It's my Avantime. I've already done so much work on it and it always needs some more work, because Avantime :) The spare wheel is underneath the car like a lot of French cars, the double bottom is because the car had an LPG/GPL system but that's removed now. I levaed the double bottom in the rear of the car because of putting some stuff beautifully hidden underneath it. But without that the space in the rear is better. The nav system isn't touch screen but for operating it you should use that big round button. I've fitted a new heated windshield last year that costed 1700 euros. I've also done a lot of work on the suspension etc. that costed me 2200 euros, and now I'm collecting the money to repair that AC system. :) Parts are rare and mostly expensive so you won't do everything at one time to keep it a bit nice. I've also find another driver seat and some new trim panels but that's still in my shed. Within some time it will be in the car. And yeah, that gearbox. It's doing that sound already for years and those gearboxes aren't well known as very good ones. The sounds isn't changing but one day it will need some refurbishing for sure. Owning an Avantime was always a big dream for me. When I turned 30 years old I thought now is the time and I wanted one with the 2.0T engine and a beige leather interior. I'm still so proud on this car and the fact I own one. But it will be always a project car on the road.

The Avantime and Vel Satis are perfect examples of why manufacturers play it safe with design. Such a pity as I thought they were awesome!

I'm on my third V6 Privilege. Dodged the cambelt issue by selling the first two just before they were due. Eventually mothballed the third as it was originally the runabout for Renault's director of accessories. He toured dealerships with it, drumming up business for slow selling options like the factory bodykit, Olympie 18" alloys, twin tailpipes and even Webasto auxiliary heating. An owner of one of those dealerships decided he simply had to have it, and acquired the beast as soon as Avantimes got the chop. It remains in my mind, the ultimate 2+2 Trans Europe Express. Then again, at that time my second car was an Audi A2. I also yearn for my Multipla Sporting so... ...only true HubNutters need apply!

This is one of the very few cars that that James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond equally loved

Renault had the Avantime Concept vehicle on display at their 1999 Goodwood Festival of Speed stand...It was a VERY striking car to look at, so myself & my father are there admiring it & it's design, but next to us was a small-ish guy with spectacles, who was clearly listening to our conversation. So we got talking with him, chatting about the car & how good we thought it was, & one of us said to him ''Well, what do you think of it...?'' & he replied in his French accent ''I like it very much...But then I have to, because I designed it...!'' 😲 It was only Patrick Le Quement himself...!!! A lovely man & brilliant designer.

This car overlaps with the production years of the Espace 3. The A/C control panel, radio, rev counter, steering wheel controls and center dashboard you hsowed is shared with the espace. The main radio unit is not where you showed it (those are just the cd units) but it has a headless unit under the passenger seat. Same remote as in the espace too. Same engine, but the espace 3 was also available as non turbo f4r.

This is honestly a really cool car, the inside is really surprising and modern for it's age, stick a touch screen on the dash, and boom, modern.

I’ve just joined the HubNut clan…..I’ve purchased a 2003 1.2 Fiat Seicento Active ….. as a shopping car / dog car, for £700, a years road tax, recent service, and 4 new tyres…..👍🇮🇲💪

Remember these when these came out, looked like nothing else. Used to be one at a Renault Specialist where I used to get my Cashcow serviced, it was a non runner but still looked amazing just parked up. Thanks for this review Ian.

I remember when I had a problem with the Matra Murena (stuck brake caliper) and I popped in at a local Renault dealership to have it repaired, when they had a then-new Avantime on display in the showroom. It was the most brilliant pastime of waiting on a repair I have ever had. What a car! There was a very short lived poverty spec Avantime without the opening roof, marketed just before Matra pulled out of automobile production.

Having an insight into this and the Espace has been a treat. Thanks Ian and the owner(s). I wonder how many of the 8,000 odd are still in existence. Not many V6s I guess if the engine has to come out for a cambelt change. Now a great rare classic car.

Reverse tardis.... massive outside with no boot space, no room to work on the engine and no room for feet in rear.... Yet, it is still amazing!!!!

What a glorious car. Thanks for the video Ian 🙏

Fantastic video Ian!!! I think Renault should revisit the Avantime with improvements......a new generation with all the best points whilst addressing the worst. The "airyness" of the interior is in a class of its' own - a RenaultSport version would have been incredible!!! Imagine an Avantime that really handled and was as quick as hot snot!!!!!?!

If I remember correctly the Espace also came with a remote control for the stereo? Love Renaults and French cars. Only thing I never liked was the electrics (windows specifically) and sometimes 'wooden/ no feel' brakes, but they do drive smoothly, hold the road well, are quiet and steer well too. Renaults make me smile when I'm in one. No other make of car does this for me. Thanks HubNut - great vids as usual. Keep living the dream...

My aunt had one of these for a few years, it might even be this one, was 100% the same, color, interior and 4cyl engine. She was a business woman, and the car was leased for business. I only made a few trips in the car but it was a great experience. I should buy one, I can;t imagine them ever going in down in value, giving the low production volume.

My mate owned one. We drove from Glasgow to Birmingham in it for the NEC Classic car show. A magical ride and what a headturner. 😊

Utterly bonkers but wonderfully interesting. I nearly bought a dark purple metallic one, but fear of it breaking was too great.... Certainly stands out, thats for sure

I thought Citroen had quirky French engineering covered until I saw those double-hinged doors. Wow. I think the styling of this car is great (although disclaimer: I drive a Gen3 Nissan Cube)

Oooh this is so cool. Love the interior. So French it is ridiculous. Brilliant vid Ian. Love these 'series' . 😊👍👍

This car in my view is still best looking, interesting MPV. In some way it is moving elegant art.

OK , before I even watch this - the Avantime is one of my favourite cars... it may turn out to be crap, but I will love it none the less, such is the way of the Hubnut 🙂

I don't want to be that guy, but the boot is absolutely massive. The spare wheel sits under the car. The boot looks small because the owner has a second parcel shelf in the second level which is designed to give a flat loading floor - very clever feature!!! Also the bonnet is actually steel, so not all the panels are SMC. I have covered some more details in my own video of my Avantime. This car is also quite rare and unusual because it is a 2 0 Privilege - a specification we didn't get in the UK, only the 3.0 was a Privilege in the UK, 2.0 was Dynamique only. The Disc reader in the glovebox is just for the satnav. The CD player is in the centre console. The back seats are pants - definitely agree. Fantastic experience for them, the view and the open air experience is just as special, but you sit with your knees around.your ears and your feet at 90 degrees which isn't natural...

9:36 I’ve had similar happen to me with my old Chevrolet Malibu Maxx hatchback so that made me chuckle lol! Thank you for a really informative and entertaining video, Ian!

Absolutely adore these cars and so glad I was right when you teased another MPV review coming soon. This feels, and looks, to me like something of a concept car to me and almost looks like an MPV which was designed by a person who loved supercars but also had to design a big car like this. I love these things so much and appreciate this video so much! Excellent work Ian! :D

Very nice but my preferred people mover is the Michelotti Leyland National 1 with 0.510 😊

Since you have driven the Murena, the Espace Mk 1 and now the Avantime, maybe it would be an idea to take the trailer tent to central France next summer and visit the Matra museum in Romorantin.

I've always loved these. I do wonder if they'd not been so ahead of their time (pardon the pun) would they have sold any better? Sadly we'll never know!

All car reviews should be like yours Ian... irreverent, brutally-honest, whymsical, sardonic, and done with real love for the "different". 😊

I wonder how many of these remain. I ask because my neighbour has one, that is absolutely immaculate. I wonder if he realises what a rare vehicle he has

Great review - and very fair (except the boot, which is a good size, there's usually one panel, which can be put at the top as a parcel shelf, or the bottom for a flat floor). I have had mine for 9 years and use it as family transport for holidays. It's a bit thirsty by today's standards, inside the cabin is far too cramped for the size of the car (having a multipla - you get more leg room front and rear in that, similar boot space AND its 2ft shorter!) . Mine is similarly HubNut - less milage but knackered leather, non-opening ashtray, non-sliding seat, no bulbs in the rev meter -so it was lovely to see that mine isn't the only actually used example. Values of ones in need of TLC are not ridiculous, around £2k will get you something working but in need of TLC, but they're not always advertised in the usual places. The forum is a great resource for keeping it going. I have a review on my channel of mine - not as engaging as yours, but informative for those interested.

Just stumbled across your channel and I actually am really enjoying it good honest review bit of humour and lots about the car nice watch thank you

I absolutely LOVE these. When I was at uni, I had a weekend job at Amports driving brand new Renaults off the car carriers from France and occasionally, an Avantime was there waiting for me to jump in. They're wonderful, they look just as fresh now as when they were new. Hugely under rated if a little niche.

'The triangle of doom can cause the dribble of disappointment'. What a line.

Nice. MPVs and SUVs are hateful things but I've always admired these. If you're gonna go weird, go totally weird, and this worked.

Loving the rucksack (Hubnuts' inner child) begging for escape at 3.38

I have always liked these because they are utterly pointless but in the same vain as the Clio V6, they shouldn’t exist but the car world is far more better because they do. If I have a Lottery garage one day, both cars will be in there lol. Great video as always Ian!

That rear window blind is almost as snatchy as Arkwright’s till…

This is a car where someone would say "it depends..." There was a demand for the Avantime in the "creative scene" over here in Germany. For example a cook wanting to show his ambition for Fine Arts in what he does, and this unusual car fitted pretty much to express the mindset. Today, there is not much to show your mindset with a car for a complete lack of choices to choose the unusual...🙂

I've wanted one since they came out. I've only seen one once in the wild parked in Warkworth in about 2002/3 - lovely.

Wonderfully Gallic. I collected my MK1 Citroën C5 today. Given that it’s French and has rather a long nose, I’m going to call it Cyrano.

This is still a super nice car, and still ahead of it's time, I love it! I have had two of them, the first a V6, which was in very bad condition, later a 2.2. dci which I sold after severe turbo problems. Now, older and wiser I wished I did not sell it.... but now I am happy with my Citroen xm v6 with an automatic gearbox.....

Remember I was blown away when it was launched. No wonder I never saw one on the road.

I’ve always loved the Aventime. I love it’s styling, the concept works for me, possibly the engine choice could’ve been better but otherwise I’d love one

The dry humor in this is amazing.

There's one parked in my city and when I see it, I always have to stop and gawk. It's just brilliant.

I think the main reason these bombed was that they were incredibly expensive and most people looking for a car this size would very much prefer a 5 door over a 3 door since by looking at it you would think "oh that would be a nice family car". Then you realise the boot is shallow, only 3 doors and expensive especially when there were picasso's, toyota picnic's,ford galaxy's and even toyota Rav 4's about which all were better for family needs.

Nice to hear more of the history about this Renault Avantime.

Just had a peep at what examples are available on Car and Classic and yes, four for sale at reasonable prices. Makes the Citroen C6 look positively padestrian. Great Vid Ian.

I had one as a company car for a firm not far away from Mr UpnDown in Fareham. A surefire head turner, hence why the business owner had the fleet of 12 signwritten. On a practical level they were so heavy and even though they had the 2L turbo engine thet accelerated like a 1L 8v Fiesta of the time! Also despite the fantastically complicated door hinges it was still hit and miss if you could get in and out when parked in a supermarket car park or similar. One thing I did like was the pilllar-less doors and glass roof, fold them all down/back and you've got about 90% of a Cabriolet complete with fantastic drafts 😁.

Used to live near a Renault dealer and remember seeing these and the Vel Satis. Here comes the 21st century thought I, ho hum but they remain striking looking motors. Tailor made cult vehicles.

The Espace 3 has the same issue with a high floor for the rear passengers, but helped by having more space. You still can't stretch out much unless they're really far back. I think the wipers should go further, I can't remember that corner of disappointment on the driver's side and I assume it's the same mechanism as the Espace 3.

I MUST have a car with a F4rt engine!

they always looked so futuristic

Brilliant video Ian 👍beautiful car always French have superb style

Great review Mr H, a car I have always loved and desired and a car way ahead of it's time in many ways.

I think this is absolutely stunning. I love it as much as the Citroën C6.

I hated the look of these when they came out but I now rather fancy one. Now there are none left!

I so wanted one of these, but I was fresh out of Uni, and you know, because poor. I still want one. One for my dream garage if there are any left by then.

Always loved the quirkiness of these cars. Never fail to notice them on the road.

A great review Ian, as a former owner I think you summed up the joys and the faults of the car. I had a V6 manual (most were autos) whichI managed to coax up to 29mpg with careful driving. Beautiful to drive on long smooth roads. I still miss it!

One more thing… You don't need to hold the button down to open all the windows and doors simultaneously. You do if you wish to close them, but it is quicker to one touch the sunroof but and the two front window buttons and leave them to do their own thing while you close the two rear windows

I remember sitting in one at the motorshow in Birmjngham and thinking how utterly bonkers and cool it was 😂🤣😂

Depends what you call failure, because it is amazing. Just like the Vel Satis.

My uncle had Renaults of that time, the centre front sliding arm rest attacking under braking was so much fun.

It's so weird and quirky it's absolutely brilliant, a whiff of Citroen Ami 6 notch back here, I very much approve. 👍

I really, really, really dislike prv V6 engines, due to that timing setup. We had R25 variants in the US (Eagle Premier and the last Dodge Monaco). Chrysler fans might be interested to know that the first LH cars were derived from the engineering of the R25. Thanks for a wonderful video of an intriguing car. I just saw where Nissan got design cues that they used for a decade too long. Cheers.

you are looking much better these days! goodonyamate!

Just imagine this very car designed nowadays! Pure success!

one of these was scanned in for the Gran Turismo series, and it was quite fun to tune the crap out of it, and blow people's doors off. the States has it's own french quirky style one of these, the Pontiac Aztek (or ASStek as they called it over here in places). they'd come up with a crossover before people even NEEDED them, and were a flop. now I see them EVERYWHERE.

love it! - plenty of leg-room, head-room, arm-room, body-room but nowhere to put your feet

Ahead of it time I love it and wish I could get one in the states

Another beautiful and quirky looking car. Love the color. Great vid. 😊🐢

Great video, thanks 👍

This is very good looking. Looks like a car from the future

Love it! Makes all other left-field cars appear mainstream. 😀

Oh the old good f4rt engine! I would love to test it!

Proper spaceship. I spent ages gawping at a new one at Renault Manchester and I wouldn't say no to one now 🙄

Thanks for sharing Ian,I love the absolute bonkersness of the Avantime. so much of the interior is common with my Old mk3 Espace (that I absolutely loved at the time until one of the diesel injectors wouldn't come out and it sat on my drive until I gave up with the impending doom that the engine would have to come out to fix it , I sold it to another mad man who took the engine out and it still is on the road with around 160k on the clock). I love the crazy engineering of the door hinge its wonderful but bonkers at the same time. French cars are just great, yes the interior may come off in your hand and you may get odd electrical issues. But they are far from boring and you take them into your heart.

This car is something I would buy in a heartbeat. Its mad quirkiness just appeals to me massively and it had some real forward looking touches.

I could see this car as a surf-mobile on Scooby-Doo. It's like something George Barris would have built from a Corvair.

Even when the windows were open, Hubnut’s shirt is not moving about. Not bad. Sharon Stone drove one in Basic Instinct II (which was also a flop). Avantime is over engineered beautiful odd car.

I love it. Remember well the first prototype photos in a car magazine… which also featured an Espace with a Williams F1 engine!

A similar one to this was found in a field near me after I alerted the (now) owner to its existence a year or two back. It is now under restoration in Scotland. It is I believe ,a V6 model.

Only the French dare to develop something that doesn’t look like a Polo!

I remember these and the Vel.Satis very well. Renault tried to take the brand upmarket with special areas in selected dealership's offering extended test-drives. The only thing they didn't do is create a posh sub brand to market the cars under. You are absolutely right about these not being sporty as the body is not especially rigid but that was never what the Avantime was about. I wish the MK2 three door Mégane I owned in period had the clever door hinge as that car was impossible to get out of in car parks. I often think.of these as a MK3.5 Espace with the styling elements of the two generations. My grandfather owned a brand new MK3 Espace in base trim RT 2.0 Auto.and it felt very refined for the time and the commanding seating position was wonderful and the dash had a huge lower glovebox in the middle and smaller ones in top. The heating controls were just like on the Avantime as well. I've no space or need for either but..... 🤔

The “Jeepers! Old cars are fun, folks!” Just reminded me of when my Smart Fortwo Cabrio's roof somehow got stuck open and I had to force it closed with 3 Allan keys and a lot of lithium grease in a cold garage. I also got stuck in the Smart's boot when the gas struts gave out and closed on me. Lol. Ended up phoning my mom to come get me out. 😂

I enjoyed watching this. What a bonkers car. I thought you had done one of these before? Maybe not... might be thinking of Furious driving it Jay Emm...but still great fun to watch. Can’t get enough of such a quirky car. You would rule the roost at any cars and coffee in the USA with one of these babies

I saw you driving through Llandovery today , very majestic site on the road with the Fairmont and the "caravan" in tow.

Hi..I really like your videos ,looking at french cars. Looking forward for a video about the citroen ID DS.Since 2 Months thats another car in the collection. Like I mentioned I own a 2.0turbo Avantime as well.Mine has a nasty problem that I have to solve.The windshield leaks on the bottom end so that the body modul was 30% under water when I wanted do drive again. I have cleaned the module reolderd the contacts and coated it with a spray for electronic boards. So I have to solve that..pull out the windshield treat the corrosion ,respray the alloy frame..stick in the windshield and then swap the carpet.

"What if it now thinks I'm not OK?" LMAO, wonderful video!

Loved these when they first came out and still think they look brilliant now.

You've got to applaud whoever was mad enough to approve a Renault Espace Coupé! A mad idea, doomed to fail but such a cool car. Regarding whether you need the V6, I'm sure a stage one map on that turbo engine would give it the same performance as the V6 if not more

Ian, GREAT presentation! I watched your little story of the Espace - based on the Series 1 - and, suffice to say, I’m a big fan of said ve-hikkle; I’m currently on my fourth - an S4 2.0dci Grande - which is my daily hack, and it’s utterly *BRILLIANT*. I have, in the past, had two S3 1.9dci (non-Grande-but-still-7-seats) variants, when I lived in Mallorca; and a couple of years ago I had to scrap my also-fabulous S2 2.0i Helios (only because it needed £500 spending on some niggles, and as I do all my own spannering, I just didn’t have the time to commit to it). I’m still a big Espace fan… Aaanyway, one of my C6 buddies also has a RHD Avantime, identical to your featured car here, and he loves it. It doesn’t have the glitches that this NL example has, and he keeps it mainly for shows. We can observe the ‘crossover’ between the Espaces, especially with some interior fittings - the dashboard air vents and the HVAC controls being S3, the entertainment system satellite stalk is distinctly S2. I believe the Avantime is based on the Grande Espace S3 floorpan, and looking at the front end we can see the start of the design of the S4 in some ways. As always, a superbly informative and humorous production!

FWIW MG Rover came close to doing a deal with Matra on a rebadged/facelifted Espace III but couldn't agree quantities. This was about the time that the Avantime ended, along with Matra. Also recommend the Big Car KZfaq Avantime video with period imagery. Be interesting sometime to see a Hubnut review of the Mark 2 Megan Scenic (ideally a rare Conquest).

The Avantime is a prime example of adventurous design going t*ts up. It turned out to be the car that nobody wanted. The first time I ever saw one, I couldn't believe how big it actually was.... And, unbelievably, they tried it again with the Vel Satis..... All those little cubbies and storage bins would rattle like hell after a year or two.....

Patrick Le Quement - one of the car design geniuses of the (relatively) modern age! It was a sad day when he retired……….

Love it. It's lack of popularity is a reflection of how boring most people are. And yet, SUV coupes look like they're going to be the next big thing 😐

A quirky but lovely car nonetheless. I worked at a Renault dealership in the mid 2000s and only ever saw two Avantime’s. I loved driving them, particularly the V6 which sounded wonderful.

Definitely a car I would own always thought they look so different such a good looking car in my opinion