Renault Espace (2003 - 2012) 1.9 dCi Authentique 5d (2006/06) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

You are a bit 'alternative' to drive a big Renault aren't you and this car still has a certain design quality about it, even after 5 years. So it says "I have loads of kids but I still have design aspirations".

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Everyone who travelled in our car commented on how comfortable it was and how 'space age' the dash was. We only got compliments. We always tried to put kids in the back two seats because they are completely uncomfortable for anyone over 5'.

Would you buy this car again and why?

This car was my second Espace so I was ready to try something different. I've gone off Renaults for the time being- going to try something different for a while...see what happens.

What are you likely to buy next?

I got rid of this car a little while ago and got a Chevrolet Captiva LTX 7 Seater- it's not quite as practical or easy to see out of but I needed the 4wd.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£18,500

When did you buy the car?

June 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yes, I got a couple of thousand off and a competitive APR on the finance. It didn't help in the end as the car was still worth considerably less than I owed on it ater two years, in spite of paying a large-ish deposit. Very disappointed.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I'd had an Espace IV previously (on lease) and had missed it so much when it went back that I had to get another one at the first opportunity. We have three kids, an Au Pair and frequent weekend visits from our Mum's so we needed the extra seats.

What was the dealer like?

The showroom was always very good. It's the Service Desk that let the side down.

What's it like to drive?

It was very smooth and comfortable. The 1.9DCi isn't exactly sprightly but we didn't expect it to be. It was adequate. The handling was acceptable for a car of this size but the ride was excellent, as you'd expect of a big Renault.

What's it like to park?

Reversing is not too bad because you can clearly see where the rear of the car is. The front is trickier to place in those concrete car parks where you have to squeeze into a 4.8m long space.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Yes, the ESP sensor failed and the whole ABS system had to be replaced as a result. It was a very expensive repair so I was grateful that it failed under warranty. There have been a couple of recalls on the car too which are a bit of a nuisance. Not a fault as such, but I had to replace the tyres before a European road trip and they were incredibly expensive. Neither of my Espace's have had any other problems, unlike some reviewers, so I've obviously been lucky.

What's most practical about your car?

It was just so spacious to be in. We went on holiday in ours quite regularly which wasn't so easy because the boot space was limited when the rearmost seats were in place so we got a roof box for the later trips and it transformed the comfort levels of long trips abroad. I'd rather have the standard Espace and a roofbox than the Grand Espace. Much cheaper option!

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

We loved the safety benefits of this car. The visibility out of it was exceptional too. We had the full length sunroof option on ours- biggest waste of money! You can't use it- when the sun shines it burns your head and who wants to look at a grey sky? If I'd known I'd have shelled out for the parking sensors instead. One thing that they really need to sort out for the next version is the position of the heating/ventilation controls- it's on the driver's door and it is an absolute nuisance having to take your eyes off the road for seconds at a time to respond to constant requests to turn up/down/off the heating. The secondary control on the passenger side of our car never had any effect at all. Ergonomically it's ridiculous and practically speaking it's dangerous.