1989 Renault 25 Versailles 2.2 petrol

Summary:

Solid comfy poised luxurious road limpet

Faults:

- 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.

General Comments:

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...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 26th February, 2007

2nd May 2007, 18:56

I have had my 1990 Renault R25 Versailles for eight years, and agree fully with the positive comments on its creature comforts, road holding and versitility, the bodywork is still 100%. The 4 cylinder engine is a real cracker. Inevitably after seventeen years some of the interior door trim is getting a little untidy, there are some leaky oil seals around the engine and transmission and the fan speed control on the a/c is on the blink. While the 1980's styling sets it apart from all others in the local shopping mall car park it still maintains a quality presence. My major problem is what do I replace it with, that will give me the same pleasure of ownership.

11th Jun 2009, 16:28

I once drove a GTS. I loved the looks and the sense of cocooning inside, also the smooth ride. Although very little extra's, I had quite some problems, along them also the starter engine. Technically the worst car I had (and all my cars really get 5 star maintenance, and are driven slowly when engine cold, and so on). But its style and grace were the best. It was a 1989 version, the second one, beautiful. Really too bad they took it way too early out of production, but times they are a changing.

28th Mar 2010, 02:10

This is an update to my original review above... I have now owned this car for 10 years, and in that time it has probably been under cover for about 1 week total! 10 years of Auckland rain, and only now some rust is appearing... it still drives solid and fast... The CV joints are munted... the wiper motor failed (Renault quoted hilarious NZ$833, got one second hand for 50 and did it myself).

Anyway my MAJOR problem is - what the hell am I going to replace this with!? Every car I see designed past about 1992 is rounded, generic and stulifyingly ugly.

Test drove a Merc 300CE; beautiful car, but flops around like a whale... maybe I'll just try and keep the 25 going a bit longer...

1987 Renault 25 R25 GTX 2.2 petrol

Summary:

Practicality, character and economy balanced by poor component quality

Faults:

Steering column bearings and shaft replaced.

Rear wheel bearing, rear wheel brake cylinders and brake lines replaced.

Front discs, pads and hoses replaced.

Both driveshafts replaced (one new, one s/h).

Anti-roll bar drop links and bushes replaced.

Water and air temperature sensors, CO potentiometer replaced to cure rich running problem.

Fuel gauge/trip computer replaced.

Cam belt replaced at 120,000 miles (easy job).

Driver's window winder motor and stereo unit replaced with s/h parts.

Front shocks replaced.

Removed all AC components (didn't work).

The following parts came from a spare car: rear struts, tailgate, windscreen, starter motor, driver's seat, brake master and clutch slave cylinders.

The clutch and gearbox will follow.

Ongoing faults: heater is either off or fully on, syncro gone on first, weak on second, excessive play in final drive.

General Comments:

It's a shame the French aren't as good at BUILDING cars as they are at DESIGNING them! If you aren't an enthusiast/mechanic like me, owning one of these would be expensive and frustrating. The quality of the running gear components and some of the controls and trim is sub-standard (squeezing suppliers?).

As a car, the 25 is one of Renault's better efforts. The styling is sharp and distinctive, aging well. It's unusual in being a large FWD hatch, very useful load carrier, though the legroom is not generous for it's size. The 25 is light for it's size; combined with the quick, light steering and torquey motor, makes it nimble around town.

The 2.2 litre 8 valve motor is the car's best feature: they appear to be bullet-proof, not particularly powerful, but heaps of torque, the Rennix EFI works brilliantly, and the car is astonishing economical (best 39 mpg on a trip). Combined with a generous 70plus litre tank, touring range is excellent.

Ride is harsh over small bumps, excellent on large bumps, treats speed bumps with disdain. Big anti-roll bars keep things under control in the corners, car is quite nicely balanced, with lift-off oversteer. Alas, bumpy corners are a nightmare with truly horrendous bump-steer; how they could release a car with such a chronic and dangerous fault amazes me. Brakes are excellent despite rear drums.

Driving position odd, with angled wheel, offset instruments hard to read, seats lack lateral support, but are comfortable. Relaxed tourer. The standard Philips stereo and 6.5 inch speakers are very good, column controls.

Easy car to work on (just as well!), you can climb into the engine bay. Mechanically quite simple.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th July, 2006

16th Jul 2006, 15:33

I should add to the above that the parts back-up from Renault (in NZ) has been very good in terms of price and availability. Both Supreme in Wellington and the Gallerie in Auckland have been great to deal with; makes all the difference maintaining an older car.

19th Oct 2006, 08:23

I'm just about to purchase a 2.2 ltr GTX auto, when I say purchase I mean recieve, any major points to look out for? it's a 1989 F plate with relatively low miles.

18th Feb 2007, 12:04

Best cars in the world had a dozen never a bad one.