Renault Scenic RX4

A Renault Scenic, same engine, propshaft and permanent four wheel drive added. Raise the ride height and its gonna be a winner, right? Oh but no...

A shiny two tone green 1.9 fiji rx4 beckoned to me from the forecourt. Leather interior, loads of gadgets, not quite as anti-greenpeace as a jeep - how could i refuse.

Bought the beast and drove it home marvelling at the way it wallowed into corners and lacked any acceleration - small things to pay when you have such a unique looking car. Passed a petrol station on the way home and i can honestly say thats the last one ive drove past without popping in - here we have a 1.9 diesel that even on the handbook only manages 35mpg and thats a new perfect one - mine does late twenties and thats driven easily - no mean feat considering how slow it is.

Has all the charming olde worldy diesel features such as rattles, poor performance, expensive parts... It does, and ill hold my hands up, look very cool.

Front to back -

Extra trim very poorly fitted and rattles and flaps at every opportunity.
Ride height too high and corners very scarily.
Engine has the power of two harnessed field mice.
Brakes require written notice of intention to stop.
Filler cap falls off and is nearly impossible to get a cheap replacement (try ebay - i dare you!)
Tow bar fittings are frighteningly flimsy (but does tow well)
Interior climate control chooses its own settings with no regard to your input.

It is roomy inside and has loads of cubby spaces i can only presume these are to carry spare parts around....

Propshaft noisy and has a lot of play (advised by mechanic that they are all like this. Similarily engine mounts are quite loose.
Spare wheel mounted on rear door has a different alloy and requires three weeks on unscrewing to get off - once off the cover is a royal pain to get back on - now you know why so many drive around displaying there spare rather than reattaching the cover.

There a reason they only built a yaer or two of these.

Good points -

Looks good
tows well

If you want a wagon that'll punch holes in the ozone layer and is slow this is the beast for you.