2002 Renault Vel Satis owners manual 2003 Renault Vel Satis owners manual 2004 Renault Vel Satis owners manual 2005 Renault Vel Satis owners manual
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Quite how Renault thought the Vel Satis was going to punch a sizeable hole in the sales of the executive elite is a story that may never emerge from the executive boardroom. Competing with the cream of the executive car crop while sporting a mainstream badge had done for a number of better-qualified successors than the Vel Satis down the years and true to form, the big Renault bombed. Despite its almost comical failure, the Vel Satis now makes a fascinating used buy. With deep discounts offered to new buyers, low mileage used cars can be yours for a song and despite the cars poor showing in the sales charts, driving it generates a genuine sense of occasion youd never experience in, say, a lower order Audi A6.
Patrick Le Quements curious shape looks like one of those styling studies you see at motor shows that never actually make it into production. This one has, albeit not quite in the form in which we first saw it. Nevertheless, it still makes quite a statement. Whether its one youll be comfortable with of course is another question and, as ever, it depends on your priorities.
Dont even bother to put it on your wish list if driving satisfaction is the be all and the end all. Not that this car isnt satisfying to drive: it just prioritises luxury, thats all. Which, given that most executives spend more time on dual carriageways than pounding around Donington, probably makes a lot of sense. Nor does luxury in this case simply mean a wider assortment of bells and whistles. Emptying the options list into a Laguna with a bigger body is something Renault tried with the old Safrane and it didnt work.
No, this car has not only the gadgets but also the standard of fit and finish youd expect from all the top German marques. The doors clunk, the switches have a quality click and everything about the driving experience assures you that youve made it. Assuring executives - and their accountants - that the value of their Vel Satis is not going to fall faster than snow in the Alps will be more difficult. Renault UK point to Espace residuals that rival Mercedes but then thats a respected MPV: this is rather different. Finishing anywhere near the top half of the sector in this respect will be a major achievement though restricted UK supplies should help. Just 3,500 examples are earmarked for UK roads on an annual basis, though even so, thats enough to make us the cars third biggest market. Climbing into a Vel Satis is just as unique an experience as looking at one.
Renault has tried to avoid the dark, gloomy atmosphere favoured by rival German cars and has largely succeeded though the inset wood marquetry is a matter of taste. It feels far more like your lounge than your office, everything falling to hand nicely with a superb stereo and a lovely analogue clock dominating the dash. The seats are wider than usual, with built-in belts. You sit on, rather than dropping down into, them, so older buyers will find entry and exit easier.
Nicest of all however, is the brilliant double-hinged design of both front chairs, splitting the backrest into two parts across the middle. This means you can alter the angle of the backrest whilst still having your shoulders supported: in other words, the seat wraps around you, contributing hugely to long distance comfort.