Driving a classic Renault Espace from 1989

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Classic car ownership seems to be a little easier in Italy than in Switzerland. As an example I drive this this 1989 first generation Renault Espace 2.1 Turbo DX, which is an official classic car in Italy.
When new the car produced an incredible 88hp from its inline-four Diesel-engine. Now it's definitely less. Much less.
This is less of a review of the car and more an assessment of its condition as it has not been babied throughout its life. Also, Italy.

[@swisscarguy]

Flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it, flooring it!

[@jerobd1jay261]

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😂😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sunsetlights100]

Swiss guy we know u like to drive expensive cars but u really Excel with these older 🚗🚨 cars , hi from new Zealand

[@507MPower]

Hey Mario, looking good! I really like the Espace and I love old cars. Your uncle should restore it and keep driving it, it matches the graphic Italian village and his cottage. This whole combination takes you back in time and gives you a loving 80's scent.

[@tangledtangles1384]

Great stuff Mario, looking forward to more great videos

[@johnbuckle3757]

‘89 Renault Espace. Great old workhorse. Laid-back Italians don’t give two hoots about a few dings and faded paintwork. Charming holiday video - keep them coming!

[@nonstopbg]

Thank you for taking the time to review this classic work horse. Where I live, Southern Italy is a synonym bad maintenance. The car looks and sounds badly maintained, which you confirm when explaining what is broken and for how long. Here we avoid used cars from Italy as often they turn out to have bad engines and lots of expensive maintenance overdue or never done. In contrast, around Milan and generally in the north, the cars are getting adequate maintenance and don't experience major failures so often.

[@swisscarguy]

There are exceptions but car maintenance is not a priority there.

[@niklaswejedal463]

From the very first time I saw an Espace, back in 1986, it has been a favorite of mine - so cool looking! That one even more cool with those wonderfull wheels. Should be restored.

[@dirkvantroyen9170]

We had that exact car, same coulour and interiour. Too bad we had to get rid of it 10 years ago. Thanks for your video!

[@AndrewKNI]

Great video Mario. A classic car at 30 years of age is a good idea. I think it's 40 years in the UK, when free vehicle tax kicks in and vehicle inspection (MOT) is optional. A lovely Italian location. Beautiful. :-)

[@caravaggio495]

Cool ride🙆🏻‍♂️

[@Cobourg01]

When I travelled from Canada to France back in the eighties, I recall being struck by the modernity of these vehicles. Along with the Citroën BX and Lancia Delta, they seemed like spaceships compared to the cars we could purchase. The only way this could be better is if you filmed your uncle driving his Espace as he does a chore. Perhaps he could transport a goat?

[@swisscarguy]

Haha, he's a doctor. Only has the dog and a few Chicken.

[@DrivingDistilled]

This car has some real motorsport pedigree. Renault once did one with a F1 engine. So the Renault F1 car and this: almost exactly the same. And it's also probably the best-sounding car I've heard in a while.

[@cheesywheels]

I love your Espace! I personally think it is a thing of beauty, especially with the age marks and dirty exterior. And it is a diesel! Aww so french. It just reminds me of old family holidays in France. I think it may of also been the first car to have radio controls by the steering wheel (1984). You need to give it a bit more appreciation, they are excellent cars! Its just a shame that there aren't that many left.

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

I know how car people feel about MPVs. Yet they are very practical cars. A few years ago I had a Chrysler Voyager. My then girlfriend and me traveled all over Europe with it. Lots of space, very comfortable. So when a car deal early this year did not work out as planned and I was offered a 2007 C4 Grand Picasso I did not hesitate. OK, it has no image yet it is not a bad car. And it can do things (like transporting parts) my C70 Coupe cannot. And it is maintained just like my other cars, i.e. very well. I reckon the modern midsize MPVs are quite good cars and make a lot more sense than cross-overs and/or SUVs... By the way I was close to trading in the C4 against a 3rd generation Espace, the last one build on a galvanized frame with fiberglass bodypanels. This was a top of the range Initiale with the 3L V6, automatic gearbox and so on. Unfortunately we could no agree an price...

[@Daniel28021991]

Great review, I like this. But I'm more a fan of the early Chrysler Voyager. There are also really rare in Switzerland.

[@stefan5218]

I think everyone should have a beater car like this. One that you are not worried about getting scratched or dirty and where you only do the most necessary repairs (fluids, brakes...) - most of the time you can´t kill these old cars anyway.

[@swisscarguy]

Would actually love a beater, but parking alone would cost me over CHF 1.5k per year. Then there's additional insurance and taxes as it would be a 3rd car. At this point it is way more economical for me to borrow or rent a van when I really need one.

[@stefan5218]

@@swisscarguy jesus christ! thank god we can have up to 3 cars with the same license plate here in austria (only one at a time can be parked on legal streets of course). i really love switzerland (been to st. gallen and zürich), but damn... these prices are crazy. i pay roughly 180€ for one year of parking in the district i live and we complain about that :D but on the other side: swiss base salary is superb compared to ours so i guess it is kinda similar in the end. conclusion: work in switzerland, live near the border :D

[@Goc67]

Cool car. That was a game changer - a legend. Why don't you make a video while you, with or without your uncle, fix the turbo, air conditioning etc?

[@swisscarguy]

Because neither of us is a mechanic. And fixing/restoring that car is way beyond economical.

[@FrankypankyV8]

As long as it drives well, don't fix it don't trash it! The Espace is a nice useful banger... Oh, and a housing crisis in Switzerland as well? In the Netherlands the average price has gone from 275k to 425k in just two years...OMFG!

[@swisscarguy]

Yeah, houses I could have afforded 2 years ago are now out of my budget. I reckon real-world prices on freestanding houses have gone up by 25% since then. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@peterschuglitsch5733]

Hi my friend there are no better cars as in france. The music theater of my son was driving the 1996 303000 Km with trailer in the back with his instruments.For me i love my Grand- Espace the Race sonder Edition, Bj 2001, i got it 2003 with 32000 Km, just out of the shop, and now he is 23 jears old, every two jears DEKRA Checking without Problems, i do the service myselves with my son he is KFZ Master by BMW. But 2023 in Dez the Pump of the Tank was losting Benzin. 14 Days surching for a 120mm Ring to fitting the Pump which was wrong on the pressurside to the Filter side. a new one from Bosch, in the result olso wrong because no sign in the bord about fuel standart. All at once € 1089.- in the moment. but i get a new pump after the tank is empty and i think i make more than 140000 Km real sign, in the next jears with the best car i ever had. France is the motherhad of Design. 2CV, R-4, D19, D21, Citroen Maserati, Matra Simca- Baghera, Peugeot 203, 404, 504, 504J ich hatte sie alle, vergesst german cars, viele Konstruktionsfehler (VW Golf,T4,T5) tausende Rückrufe in die Werkstätten, aus france noch niemals gehöhrt. vieve la france, salut e bien anne. Piere.

[@enrico3512]

Che bella

[@flaviosonetti515]

quanta invidia!la vorrei io un Espace così!Ma in italia si trovano ancora? non trovo nulla su internet...mannaggia...valore all'incirca? Ho una volvo Polar, auto dello stesso periodo circa...sarebbe figo averle entrambe, due auto strepitose, quasi i due volti della stessa medaglia per filosofia di "spazio" .

[@swisscarguy]

Veramente, il valore di un Espace di 30+ anni fa tende ad andare vero gli estremi. Cioè, praticemnte niente per un esemplare ben usurato come questa di mio zio o 15 mila Euro e più per un esemplare da museo. Le tipiche auto medie intorno ai 5 mila sono sparite.

[@josemarevalo2816]

​@@swisscarguyI have one of this model. I hope you (or your uncle) not to think to leave driving this car. If that moment arrives cassually, I would like to talk about the wheels. Please, contact me in that case. Thanks in advance

[@GiulioSerra88]

in this engine J8S missing the turbo!!!!!! the engine currently fitted is not correct, because is an naturally aspired with 64hp

[@swisscarguy]

Well, that would explain the lack of power I was feeling.

[@pablogp9333]

its amazing how you feel that car doesnt have 88 HP, because looking the engine, the reality is that car doesnt have turbo. Is the Naturally aspirated version jajajaja. 6:10

[@Aucard2Tours]

So stupid in Swizerland for getting a classic car approval... In France, and Italy, what counts is that the car is in an original condition, not new...

[@jerobd1jay261]

Well I have to say that in my country if u see one it's driven by gypsys..🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@vivremaintenant841]

Faire une démo sans nettoyer et ranger une voiture...j'ai mal aux yeux🤢

[@swisscarguy]

Cette voiture n'a pas été nettoyé depuis au moins 15 ans. La nettoyer serait du maquillage.

[@OptimusPrime_79]

One thing i dnt understand,my xc 60 2010 produced has 270000 km n it runs like new,super good condition.Interior n outside.How come majority of cars that have lower milage looks like they have 1000000 km??? I dnt think this car has only 200000.