Sticking phase one alloys on a phase two Renault Safrane (with apologies to Marius)

[@villejussila1599]

Out of all the car channels, you have by far the best taste in cars. Sorry everybody else - it is just the truth.

[@Petrolblog]

Thank you. Definitely pinning this comment!

[@williamriedel1686]

I like your wheels, very noice, very noice indeed.

[@Andrew.bergin]

Neil is wrong, we come here for waffle and digression, along with premium french tat

[@charliejohnson4037]

Oh, yes. And all the chod!

[@Petrolblog]

Neil has a point, but I'm glad you like the waffle and digression. Premium French Tat is inspiration for some merchandise...

[@johnquinn1836]

I pride myself on my car nerdom, but I wouldn't have known they were wrong generation wheels. I guess it helps that the Safrane is such a unicorn. I've only ever come across one in Ireland (a Phase one) Great vid, as ever.

[@Petrolblog]

Thank you. Phase one Safranes are rare over here, but at least this phase two is flagging the flag for its predecessor.

[@simonp9075]

Great wheels better than the Boy racers Laguna wheels by far. Keep up the good work love this channel.👍👍

[@Petrolblog]

Appreciate that. Thank you.

[@aitorror3659]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your safrane won't turn out to be an absolute nightmare of a rust bucket when you start poking at it from underneath, make sure to check the rear lenghtwise control arm body-side mounts, rear subframe, rear left frame rail by the bumper, I advise to take off the rocker panel covers and see if you still have some metal underneath (I didn't) Another spot they like to go is front foby corners where the firewall joins the A-pillar, floor and side structure, by the front jacking points. Theres also couple sneaky spots up front, the tray underneath the cruise control bump behind the right headlight was rotten on my used to be 2.5 manual, soon to be 2.3T. Same with some brackets and mounting features for accessories hanging off the left frame rail. I also advise to take the carpets out in the rear and have a good look at floor between wheel well and taillight as well as wheel wells themselves. Both of these places were an absolute swiss cheese on both of my safranes and both of them looked somewhat similar to yours from quick glance you showed in the video all of the rot will show up the moment you take a big flathead screw driver and just start poking at it from underneath

[@Petrolblog]

Thanks for your advice. We had a good poke about at the last MOT (April 2023) and it looks like everything is surface rust, but I won't be taking any chances. Will need a new fuel tank strap, which are still available from Renault, but everything else will involve hard graft and Lanoguard. Fingers crossed.

[@HiKennyS]

I like the smaller, older wheels. Looks more comfortable even when looking at the car.

[@Petrolblog]

Agreed. The old ones looked okay from some angles - and I actually like the look of them on the Laguna - but they looked out of place on the Safrane.

[@Tr4iningWheels]

I've been meaning to add my findings about the 'Questor' question through my various hoardings of car tat. According to my copy of Parker's Car Price Guide from October 2003, they state that the Questor was launched in the UK in February 1998 BUT I have a UK Renault Safrane brochure from November 1996 that also lists the same model!

[@Petrolblog]

That would make sense, as the phase 2 arrived in 1996.

[@grayfool]

Looks good to me. At the end of the day it is your car. The waffle is why we're here. Live long and waffle. 🖖

[@Petrolblog]

I'll waffle on...

[@richkmyers]

Love the wheels and love the waffle!

[@Petrolblog]

Thank you.

[@lhadibelguedj9000]

الصافران من افضل سيارات المعمورة و سيارة قوية وتتحمل مشاق الطرقات ولكن للأسف فيها نقص في قطع الغيار في بلادنا تحية طيبة من الجزائر ❤❤❤

[@Petrolblog]

آسف لسماع ذلك. بالنسبة لما يستحقه، فإن وضع الأجزاء ليس أفضل بكثير هنا.

[@lhadibelguedj9000]

@@Petrolblog انت فنان محتواك جميل تحية طيبة من الجزائر ♥️♥️♥️

[@Petrolblog]

شكراً جزيلاً @@lhadibelguedj9000

[@bunter6]

Definitely looks better on the phase one wheels, I think 16" laguna 5 spokes would look a little nicer filling the arches while not ruining the ride. But nothing wrong with comfy 15".

[@Petrolblog]

I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision, but then I went for the first drive on the new rims and everything clicked into place. Soooo much better.

[@RK-cm2om]

Great video, love the car and the phase 1 wheels, they look very cool, relaxed and as you say add comfort, the laguna spokes are from a time when trying too hard to stand out was cool, which doesn't really suit this executive sofa of a car (sorry purists). I remember the dancing dials too on a low battery! Lovely memories.

[@Petrolblog]

Thanks 👍

[@Lot76CARS]

Definitely ride quality trump’s bling any day of the week in my book anyway. They look fine to me, a bit more stock and honestly when you’re soaking up that luxurious ride you won’t give it a second thought,

[@Petrolblog]

'Ride quality trumps bling' - wise words.

[@agentw211]

They really suit the car, I was very lucky enough in December to purchase a set of speedline alloys for my Safrane and they were new old stock never used they are pristine, cost a bomb tho but worth it , my Safrane is also barley gold

[@Petrolblog]

Ooh, well found, sir!

[@agentw211]

In deed..

[@charliejohnson4037]

Keep the videos coming sir. Thank you for the stickers 🙂👍

[@Petrolblog]

My pleasure, Charlie. And more videos to come (with some Club Pb perks to follow).

[@mickmolloy6594]

Alloys look great. Way better than the laguna ones.

[@Petrolblog]

Cheers. The Laguna alloys look good - but on a Laguna!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

The wheels look great. Maybe keep these for winter and the others for summer, with perhaps a higher side profile for a better ride.

[@Petrolblog]

That would have been a good idea, but I sold them on. Would love to ride on a set of steelies and winter tyres during the cold months...

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@Petrolblog There's a great set of original Renault 25 Baccara wheels on the Bay. Sorry, I can't actually say it in full comment was removed.

[@Petrolblog]

@pauliegualtieri1282 Found them. One word: WANT!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@Petrolblog Haha 👍

[@owensteele1645]

Whatever happened to the kind of refined, comfortable executive-class car that you would want to take out for a cruise, just for the sake of going out for a cruise? The Safrane is one of them for sure.

[@Petrolblog]

Spot on, Owen.

[@nstarmore]

I'm disappointed you didn't say "so what's the plan for the Safrane", otherwise love the video. The wheels look much better than the old ones, however they would look better on a series 1 (in case you need an excuse to get another)

[@Petrolblog]

A phase one with a manual gearbox might be appearing on a future video, but, alas, it's not mine. Needs to be featured, though.

[@nstarmore]

@@Petrolblog Yes definitely, the more Safranes the better. Are there any 25 V6's left in this country now, I wonder? I feel the sort of person who has a penchant for Safrane's may also know a guy who knows a fella that might have a 25 V6 tucked away somewhere.

[@skinnylew]

Got to be wafty large sidewalled wheels for sure. My 406 ran so much comfier on the balloon side wall 15" than the touring car replica 18"s......but the 18"s looked so much better

[@Petrolblog]

Small alloys, big sidewalls and armchairs. Three things I want in a French barge!

[@RichardLyleEsq]

Those are nice wheels and they suit the car. I don't think you need worry about the Safrane purists coming for you at this time of year. They're not going to risk the salty roads. You're safe for now.

[@Petrolblog]

Good point, well made.

[@denisvasvi4083]

❤

[@Petrolblog]

👍

[@cjs95]

Yep, I also agree. These wheels "make" the car. The other ones looked silly and brash, and the Safrane is not a brash car whatsoever.

[@Petrolblog]

Well said!

[@benday1218]

the more sidewall the better!

[@Petrolblog]

Amen to that.

[@aitorror3659]

Not sure I'm a fan of these specific wheels. On my 2.3 turbo swapped safrane I'll likely be sticking with 16 inch alloys from mk3 espace, as they do look good on the car and they can fit 300mm brakes, which the car with around 300hp will very much need. For the 2.2 turbodiesel I have a set of Original phase 2 15 inch wheels and I think they do suit the phase 2 cars a bit better. As for ride comfort, swapping back and forward between 15 inch and 16 inch rims (same diameter tires) while you can feel slight difference in ride comfort, its not too bad. Tho gotta say our of all of the renaults I have (mk1 twingo, mk1 megane coupe 2.0 16V and phase 2 modus) Safrane is by far the most difficult to find good looking wheels for. Aftermarket ones look too racerboy - like, OEM renault, apart from OEM safrane , and mk3 espace wheels, tend to be way too angular to suit the car, even the mk1 laguna ones which in some specs did get 5x108 bolt pattern rather than 4x100, do kinda look meh (they did have some fitting hubcaps if you like steelies for winter wheel set lets say). Theres also the volvo route, but those are kinda too bland and generic to fit the french styling. I may go for safrane biturbo 17 inch wheels for summer set on the T5 swap project, if I somehow manage to track down a biturbo bodykit for sale, which unfortunately is very, very much unobtainable.

[@Petrolblog]

I really fancy a set of Biturbo rims for my black Safrane, but I doubt I'll find them. I'd imagine the cost would be horrendous, not to mention the delivery/import duty. That said, I could drive over on a set of disposable steelies and home again on the Biturbo alloys...

[@chamaileon81]

Yeah, totally with these alloys. The Laguna ones don't fit stylistically, they would fit better on a more "modern" or angular design, the Safrane is all about curves!

[@Petrolblog]

Yeah, I think you’ve nailed it. Maybe you should do the videos - less waffle and straight to the point!

[@chamaileon81]

@@Petrolblog Actually Pertolblog is one of my 2-3 happy places, it has helped me cope with some serious anxiety last year, so keep on waffling mate 🤘

[@Petrolblog]

Sorry to hear that, chap, but I'm so pleased this little channel has had a positive effect.@@chamaileon81

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Dont ever get the silversone wheels from a Laguna II. They are made from cheese. Even the slightest pot-hole bends them. We had three Laguna II's and during the time we had them we went through 4 wheels !.

[@Petrolblog]

Shame. Had a set on the Laguna and thought they looked great. Pity about the build quality!

[@ulrich_badmecanique]

Eh, did the same on the 605. At the end of the day it's your cars, and besides de 23 90s french executive car fans out there (13 are probably in the comments already), no one is going to notice. Fat sidewalls is a blessing designers took away from us, base spec rims shall rule forever

[@Petrolblog]

Many UK buyers love big rims and tyres like rubber bands, then complain about the ride quality and the state of our roads!

[@ulrich_badmecanique]

@@Petrolblog And honestly I agree with the look, I wouldn't say hotwheel but more... Donk? Anything larger than 16" on most 90s sedans, combined with the large ride height of french cars just make it look like a monster truck