R9UKE's French Car Blog...

[KP]

HSSSSTTTTTT is all Luke thinks when he hear's DCi, HDi, or TDi

[R9UKE]

^ Too right! HDi.......dCi.... TDi............




Chris, that Laguna Coupé looks strangely similar to the Nissan Note. I swear they don't look like that on the road

Yep, the GT Spec Lagunas have the four wheel steering (the hatch and estate too). I can just see them limping through the auction in about 6 years time with wheels facing different directions. That'll be a good laugh.

I would definitely consider an old school Renault if I could get Classic Insurance. But that won't happen until I'm at least 21. I'll bring a 25 V6 Turbo back from France

If nobody bids on that 605 it could be well worth messaging the seller to offer him £300

[addo]

Before offering anything for it, you'd want a picture of inside the header tank. They get corrosion in the engine oil cooler which lets oil into the water, destroying irreplaceable hoses...

[Citroenmad]

Chris, that Laguna Coupé looks strangely similar to the Nissan Note. I swear they don't look like that on the road

Yep, the GT Spec Lagunas have the four wheel steering (the hatch and estate too). I can just see them limping through the auction in about 6 years time with wheels facing different directions. That'll be a good laugh.

I would definitely consider an old school Renault if I could get Classic Insurance. But that won't happen until I'm at least 21. I'll bring a 25 V6 Turbo back from France

If nobody bids on that 605 it could be well worth messaging the seller to offer him £300

Well Renault and Nissan do share parts on the odd occasion, which might help explain that one

I didn't know all GT spec LagunaIII had 4 wheel steering, thought it was just the Coupe, that makes them much more interesting. Though your probably right, a nightmare in a few years time

[lexi]

Funny to hear of the noise complaints. Done 30 miles in the 61 Landy yesterday.
This is the quieter 2.25 petrol...........flippin heck! I used to drive the diesel versions round for fun!

Well I must be losing my sense of humour Transmission whine and clatter. Then into the Vel at night......ah that's better

[Citroenmad]

I didnt know you now have a Vel Satis Lexi, you kept that quiet And a 3.5 V6 too!

[R9UKE]

He saw sense!

I have a new found respect but also extremely jealous

[R9UKE]

OK time for an update!

Mégane well and truly written off, reasonable settlement figure agreed, cheque in post, damage caused by vandalism in the process of being repaired. All good! And thanks to Robert Smart for this link, I may be taking a trip down to Dublin this week to view this rather dirty Renault Vel Satis.

In other news, the Avantime is FINALLY home. What a car this is, I'm over the moon with it. It had a mighty time at the mechanics:
Rear wheel bearing
Track rod ends
Rear axle bushes
Inner steering arms
MASSIVE oil leak cured
Headlight washers fixed
Tinted windows restored to standard
Parking brake imbalance cured

It's honestly like driving a new car. So nice to finally appreciate it without the wheel bearing hum and vague steering feel. A lovely day here today so I treated the leather to a feed

Oh by the way, if you fancy really pissing someone off, ask them to clean the glass in the Avantime. Never. Again.

[KP]

I like the matching interior and LARGE slide back sunroof Luke

Where was the massive oil leak from?

that one in dublin should easily sell for a bit more once given a day or two of real cleaning inside and out and a good check over the mechanicals

Sad news on the Meg, but i guess your buying it back and shocked the garage that thought they might get it cheap

Had you just used the headlamp wash before that picture above was taken?

[R9UKE]

And don't I know just how huge the sunroof is.... man it was killer to clean, a breeze compared to the windscreen though!

The oil leak was from the cam blocks. Apparently quite a common issue on these V6s. CitroJim mentioned it when I noticed oil in the little wells of the ignition coils. It just got worse and worse until the oil pressure light actually came on as I was driving because it had emptied itself!

Yes - I had just triggered the headlight washers. Before they used to pop out of the bumper and not spray anything, but whatever my mechanic has done they now give a nice high pressure blast

I can't see any loss on that Vel Satis. Cleaned and advertised properly it's worth at least £2k up here out of that mad road taxing system they have in ROI. But if I can live with a manual Vel Satis, I'd be very happy with it replacing the Meg - which I'm buying back for......... £250

[KP]

You are lucky, it would break for more than that

I wish i could get my hands on some of the bargains you do, it would be worth getting trader insurance then just to experience a load of older cars really

[R9UKE]

I'm sure the Meggy would break for a massive amount. Those alloy wheels and a black leather interior are very desirable indeed. But there's no chance I'm going down that road... the hunt is on for a quarter panel!

Defo worth it KP, you can have a great laugh with an old motor and then make money from it! The bargains are easier to find than you think, you just need to look in less than common knowledge places - MOTORHOG

[KP]

I'll have some spare cash soon so if you can share your pearlies over a pm I'd be greatful

[Citroenmad]

I've just been looking at your Avantime pics on FB, what a great looking interior I bet your glad to have it back and be using it. Is it your daily drive at the moment?

That Vel Satis would pair up very nicely with an Avantime

[R9UKE]

Sure thing KP.

Thanks Chris, it's really nice to have it back. Not my daily as 15 MPG is a bit much for the running around I'm doing at the minute. It was out all weekend in the sun though

But no French car is ever completely happy, right? The Avantime is no exception! I'll have to get a look at the height sensors for the auto-levelling headlights



This is my daily at the moment.



I originally bought it because it's an auto Renault that would have made me money! But it's such a brilliant little car that I think it's here for the indefinite. I may have introduced it briefly before. 2000 Clio Alizé 1.6 Auto. with 44k miles. It's such a great little town car, and is in literally immaculate condition. Averaging the same as the Meg did - 32 MPG