R9UKE's French Car Blog...

[Citroenmad]

Ah, so the tyre pressure sensors do work on that one, I thought it must have gone faulty

Is the Serv light on for the same reason?

[R9UKE]

Miraculously, they all work! That's a true sign of a cherished and well maintained Renault.

The Serv light is linked to a ridiculous variety of warnings. It comes on with low windscreen washer fluid and a faulty bulb in the rear registration illumination

[bxzx16v]

Sounds like a nice V6 you have there Luke , what's the rover 820 about ? They are a proper pile of crap .

Mark

[R9UKE]

Thanks Mark. Yes, I'm beginning to hate it too. It was a car I needed to cross off the list!

[Citroenmad]

I'm beginning to hate it too. It was a car I needed to cross off the list!

An excellent reason to buy a car

[ashy90]

Sounds like a nice V6 you have there Luke , what's the rover 820 about ? They are a proper pile of crap .

Mark

I think the 800 is superb. Early ones might have had a few issues, but lots of cars do - certainly some old french motors

This is a very very base spec though. I believe the 820 'e' was a very early, short lived model.

[ashy90]

It was a car I needed to cross off the list!

Try a high spec 827 auto - either mk1 or they also came in early mk2's, or a 200hp 820 Vitesse. Fab motors.

[bxzx16v]

I had a phase in the mid nineties of a few executive barges , ford Granada 2.8 Scorpio 4x4 manual , not a bad thing a bit heavy on the juice , 2xBmw 528i 's E28 model both manuals both very entertaining one of which I px'd for a rover 820si which was a bad move , I didn't have the rover long as It was lacking in character and just plain boring . I px'd that for a Citroen bx Gti which was a lot better car . The last two barges were my two Renault 25 V6 turbos which were very much underrated and in my opinion better than all of the above . Sorry not a rover fan .

Mark

[robert_e_smart]

Wow R25 V6 Turbos!

[KP]

They are rapid rapid cars and can kill cossies which shocks their drivers!!!

Did they not do a limited run of quadra versions as I know they did for the R21's??

[ashy90]

I had a phase in the mid nineties of a few executive barges , ford Granada 2.8 Scorpio 4x4 manual , not a bad thing a bit heavy on the juice , 2xBmw 528i 's E28 model both manuals both very entertaining one of which I px'd for a rover 820si which was a bad move , I didn't have the rover long as It was lacking in character and just plain boring . I px'd that for a Citroën bx Gti which was a lot better car . The last two barges were my two Renault 25 V6 turbos which were very much underrated and in my opinion better than all of the above . Sorry not a rover fan .

Mark

Lets be fair, you had a series of 'higher performance' models of cars, followed by a fairly entry level 800 with the smallest and least powerful of engines.

Granada 2.8 Scorpio 4x4 - a 2.8 litre, V6 engine, with 4 wheel drive

BMW 528 - a 2.8 litre, 6 cylinder engine, rear wheel drive

Citroen BX GTI - yes a relatively small engine, but a 'GTI' - the same engine as the Pug 205 and 405 GTI's if I am correct? Also with beefed up suspension (firmer spheres at a guess?)

Renault 25 V6 Turbo - say no more!......2.5 litre, V6 engine, and turbo charged!

A front wheel drive, 4 cylinder, non turbo, non 'GTI' (or other sporting equivalent) run of the mill 820 Si doesn't really compare or fit in with the above. As I said, try a MK1 827 Vitesse or 820 Vitesse turbo etc. and its a differant kettle of fish to a bread and butter 820Si. My Uncle had a few 800's, I had a Mk2 820 Vitesse saloon.


Always loved the BX GTI by the way. Just shows how a car does not have to have large amounts of power to be a fun and involving car. That is what I like about these Citroens - like the Activa turbo has what 140bhp?

[R9UKE]

Yes, I would really really love an 827 at some point, it'd be a lovely car with an auto box.

Don't get me wrong, I do like this 800. It's so British - I feel like I should be called Clive and wearing a Victor Meldrew style cap when I'm driving it. It's ride is very soft, and there's plenty of rattling trim noises to complement the experience thanks to the excellent BL build quality techniques. Looking at the service history for the car, it's certainly had it's fair share of problems - lots to do with poor running and ABS issues. If it was an 827, I'd be keeping it. But that 2.0 is so drab, and still drinks as much as the V6s. It's on ebay at the mo, but doesn't look like it's going to sell. It can rest on Car and Classic until someone appreciates it for what it is!

I am 99% sure that there was never a Renault 25 Quadra. Odd seeing as there was an Espace Quadra!

Well my 1992 Clio RT has finally been struck down by it's own transmission, quelle surprise d'une boite auto Renault! It now moves off and revs to about 1300 rpm, then it's as if it's been knocked into neutral, it just revs! So most of first gear and nearly all of second are gone. If you really floor it and manage to get it into 3rd, it's absolutely fine, but far too noisy and unpredictable to drive anywhere any more. The Avantime will be towing it over to The Renault Playground at the weekend where it will be my new parts shed

My last exam is on 23rd May, and I'll be taking a flight the next day to bring the Laguna V6 home! I'll be going from Birmingham, to St Andrews in Scotland, then to Cairnryan for the boat to Belfast. If any Irish members have parts deals worked out with anyone on that route, I may be able to help.

[bxzx16v]

No there was never a quadra R25 , loved mine especially the mk1 which I had at the same time as the Scorpio , you can guess which one never got drove

Mark

[KP]

Good luck with the exam tomorrow Luke

[R9UKE]

Thank you kind sir! Last ever French exam, the relief at midday tomorrow will be something else

Naturally, the fact that it's Laguna V6 time in 48 hours has kind of hindered the revision... and I spent this evening stripping a Clio for scrap tomorrow

So yes, thank you for the luck, I'll be calling on it!