1988 Renault Espace TXE review from UK and Ireland

Having owned the Espace for less than 1 month, here's the list of technical woes so far:

1. Clutch pedal broke (this is a common problem with the Espace). There is an offset bracket welded to the clutch pedal to which the clutch cable is attached, the weld begins to break over time and it appears as though the gearbox or cluth is faulty (difficulty in selecting gears).

2. Rubber fuel hose replaced.

3. Corroded terminals on radiator cooling fan switch.

A new baby in addition to my 2 boys really forced me into buying the Espace. It's in good condition for the year (the interior has worn very well), although the colour on the roof has faded (a common problem). The Espace is very versatile in so far as all the passenger seats are removeable, although quite heavy.

The Espace drives well, but does seem just a touch undergeared and there are numerous rattles from the interior.

Things to watch for when buying include making sure the clutch is good (a big job to change), and the heater matrixes are prone to leaks (an expensive job due to length of time it takes to strip and rebuild the dash).