1998 Renault Safrane Executive 2.5 20v

Summary:

A brilliant second hand buy!

Faults:

Door pocket lid on passenger side has come off.

Fuel injection sensor needs to be replaced.

General Comments:

Drives like a dream.

The leather still makes the car smell like new and feels like your driving about in your favorite chair.

It is fully loaded with every possible toy.

It's far more car for the money with an excellent name like Renault behind it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th October, 2003

10th Oct 2004, 08:33

Excellent car, very comfortable. Funnily enough however I have had the very same faults as experienced by previous contributor i.e. lid broken off on right-hand door compartment, and needed cam shaft sensor replaced in respect of fuel injection system. The 2.5 litre Volvo engine makes all the difference to the performance. The 2 litre version is a bit sluggish for the solid bodywork of this big vehicle.

18th Jan 2005, 08:39

We have had the exact same faults! However, we are extremely pleased with our purchase and enjoy every drive made in it. A lot of car (secondhand) for the money with fantastic boot space.

1st Nov 2007, 10:33

I Purchased a Safrane RTE Executive 6 months ago and guess what? My drivers door pocket lid has come off too! Suggest super-gluing it back on as I have done - they do make a comfortable arm rest.

It's an outstanding car for the money with a real feel-good comfortable driving position.I Drove 352 miles in it without a break once and didn't even feel journey tired after wards.

The spec is very high compared to other makes price for price.

I certainly recommend one, you won't be disappointed!

1998 Renault Safrane rxe executive 2.5 5 cylinder 20v

Summary:

A lot of metal for the money

Faults:

Rear silencer fell of on both at approx 45000 miles.

Air bag warning lights come on just before service due a con or what.

General Comments:

A good fun cruiser scares a lot of boy racers.

A granddad carrier with attitude.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th October, 2003

18th Apr 2010, 13:05

An airbag warning light in this car is often caused by a bad connection under the seat. Solder the wires.

1998 Renault Safrane 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Leave the badge race and buy a real luxury car

Faults:

The dash oil warning display read three quarters full although there was very little oil in the car.

Squeaking and rattling from the rear shelf behind the rear seats after removal and re-insertion.

Digital Climate Control display needed to be replaced.

General Comments:

I am still finding storage spaces and features after four months!

The features in this car shame the likes of Mercedes.

Interior room is cavernous, I can barely reach the passenger door from the drivers seat!

Digital Climate Control is unbelievable in any weather.

Comfort and leg room is excellent in the front and back.

Lights are brilliant.

Downsides include finding large parking spaces.

Petrol consumption is about thirty eight miles per gallon.

Position of remote alarm sensor means you have to be standing beside the car before it will open.

The eighty liter fuel tank takes a while to fill!

The manual box is a bit unforgiving with very little travel in first and second gear.

There is no glove box.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th May, 2003

28th May 2005, 16:38

My Safrane is a 1993 model 2.0 RT auto, and has a large glove box, but the catch is not in the usual place (i.e. the front).

It is on the top right hand side of the lid.

6th Jan 2008, 16:11

The 1998 will probably be a Mk. 2 version in which the space where the glovebox was in the Mk 1 is now a passenger air bag.

17th May 2008, 15:45

The glove compartment actually returned later in 1998.

15th Feb 2009, 17:14

1997 phase 2 version 2.0 litre. Very practical, comfortable, reliable and quite economical (38 to 43 mpg easily). Easy to drive, great on long distances. Active rear steering enables tight and gripping steering around even slippery corners. Suspension very forgiving.

Sound system excellent... fantastic in fact.

Well screwed together, had mine now for 8 years, still going strong at 183000 miles. No leaks or signs of anything failing.

Even the electrics are all working.

If you don't want yours, give it to me!

4th Mar 2009, 08:42

Sorry I must add the rear wheel steering is NOT active it's passive. It's basically driven by G-Forces NOT any other mechanical means.

If you have a look under the back of the car you will see 2 tracking rods attached to the wheel setup. In the middle of the car you will see they are simply bolted to the chassis.