Anyone drive a Renault??
- Thread starter MarionC
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I do. I used to be a car snob back home, but here France there's just no point in driving an overly expensive or huge car. Also people are super critical of "luxury" cars. So you seem to be on the right track (I think you live in France now.. Right?)
I have lots of kids, so I have an Espace. It's super reliable, super economical and very very comfortable for long distance driving. Lots of gimmicks (heated and ventilated massage seats, yay!). It's not a very sporty drive, though.
All in all I'd say I recommend Renault in general and would say splurge on all the extras. If you take the luxury version (in my case the "initiale") you'll also get priority service at the garage.
They usually offer excellent deals on their warranties as well. I got 3 years of free check ups and standard maintenance visits with my car.
As for the specific model - if you really only drive short distance, you should go smaller than you'd initially think, coming from the US.
Streets, parking lots, underground parking are soooooo much smaller and narrower.
My friend has a range rover and there are plenty of streets she won't be able to take anymore and about 80%of urban parking garages a no go for her as well .
Also check your local restrictions on driving. You need a clean car (emission vetted by "critair") to drive into Paris today and they will only allow electric cars into the center from 2030....
We had a tiny electric Zoë for a few months as a third car and I'd actually buy that if I had only one child .
I do. I used to be a car snob back home, but here France there's just no point in driving an overly expensive or huge car. Also people are super critical of "luxury" cars. So you seem to be on the right track (I think you live in France now.. Right?)
I have lots of kids, so I have an Espace. It's super reliable, super economical and very very comfortable for long distance driving. Lots of gimmicks (heated and ventilated massage seats, yay!). It's not a very sporty drive, though.
All in all I'd say I recommend Renault in general and would say splurge on all the extras. If you take the luxury version (in my case the "initiale") you'll also get priority service at the garage.
They usually offer excellent deals on their warranties as well. I got 3 years of free check ups and standard maintenance visits with my car.
As for the specific model - if you really only drive short distance, you should go smaller than you'd initially think, coming from the US.
Streets, parking lots, underground parking are soooooo much smaller and narrower.
My friend has a range rover and there are plenty of streets she won't be able to take anymore and about 80%of urban parking garages a no go for her as well .
Also check your local restrictions on driving. You need a clean car (emission vetted by "critair") to drive into Paris today and they will only allow electric cars into the center from 2030....
We had a tiny electric Zoë for a few months as a third car and I'd actually buy that if I had only one child .
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LOL, I was drunk and a buddy had a Renault that was broke down. He needed more beer money and I offered him $25. He handed me the keys and title.
I used AAA to tow to my house for free and figured for the small investment I could do something with it. A couple of days later some old guy drove buy and offered me close to $1,000 for it as it sit. I jumped on the deal.
Oh yeah....1983 Renualt Fuego....pure sports car. Looked nearly identical to this one in the ad.
I used AAA to tow to my house for free and figured for the small investment I could do something with it. A couple of days later some old guy drove buy and offered me close to $1,000 for it as it sit. I jumped on the deal.
Oh yeah....1983 Renualt Fuego....pure sports car. Looked nearly identical to this one in the ad.
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Sorry, I forgot to click “follow this thread”, but I am back.
Sharon I will make sure the car has plenty of room for all your luggage!
I only drove in Paris once and once was enough! I am in a small village with some one lane in-town streets. Even the two lane roads are sometimes too narrow for two cars and you have to pull over. Driving here is like playing a video game and I love the fast action.
A car can just squeak through in some places.
The “larger” cars I am looking at are in the “compact” class.
Safety is important to me because the car will be shared on weekends with my DD, her husband [and hopefully babies some day] when they take the train down. So, a Renault Kadjar or Captur, or a Peugeot 2008 or 3008.
Meanwhile I will keep researching. My kids care about style and gas mileage. I care about reliability, handling and safety.
Sharon I will make sure the car has plenty of room for all your luggage!
I only drove in Paris once and once was enough! I am in a small village with some one lane in-town streets. Even the two lane roads are sometimes too narrow for two cars and you have to pull over. Driving here is like playing a video game and I love the fast action.
A car can just squeak through in some places.
The “larger” cars I am looking at are in the “compact” class.
Safety is important to me because the car will be shared on weekends with my DD, her husband [and hopefully babies some day] when they take the train down. So, a Renault Kadjar or Captur, or a Peugeot 2008 or 3008.
Meanwhile I will keep researching. My kids care about style and gas mileage. I care about reliability, handling and safety.
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- 8,225
If you're brave and happy to take on an older car, an Avantime is a super-cool retro ride! 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Avantime
If you enjoy driving, the 208GTi by PeugeotSport (or whatever it's called) and the 308 GTi are both very highly rated as drivers' cars
Similarly, the top of the range, fast Meganes are also great to drive, AIUI!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Avantime
If you enjoy driving, the 208GTi by PeugeotSport (or whatever it's called) and the 308 GTi are both very highly rated as drivers' cars
Similarly, the top of the range, fast Meganes are also great to drive, AIUI!
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I know what you mean .. I have to pull over multiple times per day and a few months ago I ruined my tire. I saw that the bus driver who was coming in didn't care about any collateral damage and would rip off my rear mirror. The sidewalks are super high and I learned that even really, really slowly my tires can't go up there... 
My international friends always think they're about to die on the roundabout Charles de Gaulle étoile !!
Good luck with your research and new car!!
My international friends always think they're about to die on the roundabout Charles de Gaulle étoile !!
Good luck with your research and new car!!
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