Renault 25 (1983 - 1992)

Last updated 30 April 2013

Buying Guide

Good

• Much loved by owners and many have clocked up 300,000-plus miles.
• Can be extremely cheap.
• 1995cc four-cylinder engines with 103bhp, 120bhp and 140bhp; 2165cc four-cylinder engines with 123bhp and 126bhp; 2664cc V6 with 144 bhp; 2849cc V6 with 153bhp and 160bhp; 2458cc V6 turbo with 182bhp.
• Five-speed manual boxes; three- and four-speed autoboxes.

Bad

• V6 not a specially good engine and guzzles petrol.
• Turbos too old to remain reliable.
• Automatics can be troublesome.
• Nor many survivors by 2011.

Watch

• Automatic gearbox can give trouble. Check auto especially carefully (some 25s go through three of four in a lifetime).
• Fishy smell inside and condensation on screen usually indicates failure of heater matrix, many of which were poorly made. Huge labour cost in removing dashboard to replace heater matrix.
• Minor failures such as warning or dash light bulbs.
• May have covered more miles than indicated on odometer.
• Make sure ABS is okay (pump not as dear as some at £660, but ECU is another £460 plus VAT).
• Check all electrics (even the dashboard bulbs give up).
• PAS pump or rack may leak (common old Renault problem).
• Try to feel discs for scoring, lipping or wear.
• You could easily buy a 25 for £500 than have to spend £2000 on it immediately.
• Buy only from a careful, appreciative, enthusiastic owner who's had it for years. Definitely not a backstreet buy.