That’s my grandads old car!! I remember the day he got it!!! That was his pride and joy! He sold it to Renault with 8,000 miles on the clock and the original tyres he’d bought it with! I know how it got the dent! 😂
The interior epitomises the '80's angularity doesn't it, and it looks so scientific. It is nice to see all the plastics and fittings in almost new condition, lovely. Such neat styling and all that delicious velour. Cheers.
The car had a love/hate relationship with. I had a 21 GTX Monaco 2.2i. I loved the handling, comfort, room, fuel-consumption and (despite the good fuel-milage) quick acceleration. I hated all the litle problems it had. Electric windows that mostly didn't work properly, busted heater, busted windshield, busted heaterfan. Back then i just didn't had the money to fix all of that. Above that, back then it was "just an old car" worth nothing. I ended up giving it away to a student, because it wouldn't even sell for €250,- and he was the only one who was interested but also ddn't had the money to buy and fix it. So i called him, told him he could have it so he his budget could go to fixing the car and so he did. Even to this day i still think about that car every ones in a while, and when this video came up, my old love for the 21 came right up. Such a beautifull car. Along with the 25 of that era.
My dad had a Spanish built R-21 GTS 1.7 liters carburetor with A/C. Good memories. Spanish R-21 had shorter gears than French ones due to Spain geography. Good memories come back when watching this video
Oh, how I would love to see a test with a Renault 25, though there are hardly any left, it would seem. I had one through a fair bit of the 90s before it died after 200,000m. Always enjoy your films, Mr Hubnut. Always a pleasure.
I had 6 Renaults and 3 Citroëns, 1980-2001, all with typically thick, comfy seats and relatively soft suspension. My subsequent German cars have had okay seats, but not as gratifyingly soft to sink into. Jeremy Clarkson denigrated the R25's seats ('like a stuffed sofa', apparently). But driving from Norwich to Nantes on holidays, I'd step out of my R21 Savanna or the R25 on arrival and bless those seats.
Have you ever test ridden/driven a 1970's Renault 4L (That with the Umbrella gear change) ? - I was involved in my ''first'' car accident in one. I was approx 10 years old at the time, and a front seat passenger, heading to a friends house after school. (My friends mother was driving, and the friend was in the back). We came to a crossroads, with massive hedges on the left, and a clear view ahead. Friends mother went for it, and all-of-a-sudden, were were T-boned (my side) by a Volkswagen Beetle. The guy driving was a squaddie, racing along the back roads from Fort George (Ardersier, Highlands). The impact pushed us across the road, through the fence and down into into a field, where we rolled a couple of times. Not one of us were wearing seat belts, as all 4 roads are single track country type 'lanes', and no-one ever hurtled down them 'cos of all the blind corners. All I remember was a thud to this day, shit loads of glass, and my mate in the back choking on a sweetie. (Steven Ross from Carse woods, (my school-friend at the time) if you see this, it's still etched in my mind). If you can find a yellow one and road test it across a crossroads, go for it (just watch out for a white Beetle incomming from the left at a fair rate of knots) PS - here is the Google map reference, and map itself. The roads to this day have not changed at all. You can see pointing stright ahead (our intended route), and to the left, STILL covered by a blind view!!) The field we were pushed down and into is seen across the road, to the right. And yes, believe it or not, the small skinny fence posts (the white banded one and the one to the left) are the replacements put up after the car was removed - still there after 40 years) - Scary looking back at it even today! www.google.com/maps/@57.5790892,-4.0143955,3a,75y,21.74h,78.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szUvO2UzhPwmVL39kmW5XkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 .
I have one of the few surviving little brothers of the R21: a 1.7 SPI F3N R19. Really a very good car with nearly no rust (unusual in Sweden). A bit sluggish with 73 bhp but very comfortable ride and very economical.
That's awesome. I've never owned a 19 but we had a 1.4e as a curticy car in the mid 90s while our R5 Campus was in for work at the dealership. My dad went on to own one of the first Mégane coupe 1.6e in the UK in 96.
My freinds parents had a 21 it was a nice looking car. It amazing how many components in the interior I recognise from the Phase 2 espace I once owned. It was one of the best cars I've ever had. Great comfort and practicality as well. As always a great review
My Dad had 2 Renault 21 GTS'S Ian, an 87 and an 88 I think . Wonderfully comfortable and rare enough to be individual in Ireland compared to Citroëns and Peugeots. The 1.7 had a twin venturi carb, so economical at low revs and nice and lively higher up when the second venturi kicks in , you can feel it too. She had plenty of poke for a 1.7. Incidentally my Dad also owned a 1973 or 1974 Renault 16 TL, an amazing thing, like floating on air. In those days over here we had a lot of security checkpoints with ramps. We usually climbed over these carefully in first but Dad reckoned the 16 could take them at 60 mph. Ay right Da. I believed him at the time though cos I was 6. She was our first wagon with a radio as well and the aerial was on the roof. Thanks for the R21 video. Excellent Lad. 👍
This brought back some memories. I had a 21 GTS as a company car when working as a European sales rep. I covered 62,000 miles in 2 years, taking it to 15 different countries! Not very glamorous, but superbly comfortable on long motorway trips and economical (35/36 mpg), with plenty of space inside and in the boot. Definitely needed a long journey to be appreciated; colleagues who borrowed it for short trips found the steering heavy in town and it was a pig to drive with the choke until warmed up. I had a phase 2 21 GTX to replace it, covering another 48,000 miles in two years. Fuel-injected engine was much quicker (120 bhp) and smoother, albeit less economical (32/33 mpg), power steering a plus. But it also had several electrical problems, from the sunroof to the instrument panel, which packed up completely on a trip to Ireland.
My dad had a Mk2 Hatchback 2.1 litre diesel in dark green. That car was tough! The gendarmes used to have lots of them in Savanna/Nevada versions with the diesel and and they lasted forever.
Brings back some memories of the ‘87 model my Dad had as a company car for a couple of years. His boss imported it to Belfast from the Republic of Ireland, as the pre-tax price was lower for new cars (due to the crippling “vehicle registration tax” Irish drivers still have to pay...) As rear seatbelts weren’t a legal requirement in Ireland until 1992, our one had to have them retro fitted! Can’t remember the spec, but it was the 1.7. Lovely looking car & so comfortable, from the little I remember of it as a small child.
Back in 89 I was working in Weymouth and every fortnight would hire a car to take 4 of us back to Glasgow and another to get back down on the Sunday night so I got to drive all the "repmobiles" of the time. The 21 was good but the best of the bunch was undoubtably the Cavalier and strangely I also liked the Montego. Keep the reviews coming
My grandad's last car before he gave up driving was a 2nd-generation Renault 5, and the angular interior trim in this is like an upscaled version of the one in that. Happy memories.
Love it! My dad once had a 1994 (one of the very last) R21 GTL Symphonie (so not a limited edition and spelled that way in The Netherlands). I used to drive it myself every once in a while and I found it very smooth and comfortable indeed. Unfortunately after only 7 years on the road it failed the apk (Dutch MOT) with a rotten front crossmember and my dad traded it in for a 1996 Honda Civic saloon, of which I don't even remember how it drove...
every time I see an intermittent wiper I think of the guy (yes, a guy invented it, look it up) who came up with it, was told by every manufacturer, and not just the US and British ones, they didn't want it, no need. With in a few years, every single one of them then stole his invention, he sued and won - against every one he sued...thieves...carry on and enjoy your intermittent wipers knowing the inventor actually got his due!
That is a great story..I looked it up and it was Bob Kearns and indeed a film was made called Flash of Genius (2008). Supposed to be good too. Thanks James you have sorted my evening entertainment!
Really nice car. A friend of mine a lovely diamond white 21 Turbo, and it was a very quick car and ever so comfortable. All of his friends were extremely jealous, including me.
I haven't seen a R21 in years, it reminds me of being a kid they were everywhere. Always a very handsome car especially in Turbo Quadra spec. I'm in total agreement the R16 is a thing of beauty.
I used to always go for the Renalt 21 or a Renault 19 when we had them on fleet.So different to the normal choice of a sierra or cavalier. I always remember the oil level gauge before you started the car. Another video that brings back so many memories.
A chap in the village I lived in had a gold high spec Renault 25 i used to pass it on my way to school everyday, he used it as a runabout! I though it was too nice for that. Quite liked it, you can certainly see it in this, I can see some 19 in there too
You found exactly that car I drove after I got my license!! I also had the Symphonie. I had a Diesel and the paintjob was silver. I loved each mile with it
I can remember the day my Father traded in his 1984 Datsun/Nissan Sunny estate infor his 1987 metallic green E reg Renault 21 1.7GTS saloon at Ness Motors in Elgin I think it was 1988? I remember that day as the show room was spit n a fart from my school 100 yards up. I saw him picking the car up. So, so many memories of the car, including him getting several speeding tickets whilst living in Scotland and the clutch cable breaking in the A1 going to Stamford, that was interesting to say the least, when your father tries driving back home and trying to cross the now closed crossing for Wittering village/married quarters.......... To think he traded it in for a 1989 Audi 80 diesel at Peterborough Audi I think 1993? I never got the chance to get behind the wheel of it when I started taking driving lessons when my father offered to give me extra lessons. I still wonder if E399GST is sat in someone's garage?
Thank you for another excellent video! I was so excited when I saw the car you were reviewing. We got it in the USA very briefly as the Renault/Eagle Medallion. It was during the Chrysler buyout of AMC/Renault and was very much the unloved step child the cane along as part of the marriage and was treated as such. I doubt more that a few thousand units were sold on these shores with an elongated beak for stronger bumpers and a front grill to make it more American. Coming from a Renault loving family, I was excited when it came here and disappointed it did so poorly.
Always had a soft spot for the Renault 21, especially the turbo. But this model is lovely. I really like the understated exterior design and the interior is just wonderful - especially the dashboard. Great cars!
French cars from the 80s and 90s can be so underrated. Not especially exciting but comfort-wise, for a motorway cruiser, my old Pug 405 was amazing - you never arrived anywhere feeling tired after hours of motorway driving :)
My Dad successively owned three Savanna estate versions of the 21 between the late 80s and mid-late 90s. I appreciate them so much more now that you never see any.. ever. I remember electric windows would fail from time to time (first one was wind-up windows all round, second electric up front wind-up in the back and third car electric all round) but he clocked up plenty of miles with work and family holidays from the Midlands to the farthest corners of France and back. I also somehow managed to shut the door on my finger one day.. nail turned purple, fell off and eventually grew back but otherwise finger survived unscathed. Not enough finger safety taken into consideration by NCAP in my opinion ;) Great cars! Thanks for the review.
Back in 1985 we got mail telling us that we actually won a Renault 21 estate. The only thing I had to do was to pick the colour (white). Still waiting for it.
That was brilliant! I remember the 21 so well as my work colleague had one and then I had a 19 TXE. I remember the fan cutting in like that. I used to go out on the town on a Friday night and return at 3 in the morning and park it up on the driveway right outside my parent's bedroom window at the front of the bungalow. Of course the fan would cut in and roar away for ages. I was not popular in the morning! Oh happy days lol :)
Another car from my youth! My Dad had a 2.1 turbo diesel and it went like stink, previous to that he had a 20 diesel and a 19 Charmade diesel too. Underated cars and not one of them gave a moments trouble. I also had an 11 GTX and I remember they called the seats 'Monotrace' and had a central mounting so you could put your legs either side of the seat.
I loooooove they way you have colour co-ordinated the car and hedge! I too liked the 21, but I wouldn't put it over the BX. Never really been a Peugeot lover, but the 405 was a lovely Pininfarina design.
I think the colour co-ordination didn't happen that way at first. Y'see, the hedge was initially green. As Renaults tend to rust pretty quick, my theory is that whatever iron oxide was under the car, it was shed quickly by the car and infected the hedge....
Great video. Very glad you finally did a piece on the R21! We had one in the family years ago, a 1994 Savanna 2.1 TD with 7 seats. It was absolutely brilliant and one of best cars we ever had. Remarkably sturdy as well!
A friend of mine just sold his Renault 21 turbo phase 2 was lovely to see one again I would love to see you do a review on a Renault 25 and the safrane
Oh the memories, my mum bought a 21 estate around 1989, had a family holiday in somerset in that thing, 4 kids, 2 adults, a dog and so much luggage, it performed well, even getting up Porlock Hill with a bit of a prayer!
I had a Renualt 21, I really liked it, but it was the shortest car ownership of any car I've ever owned. I bought it for £100 ish - got it to the end of my road and the clutch went and the car went from there to the breakers as I was broke and couldn't find the money to get it to a garage and fix it... All I've been left with ever since is the memory of how I liked the Gear box. lol
That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, as an enthusiastic roundabout or evasive manouver slides your takeaway across the dash and ejects it into the footwell when it meets the end... Some Ford Transits have a hook on the side of the footwell/centre console to hang takeaway bags so they can't fall over.
Fantastic video - a great trip down memory lane. My parents had 2 of these (consecutively) between 94 and 01 (a G plate then K plate), but in Savanna guise. I think they were also 1.7 GTS, the first was a 5 seat with 2 retro-fitted seats (as they couldn't find a 7 seater except I think a 504 but it had rear facing seats), but as the first one was written off by a truck, my parents managed to get the insurance company to pay for a 7 seater (eventually). So, most of my early memories of cars is a 21, the dials look familiar, but I think the overall dash layout had changed, I can't really recall. It's nice to see, everything like door handles, lock indicators, the map reading light, the doorhandle blanking plug (thought that was normal) - and that centre armrest (many an argument fought over how much of it one could use up with their arm!). It's all the little things, and as you say, they are pretty much forgotten about, I can't even recall the last time I saw any 21, anywhere. Seeing this video now, I think it explains my thinking that so many other cars I went in subsequently were crap, no centre armrests, no lovely plush seats and great ride, poor practicality - my enduring memory of my only ride in a late model escort that it was an awful car - now I know its because I was given high standards when young. Now I just want to go and buy a Savanna - don't think the wife would let me, even if I could find one!
I used a late Savanna as a works pool car in the early 90s. It was nearly new. It was injected and the fan still used to run on for ages after shut down.
Thanks Mr. HubNut for the fantastic review. I had 1992 21 GTS Phase2 saloon in white. It was written off in 1999. I still have the orange Haynes manual and genuinely miss the car. The temperature gauge didn't ever really work and I did need to remove the fuse for the cooling fans due to battery drain. I was often asked if it was a Montego, 80s styling hey!
had a 21 on an 87 e plate . Brings back french electric memories. spent most journeys looking for a hill to park on even after replacing many parts. Glad to part ex it for a seat when vw took over in the early nineties.
good times, happy times, unique times! Brings back so many memories - my dad had a Renault 21 2.0 GTX Auto Savanna Estate in Silver with Blue Velour, that thing would go like stink in sports mode on the auto box. The centre speaker was intriguing, more like a subwoofer?, and the tape player chewed up tapes in the end, but a great family wagon. The dealer offered him a corker of a deal on a new Renault 25 TXE 2.0 Manual, pine green metallic with beige velour. Our first taste of an executive motor!! He ran that for 2 - 3 years before being lured by a Renault Safrane 2.2vi 12v RT, in brooklands green with black leather. Never had leather before, never had air con before .....until now, a whole new world beckoned! Thanks a another fab video Ian.
My Uncle had one of those as a company car. He remarked that 'the more gizmos there are, the more there is to go wrong'. Goodness knows what he would of thought of todays cars!
Thank you Mr HubNut for a cracking video. Brought back lovely memories of my late Father's metallic blue "Turbo D" which looks to have been to this GTS spec. I agree, the pre face lifts are so much neater in design. A super car, now nearly extinct like so many of the era. I hope you had as much fun driving it as I did watching!
0:15 That grille , those wheels. I am in love. 4:15 Love the location for the choke 4:36 Ah yes, we still have that radio somewhere, with the steer column control, chewing up all tapes you feed it. Loved the thing when it worked though, such a pleasant machine. My goodness this may be my favourite dashboard of all time. 13:09 I am in love. There's no way around this. I might like this more than a BX and I haven't even driven it. I know how horribly unreliable they are, the one my aunt had was more at our place than at hers because my dad was always working on it. But oh my... Dit you know new Renaults still have a very similar stereo controller with the big volume switches on the side and a scroll wheel for channels? 18:04 Typical old Renault. Corner, slight incline, hiccup. 20:38 The Dorky. Yup, very Renault. My 5 and our 19 had the same keys.
oh yes when i was at school our old headmaster had the Renault 21 top spec think it was 2.2 turbo I thought it was the Dogs Bollocks they were Quick cars I Always wanted one 21 & 25 Ian have fun : )
Had a 21 - E836WKN, lovely car. Future wife managed to get it into first gear at 50mph going up a hill, bent the driveshafts and all sorts of other damage. Repaired and traded in, saw it years later as a taxi in Canterbury!
My parents had a 2.0 21. We had a 1.8 Granada but it struggled to tow a caravan so they swapped to the 21. I remember as as kid how soft and comfortable the rear seats were.
Great review thanks. Had almost forgotten about the 21 which is shameful really because, as you said it's a lovely looking car.... Your Monaco wasn't the most HubNut of choices though I suppose it depends how old it was when you had it...... My Mam had a 19 txe on an F plate. Somewhat reminds me of it. It was quite pokey with that 1.7 motor in it and also had a wafty ride!
My dad's was an '89 Nevada (savanna) GTS, phase two but still with the old grill with the offset logo, and i don't remember this fan issue. Maybe it was a later engine. Other than that, trip down memory lane for me with that trip.
I see a lot of Talbot Tagora in styling, with its boxy lines and large glass area and a bit heavy round the back and fascia has a good bit of Tagora, even the rear wheels are a bit inset although not as bad as the Tagora.
That 1721cc engine I believe was a result of the partnership between Renault and Volvo at the time. The engine also found its way into the GTX and Monaco versions of the R5 but have been overshadowed by the GT Turbo. The 21 was a very understated car with a low drag coefficient for its time. I would have loved a review on a Monaco or Turbo or even a too spec 25 if one could be found. I've had several Renault's starting with a 1988 R5 TL 1108cc (with optional 5 speed transmission) through to a facelifted Laguna 2 Privilege which was by far the most remarkable car I've ever owned and for me the pinnacle of Renault's evolution.
Yes you are right, i had a R5 GTX 1.7 same engine, , then my best car ever was a R5 Monaco 1.7, full leather, power steering, elec windows, sunroof, gold colour seatbelts, leather steering wheel, alloys, was fast and nice to drive, blewup 3 alternators, and 3 clutch cables, but no engine probs like the turbos, , was 90hp also, and less than 800kg
@@fromtheair4040 until last year I didn't realise they also did a GTE but I don't think it was availabl in the UK. To what I can see I think it was the GT turbo body but with a 1721cc N/A engine. I think.the turbo also had vertical rear shocks whereas all other versions had diagonal rear shocks to increase boot space. Turbo prices have gone through the roof but I think the GTX and Monaco are somewhat overshadowed despite being such great cars. I had a 1988 phase 2 1108cc TL with optional 5spd transmition. My dad owned two 956cc TC, both 1986 Ph1 in midnight blue and red. Then he had two of the last model which was the Campus Prima fitted with a 1390cc fuel injected engine on 93 L and 94 M plate before moving onto a Mégane Coupe in 96. My Aunt briefly had a 1985 GTL 1397cc 5dr too. I still.have a soft spot for the R5 all these years later.
Really like the look of the 21 and those smoked rear light clusters. Reminds me of the Y Reg Renault 9 1.4 i used to own in the 90s. Another interesting looking car which had a lovely ride quality with seats as comfortable as sitting in an armchair.
I think engineers in the sixties were designing and tuning for flexibility and reliability. By the eighties they were beginning to worry about fuel economy and the settings and jettings were "compromised" to achieve this.
True. Gasoline also changed somewhere in late 80's from "conventional" to "reformulated", i.e. oxygen-containing MTBE was introduced in the gasoline to yield cleaner emissions. In some cases this led to too lean burning and carburetor re-jetting was necessary. Without rejetting tha carbureted cars might feel a bit sluggish, have some dead spots at some revs etc. Needless to say the ethanol containing gasoline of today has made things for carbureted cars even worse: leaner mixture and detrimental effects on rubber fuel lines, seals and carburetor diaphragms.
I haven't seen one in decades! Here in the US it was the Renault/Eagle Medallion. 2.2 litre FI was the standard and only engine, as well as a wagon (Estate for those in the UK 🇬🇧. Love the dash, typical Renault. When AMC was bought by Chrysler, the Renault was rebadged as the Eagle, which included the brand new Premier, which was also a Renault rebadge. And I remember the speaker system in US vehicles using Jensen speakers to produce very good sound quality, as many were installed aftermarket. I'm envious!
@@jorgealvarez3917 I went on Old Car Brochures and couldn't find anything on the Medallion. And the Renault 18 sedan. I know they called the coupe the Fuego, and they called the 18 wagon (estate) the Touring, via 1985. Nothing under the Eagle marque either. Which makes all of these models extremely rare!
@@seed_drill7135 Now that I have come to think about it, Renault did sell the 18 in the US, as a sedan & wagon (saloon and estate for those in the UK 🇬🇧). All of these models are extremely rare. I remember the Fuego Turbo, low horsepower, like the Subaru, their turbo only making 110 horsepower around 1983-1985.
Lovely looking car again Ian thanks again. Looking down the side from the back at some angles I could see a bit of 1984 Audi 100 too. Or is that just me? 😮
I had an 11 GTS, a 20 TS, and a 25 GTS automatic, which all insurance companies deemed a 'Symphony', although it wasn't! The 20 was a supremely comfortable 2-litre three-piece suite on wheels, the 11 was a 1700 XR3 chaser (But NOT XR3i) and the 25 was a big cuddly wafter! :-) All 3 were lovely to drive, quiet comfortable, and efficient, but I regret losing the 11 most of all! It came off second best to a speeding SD1 at a junction! :-(
I agree, the pre-facelift front is the best looking. I have always loved that front styling and the low slung wipers. There is something of perfect proportions and clean lines to the front design that makes it very attractive.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Christ on a bike! I went to my wedding in a Renault 21! The car lasted longer than my marriage ;-)
I went to my wedding in a Fiat Brava.......marriage and car both failed me too!
@@iseeolly9959 "Bugger"!
Jesus lol.
@Mark Morrissey Ha no marriage lasted 17 months!
@@EnidAgnusDei we made 17 years before divorce..(still love the lady but nothing lasts forever) ....did Renault make a 17 ?
That’s my grandads old car!! I remember the day he got it!!! That was his pride and joy! He sold it to Renault with 8,000 miles on the clock and the original tyres he’d bought it with! I know how it got the dent! 😂
The interior epitomises the '80's angularity doesn't it, and it looks so scientific. It is nice to see all the plastics and fittings in almost new condition, lovely. Such neat styling and all that delicious velour. Cheers.
Brings back memories for me. I had the Renault 25 V6 Turbo of the same year, same colour.. It was THE best car I have ever driven and owned.
My dad sold Renaults new for many years, one of his last demonstrators was a 21 saloon on a F plate. Lovely car in its day. Good memories of these!
The car had a love/hate relationship with. I had a 21 GTX Monaco 2.2i. I loved the handling, comfort, room, fuel-consumption and (despite the good fuel-milage) quick acceleration.
I hated all the litle problems it had. Electric windows that mostly didn't work properly, busted heater, busted windshield, busted heaterfan. Back then i just didn't had the money to fix all of that. Above that, back then it was "just an old car" worth nothing. I ended up giving it away to a student, because it wouldn't even sell for €250,- and he was the only one who was interested but also ddn't had the money to buy and fix it. So i called him, told him he could have it so he his budget could go to fixing the car and so he did.
Even to this day i still think about that car every ones in a while, and when this video came up, my old love for the 21 came right up. Such a beautifull car. Along with the 25 of that era.
My dad had a Spanish built R-21 GTS 1.7 liters carburetor with A/C. Good memories. Spanish R-21 had shorter gears than French ones due to Spain geography. Good memories come back when watching this video
Oh, how I would love to see a test with a Renault 25, though there are hardly any left, it would seem. I had one through a fair bit of the 90s before it died after 200,000m. Always enjoy your films, Mr Hubnut. Always a pleasure.
Re the fan overrun - quite possibly the best impression of a vacuum cleaner a car can make.
I had 6 Renaults and 3 Citroëns, 1980-2001, all with typically thick, comfy seats and relatively soft suspension. My subsequent German cars have had okay seats, but not as gratifyingly soft to sink into. Jeremy Clarkson denigrated the R25's seats ('like a stuffed sofa', apparently). But driving from Norwich to Nantes on holidays, I'd step out of my R21 Savanna or the R25 on arrival and bless those seats.
Between this and The Peugeot 205 Story on Big Car, I'm in French classic car bliss today.
I just came from the same video!
Me too!
Twilight Zone theme...
Watching this I miss my 1994 Nevada 2.2 so much. Great comfortabel car for family and business.
Always had a lot of love for the 21. Would love to see a Safrane test drive too, for peak Renault-slushiness.
Should be possible. My mate Rich has a V6 Safrane at the moment...
I agree. A Safrane video would be greatly appreciated. ..and especially a V6 one :)
Yes please!!
This would be great
There is a Safrane with a five cilinder 2.5 litre Volvo engine. Would love to drive that someday.
Have you ever test ridden/driven a 1970's Renault 4L (That with the Umbrella gear change) ? - I was involved in my ''first'' car accident in one. I was approx 10 years old at the time, and a front seat passenger, heading to a friends house after school. (My friends mother was driving, and the friend was in the back). We came to a crossroads, with massive hedges on the left, and a clear view ahead. Friends mother went for it, and all-of-a-sudden, were were T-boned (my side) by a Volkswagen Beetle. The guy driving was a squaddie, racing along the back roads from Fort George (Ardersier, Highlands). The impact pushed us across the road, through the fence and down into into a field, where we rolled a couple of times. Not one of us were wearing seat belts, as all 4 roads are single track country type 'lanes', and no-one ever hurtled down them 'cos of all the blind corners. All I remember was a thud to this day, shit loads of glass, and my mate in the back choking on a sweetie. (Steven Ross from Carse woods, (my school-friend at the time) if you see this, it's still etched in my mind).
If you can find a yellow one and road test it across a crossroads, go for it (just watch out for a white Beetle incomming from the left at a fair rate of knots)
PS - here is the Google map reference, and map itself. The roads to this day have not changed at all. You can see pointing stright ahead (our intended route), and to the left, STILL covered by a blind view!!) The field we were pushed down and into is seen across the road, to the right. And yes, believe it or not, the small skinny fence posts (the white banded one and the one to the left) are the replacements put up after the car was removed - still there after 40 years) - Scary looking back at it even today!
www.google.com/maps/@57.5790892,-4.0143955,3a,75y,21.74h,78.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szUvO2UzhPwmVL39kmW5XkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
.
“Rare case of more luxury gets you more blanking plugs” like that comment.
I found what should be there and now the only blanks I have are for mechanical windows.
My nemesis at the Eagle dealership. “Perdition, thy name is Eagle Medallion.”
This takes me back my school teacher had a Monaco version very well appointed car
I have one of the few surviving little brothers of the R21: a 1.7 SPI F3N R19. Really a very good car with nearly no rust (unusual in Sweden). A bit sluggish with 73 bhp but very comfortable ride and very economical.
That's awesome. I've never owned a 19 but we had a 1.4e as a curticy car in the mid 90s while our R5 Campus was in for work at the dealership. My dad went on to own one of the first Mégane coupe 1.6e in the UK in 96.
The big question is which has more comfortable ride; Renault 21 or Peugeot 405???!
My freinds parents had a 21 it was a nice looking car. It amazing how many components in the interior I recognise from the Phase 2 espace I once owned. It was one of the best cars I've ever had. Great comfort and practicality as well. As always a great review
Always liked the 21, I remember my dad borrowing his colleagues for a few days and it was lovely
My Dad had 2 Renault 21 GTS'S Ian, an 87 and an 88 I think . Wonderfully comfortable and rare enough to be individual in Ireland compared to Citroëns and Peugeots. The 1.7 had a twin venturi carb, so economical at low revs and nice and lively higher up when the second venturi kicks in , you can feel it too. She had plenty of poke for a 1.7. Incidentally my Dad also owned a 1973 or 1974 Renault 16 TL, an amazing thing, like floating on air. In those days over here we had a lot of security checkpoints with ramps. We usually climbed over these carefully in first but Dad reckoned the 16 could take them at 60 mph. Ay right Da. I believed him at the time though cos I was 6. She was our first wagon with a radio as well and the aerial was on the roof. Thanks for the R21 video. Excellent Lad. 👍
This brought back some memories. I had a 21 GTS as a company car when working as a European sales rep. I covered 62,000 miles in 2 years, taking it to 15 different countries! Not very glamorous, but superbly comfortable on long motorway trips and economical (35/36 mpg), with plenty of space inside and in the boot. Definitely needed a long journey to be appreciated; colleagues who borrowed it for short trips found the steering heavy in town and it was a pig to drive with the choke until warmed up. I had a phase 2 21 GTX to replace it, covering another 48,000 miles in two years. Fuel-injected engine was much quicker (120 bhp) and smoother, albeit less economical (32/33 mpg), power steering a plus. But it also had several electrical problems, from the sunroof to the instrument panel, which packed up completely on a trip to Ireland.
Love the R21! I'm from Germany. Here, the R21 was always unterrated. I had three of these. Loved the comfort and the styling. Thanks for this vid! :)
I owned a 21 estate and drove it France for a surf holiday down south, loved it, so spacious and easy to drive. Really like it’s looks.
My dad had a Mk2 Hatchback 2.1 litre diesel in dark green. That car was tough! The gendarmes used to have lots of them in Savanna/Nevada versions with the diesel and and they lasted forever.
Brings back some memories of the ‘87 model my Dad had as a company car for a couple of years. His boss imported it to Belfast from the Republic of Ireland, as the pre-tax price was lower for new cars (due to the crippling “vehicle registration tax” Irish drivers still have to pay...) As rear seatbelts weren’t a legal requirement in Ireland until 1992, our one had to have them retro fitted! Can’t remember the spec, but it was the 1.7. Lovely looking car & so comfortable, from the little I remember of it as a small child.
Saviour of my day off. God not seen that Renault for years. Thank you once again sir.
Back in 89 I was working in Weymouth and every fortnight would hire a car to take 4 of us back to Glasgow and another to get back down on the Sunday night so I got to drive all the "repmobiles" of the time. The 21 was good but the best of the bunch was undoubtably the Cavalier and strangely I also liked the Montego. Keep the reviews coming
What a fantastic car!
I'm a Citroën man too, but I truely love the Renault 21.
My grandad's last car before he gave up driving was a 2nd-generation Renault 5, and the angular interior trim in this is like an upscaled version of the one in that. Happy memories.
Love it! My dad once had a 1994 (one of the very last) R21 GTL Symphonie (so not a limited edition and spelled that way in The Netherlands). I used to drive it myself every once in a while and I found it very smooth and comfortable indeed. Unfortunately after only 7 years on the road it failed the apk (Dutch MOT) with a rotten front crossmember and my dad traded it in for a 1996 Honda Civic saloon, of which I don't even remember how it drove...
Please forgive me asking but was it not worth replacing the crossmember?
@@alfredsedgewick2184 Apparently not. I guess the repair costs were so high that the car wasn't worth it anymore.
every time I see an intermittent wiper I think of the guy (yes, a guy invented it, look it up) who came up with it, was told by every manufacturer, and not just the US and British ones, they didn't want it, no need. With in a few years, every single one of them then stole his invention, he sued and won - against every one he sued...thieves...carry on and enjoy your intermittent wipers knowing the inventor actually got his due!
That is a great story..I looked it up and it was Bob Kearns and indeed a film was made called Flash of Genius (2008). Supposed to be good too.
Thanks James you have sorted my evening entertainment!
Wow - thanks, best bit or trivia this week - they even made a film about it called 'Flash of Genius'
@@imnotamechanic3491 'Ere, 'old on a mo' I just said that too!
@@imnotamechanic3491 I'm gonna try and watch it now.
@@martinda7446 I'd sue!
Really nice car. A friend of mine a lovely diamond white 21 Turbo, and it was a very quick car and ever so comfortable. All of his friends were extremely jealous, including me.
Sorry but your thumbnail gives me the "heebeejeebees" bud.
@@piperdoug428 With the greatest of respect, why are you apologising? Can you find me a better avatar than this to represent my username?
Ya got me painted in a corner there bud, all I got is Trumps chief of staff, blondie there
I haven't seen a R21 in years, it reminds me of being a kid they were everywhere. Always a very handsome car especially in Turbo Quadra spec. I'm in total agreement the R16 is a thing of beauty.
I used to always go for the Renalt 21 or a Renault 19 when we had them on fleet.So different to the normal choice of a sierra or cavalier. I always remember the oil level gauge before you started the car. Another video that brings back so many memories.
A chap in the village I lived in had a gold high spec Renault 25 i used to pass it on my way to school everyday, he used it as a runabout! I though it was too nice for that. Quite liked it, you can certainly see it in this, I can see some 19 in there too
You found exactly that car I drove after I got my license!! I also had the Symphonie.
I had a Diesel and the paintjob was silver. I loved each mile with it
Love this car!!! My uncle had a Renault 21 GT turbo back in 1999! That car was brill and I was so Jell!!! One of my dream cars!
I can remember the day my Father traded in his 1984 Datsun/Nissan Sunny estate infor his 1987 metallic green E reg Renault 21 1.7GTS saloon at Ness Motors in Elgin I think it was 1988? I remember that day as the show room was spit n a fart from my school 100 yards up. I saw him picking the car up. So, so many memories of the car, including him getting several speeding tickets whilst living in Scotland and the clutch cable breaking in the A1 going to Stamford, that was interesting to say the least, when your father tries driving back home and trying to cross the now closed crossing for Wittering village/married quarters.......... To think he traded it in for a 1989 Audi 80 diesel at Peterborough Audi I think 1993? I never got the chance to get behind the wheel of it when I started taking driving lessons when my father offered to give me extra lessons. I still wonder if E399GST is sat in someone's garage?
Would love to see a Renault 18 estate, I grew up with a GTX with rear facing third row seats
I had a 21 Savanna, and it was the most comfortable car I have ever owned, far better than the Audi Avant that replaced it.
Thank you for another excellent video! I was so excited when I saw the car you were reviewing. We got it in the USA very briefly as the Renault/Eagle Medallion. It was during the Chrysler buyout of AMC/Renault and was very much the unloved step child the cane along as part of the marriage and was treated as such. I doubt more that a few thousand units were sold on these shores with an elongated beak for stronger bumpers and a front grill to make it more American. Coming from a Renault loving family, I was excited when it came here and disappointed it did so poorly.
My dad had the 21 Turbo, that thing was an animal!
Yes they were, and not far of the Sierra cosworth....
Always had a soft spot for the Renault 21, especially the turbo. But this model is lovely. I really like the understated exterior design and the interior is just wonderful - especially the dashboard. Great cars!
French cars from the 80s and 90s can be so underrated. Not especially exciting but comfort-wise, for a motorway cruiser, my old Pug 405 was amazing - you never arrived anywhere feeling tired after hours of motorway driving :)
My Dad successively owned three Savanna estate versions of the 21 between the late 80s and mid-late 90s. I appreciate them so much more now that you never see any.. ever. I remember electric windows would fail from time to time (first one was wind-up windows all round, second electric up front wind-up in the back and third car electric all round) but he clocked up plenty of miles with work and family holidays from the Midlands to the farthest corners of France and back. I also somehow managed to shut the door on my finger one day.. nail turned purple, fell off and eventually grew back but otherwise finger survived unscathed. Not enough finger safety taken into consideration by NCAP in my opinion ;) Great cars! Thanks for the review.
Back in 1985 we got mail telling us that we actually won a Renault 21 estate.
The only thing I had to do was to pick the colour (white).
Still waiting for it.
I had a 21 Turbo. Went like the clappers and great road holding. Wish I'd brought a 21 turbo quadra years ago.
My dad had a Savanna - ( E536BNJ) the back of that was a pretty good place to be as a lanky teen. Loads of room.
That was brilliant! I remember the 21 so well as my work colleague had one and then I had a 19 TXE. I remember the fan cutting in like that. I used to go out on the town on a Friday night and return at 3 in the morning and park it up on the driveway right outside my parent's bedroom window at the front of the bungalow. Of course the fan would cut in and roar away for ages. I was not popular in the morning! Oh happy days lol :)
Another car from my youth! My Dad had a 2.1 turbo diesel and it went like stink, previous to that he had a 20 diesel and a 19 Charmade diesel too. Underated cars and not one of them gave a moments trouble. I also had an 11 GTX and I remember they called the seats 'Monotrace' and had a central mounting so you could put your legs either side of the seat.
i had a 1995 r5, loved that little car
I loooooove they way you have colour co-ordinated the car and hedge!
I too liked the 21, but I wouldn't put it over the BX. Never really been a Peugeot lover, but the 405 was a lovely Pininfarina design.
I think the colour co-ordination didn't happen that way at first. Y'see, the hedge was initially green. As Renaults tend to rust pretty quick, my theory is that whatever iron oxide was under the car, it was shed quickly by the car and infected the hedge....
Great video. Very glad you finally did a piece on the R21! We had one in the family years ago, a 1994 Savanna 2.1 TD with 7 seats. It was absolutely brilliant and one of best cars we ever had. Remarkably sturdy as well!
A friend of mine just sold his Renault 21 turbo phase 2 was lovely to see one again I would love to see you do a review on a Renault 25 and the safrane
Oh the memories, my mum bought a 21 estate around 1989, had a family holiday in somerset in that thing, 4 kids, 2 adults, a dog and so much luggage, it performed well, even getting up Porlock Hill with a bit of a prayer!
I had a Renualt 21, I really liked it, but it was the shortest car ownership of any car I've ever owned. I bought it for £100 ish - got it to the end of my road and the clutch went and the car went from there to the breakers as I was broke and couldn't find the money to get it to a garage and fix it... All I've been left with ever since is the memory of how I liked the Gear box. lol
The dashboard parcel shelf looks nice and flat. That's a sorely missed feature on modern vehicles.
Where am I supposed to put my takeaway?
It looks horrid.
@@davidmg1925 I've never before heard anyone express such a strong opinion about the flatness of a shelf on a dashboard.
That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, as an enthusiastic roundabout or evasive manouver slides your takeaway across the dash and ejects it into the footwell when it meets the end...
Some Ford Transits have a hook on the side of the footwell/centre console to hang takeaway bags so they can't fall over.
Fantastic video - a great trip down memory lane. My parents had 2 of these (consecutively) between 94 and 01 (a G plate then K plate), but in Savanna guise. I think they were also 1.7 GTS, the first was a 5 seat with 2 retro-fitted seats (as they couldn't find a 7 seater except I think a 504 but it had rear facing seats), but as the first one was written off by a truck, my parents managed to get the insurance company to pay for a 7 seater (eventually). So, most of my early memories of cars is a 21, the dials look familiar, but I think the overall dash layout had changed, I can't really recall. It's nice to see, everything like door handles, lock indicators, the map reading light, the doorhandle blanking plug (thought that was normal) - and that centre armrest (many an argument fought over how much of it one could use up with their arm!). It's all the little things, and as you say, they are pretty much forgotten about, I can't even recall the last time I saw any 21, anywhere. Seeing this video now, I think it explains my thinking that so many other cars I went in subsequently were crap, no centre armrests, no lovely plush seats and great ride, poor practicality - my enduring memory of my only ride in a late model escort that it was an awful car - now I know its because I was given high standards when young. Now I just want to go and buy a Savanna - don't think the wife would let me, even if I could find one!
I used a late Savanna as a works pool car in the early 90s. It was nearly new. It was injected and the fan still used to run on for ages after shut down.
Thanks Mr. HubNut for the fantastic review. I had 1992 21 GTS Phase2 saloon in white. It was written off in 1999. I still have the orange Haynes manual and genuinely miss the car. The temperature gauge didn't ever really work and I did need to remove the fuse for the cooling fans due to battery drain. I was often asked if it was a Montego, 80s styling hey!
had a 21 on an 87 e plate . Brings back french electric memories. spent most journeys looking for a hill to park on even after replacing many parts. Glad to part ex it for a seat when vw took over in the early nineties.
My dad had the 1.7 TL model when I was a kid, motoring nostalgia for me.
My dad still has a 21 savanna but I m not so proud of it
Remember seeing more of the estate versions and also the sarfane version, well i think it was called that.
Great video as always.
Safrane was the larger replacement for the 25. Rare now.
I remember they were quite a popular site on our British roads in the late 80's. Also badged as the Eagle Medallion in North America. Amazing!
good times, happy times, unique times! Brings back so many memories - my dad had a Renault 21 2.0 GTX Auto Savanna Estate in Silver with Blue Velour, that thing would go like stink in sports mode on the auto box. The centre speaker was intriguing, more like a subwoofer?, and the tape player chewed up tapes in the end, but a great family wagon. The dealer offered him a corker of a deal on a new Renault 25 TXE 2.0 Manual, pine green metallic with beige velour. Our first taste of an executive motor!! He ran that for 2 - 3 years before being lured by a Renault Safrane 2.2vi 12v RT, in brooklands green with black leather. Never had leather before, never had air con before .....until now, a whole new world beckoned! Thanks a another fab video Ian.
Anyone else notice the Asbestos warning sticker next to the driver's side suspension tower when he opens the bonnet?
Asbestos head gasket on these?
Great review! But boy would I like to give this car a good proper clean and detail! It deserves it. A beautiful example. 👍
My Uncle had one of those as a company car. He remarked that 'the more gizmos there are, the more there is to go wrong'. Goodness knows what he would of thought of todays cars!
Thank you Mr HubNut for a cracking video. Brought back lovely memories of my late Father's metallic blue "Turbo D" which looks to have been to this GTS spec. I agree, the pre face lifts are so much neater in design. A super car, now nearly extinct like so many of the era. I hope you had as much fun driving it as I did watching!
0:15 That grille , those wheels. I am in love.
4:15 Love the location for the choke
4:36 Ah yes, we still have that radio somewhere, with the steer column control, chewing up all tapes you feed it. Loved the thing when it worked though, such a pleasant machine.
My goodness this may be my favourite dashboard of all time.
13:09 I am in love. There's no way around this. I might like this more than a BX and I haven't even driven it.
I know how horribly unreliable they are, the one my aunt had was more at our place than at hers because my dad was always working on it. But oh my...
Dit you know new Renaults still have a very similar stereo controller with the big volume switches on the side and a scroll wheel for channels?
18:04 Typical old Renault. Corner, slight incline, hiccup.
20:38 The Dorky. Yup, very Renault. My 5 and our 19 had the same keys.
Remember these growing up lovely cars got to love that fan :)
I have the same column-mounted remote radio switch setup on my 2016 Twingo. I think they still use it today.
oh yes when i was at school our old headmaster had the Renault 21 top spec think it was 2.2 turbo I thought it was the Dogs Bollocks they were Quick cars I Always wanted one 21 & 25 Ian have fun : )
Had a 21 - E836WKN, lovely car. Future wife managed to get it into first gear at 50mph going up a hill, bent the driveshafts and all sorts of other damage. Repaired and traded in, saw it years later as a taxi in Canterbury!
My parents had a 2.0 21. We had a 1.8 Granada but it struggled to tow a caravan so they swapped to the 21.
I remember as as kid how soft and comfortable the rear seats were.
Great review thanks. Had almost forgotten about the 21 which is shameful really because, as you said it's a lovely looking car.... Your Monaco wasn't the most HubNut of choices though I suppose it depends how old it was when you had it...... My Mam had a 19 txe on an F plate. Somewhat reminds me of it. It was quite pokey with that 1.7 motor in it and also had a wafty ride!
I am french and i have a Renault 21 GTS 1986. I love this car because she is beautiful and robust.
My dad's was an '89 Nevada (savanna) GTS, phase two but still with the old grill with the offset logo, and i don't remember this fan issue. Maybe it was a later engine.
Other than that, trip down memory lane for me with that trip.
I see a lot of Talbot Tagora in styling, with its boxy lines and large glass area and a bit heavy round the back and fascia has a good bit of Tagora, even the rear wheels are a bit inset although not as bad as the Tagora.
Thankyou for being on time. Maybe you could tease the Ambassador video out with some Ferrero Rocher if its still lost?
The Ambassador is spoiling us! 😃
Love the 80s Renault interiors! Reminds me of the 5GTT
If you can it would be nice to see a pre facelift safrane on the channel
Almost bought one years ago, it was a lot of car for the money, also nearly bought a Renault 25 and that was an incredible car and excellent value to,
That 1721cc engine I believe was a result of the partnership between Renault and Volvo at the time. The engine also found its way into the GTX and Monaco versions of the R5 but have been overshadowed by the GT Turbo. The 21 was a very understated car with a low drag coefficient for its time. I would have loved a review on a Monaco or Turbo or even a too spec 25 if one could be found. I've had several Renault's starting with a 1988 R5 TL 1108cc (with optional 5 speed transmission) through to a facelifted Laguna 2 Privilege which was by far the most remarkable car I've ever owned and for me the pinnacle of Renault's evolution.
Yes you are right, i had a R5 GTX 1.7 same engine, , then my best car ever was a R5 Monaco 1.7, full leather, power steering, elec windows, sunroof, gold colour seatbelts, leather steering wheel, alloys, was fast and nice to drive, blewup 3 alternators, and 3 clutch cables, but no engine probs like the turbos, , was 90hp also, and less than 800kg
@@fromtheair4040 until last year I didn't realise they also did a GTE but I don't think it was availabl in the UK. To what I can see I think it was the GT turbo body but with a 1721cc N/A engine. I think.the turbo also had vertical rear shocks whereas all other versions had diagonal rear shocks to increase boot space.
Turbo prices have gone through the roof but I think the GTX and Monaco are somewhat overshadowed despite being such great cars.
I had a 1988 phase 2 1108cc TL with optional 5spd transmition.
My dad owned two 956cc TC, both 1986 Ph1 in midnight blue and red. Then he had two of the last model which was the Campus Prima fitted with a 1390cc fuel injected engine on 93 L and 94 M plate before moving onto a Mégane Coupe in 96.
My Aunt briefly had a 1985 GTL 1397cc 5dr too.
I still.have a soft spot for the R5 all these years later.
Really like the look of the 21 and those smoked rear light clusters. Reminds me of the Y Reg Renault 9 1.4 i used to own in the 90s. Another interesting looking car which had a lovely ride quality with seats as comfortable as sitting in an armchair.
Loving the map reading light!
I recognize that engine, I've one in my Volvo 480. Great vid Ian 👍
My dad went from a Montego to a Renault 25 GTS In dark metallic green. And I loved that car in around 1987/88
- "What do you think we should do for a wheelbase - 102, 104,108, or something else?"
- "Yes"
Guy at the taxi company I worked in the early 90's had a R21 Savanna 2.0i , lovely car at the time.....
I think engineers in the sixties were designing and tuning for flexibility and reliability. By the eighties they were beginning to worry about fuel economy and the settings and jettings were "compromised" to achieve this.
Emissions too
True. Gasoline also changed somewhere in late 80's from "conventional" to "reformulated", i.e. oxygen-containing MTBE was introduced in the gasoline to yield cleaner emissions. In some cases this led to too lean burning and carburetor re-jetting was necessary. Without rejetting tha carbureted cars might feel a bit sluggish, have some dead spots at some revs etc. Needless to say the ethanol containing gasoline of today has made things for carbureted cars even worse: leaner mixture and detrimental effects on rubber fuel lines, seals and carburetor diaphragms.
I haven't seen one in decades! Here in the US it was the Renault/Eagle Medallion. 2.2 litre FI was the standard and only engine, as well as a wagon (Estate for those in the UK 🇬🇧. Love the dash, typical Renault.
When AMC was bought by Chrysler, the Renault was rebadged as the Eagle, which included the brand new Premier, which was also a Renault rebadge.
And I remember the speaker system in US vehicles using Jensen speakers to produce very good sound quality, as many were installed aftermarket. I'm envious!
Frederick Rothe III I haven’t seen a Medallion or the Premier/Monaco in over 15 years.
@@jorgealvarez3917 I went on Old Car Brochures and couldn't find anything on the Medallion. And the Renault 18 sedan. I know they called the coupe the Fuego, and they called the 18 wagon (estate) the Touring, via 1985. Nothing under the Eagle marque either. Which makes all of these models extremely rare!
@@frothe42 I saw a Fuego on the road maybe five years ago. Nice design, terrible car. Even in turbo form I think it struggled to put out a 105 h.p.
@@seed_drill7135 Now that I have come to think about it, Renault did sell the 18 in the US, as a sedan & wagon (saloon and estate for those in the UK 🇬🇧). All of these models are extremely rare. I remember the Fuego Turbo, low horsepower, like the Subaru, their turbo only making 110 horsepower around 1983-1985.
Lovely looking car again Ian thanks again. Looking down the side from the back at some angles I could see a bit of 1984 Audi 100 too.
Or is that just me? 😮
Lovely car and very comfortable. We had the 6 seater Savanna, which was huge!
I had the 21 ti turbo with full factory body kit it was very fast great fun
Great video Ian.A friend had a 21 savanna(spelling??)..For many years..Always liked the 21 quadra's in my youth!
What a lovely car 👌🏻 I also wish I had those seats in my 20 year old poverty spec Polo station which behaves like a boat. Those look really comfy.
I had an 11 GTS, a 20 TS, and a 25 GTS automatic, which all insurance companies deemed a 'Symphony', although it wasn't! The 20 was a supremely comfortable 2-litre three-piece suite on wheels, the 11 was a 1700 XR3 chaser (But NOT XR3i) and the 25 was a big cuddly wafter! :-)
All 3 were lovely to drive, quiet comfortable, and efficient, but I regret losing the 11 most of all! It came off second best to a speeding SD1 at a junction! :-(
I agree, the pre-facelift front is the best looking. I have always loved that front styling and the low slung wipers. There is something of perfect proportions and clean lines to the front design that makes it very attractive.