1989 Renault 25 Versailles review from Australia and New Zealand

- Replaced both front shocks when I got it

- Radiator hose burst

- Rear brake distributor unit replaced

- Auto transmission went wrong (flaring between gears). Turned out to be a sensor coil

- Starter motor brushes replaced

- Currently needs new CVs

All repairs expensive compared with say, Toyota.

What a fantastic car.

After my lovely superb handling Lancia Beta Saloon exploded, I spent 8 months searching for a car.

This is the first auto I have ever owned in 25 years of motoring, and I was nervous, but the Renault is great. The auto is easy to down shift and does so usefully on its own if revs fall...

The handling is excellent for a large car and better than many more modern cars I have driven, especially on the open road, quiet, easy to cruise with the excellent factory 6 speaker stereo... a large car with a big turning circle, but poised and stable.

Comfortable; passengers often comment on the roominess, and I love the 80s looking dash binnacle, and nooks and crannies. Finger tip stereo controls and central locking were pretty flash in 1989, but what about the voice synthesized warnings!! Ha ha DRIVERS DOOR NOOORT SHUT! FUEL LEVEL LOW, CHECK AS SOOON AS POSSIBLE! in a plummy english accent, and this car cost nz$75000+ when new! No wonder it was a doctor that originally bought it...

It has a large boot cos the spare tyre is underneath the car, and the fold down rear seat turns a large sedan into a station wagon. I have moved soooo many things in my trusty Renault...

Some of the trim is peeling away around the doors, but then the car is 17 years old... Unlike my Lancia, there were only ever 2 rust spots that hardly grew over a few years before I repaired them, glvanised body bro!...

In New Zealand I think these are seen as bit of an 'old mans' car' but only by people that haven't driven them and it's hilarious to out- corner boy racers in their hissing rasping hatchbacks...

Apparently all modern renaults are junk and my mechanic says he has never had to rebore an engine the transmission etc always die first...