The crankshaft oil seal was leaking and had to be fixed.
The vehicle was continually overheating. This turned out to be the head gasket which cost over £200 to fix.
The fuel tank straps corroded and had to be replaced.
The back section of the exhaust had to be replaced. It was extremely hard to find one to fit, as the Bosal one for the car is the wrong shape.
The reverse cable on the gear lever broke and the whole lever had to be replaced. However this did solve the problem of being unable to select 5th gear which was due to worn parts.
The tailgate electrics were failing. We later discovered this was due to the wires been trapped and snapping.
It is a very spacious family car, useful if you can't afford a people carrier.
It accelerates well even with 7 passengers and shopping in it.
It is economical - it does about 200 miles on £10 of diesel.
However the suspension is quite soft and bouncy.
The parts are quite expensive, and Renault don't seem to sell many of the small parts on their own - they tend to come as part of a kit.
The second row of back seats are only suitable for children under the age of 10.
Further to my review - here is an update.
The car cost us over £300 to get put through the MoT test (wheel bearings, CV boots, ball joints etc..). We then had it serviced and the diaphragm on the diesel filter housing broke - leaving us stranded over the Easter weekend!
Recently it started making a high pitched whining noise. We were informed that it wasn't a gearbox problem and that we should "let the noise develop!" Later that day the gearbox differentials disintegrated!
We feel that, having spent so much on the car in the last year, that we are not inclined to have the gearbox repaired so are selling the car for spares or repair and buying a Volvo!
I bought a Renault Savanna GTD new in September 1992 and still have it as our only car. It has seen a family of 7 children grow up, several 3/4 UK holidays per year and 136000 miles.
I have limited experience of cars and their values having previously owned a Renault R10, a Mini 850, an Allegro 1108 and 3 Ford Escorts. However, the Savanna has been most reliable and affordable over 16 years. It does get a regular service but it is beginning to look its age.
It developed clutch problems around 1997 when 5th gear kept dropping to 4th and is now becoming rusty around bottom of doors.
Tailgate electrics have proved to be a problem in past year.
45 to a gallon regularly.
I have accepted that it's on its last legs (wheels) and will resort to a 5 seater car soon. But I would like it to last a bit longer...
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