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Author Topic: Any Espace V6 24V user around?  (Read 31384 times)
José V. Gavilá
Full Member
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Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


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« on: February 18, 2005, 01:21:46 pm »

Hello!

I am about to buy a 1999 Espace V6 24V (auto) and wonder if there is any other user of a similar engine unit. If so, could you comment about it?

Thanks!

Best regards,

JOSE
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JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
Will Falconer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 161


« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2005, 12:39:28 am »

Hi Jose

I have a 24V Grand Espace which I've run now for about 4 years and 80,000Km.
The 24v is a lovely engine but the auto box makes it difficult to get the best use out of it - I test drove a 3.0 litre Avantime 6 speed which was a revelation in terms of instant power.
I always drive with the 'snow' button pressed in, disabling first gear and I believe raising the change up points on the other gears. First makes the car jerky, disabled it's much smoother and the torque converter gets to do some work.
My car was involved in a serious accident before I bought it and rebuilt it so it's not typical. But I've had problems with engine mounts breaking so I'm very careful particularly when accelerating out of corners as the drive shafts can pull  out if a mount brakes.
Any specific questions?

Will
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José V. Gavilá
Full Member
***
Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


WWW
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2005, 12:54:18 am »

Hello Will,

Thanks for your answer!. It is nice to meet an Espace 24V user Smiley

Well, as I have not yet got it (I think will get it next week), I am very curious about fuel consumption... I know it will not be low but, please, could you tell me which is the kind of driving you do and the fuel you burn?

BTW, I own a Citröen XM 2.0 Turbo CT and get about 10.5 liters / 100km (with a moderately light driving). I know the Espace will be thirstier but don't know how much!

Another thing I need is a USER'S MANUAL, despite of language, as I will not get one with the car. Has somebody one to share with me?. An scanned copy would be just fine. Thanks!

Thanks and best regards,

JOSE
http://jvgavila.com

Hi Jose

I have a 24V Grand Espace which I've run now for about 4 years and 80,000Km.
The 24v is a lovely engine but the auto box makes it difficult to get the best use out of it - I test drove a 3.0 litre Avantime 6 speed which was a revelation in terms of instant power.
I always drive with the 'snow' button pressed in, disabling first gear and I believe raising the change up points on the other gears. First makes the car jerky, disabled it's much smoother and the torque converter gets to do some work.
My car was involved in a serious accident before I bought it and rebuilt it so it's not typical. But I've had problems with engine mounts breaking so I'm very careful particularly when accelerating out of corners as the drive shafts can pull  out if a mount brakes.
Any specific questions?

Will
« Last Edit: February 19, 2005, 10:51:00 am by jvgavila » Logged

JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
Will Falconer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 161


« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2005, 01:28:06 pm »

I do mainly motorway driving and I use the cruise control whenever possible to get best petrol mileage. According to the onboard computer I get up to 28 miles per gallon (a gallon being 4.5litres, a mile 1.6Km) at 79mph.  But around town it drops to 15mpg or worse. It's very dependent on wind conditions at high speed.

I bought my user manual from Renault, they should be able to supply one.

I've got 16" wheels on mine, as Renault fitted to the late cars. These give much sharper steering and I would consider 17" if I change them again (my company sells wheels...)

I nearly bought an XM before the Espace. I had a CX GTi Turbo 2 at the time but it was too small for our 3 children.

We've driven as far as Spain in the Espace fully laden with kids bikes inside. On the fast motorways around the Mediterranean it was brilliant.
At 100mph in 35C heat both the fans come on and it gets quite noisey!

Will
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José V. Gavilá
Full Member
***
Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


WWW
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2005, 08:48:17 am »

Hello Will,

Thanks for your answer!

Ok about consumption; it seems logical to me, having the XM 2.0 Turbo experience...

About the manual, I will contact Renault locally but, please, is there any way you could scan more interesting pages?. I am mostly interested in 'cockpit' controls and engine levels to have a good check when I go to do the last checking tomorrow.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,

JOSE

I do mainly motorway driving and I use the cruise control whenever possible to get best petrol mileage. According to the onboard computer I get up to 28 miles per gallon (a gallon being 4.5litres, a mile 1.6Km) at 79mph.  But around town it drops to 15mpg or worse. It's very dependent on wind conditions at high speed.

I bought my user manual from Renault, they should be able to supply one.

I've got 16" wheels on mine, as Renault fitted to the late cars. These give much sharper steering and I would consider 17" if I change them again (my company sells wheels...)

I nearly bought an XM before the Espace. I had a CX GTi Turbo 2 at the time but it was too small for our 3 children.

We've driven as far as Spain in the Espace fully laden with kids bikes inside. On the fast motorways around the Mediterranean it was brilliant.
At 100mph in 35C heat both the fans come on and it gets quite noisey!

Will
Logged

JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
Will Falconer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 161


« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2005, 01:13:20 pm »


Yes I can scan the manual if you can't get one. I also have the stereo manual which is separate.

The one thing I find really dumb on the automatic is the controls:

To disable 1st gear you press a button by the driver's door, to disable 4th gear you press a button at the end of the gerachange lever. It's all electronic anyway so why not have all the controls in one place!
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José V. Gavilá
Full Member
***
Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


WWW
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2005, 01:48:35 pm »

Hello Will,

Please, if you could scan the manual(s) it would be great as I would like to have some information when I finally go to buy it (in a couple days, I hope Cheesy !), just in case I am missing anything to check (and, of course, it will be fine to use the car)

BTW, I saw it has a Pioneer CD-changer in the boot... but don't know if that means it will have 6 or 4 speakers... do you know?. I did not check that Sad!

On another topic, asking price is 11.500€ , registered to me. It has 85.000km. Is this reasonable?

Thanks a lot and best regards,

JOSE
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JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
Will Falconer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 161


« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2005, 03:00:26 pm »

Hi Jose

There are 6 speakers, 2 on the dash, 1 in each door. The sound quality is very good.  The CD changers are very expensive and only available from Renault so I hope yours works OK.

Values vary from country to country and I don't know where you are, but that price would be good in the UK.

Regards  Will
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José V. Gavilá
Full Member
***
Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


WWW
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2005, 05:42:40 pm »

Hello Will,

Thanks for your info!. I should sound pretty dummy Wink but, well, I am really new to Espace!. Ask me about XM  Grin!

Ok about the speakers; I powered on the radio when I was checking the car but as I was talking with the seller, it was just a fast check and don't know if CD changer will work. It seemed in good physical condition, but, being myself an electronics minded guy, I know that does not mean a lot!

BTW, I am in Spain so, if price is good for UK, it should be good here (as a sample, XMs are almost trash in UK but still valuable, if little, here; mine was 1800 Euro back in February 2002, and it is a 1992 unit). I know Espace keeps depreciation pretty well so a 36.000 Euro unit almost 6 years later could be worth 12.000 Euro.

Please, if you have some time, let me know about the manual. I am eager to do the final check in a couple days and, if all is OK, will buy it Cheesy

Thanks!!!

JOSE

http://jvgavila.com

Hi Jose

There are 6 speakers, 2 on the dash, 1 in each door. The sound quality is very good.  The CD changers are very expensive and only available from Renault so I hope yours works OK.

Values vary from country to country and I don't know where you are, but that price would be good in the UK.

Regards  Will
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JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
Will Falconer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 161


« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2005, 10:49:41 am »

Hi Jose

As you haven't bought it yet a couple of important points:

The automatic box is generally regarded as needing a full rebuild at 80,000Km. Mine is past 100,000Km now but I know it will need doing eventually.

The (long-life) spark plugs need changing at 110,000km and I guess the timing belt is similar.

All the above jobs are difficult to to do and I think require taking the whole front off the car and lowering the engine. So you should find out if any or all of this work has been carried out yet.

Regards
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José V. Gavilá
Full Member
***
Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


WWW
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2005, 01:32:56 pm »

Hi Will,

Glups!!!. No, I am pretty sure none of them has been done, as current owner has the Espace since it was 58.000km and he told me, literally, he had not changed the belt as it was due at 120.000km (and, judging by his comments, if auto box has not got broken yet, he for sure has not done any maintenance or repair!)

So, summing up, I knew I should change soon timing belt. Now I know autobox is about to expire Sad . BTW, how much is the timing belt change?

Thanks for all and best regards,

JOSE

Hi Jose

As you haven't bought it yet a couple of important points:

The automatic box is generally regarded as needing a full rebuild at 80,000Km. Mine is past 100,000Km now but I know it will need doing eventually.

The (long-life) spark plugs need changing at 110,000km and I guess the timing belt is similar.

All the above jobs are difficult to to do and I think require taking the whole front off the car and lowering the engine. So you should find out if any or all of this work has been carried out yet.

Regards
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JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
Will Falconer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 161


« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2005, 03:05:33 pm »

Hi Jose

I don't know what Spanish labour rates are like but my guess is that it would need to go to a Renault specialist as it is very difficult to work on - just look under the bonnet... I believe the auto box could cost 1500 euros to rebuild, the major service 1000 euros.

Will
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José V. Gavilá
Full Member
***
Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


WWW
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2005, 07:33:54 pm »

Hello Will,

Ok about the costs. Yes, here in Spain labour is also expensive... Well, I hope it will take at least some time to need the major service!

I have just got a call from seller. Espace is ready (he needed to change the exhaust last box in order to get it through the MOT and his garage has done that)

So, please, is there any way you could scan most important parts of the User's Manual?. Rest could be done at a later date, no problem. I will go tomorrow with the money on hand and it is my last chance to find anything which does not work fine!

Please, let me know.

Best regards,

JOSE

Hi Jose

I don't know what Spanish labour rates are like but my guess is that it would need to go to a Renault specialist as it is very difficult to work on - just look under the bonnet... I believe the auto box could cost 1500 euros to rebuild, the major service 1000 euros.

Will
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JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
Will Falconer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 161


« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2005, 09:43:45 pm »

Hi Jose

Sorry, I'm just too busy to scan the manual at present. But most of the controls are intuitive

Has it got a remote control for the stereo? Some of the functions cannot be accessed without it.

Regards   Will
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José V. Gavilá
Full Member
***
Posts: 97


1999 Espace 3.0 V6 24V


WWW
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2005, 10:19:10 pm »

Hello Will,

Well, I did it!. Car is already in my garage Smiley!. BTW, 10.7 liters /100km on first 60km trip...

Ok about the lack of time. A common disease Wink!!!

Please, could you explain me a bit about the autobox?. I am not sure about the 3 2 1 positions and their meaning. Thanks!

Yes, remote should be there... but, at this moment, don't know where Huh (need to check in the car, as seller showed it to me first day I saw the car). Which functions can't be accessed directly?

Regards,

JOSE

Hi Jose

Sorry, I'm just too busy to scan the manual at present. But most of the controls are intuitive

Has it got a remote control for the stereo? Some of the functions cannot be accessed without it.

Regards   Will
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JOSE V. GAVILA
La Canyada (Valencia)
SPAIN

http://jvgavila.com
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