Oh man, down the memory lane! My father had a 1987 Injection 2 liter in then uber cool metallic grey. What a car was that in those times ... Still the best car in my memory when I was a kid. Couldn't stop looking at it when parked!
Chis is a very nice and ever proper chap. Allways well dressed, polished shoes and his beard allways in great shape. He has a very nice and warm voice and a very own loverly way telling his story which binds one on the screen even when not into the Renault 21. There's also a test about a Talbot Solara which he did a few years earlier in the same way. Luckely I own one of those today. This Renault 21 is a simmular french 4-door car with a boot which were back then very popular. Interesting to see and hear in what way Chris shows how potential family's including their kid's as real peoples looked at potential cars those day's really...
In my opinion still the most attractive cars Renault ever made. They were also were very well build, very reliable, not having the rust problems from the cars before, nore the the electric gremlins from the cars after it.
Lovely video. Chris Goffey a legend and reminds me watching Top Gear as a kid. Love the digital dash. 5:09 Seems so strange you’d come to market with no hatchback option but that’s how it was back then. Thanks for uploading.
When Renault made comfortable cars that were just like sitting on your sofa rather than the rock hard cars we have now that only succeed in giving me a numb bum!
Modern reviewers would have a fit at a car that scraped its door handles rolling round a corner like these do! The days when comfort was a priority over handling.
i love this video brochure, honest reviews, they don't just paid actors to say something well about the car but shows no proof, they actually lend them the car and let them tell their impression, not just a typical testimony, and Chris don't hesitate to mention other competitor cars from other brands
A friend of mine bought one of the first ones after they were introduced into the USA in the spring of 87. Her's was a estate/wagon model with three rows of seats. 2.2L fuel injection. Sold as the Renault Medallion, then Eagle Medallion after Chrysler bought out the American arm of Renault.
My mum had a metallic light blue R21 GTS Special F reg ending XWP (can't remember the rest). Not a bad car but the radio and sunroof never worked and the velour seats were ridiculously soft and squishy. My dad then drove it. After that, they had Peugeot 405s with rock solid seats. What a nice guy Chris Goffey is.
Even the rear doors were lined at that time in soft material, velvet in this case. This translates the absence of cost-cutting so common in this period in cars of this market segment.
The first thing the Montego driver will have to get accustomed to again is to use a manual choke. I don't understand why Renault chose to the RS with such specification with outdated tech like a carburettor and a manual one at that. Why the Renault 20 family was putting off their decision to replace it when they were looking for something to replace it that "also" has a classic boot is also beyond me, as the 20 is a hatchback!
My Father had 4 of these as Taxis. He had previously owned Cortinas and cavaliers etc. He never looked back, these were far superior in every way, and stood up to the job as Taxis much better.
16:20 I prefer the old Mk 3 behind their Renault that these two are being paid to love. I believe he went on to buy a D plate Montego the following August.
John Hedgers is now trustee of the national foundation of education after leaving the CS about 20 years ago, they no longer like the Renault. It looks almost soviet from the front makes the Montego look like a Beemer
Carburetors, 2 valves per cylinder and what I assume is an engine tweaked for low RPM and economy. Engines with high specific power output back then usually sacrificed cost with an expensive fueling system and/or fuel economy by tweaking the engine for high RPM and power. Today we can have more of our cake and eat it with variable valve timing giving power across the rev range and fueling systems that can adjust for low power and high power requirements.
@@joempoem478the MG Montego (particularly the Turbo) is a FAR better design than the 21, and has a more "lively" interior, too. The 21 is perfectly functional, but is it dull and soulless! Unfortunately, I never found the 21 to be an attractive prospect by any means - I always looked upon it as the sort of car to belong to a balding middle aged, Dutch male schoolteacher. It will get you there, get you there with no complaints, be dependable, but as soon as you're away from it, you just have no interest in coming back to it. Heck, even watching this video feels like a chore, whereas with the Montego one, I had to have watched it maybe a dozen times by now. This one just feels... painful (perhaps the sign of an *_unwitting_* masochist??) This car would be PERFECT as a hire car/courtesy car while your own one is in for repairs/you're abroad. Absolutely fine. But there is NO WAY on EARTH, that I'd walk into a Renault dealership with the prospect of buying one, I'm sorry. And I honestly like to give even the most meagerly specified, poorly built Malaysian car my blessing, however *this* car actually has managed to persuade me to avoid it, which is a shame in its own way (and I've owned several Renaults in my life, so it's not anything against the brand (which I'm usually very fond of - just - not this one!!))
Goffey, what a treat. The best top gear presenter.
Marvellous find. We have a 1987 R21 TXE Auto with a digital dash, all round electric windows, remote locking etc. It’s a rare beast!
Sounds wonderful.
Sold here in 1988 & 1989 as the Eagle Medallion
Always great to see Chris Goffey a proper motoring journalist
Many french cars in that era upto the mid 90s had square styling but done in a very nice stylish way.
Oh man, down the memory lane! My father had a 1987 Injection 2 liter in then uber cool metallic grey. What a car was that in those times ... Still the best car in my memory when I was a kid. Couldn't stop looking at it when parked!
My favourite Renault!!!
My uncle has had one , TSE, from France. With yellow headlights
Chis is a very nice and ever proper chap. Allways well dressed, polished shoes and his beard allways in great shape. He has a very nice and warm voice and a very own loverly way telling his story which binds one on the screen even when not into the Renault 21. There's also a test about a Talbot Solara which he did a few years earlier in the same way. Luckely I own one of those today. This Renault 21 is a simmular french 4-door car with a boot which were back then very popular. Interesting to see and hear in what way Chris shows how potential family's including their kid's as real peoples looked at potential cars those day's really...
Saludos desde Argentina
In my opinion still the most attractive cars Renault ever made. They were also were very well build, very reliable, not having the rust problems from the cars before, nore the the electric gremlins from the cars after it.
Lovely video. Chris Goffey a legend and reminds me watching Top Gear as a kid. Love the digital dash. 5:09
Seems so strange you’d come to market with no hatchback option but that’s how it was back then.
Thanks for uploading.
When Renault made comfortable cars that were just like sitting on your sofa rather than the rock hard cars we have now that only succeed in giving me a numb bum!
I had a 2 diesel versions; non-turbo. Used them as taxis; they both did over 300,000 miles with hardly any problems. Great cars
Obvious
Crazy to think those little girls are now older than their parents were in this video.
Note how some of these “early 30 year olds” look 15 years older
Modern reviewers would have a fit at a car that scraped its door handles rolling round a corner like these do! The days when comfort was a priority over handling.
i love this video brochure, honest reviews, they don't just paid actors to say something well about the car but shows no proof, they actually lend them the car and let them tell their impression, not just a typical testimony, and Chris don't hesitate to mention other competitor cars from other brands
A friend of mine bought one of the first ones after they were introduced into the USA in the spring of 87. Her's was a estate/wagon model with three rows of seats. 2.2L fuel injection. Sold as the Renault Medallion, then Eagle Medallion after Chrysler bought out the American arm of Renault.
My mum had a metallic light blue R21 GTS Special F reg ending XWP (can't remember the rest). Not a bad car but the radio and sunroof never worked and the velour seats were ridiculously soft and squishy. My dad then drove it. After that, they had Peugeot 405s with rock solid seats. What a nice guy Chris Goffey is.
I liked the 7 seater Renault 21 Savannah estate, the ideal practical family wagon.
If you really want to cut a dash you can even opt for Alloy Wheels. Oh when times meant Spec made a difference
Rumour has it that the posh family bought the 21 and still have it.
That or they are dead
Even the rear doors were lined at that time in soft material, velvet in this case. This translates the absence of cost-cutting so common in this period in cars of this market segment.
The first thing the Montego driver will have to get accustomed to again is to use a manual choke. I don't understand why Renault chose to the RS with such specification with outdated tech like a carburettor and a manual one at that. Why the Renault 20 family was putting off their decision to replace it when they were looking for something to replace it that "also" has a classic boot is also beyond me, as the 20 is a hatchback!
That was a great car ! My parents have the R21 "Nevada" SW Biturbo Injection ! That was a beast on the highway ! 125 mph
It looks a bit like what would be sold as the Dodge Monaco and Eagle Premier here in the States.
The Eagle Premier and Dodge Monaco were based on the 25. The Eagle Medallion was the 21 variant for the USA.
This is so sad to not see those cars even in france where i live. And ive never seen entry level models, without any options.
Is he on a trailer for the shots through the windsceen? Almost looks like back projection.
My Father had 4 of these as Taxis. He had previously owned Cortinas and cavaliers etc. He never looked back, these were far superior in every way, and stood up to the job as Taxis much better.
2:20
Cloth upholstery comes standard...well, it better does. What else could the upholstery be made of? Paper?
Vinyl.
I wonder how many were sold in the UK.
There were around 100k in the UK in 1994 when numbers peaked. Around 60 still on the road.
"Nice firm ride?" That won't please Renault.
Chas' silver one didn't last long, untaxed since November 1986.Unless it was a pre-production model or somesuch. Nothing comes up for the black TXE.
Wait until you see the car I just bought. It’s got a map light 👌 (I love these cars)
Nice video quality! What do you use? Sound was probably a mono track.
I like the video!
Very much an advertorial. Quite an annoying one at that. But quite interesting overall.
No touchscreens, no bluetooth, bliss!
16:20 I prefer the old Mk 3 behind their Renault that these two are being paid to love. I believe he went on to buy a D plate Montego the following August.
At least the Renault would probably still be in good nick compared to that heap of Ford excrement.
John Hedgers is now trustee of the national foundation of education after leaving the CS about 20 years ago, they no longer like the Renault. It looks almost soviet from the front makes the Montego look like a Beemer
6:41. Early 30s? Bloody hell
What is up with the low power engine? 76bhp/90bhp from a 1.7 engine?!
Pretty peppy for the 80s.
Carburetors, 2 valves per cylinder and what I assume is an engine tweaked for low RPM and economy.
Engines with high specific power output back then usually sacrificed cost with an expensive fueling system and/or fuel economy by tweaking the engine for high RPM and power. Today we can have more of our cake and eat it with variable valve timing giving power across the rev range and fueling systems that can adjust for low power and high power requirements.
Desing looks like R9 but more modern.
Sacre bleu! ...80s bad fashion & hair don'ts ....
wow kids are 4 and 3 and no car seat or booster seat. now days that is CPS being called on you
I'll take the MG Montego please.
Are you a masochist by any chance?
@@joempoem478the MG Montego (particularly the Turbo) is a FAR better design than the 21, and has a more "lively" interior, too.
The 21 is perfectly functional, but is it dull and soulless!
Unfortunately, I never found the 21 to be an attractive prospect by any means - I always looked upon it as the sort of car to belong to a balding middle aged, Dutch male schoolteacher.
It will get you there, get you there with no complaints, be dependable, but as soon as you're away from it, you just have no interest in coming back to it.
Heck, even watching this video feels like a chore, whereas with the Montego one, I had to have watched it maybe a dozen times by now.
This one just feels... painful (perhaps the sign of an *_unwitting_* masochist??)
This car would be PERFECT as a hire car/courtesy car while your own one is in for repairs/you're abroad. Absolutely fine.
But there is NO WAY on EARTH, that I'd walk into a Renault dealership with the prospect of buying one, I'm sorry.
And I honestly like to give even the most meagerly specified, poorly built Malaysian car my blessing, however *this* car actually has managed to persuade me to avoid it, which is a shame in its own way (and I've owned several Renaults in my life, so it's not anything against the brand (which I'm usually very fond of - just - not this one!!))
Look, bear in a suit.