hearld sun cars guide14/5/04-renault 19

[purrr-geot]

Theres a decent write up about the R19 in todays cars guide.

I didn't get a chance to read it all, but basicially they say the usual

>car handles well
>outlines all models
>parts hard to find
>look out for auto trans meltdown.

it was given a 12/20 & just advises people to look out for troublesome auto trans.

 

[mistareno]

Theres a decent write up about the R19 in todays cars guide.

I didn't get a chance to read it all, but basicially they say the usual

>car handles well
>outlines all models
>parts hard to find
>look out for auto trans meltdown.

it was given a 12/20 & just advises people to look out for troublesome auto trans.

Ah yes..the French Corolla...without the reliability and build quality. Is that the one??

I suppose compared to a Lada Samara, a Renault 19 does handle well......

 

[JoBo]

R19

Ah yes..the French Corolla...without the reliability and build quality. Is that the one??

I suppose compared to a Lada Samara, a Renault 19 does handle well......

A bit rough, have you driven a R19 especially the model in the herald sun?
It's not 'floaty' at all compared to many cars. Handles well. Although the standard R19 is a nicer drive for every day.
JoBo

 

[GavinS]

Each person picks up on different aspects of the article but there is no doubt that its a damm with faint praise type article. Car category = orphan, avoid auto models and the cost to repair the transmission for such a rare car was $3 - 5000? Also not easy to find a repair company to take it on. That would scare all but the most committed to the brand from getting involved.

 

[DoubleChevron]

Hi Guys,

sounds like were being a little negative. My sister used to own a Renault 19 that I drove for several weeks.

It has the Renault suspension & seats, you could pick it blindfolded. Other than that, it's an utterly mediocre little car. Sure, nothing in particular wrong with it, but there just not my sort of car.

eg:

--It's plenty fast enough, so why does it feel slower than my '63 long stroke ID19 at any throttle setting other than flat to the floor
--The steering is bloody awful ... Why would any car with power steering need to be 25turns lock 2 lock

Basically I think I'd prefer to drive an old Renault 12, certainly I'd MUCH prefer an R16, most certainly an R25 kills it...

Why's it so incredibly mediocre ??

BTW: Did I mention Ang ddrive it serveral times. I asked her if she'd like her BX with utterly trashed interior replaced with it ... "I'm not driving a gutless heap of junk like that" was her immediate response :roflmao: :roflmao: My BX feels like a race car in comparison ...

seeya,
Shane L.

 

[BogMaster]

Ah yes..the French Corolla...without the reliability and build quality. Is that the one??

I suppose compared to a Lada Samara, a Renault 19 does handle well......

As a Lada Samara custodian I will not brook any adverse comments about the handling. The plastic yes, the finish yes but they drive OK certainly better than my 12.

One of those tarted up candy striped Vic Police patrol cars would be hard put to catch a well tuned Samara on a Slovenian Goat track in three feet of snow.

Just in case you are interested in purchasing the Samara to replace a Fuego or two I would be asking $4,500 or very near offer...I mean it does have Brock mags after all and the exhaust hangers have been meticulously replaced with bicycle tube rubber.

The 19 is not as bad as we make it out here, it just doesn't stand out as a Renault to most of us. They are nice enough, comfortable enough, perform well enough for a to b transport (like my 12 really), handle OK and in manual form my guess is they are reliable enough also. The looks are a bit scaled up hunchbacked Pulsar but that's a matter of taste really.

:renplak:

 

[JoBo]

R19 perceptions

Hi Guys,

sounds like were being a little negative. My sister used to own a Renault 19 that I drove for several weeks.

It has the Renault suspension & seats, you could pick it blindfolded. Other than that, it's an utterly mediocre little car. Sure, nothing in particular wrong with it, but there just not my sort of car.

eg:

--It's plenty fast enough, so why does it feel slower than my '63 long stroke ID19 at any throttle setting other than flat to the floor
--The steering is bloody awful ... Why would any car with power steering need to be 25turns lock 2 lock

Basically I think I'd prefer to drive an old Renault 12, certainly I'd MUCH prefer an R16, most certainly an R25 kills it...

Why's it so incredibly mediocre ??

BTW: Did I mention Ang ddrive it serveral times. I asked her if she'd like her BX with utterly trashed interior replaced with it ... "I'm not driving a gutless heap of junk like that" was her immediate response :roflmao: :roflmao: My BX feels like a race car in comparison ...

seeya,
Shane L.

Hi, not arguing with perceptions and preferences/needs. But i'd like to post the e-mail about the R19 on the forum. Somehow i feel the info provided was too edited. E.g. there is no problem getting parts. Being a luddite i don't know how to do it. Is there a way - a easy way?
Thanks
JoBo
J

 

[BogMaster]

If you are after parts there should not be a real problem, trying Renault Australia would probably turn up what you need at a price. I doubt that they have a large stockpile of 19 specific parts about the place in Australia.

Caravelle in Melbourne would be a better bet for most of the bits you need to keep one on the road. Generally you get parts from Caravelle within 24 hours which is probably less time than you would have to wait for Renault Australia to supply 19 specific bits.

The auto box issue has been done to death here, - true, there aren't that many 19's around the place but since the box was also stuck on VW Golfs you would think that the bit about difficulty in finding a repairer willing to undertake the rebuilding is a bit of wank.

Labour costs for removing and refitting both manual and auto boxes could be a bit more than on some cars - one of the better Renault mechanics here in the ACT told me that changing the clutch on the manual is fairly difficult as is removing the gearbox on either version with the engine in the car.

The best bit about 19's at the moment is that they are cheap. A manual would be quite a reasonable proposition as a lower cost daily driver.

Even this more expensive low km auto Baccara doesn't look too bad:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35227&item=2478897333&rd=1

 

[GavinS]

The point I was making was the Sun article was filled with miss information about the spare parts and support situation which I found as typical for the local media on Renault and their 3rd return to Aus. I have not driven this model and admit its not one I would covert.

 

[DoubleChevron]

If you are after parts there should not be a real problem, trying Renault Australia would probably turn up what you need at a price. I doubt that they have a large stockpile of 19 specific parts about the place in Australia.

Caravelle in Melbourne would be a better bet for most of the bits you need to keep one on the road. Generally you get parts from Caravelle within 24 hours which is probably less time than you would have to wait for Renault Australia to supply 19 specific bits.

The auto box issue has been done to death here, - true, there aren't that many 19's around the place but since the box was also stuck on VW Golfs you would think that the bit about difficulty in finding a repairer willing to undertake the rebuilding is a bit of wank.

Labour costs for removing and refitting both manual and auto boxes could be a bit more than on some cars - one of the better Renault mechanics here in the ACT told me that changing the clutch on the manual is fairly difficult as is removing the gearbox on either version with the engine in the car.

The best bit about 19's at the moment is that they are cheap. A manual would be quite a reasonable proposition as a lower cost daily driver.

Even this more expensive low km auto Baccara doesn't look too bad:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35227&item=2478897333&rd=1

Yep,

and I'd never buy a car off of ebay without scrutinizing it in person (unless I intend to use it as a parts car).

Having said that, for those $$$$ I could buy an IMACULATE BX16valve, and here's the cruch. No dodgy auto-box, supremely reliable motor vehicle and 1000times the car a Renault 19 is in EVERY respect except interior plastic quality (ie: don't leave it parked in the strong aussie sun without a sunshade in the windscreen).

eg:
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showthread.php?p=113425#post113425

yep, it's advertised right here.

There's nothing at all wrong with the R19's, there a great little car, the sort of thing you'd buy your daughter or wife as a second car (that you don't have to drive :roflmao: :roflmao: ). The most outstanding bit about the R19 is it's medicority

seeya,
Shaen L.

 

[JoBo]

misinformation

The point I was making was the Sun article was filled with miss information about the spare parts and support situation which I found as typical for the local media on Renault and their 3rd return to Aus. I have not driven this model and admit its not one I would covert.

Exactly, but don't understand why as i gave them the right info.
JoBo

 

[JoBo]

BX16v

Yep,

and I'd never buy a car off of ebay without scrutinizing it in person (unless I intend to use it as a parts car).

Having said that, for those $$$$ I could buy an IMACULATE BX16valve, and here's the cruch. No dodgy auto-box, supremely reliable motor vehicle and 1000times the car a Renault 19 is in EVERY respect except interior plastic quality (ie: don't leave it parked in the strong aussie sun without a sunshade in the windscreen).

eg:
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showthread.php?p=113425#post113425

yep, it's advertised right here.

There's nothing at all wrong with the R19's, there a great little car, the sort of thing you'd buy your daughter or wife as a second car (that you don't have to drive :roflmao: :roflmao: ). The most outstanding bit about the R19 is it's medicority

seeya,
Shaen L.

No doubt a much better drive but re reliability at relatively low kms and having spent $10,000 over the last 3 years that presumably don't include a crash?
JoBo

 

[DoubleChevron]

No doubt a much better drive but re reliability at relatively low kms and having spent $10,000 over the last 3 years that presumably don't include a crash?
JoBo

C'mon,

spent $10,000 over the last few years :roflmao: :roflmao: Every car with huge $$$$ spent on it that I've ever bought has bloody receipts that read like the pages of a fairy tale

Show me a 'specialist' serviced R19 that hasn't had that sort of $$$ spent on it.

Ang has driven a BX for the last few years, I've put a drive shaft, starter and clutch cable in it ... Such HUGE spendings :roflmao: :roflmao:

I've spent about $500bucks on it in 90,000km ++ ... God damn, Citroens are expensive vehicles to run. Lets see, supremely reliable motor/gearbox (same as poogoes use), extremely strong body (that's feels about as strong as a coke can in use --But isn't it's tough as hell). Sumptuous interier (especially in the 16valvers), hydraulics that last forever, there easy on tires (unless you let Ang drive 'em ).

For the last 90,000km's mine has heaps of oil changes and not a hell of a lot else. I have no huge folder of 'service invoices' to brag about when I sell it

seeya,
Shane L.

 

[BogMaster]

Yep,

and I'd never buy a car off of ebay without scrutinizing it in person (unless I intend to use it as a parts car).

.

I don't think people generally do buy cars of e-bay without some form of further scrutiny. I don't think it's much different than a classified listing when it comes to cars. They bog on about the bids being contracts, but most of the cars don't attract bids (which means they sell via pm, negotiation etc.)and if they do there is no way that the bid is anything like legally binding. Worst case scenario is that you get kicked from ebay if the seller complains that you didn't pay.

There isn't a lot different between buying off e-bay and buying from the for sale section here - the same common sense precautions should be observed.

The receipt business is always a bit of a worry. There are sharks that follow specialist marques and charge a kings ransom for any work. I've seen it locally with Renaults, Pugs, Subarus but the old double Chevron seems to attract more than its fair share of pretentious rip off repairers.

As for the 19 being mediocre, you are right about that, the difference here is that we are equating mediocre with automatic classification as "piece of shit".