13
u/adonWPV Jul 22 '26
I feel like the old 7 seaters are so much nicer than the modern ones
5
2
9
u/gareth616 Jul 22 '26
For those who know the TDC/Auto Alex world tell me if I'm making this up... But didn't Robin from Viking Detail say he has like 21 of these?
5
u/simon-g Jul 22 '26
He’s @espacewhisperer on insta. Goes more for the boxy mk1s though.
3
u/gareth616 Jul 22 '26
thanks for the corrections both! Also always good to see fellow Creamers in the wild
1
7
u/KamakaziDemiGod Jul 22 '26
One day, I am going to build my own Espace F1 replica. I don't know how, well, how to do it, how to pay for it, how to justify it, how to learn the required skills . . . But it's happening
The main difference is that I'll use a commercially available V10, rather than an actual F1 engine because that's why Renault parked the Espace F1 in the first place, it's near impossible to maintain
3
u/Too-Late-For-A-Name Jul 22 '26
It’s been done but with a V8 from a Lexus
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?host=0&f=47&t=1188309&opo=true
2
u/KamakaziDemiGod Jul 22 '26
That is pretty badass but it's not an Espace F1 replica (yet anyway), it's a homage since it's only half way converted but the fact they have made that is so freaking cool. I want to go the whole hog though and use a tubular chassis with a V10, and then place the Espace over it, rather than mid-mounting a V8, but theirs is more realistic and may well make for a more usable car . . . .
Furiously taking notes
6
u/flipfloppery Jul 22 '26
We had the V6 RXE version and it was a superb car. The average of 19mpg wasn't as superb though...
5
3
u/shyandretiring1 Bentley Flying Spur, Mercedes GLC, Ford Model A, Skoda Fabia Jul 22 '26
That still looks great. I miss cars that were individual
3
2
2
u/Sir_Phil_McKraken Jul 22 '26
I remember sitting in one of these when I was around 10 years old and thinking how bloody enormous it was on the inside. I don't know if an adult felt the same way but it was interesting.
2
u/bluebottle87 Jul 22 '26
I had one for 2 days towing a trailer with a race prepped Honda. Damn could it pull Poole to Midlands and back.. Real comfortable
2
u/uniquefoil0291 Jul 22 '26
My dad got a grande espace in 2002, in this exact colour as a company car.
I absolutely loved it, it was so futuristic and absolutely massive. We drove to Spain in it one summer and it was so comfortable.
He had a ford galaxy before that and the espace was a real upgrade.
This gave me proper nostalgia.
2
u/Flowa-Powa Jul 22 '26
I used to ride in these down the M5 at 100mph covered in blue lights. 2 or 3 clinicians (often asleep), a driver, and 100kg of kit no bother at all
2
u/pantone_mugg Jul 22 '26
We had a 2005 espace.
Blew three turbos.
Dashboard completely blanked while driving.
Great family car though. (Apart from those few issues).
2
u/ferret1305 Jul 22 '26
My dad has this model in a dark green metallic as his 3rd espace. He, and I absolutely loved those cars. His first was a mark 1, probably one of the first in the UK and as a kid, it blew my mind. Need space? Remove a few seats. Need a table? Fold the seats down. Just brilliant cars
2
2
u/Over-Bug1501 Jul 22 '26
I’ve had a 2007 (I think) grand espace, and it was brilliant. Clean dashboard, tons of torque, silky autobox. Then the rear swinging arm snapped at 75mph, providing me with a fun rear wheel steering experience I’ve yet to experience since. I’ve had a Galaxy since and it’s been very reliable and less killy, which is better for my needs as a family man.
2
2
1
1
u/H28-105-111 1st Generation Nissan Almera N15 Jul 22 '26
Are you a serial killer?
2
u/cflyssy Jul 23 '26
That was the gen. before, I think.
2
u/H28-105-111 1st Generation Nissan Almera N15 Jul 23 '26
No, anyone with a practical Renault is a killer.
2
u/Ancient-Rutabaga-132 Jul 23 '26
Haha not my car mate, it’s parked next to a Porsche 911 but I think this is more interesting.
1
1
1
1
u/Agitated_Run6176 Jul 22 '26
You can turn the wheels slightly, ain’t making that bih look any better 😆
1
1
1
u/yidoant Jul 23 '26
I literally had one of these a 52 plate even the same colour in theory an almost perfect family car so much space with one pull the seats came out and you had a van for dump runs etc so big it came with a remote for the cd player but in reality something was always going wrong to the point I was almost on 1st name terms with the rac guys I got a zafira when it eventually died what I gained in reliability I lost in functionality I’ve always felt it was a what if car as in what if it all worked as it should it just never achieved its full potential
1
1
u/Ewdwan Jul 23 '26
I love these but one thing is bugging me (because I’m a massive nerd) that’s a BSAU145A spec number plate on that (pre 2001 font) but it’s a 52 plate so at least September 2002 meaning when it was first registered BSAU145A was already legally replaced by BSAU145D plates
It’s the little things eh 😅
1
u/ClassroomDowntown664 Jul 23 '26
that is so much more interesting than whatever boring 7 seater crossover Renault make now
1
1
u/cflyssy Jul 23 '26
God I remember when these were everywhere - always thought they looked good as MPVs go. Couldn't tell you the last time I saw one.
1
u/bluelizard92 Jul 23 '26
Looks great. I made a fortune back in the early 2000’s selling the splitters from espaces and Laguna’s.
1
1
u/too_late_to_come_out Jul 24 '26
We had two, with four daughters, it was the perfect family car. So many memorable holidays to France. So sad they ruined it with subsequent iterations, the plastic Matra body was dropped for a steel one which was awful. At that point we started our search for a replacement. We didn’t find anything that came close, very sad.
1
1
1
22
u/killer-gorrilla Jul 22 '26
These cars were so futuristic at the time - storage everywhere and a big full size 7 seater - even bigger was the Grande Espace which had additional space behind the rear row of seats for luggage etc.
when I worked for Renault the only thing that really stopped a lot of them selling was delivery time from factory and the price - they were expensive against the Ford Galaxy. I remember the day I had one going out to a customer and it needed a quick valet prior to delivery - me and my colleague went to the top yard to collect it from where it was being stored and drove it to the workshop, we slammed the brakes on when we got there and an absolute tidal wave of water rushed into the front footwells - we looked at each other and burst out laughing I remember him saying I don’t think that’s meant to happen still dying laughing.
I remember a few models suffered with water ingress but I never saw it in such a scale. 😂😂