirated1.8D bad... It’s either done 146 or 148k (can’t remember). It takes a few seconds to turn over (probably though lack of use in recent months) but seems to tick over/rev fine and left for 10 minutes or so shown no signs of any warning lights on the dashboard. No signs of any leaks underneath either. I know it has full main dealer service history until 90k and done by a back street garage since then. The last service being almost exactly a year ago, so another one now probably wouldn't go amiss.

 

On the outside it has it's original dealer pre-2001 font numberplates . It has the odd few rust scabs along both sills but doesn't look too bad. All four steel wheels are typically shot and need tidying up. The tyres are all okay but the spare is about as bald as any tyre I've seen, with the reinforcement showing . The nearside front wing has a few dents in it. Other than the wing, overall, it’s reasonably tidy for it’s age and in decent condition bodywork wise. Even the bumpers are in good order. On the inside, a similar story. The back is boarded out and surprisingly tidy. The cab is generally very dusty but would clean up okay. Both seats are reasonably clean and show no signs of rips/tears or obvious stains. Again, I reckon the pair should look almost as good as new after a thorough clean. There's no radio in it – just a gaping hole in the dashboard.

 

I can't comment on how it drives as when I looked over it, it was blocked in by a skip. It may be okay, it may be terrible. I don’t know.

 

I have no experience of these vans at all, so any advise would be appreciated. I’m wary of aging French vehicle electronics and I just 'hope' the slow turnover relates to lack of use / dying battery rather than anything more serious...

 

He's after £250 or thereabouts for a quick sale. For that price and from what I've seen it sounds like good value (too good? ) providing it drives okay. Tax is out at the end of this month and MOT’d until the twenty-something of October. He’s taking it over the weighbridge at the end of the month if it’s not gone as he needs the space and can’t be bothered slapping another tax disc in it for he no longer has a use for it.

 

Having not long moved house myself, it could come in handy for various B&Q/Wickes trips I'm doing at the moment and taking rubbish to the tip. I thought about buying it myself, slapping six months tax on it and then weighing it in myself when the MOT is up or perhaps re-MOTing it if it doesn't cost too much, tarting it up and then flogging it and getting my money back perhaps…?

 

So, is it worth buying it as a useful hack for a while if I manage to get it (he has someone else looking at it too) or a potential s*it heap money pit to avoid?

 

Many thanks.

[Cavcraft]

If you don't buy it my mate have it for that price, it's hard to see how you can go wrong. Slow trun over could be battery about to keel over (ten-twenty quid from a scrappy) or glow plugs. As long as it starts fairly quickly I wouldn't worry about it, especially for that price.

[trigger]

At £250 do you really need to ask?

[AnthonyG]

I would take a chance on it if I needed an old van, its not far off scrap value, and still has a few months MOT.

 

Change the oil and filters, get a part worn for the spare or just get another spare wheel from a breakers, and away you go.

[revolting peasant]

[Station]

We had the 4x4 version in work, it was super. I remember Jeremy Clarkson said it had the same ride as a Jaguar and was amazing.

[CIH]

They're usually fooked beyond belief by now. Absolutly the defiition of disposeable transport.

[outlaw118]

Had one as a company van a while back, replaced a Festa 1.8NA Dizzle, and was like a speed machine by comparison.

Comfortable-ish, and high enough door frames so I didn't twat my head all the time getting in and out. Can't remember the mpg, didn't matter, as I wasn't paying for it.

Abused it horribly for 4 years, and it was replaced by a 1.2 petrol/lpg one for a year, which was an absolute slug.

Now got a Citroen dispatch 1.9NA, which is SHIT. I'd have another Kangaroo tomorrow.

[Pillock]

My mate runs a '98 Kangoo as his daily driver, plus camps in it with a mattress in the back and storage nets in the roofspace. Absolutely raves about it, he's put thousands of miles on it with no faults at all including a trip to Austria and back in a week or so. He services it, but only minimally, and he's not had a single non-service bill as far as I know in a couple of years.

[Station]

I'd have it for 250 quid. The only fault is the ridiculously plasticky dashboard, but bollocks, those types of things don't bother me in the slightest.

[Pillock]

Apparently they're pretty similar to a Clio front end, subframes and all. So if the diesel donkey expires, "simply" lob a 150hp 2.0 Renaultsport engine in. Even the 1.8 RSi would be fun. And the midmounted V6 would be moar fun, but a tad impractical in a van.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Gordon Murray used to rave about these when he wrote a column for CAR magazine in about 2001, he was forever banging on about what a perfect package they were. 'ERGO' you should buy it. I don't doubt it would ebay for more than £250, even factoring in having to 'sell' it 3 times before getting a real buyer.

[scruff]

I would deffo buy it and small vans always have a ready market when you've done with it.

[MK5 Escort]

Thanks for all the replies so far, guys. Much appreciated.

 

The existing owner has already said other than fitting a new rear box and mid section (exhaust) last year it's never given him a moments grief. I had my doubts but given other comments here he seems to be telling the truth!

 

As long as it goes and stops when I want it to and will carry the rubbish/bits and pieces I need it to over the next few months, I don’t care. I certainly don't expect any frills.

 

Yes, I've experienced the 1.9D in the Citroen Dispatch. The company my father works for has one and no one likes driving that thing. Ponderous at best and riddled with lots of little faults. As long as the Renault version of a 1.9D is better and a whole heap better than the 'foot to the floor' gutless N/A 1.8D found of Ford vans of the same era, I really don’t mind. I’ve experienced various Renaults of this vintage but never a Kangoo and never the 1.9D.

 

Condition wise I was being very picky. It's a twelve and a half year old van at the end of the day and for it's age and miles, it's in good overall condition. You’ll struggle to find many that would be nicer. As I said it's only dust in the cab, both seats show no real signs of typical damage/stains and the rear is pretty much spotless barring the odd expected scuff/scrape on the ply. An hour or so with a dishcloth, mop and vacuum will see it right. Other than the nearside front wing which is dented in two places, it's straight and will be presentable on the outside after a wash and light polish. Only the typical odd age-related stone chip, rust blemishes along both sills (don’t look too serious) and the odd small scratch here and there… No dents or scrapes. In my previous job, I was driving 06/56 plate Transit Connects in worse condition and only two thirds of the mileage.

 

I'm reasonably sure the slow turnover is down to a dying battery. Looking under the bonnet, the battery looked pretty much past it and of course with it hardly being used over the last four months in the cold winter we've just had wouldn't have done it any good. It did start first time though…

 

The person who he offered first refusal to it is seeing it sometime this afternoon I believe,

so if he turns it down I'll take it. You can't complain at that price…! I've left my number with him, so fingers crossed.

[Cavcraft]

Bollocks to waiting for the other bloke, get round there with the readies in your hand and drive it off.

[Gompo]

I've driven two of these and both had the world's most sharpest brakes. Are they all like that?

[Timewaster]

I've driven two of these and both had the world's most sharpest brakes. Are they all like that?

 

I think thats a "French" thing generally.