Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong, it has never failed me. Maintenance has been:

Replaced glow plugs at 70000km (it would start reluctantly when it was cold outside, two out of four where dead)

The left door window handle knob has fallen off.

There is a bit of rust in places. The former owner lived near the sea.

General Comments:

It's quite ugly.

It is very practical.

Very cheap to run: reliable, light, reasonable mileage (about 15 to 16 km per liter of diesel). Tax friendly, if you live in Holland.

Handles surprisingly well, although it has quite a bit of under steer. I've had a lot of fun with it in the Pyrenees, not something you'd expect from a van.

Plenty of them around in Spain and France, so even if you wouldn't trust it, still a great car for a holiday for two down south.

Faults:

Catalytic converter blocked at 110000.

Rear engine mount at 110000.

Hazard warning switch at 110000.

Steering box at 160000.

Drive shafts at 160000.

Head gasket/engine at 170000.

General Comments:

This is my second express, my first one was a mark 1 which I rebuilt completely, but which died from a blown head gasket and the skimmed head never seemed to run right.

This one died from exactly the same problem, and as the car doesn't, I repeat doesn't, have a temperture gauge you normally burn the head to bits. Mine was so hot that the spilled oil was evaporating from the outside of the block.

I had a lot of problems with the cooling systems on both of them with leaking water pumps, leaking heater radiators, blowing head gaskets and other mysterious water leaks.

The car had what we diagnosed as a cracked exhaust valve for most of the time I owned it causing poor idling and a ticking noise, only obvious once the car had warmed up.

Sometimes if the engine didn't catch on first try, it would refuse to start after and the car would have to be left for a few hours.

The 1995 Mark 3 Express has the same engine as the Renault Twingo and is quite hard to source. The rest is basically a Renault 5 with a R5 turbo rear axle.

I had to change steering boxes a few times and the drive shafts wear quickly.

They do handle reasonably well in a French kind of a way and they are very practical with the huge cargo area and the lid in the roof for long pipes.

Build quality is diabolical as anything made of plastic will break if you try to remove it.

Overall, nice practical design, but shame about the quality and it ain't a looker.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I was a bit afraid of buying a Renault. I heard a lot of problems. But I am very surprised and my Express is very good.

I am 190 cm tall, but I sit well. It is good to drive and the engine runs smooth and nice. It starts at once, even on very cold days too. Cold days means temp below minus 20 celcius.

I use the car at work every day. But I don't drive it too hard. Nice and easy handling.

Faults:

Only normal waer... maintenance easy, very reliable and well mannered little vehicle.

For its purpose a good drive.

I consider it one of my most loyal employees.

General Comments:

It certainly is no Rolls... but if you want that for driving crates and bricks, be your own guest!

Even on long distances it behaves not too bad, if you do not push it too much.

A cruising speed of 120 0r 130 Km.H. with average load is still possible.

Faults:

Only clutch discs (5000 km after bought it)

General Comments:

With this car you can go very very fast, until 160-180 km/h, but you must keep an eye on the fuel tank, because is cappable to drink 10L. in 100 km!!

Anyway is a very resistant car, in all the time using it I only changed replacement part such brakes and wheels.

Now I'm looking for a new car because I have a hard crash... Thanks to the heavily maded Express I'm fine, and come home driving. This isn't logical after a 80km/h side impact. Now the car runs fine, but is very difficult to open/close the doors ;-)

Faults:

All seats are broken.

General Comments:

The car isn't comfortable.

The rear doors won't let you see what's going on behind the car in a rear view mirror.