Faults:

Front brake disc's fractured. Three sets replaced within 20000 miles. Repaired under warranty.

Clutch hydraulic actuator failed. Repaired under warranty.

Power steering hose leaked. Repaired under warranty.

Electric window motor failed. Repaired under warranty.

Coolant header tank split. Repaired under warranty.

Diesel engine heater plugs failed. £180.

Alternator failed. £320.

Heater matrix leaked. replaced £800.

All outer door seal rubbers split. £?

Engine breather pipe split.

Gearbox gear linkage stiff when cold. £? Traded in vehicle.

General Comments:

The 3rd generation espace is comfortable, spacious, quite and very easy to drive.

Good motorway cruiser. (Keeps up with the rest, even when fully laden.)

In 5 years/50000 miles this vehicle has always started and delivered us to our destination. Just lucky? Last years service and parts bill came to £2500.

The only disappointment is the Renault dealerships with their condescending attitude to what appears to be common component failures on this vehicle.

Faults:

One of the rear door seals split at 110000 miles, as a previous reviewer commented, but was easily fixed with window sealer, which has lasted.

Both rear brake cylinders needed replacement at about 115000, which seemed reasonable, not too expensive.

Panel bulbs have started popping at about 120000, and very hard to replace.

General Comments:

This seems to be about the best of the MPVs. It seems very quick for such a large vehicle, and can easily accelerate to 110 mph going up a German autobahn-grade hill, full loaded.

Driven gently, it is also very economical, being capable of well over 40 mpg, which gives over 700 miles on it's generous tank, the furthest I've been between fill-ups.

It's is also comfortable for all passengers, although rear passengers find the leg position, rather than space, a little strange since there is no foot well. I've managed a 1000 mile journey without much of a break without getting backache, although it's not quite as comfortable as my 940 Wentworth was, which is why I didn't give 10 out 10.

All seats remove very easily, transforming the vehicle into a van, but the back seat have to be removed to make full use of the load space behind the middle row, a drawback compared to a Volvo estate.

Faults:

Constant vibration through Clutch Pedal.

Power steering line leak.

Head Gasket at 15K miles.

Water pump at 15K.

Leaking sump plug.

2/3/00

This is a follow up to my first contribution.

A further cylinder head was fitted

Still leaked so 8 weeks was spent in the garage trying to fix it.

Renault engineer send down to London to attempt repair. Eventually picked up car and went to Spain. Broke down and had to come home.

Renault offered to replace vehicle but then reneged.

Renault agreed to replace engine after 9 months of legal ramble.

Before I could pick up the car the 'new' water pump failed and had to be replaced.

An oil was found when I picked it up.

Garage said is was a loose sump plug.

Turned out to be a main engine rear oil seal failure.

'New' engine has started to miss when cold and belch black smoke.

It goes on.

PeteDalton@aol.com

General Comments:

It sounds like I don't like this car but I really do. It just seems that I've got a bad example. It's a true MPV in a way that others are not (ever tried to remove the passengers seats in a Previa?). A real delight to drive. Performance seems entirely independant of the load. A pity it's not just a little more reliable. Renault PLEASE note.

2/3/00

This is a follow up to my first contribution.

Every manufacturer produces the odd rogue car. Most sensible and honest ones replace it quickly with an apology.

Beware..... Renault does not!!!!!!!