Hi guys,

I have a 2004 2.2 diesel Renault Espace. A couple of years ago (just months out of warrantee) the turbo charger went. I had it replaced by an experienced Renault mechanic but NOT a dealership garage. However, I did opt for the more expensive Renault part rather than a cheaper 'copy' part. Everything seemed fine for a while though the car definitely suffered from more turbo-lag than before. Last winter I started to experience some serious lack of power when pulling away at junctions and roundabouts, and in stop-start traffic. It was especially bad on cold mornings - how I wasn't hit up the rear end on more than one occasion I'll never know! The problem was very intermittent and whenever I asked advice from the Renault service guys or the mechanic I used, nothing could be found. Some days the car would drive fine, other times I'd put my foot to the floor and limp out into a roundabout or busy slip-road like a slug overdosed on Night Nurse. Then, after a few terrifying seconds the turbo would kick in and all would be fine. Eventually this problem seemed to cure itself. Until today.....

Twice today, I have been in stop-start traffic and have put my foot on the gas to pull away, and ....nothing. It's picked up eventually, (foot pumping wildly) but I feel I'm in for another long tough winter of 'roundabout russian roulette' that I don't wish to repeat. Also, (not co-incidentally?) upon switching off the engine, there has been a very loud and alarming noise which sounds not unlike a Boeing 747 about to take off (the cooling system?) which seems to be going into hyper-mode.

I have had the battery, turbo-charger, brake discs and pads replaced on this car, and now I'm told (by Renault) that I may spontaneously combust any day unless I replace the cam belt (as standard procedure) I have done 44,500 miles. Should I get rid now, before this car bankrupts me? Your thoughts and advice will be gratefully digested. Read more

hi can anybody tell me is it alright to use shell v power in my focus 1.6 LX.

cheers. Read more

Older model & Advertised at £13K - roughly £3k off list

I asked for a deal under scrappage - Easy- £16K less £2K = £14K

Can I not get the car for £14K and take £2k off - no scrappage is off list only!

Large Scottish chain - the logic defies me as the deal I wanted was using the £1000 govt allowance Read more

Hi folks
Need some advice asap.

My fella got pulled over last thursday 8th oct, was given a producer.
The pc who pulled him couldnt find any insurance for him on system.
Now i knew it was insured , so rang more than insurance. when it came to the reg plate was 1 digit wrong cars reg starts with R599 they had R559, they apologised and issued new certificate.

right now for part 2 lol.
My fellas had a ongoing problem with the dvla about his driving licence.
he had his licence revoked 18 months ago and was allowed it back last nov, we applied for it in april this year no probs they cashed cheque etc etc, said it would be sent out asap.
6 months on we still havnt recieved it. weve rang soooo many times you wouldnt believe to be told numerous things they had no record of him etc etc. when it came to they had his date of birth wrong on system so when we sent form in it didnt match to what they had and they didnt know where to match the details funds etc to.

so when it came to producer the documetns we had for insurance was slightely wrong so the police are saying car wasnt insurer.
plus couldnt produce driving licence.
so in all not good as they saying he cant produce anything and will get taken to court.....


What can happen to him as he needs his car to get to work, im so stressed about this any help very much appreciated.

Thanks DL Read more

Thought id share some thoughts on this van which ive had on hire since Friday but have already stuck 600 miles on it.

Cab is pretty standard, infact much of the controls remind me of a mid-90's Clio - they feel quite fragile but essentially work ( aside from a couple of electrical bits ). There is even an outside temp gauage but being a Renault, it permanatly reads between -1 and -3, so its useless of course. Driving position is OK, could be better if they made more adjustment for the steering wheel, passenger seats are good though and there is enough space for two reasonable sized people and the dashboard mounted gearlever makes for plenty of legroom for middle passenger.

Loadspace is fine, little lacking in height maybe and only one side-loading door on the kerbside.

To drive its a mixed bag. Unladen it is of course bumpy and quite hard riding, but put stuff in the back and it tends to float abit too much, however it has reasonable handling and the steering is nicely weighted, with a good turning circle.
Gearbox is 6-spd although I rarely have found any use for 1st gear. 6th means about 1800 rpm at 70 which makes for quiet running on a long run. The 'change itself is a little clunky, especially feeling odd going into 6th, but it is light and ive not yet missed a gear.
The engine is OK but as soon as it has any kind of weight in it, it soon runs out of puff up hills in the higher gears, with a sudden slow down everytime the revs fall below the turbos operating range - I suspect without the turbo this engine would be utterly useless as it seems to lack natural torque, unlike say the old Transits unit which was a real plodder.

It does have aircon, elec windows, mirrors and C/L, plus a huge 90 litre fuel tank, so it has a very useful range. Ive been getting about 38 mpg out of it which doesnt seem too bad really given what it is and what ive used it for.

Would I buy one? No, not one of these - at 31,000 miles it feels a bit tired already with odd noises coming from the engine at times, but my wife has said that she likes riding in a van and thinks we should perhaps invest in one in due course.

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