1987 Renault Espace 2000-TSE 2.0 petrol from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Quite a bit of electrical naughtiness;

Door locking motors

Heater wiring

Some Fuse box wiring dodgy

Temperature gauge (oops, so...)

Head gasket at 114K miles

Aluminium Water system bits corroded at 110K miles

Rear wheel bearings

Front disks

Needed to block the bit behind the grille with some plywood to keep the spray out. I think there was a bit missing here, but I only found out on Boxing Day around midnight at the top of Shap with the kids in it and it was snowing! Good old WD-40!

General Comments:

I'm 6'4" and couldn't get comfy with the drivers seating/pedal layout and couldn't get my knees under the wheel. The heater/blower was inadequate in winter. However, I did enjoy sitting passenger and the family all loved it.

We'll probably get another MPV in a couple of years once the Galaxy etc comes into the second-hand market. The exterior body panels are fibre-glass on the Espace - no rust - but don't hit anything! If you buy an older one, make sure EVERYTHING electrical works before parting with a significant amount of money for quite an old vehicle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd December, 1997