The Safrane.Info Forum!

Agree with all that Chris. There are plenty of faults but I guess I put up with certain things because I only paid peanuts for it. And it is very good in so many (quite important) ways too. I honestly would take the Safrane over the S60 and X-Type that are also on the drive every time. I think more than anything, it's about jumping in the car and instantly feeling at home (something I've never yet felt with the Jag especially). Fortunately I don't have to follow my own car so the looks of the rear aren't a big issue to me lol. And parking the Safrane is never a problem unlike the S60 which is like parking a supertanker in a goldfish bowl!

I think Chris has listed some very good points,i must admit i,ve never actually owned a Phase 2,but driven loads and remember them at launch when new,and the Phase 1.
I recently looked at a phase 2 we had in one of our garages and just took note of how much Renault obviously wasn,t interested in loading them with toys and they became if anything a very safe and reliable car with not many thrills or toys,it seems that the earlier the Safrane the more goodies you got,get a L reg V6 RXE and it was loaded with toys,compare that with a late Phase 2 2.5 and the list is huge of what was dropped,i just feel a late phase 2 should be really well equiped,the foreign spec cars are fantastic,but the u.k spec was much lower.In some ways the V6 taught Renault a few lessons with the reliability side of things as realised that more and more problems accured they dropped the toys(like the silly computer controlled suspension).

even with its faults it's a no lose (except fuel economy) situation. For the money nothing comes close really.

Any merc/bmw at the same price will be pretty ropey and generally a good bit older as well.

My list makes it look like I hate the car, I don't far from it.

Another issue

fusebox cover, I was at this again as I was dealing with some more blown bulbs.

It seems it fits when new, the minute you take the panel off it twists and thus it will never sit flush again. If you leave the screw out it fits as it should but hangs down, that's annoying.

I've tried 4 fuse box covers on our 3 safranes... same problem. Once they're off, they never go back. No idea why but it really is annoying!

I suspect there must be a knack to getting it right but I've yet to find it.