2001 Renault Espace The Race from UK and Ireland - Comments

Serious loss of power on several occasions, resulting in dealer changes Exhaust Gas Release Valve (EGRV). However, with each new EGRV's lasting a progressively shorter and shorter timespan, ending at a few hundred miles before power loss again. Now had the engine computer re-mapped (wiped clean and re-programmed) - the car now drives quite differently.

Glow plugs problem around 20,000.

Dealer service general staff friendly and try to be helpful, albeit never got to root of problem. On one occasion when my wife was trying to say that there had to be some more fundamental fault than the Valve, Service Manager was appallingly condescending to my wife, so we got Renault UK involved. This brought an apology, but still didn't fix the car properly!

We fundamentally really like the Espace, it's large interior for a relatively small exterior, comfort, equipment and stable towing ability.

However, it's dire reliability, caused by dealer / Renault UK's incapability to find actual fault has really got to us.

I also have a renault espace, need new glow plugs and the main dealer managed to snap one getting it out wanted to charge 17 hours labour @ £70 and hour to correct problem total bill around £1500 yes did not leave out full point. for changing a set of glow plugs. Talked to Renault UK no joy, but have found out that this often can happen on a renault engine (time to sell the espace if it need new glow plugs)

After reading many comments about the Espace, and Renaults in general, I think these cars are almost as biodegradable as the old Dauphine.

And modern cars have much more to go wrong.

Also, with rubber-toothed-timing belts giving so much trouble, new-car-buyers should only buy cars having a timing chain - those chains usually last for as long as the engine if oil changes are done acc to schedule.

I Started with a V6 24v What a machine (When it was going)

Warned about gearbox failure took out warranty... Gearbox failed warranty paid £1000 I Paid £800.Cam belt servis £2300 Next I bought a 2.2 Race Diesel 2002 100k... 102k New Gearbox 104k Injector failed kept stalling at 74mph Dealer stripped thread in bore He Paid, Renault paid for injector Surprise surprise. Clutch linkage worn Complete unit cannot be split pedal to clutch £500 as dash has to be removed to replace Stalls on tick over tried two sensors and a egr valve £600 not rectified. boot locks up on both models Lovely cars when not off the road...

Bought an Espace the Race 2.2dci new in December 2002. Essentially a great car, flawed by the following:

Has broken down 3 times. TDC sensor twice and injectors once. All work under warranty.

Minor irritations - front doors get out of alignment quite regularly. Needs a new pair of front tyres every 14K and they're not cheap. Even so, I really like it and haven't got a clue what I'll eventually replace it with.

G.

I bought a Renault Espace. Being disabled, it was the ideal vehicle for my mobility scooter. I paid £1008 for a two year gold warranty to keep the car in good mechanical order. I had it for 5 months, and had to cease driving owing to illness. I tried to recover some of the money I paid for the extra two years warranty. but they said no. What a nice lot of people they are. They need to review their policy on how to deal with unfortunate people like myself, who can ill afford to lose that ammount of money. No way would I reccomend any body to take out the advanced gold warranty.

Mark.