R25 being considered...
- Thread starter Rich@rdS
- Start date
Jack Z said:
Obviously the words of someone who does not know Renault 25's!
A Renault 25 is now an old car, this one in particular seems to have odd transmission symptoms, apparently no service history pertaining to the trans, and a lot of k's under its belt. To repair the trans would cost in the order of $2-2.5K, unless you replace it with another unknown quantity 2nd hand trans.
A "good" 25 with FSH, recond trans, non fuzzy paint etc etc would not be worth more than $4K max in the open market now.
A Fuego is worth a similar amount because there are simply more of them around and they are more attractive to average non-francophile punters. However, as has been shown on this forum sometimes even they literally can't be given away even with a few minor problems.
I am SO looking forward to someone giving me a real life example of a French car in Australia that has immediately increased in value 10 fold...Jack Z said:
18 years old.... < 230,000k's that's about 12,500 klm's per annum...
If only all cars had done this many "high" kilometers in their life... I'd hate to see what a low kilometer car would have done in this time...
My father has a hack / run around / workhorse BX thats done about 480,000 klm's since 1988 and it's had the head off once... (for a gasket only) and the welsh plugs have been replaced... that's it apart from routine maitnenance, replacement of suspension / brake components and cam belt.....
I think we're agreeing from different ends... R25 for $950 (good paint / trim / mechs) with a RISK that there is a problem with the Auto (maybe $2500 maybe a good service / valve) or a 5sp replacement say $1,500.00 (you're at $2,500.00 - $3,500.00 with a couple of hundred thousand k's of very comfortable, reliable and trouble free motoring ahead... so how is this a bad buy???
Any used car is a risk... one with a known achiles heal I think a lesser one because an informed purchaser will focus on it ....
I'm sure the vendor is not having his door knocked down with offers... why not make this offer... "gearbox is a big worry... very dodgy... etc etc... " talk to your trasnmission specialist... see if you can arrange for him to either come with you to drive it or drive it to him... put it on the hoist... get an opinion ... replace the valve even temporarily... to see what the problem is... and make your offer accordingly... if all it needs is a service and vacuum valve then even at > $1000 it's good buying... if it's a new Auto... then you go armed to the vendor with the information and offer $750..... or whatever makes YOU as the purchaser happy with the deal... utimately it's coming our of your pocket...
I've never bought a French car that made "sense" but I've also never bought one that hasn't been worth it in the fun, frustration, enjoyment etc etc that it's provided......
If only all cars had done this many "high" kilometers in their life... I'd hate to see what a low kilometer car would have done in this time...
My father has a hack / run around / workhorse BX thats done about 480,000 klm's since 1988 and it's had the head off once... (for a gasket only) and the welsh plugs have been replaced... that's it apart from routine maitnenance, replacement of suspension / brake components and cam belt.....
I think we're agreeing from different ends... R25 for $950 (good paint / trim / mechs) with a RISK that there is a problem with the Auto (maybe $2500 maybe a good service / valve) or a 5sp replacement say $1,500.00 (you're at $2,500.00 - $3,500.00 with a couple of hundred thousand k's of very comfortable, reliable and trouble free motoring ahead... so how is this a bad buy???
Any used car is a risk... one with a known achiles heal I think a lesser one because an informed purchaser will focus on it ....
I'm sure the vendor is not having his door knocked down with offers... why not make this offer... "gearbox is a big worry... very dodgy... etc etc... " talk to your trasnmission specialist... see if you can arrange for him to either come with you to drive it or drive it to him... put it on the hoist... get an opinion ... replace the valve even temporarily... to see what the problem is... and make your offer accordingly... if all it needs is a service and vacuum valve then even at > $1000 it's good buying... if it's a new Auto... then you go armed to the vendor with the information and offer $750..... or whatever makes YOU as the purchaser happy with the deal... utimately it's coming our of your pocket...
I've never bought a French car that made "sense" but I've also never bought one that hasn't been worth it in the fun, frustration, enjoyment etc etc that it's provided......
And then there's this... !!!Hi Guys,
"Renault 25 auto, 130000kms, year 1989, reg until July 04, ex.cond -$3800 Sumner Park 3715 8209"
This was on the tradiningpost.com.au site
This would be a good buy if in good nic. Only130 odd k on the clock. I wonder if it has leather??
Does anyone know the car?
Go figure.....
"Renault 25 auto, 130000kms, year 1989, reg until July 04, ex.cond -$3800 Sumner Park 3715 8209"
This was on the tradiningpost.com.au site
This would be a good buy if in good nic. Only130 odd k on the clock. I wonder if it has leather??
Does anyone know the car?
Go figure.....
I believe that leather came out with the "Baccara" model in 1990 or 91, I can't quite remember what I read on the Redbook site. Sumner Park is a little too far away from me anyway to check it out...
I called up the owner of the 25, and we've agreed on a price of $800.
Quite reasonable I think. I should be bringing it home tomorrow night if all goes well, so I'll post up some pics when I can.
Cheers,
Richard
:adrink: :headbang:
I called up the owner of the 25, and we've agreed on a price of $800.
Quite reasonable I think. I should be bringing it home tomorrow night if all goes well, so I'll post up some pics when I can.Cheers,
Richard
:adrink: :headbang:silverexec said:I believe that leather came out with the "Baccara" model in 1990 or 91, I can't quite remember what I read on the Redbook site. Sumner Park is a little too far away from me anyway to check it out...
I called up the owner of the 25, and we've agreed on a price of $800.
Cheers,
Richard
Leather was an option on the earlier Series 1 (pre 1990) 25's. Good luck with your new acquisition!
Yes, the first R25's to have leather were actually built in 1987, from October on wards. This was of course on the B29B model with ULP etc.
I am sure you will enjoy your R25, especially at that price. All the R25 auto's (4cyl) that I have had, also did the hunting business when slowing down or coasting to a stop. I know I keep harping on it, but both GTX's I have had had done well over 300,000K, on the auto boxes. It is important thought for the transmission fluid to be unburnt - or you will suffer problems sooner than later.
Silverexec, please post some pics of your new toy when you can.
Enjoy
I am sure you will enjoy your R25, especially at that price. All the R25 auto's (4cyl) that I have had, also did the hunting business when slowing down or coasting to a stop. I know I keep harping on it, but both GTX's I have had had done well over 300,000K, on the auto boxes. It is important thought for the transmission fluid to be unburnt - or you will suffer problems sooner than later.
Silverexec, please post some pics of your new toy when you can.
Enjoy
Well, here are some pics of the beast...
Before driving it home, I thought I'd double check the fluid levels and top them up. To my surprise, I was able to fit almost 2 litres of tranny fluid into the transmission Looks like it had been running on near empty when we test drove it. So on the drive home, there weren't any of the symptoms that I'd found earlier and it seemed to behave itself. It's a good sign that nothing's wrong with the tranny after all...
The auto seems to execute itself better than the one in my 505, making the car feel more responsive and easier to drive. I did notice that flatspot halfway through the throttle travel, it's not too bad though and my brother is used to flatspots - he drives our Falcon that behaves the same way
I've started work on getting the wipers fixed - I've worked my way along and found the stalk to have dirty contacts, the connector at the wiper motor to be corroded, a blown fuse, and the wiper motor choked up with gunk. Should have it back together and working tomorrow. Next on the list is the alternator and instrument cluster (I might wait for our Haynes manual to arrive though...) I checked inside the split of the steering rack boot and there is fluid in there so I guess there's work to be done getting that fixed up as well.
I'll keep you posted on how things come along. Thanks again to everyone who has helped out and allowed us to add another car to the driveway! I'm even starting to like the way it looks... 
Cheers,
Richard
Looks like it had been running on near empty when we test drove it. So on the drive home, there weren't any of the symptoms that I'd found earlier and it seemed to behave itself. It's a good sign that nothing's wrong with the tranny after all... The auto seems to execute itself better than the one in my 505, making the car feel more responsive and easier to drive. I did notice that flatspot halfway through the throttle travel, it's not too bad though and my brother is used to flatspots - he drives our Falcon that behaves the same way
I've started work on getting the wipers fixed - I've worked my way along and found the stalk to have dirty contacts, the connector at the wiper motor to be corroded, a blown fuse, and the wiper motor choked up with gunk.
Should have it back together and working tomorrow. Next on the list is the alternator and instrument cluster (I might wait for our Haynes manual to arrive though...) I checked inside the split of the steering rack boot and there is fluid in there so I guess there's work to be done getting that fixed up as well.I'll keep you posted on how things come along. Thanks again to everyone who has helped out and allowed us to add another car to the driveway!
I'm even starting to like the way it looks... Cheers,
Richard
Congrats Richard, it looks great!
I'd forgotten all about the R25. If my 505 keeps giving me grief over the next year I might consider one for myself (looks great in that blue).
I'd forgotten all about the R25. If my 505 keeps giving me grief over the next year I might consider one for myself (looks great in that blue).
Looks pretty clean mate! (got to lose that fish badge ) Those indicator repeaters on the guard are not original either.
Flat spot is likely to be those twin throttle butterflys out of whack.
If the power steering leak is not gushing fluid out, a new boot and a clean will get it through a RWC.
The autos work better due to the fact they are computer controled, not just hydraulic like the 505.
Go see Ken at Carrevelle for a new alternator regulator (check to see if its got its original 110 amps paris rhone unit - it might have a Fuego 70 amp unit or somethong else. The original really is needed as it needs those amps!)
Have fun!
) Those indicator repeaters on the guard are not original either.Flat spot is likely to be those twin throttle butterflys out of whack.
If the power steering leak is not gushing fluid out, a new boot and a clean will get it through a RWC.
The autos work better due to the fact they are computer controled, not just hydraulic like the 505.
Go see Ken at Carrevelle for a new alternator regulator (check to see if its got its original 110 amps paris rhone unit - it might have a Fuego 70 amp unit or somethong else. The original really is needed as it needs those amps!)
Have fun!
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nJm said:
Yeah, I don't think you can expect any less grief having an R25, that's the impression I've been getting.
Pug307 said:
It's a fair bit roomier in the back than a 505 - more leg room and more shoulder room. The seats are just as comfortable, and yeah, very very PLUSH!
Haakon said:
The pics tend to hide the blemishes and the layer of dirt, it really needs a wash. Just today, I noticed the driver's side doors have had some panel work done in the past by some dodgy repairers. The surfaces weren't finished properly before painting so there are sanding marks and pits
.Don't worry, the fish will be disappearing very soon (maybe to be replaced by a frog?
). Those repeaters are actually fake - they're orange reflectors stuck on with adhesive tape . Previous owner made a few styling "improvements"...Thanks for the tip on the power steering leak. It's only wet inside the actual boot so it isn't a serious problem yet. Would it be hard to replace if I did the work myself?
I tried getting the alternator out today but was foiled by the pivot bolt being too long and blocked by the radiator from coming out... I was going to remove the bracket that the alternator seems to be bolted to, but the bolts were damn hard to budge so I gave up for the time being. The alternator looks like a Bosch unit, I'll find out what amperage it is when I remove it. 110A hey... that's pretty serious stuff...
Cheers,
Richard
silverexec said:The alternator looks like a Bosch unit, I'll find out what amperage it is when I remove it. 110A hey... that's pretty serious stuff...
Cheers,
Richard
and here i was thinking that the 604 had a big alternator in it for a standard fitment back in the late 70's (70amp)
i tell you what though they aren't fun to remove from a 604 but i am working on a different position to mount them at the moment to make things a lot easier