Allegedly back in the day a swedish magazine highly critisized the Renault key card, and stated that the technology will never go any further, low and behold and here we are now where almost every car new car has push-to-start and an electronic parking brake, haters gonna hate but Renault were definetily ahead of the game back then.
They were indeed! I guess it’s not quite keyless start as you need to put the keycard in the slot, but loads of car adopted that style of key ‘dock’ and yeah nearly all cars have electronic park brake now! I imagine Renault developed both technologies at big cost. I can confirm after 18 years they both still work! Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@carmanick yup, I myself drive an 06 Megane, and the keycard technology still works like new. And as I'm a zoomer, I was surprised to learn isofix became mandatory only in 2014. Heck, even the Volvo S40/V50 didn't have isofix, it really shows Renault also very much focused on safety
@@onelyone6976 glad you’re a Renault fan too and the styling of that megane was awesome! What body style is it? Yeah the safety aspect is one of the reasons why i bought it, but yeah back in the early 00s renaults were the safest cars around, being the first to get 5* NCAP. Renaults do get a worse rep than they deserve!
@@carmanick I have the facelift model hatchback, I've heard the facelift fixed a lot of the electrical faults present on early models. Renault's do get a much worse rep than they deserve. They are generally though quite reliable and make good engines, but they were famous for electrical faults in the early 00s but every manufacturer has their own problems and Renault is no different. They have also improved drastically from the early 00s in terms of build quality and overall fault-freeness but with that their uniqueness and innovation has sort of disappeared sadly, with maybe the exception of the Laguna 3 coupé.
@royale7620 I do! Coming up to 4 years of ownership. To be honest I try and do all repairs myself. Mechanically it's quite conventional, but it does seem to have some quirky faults that take me some time to diagnose. I imagine not many garages would be willing to fix them. There are Renault specialists but the Vel Satis isn't so common that even those haven't worked on many of these. It's well engineered, it was an expensive development program for Renault, but after 21 years all cars have their problems! It just has some novel features on it! My next job is replacing the faulty electronic handbrake! Getting some.parts is the biggest challenge. There's not a big following for this car, so many are scrapped when they have problems. Of the 1250 sold in the UK, there's less than 10% of them still roadworthy
@@carmanick Im in Romania and there are currently 7 for sale, the most expensive ones being with the 3.0 diesel at 4000 euro and cheapest a junk one with the 2.2 for 1100, I found some nice ones ranging from 2700 to 3200 in the Netherlands with the 2.0 diesel and petrol, thinking of buying a cheap spare one for parts, I can do basic work myself but big stuff would be better for mechanics who know their stuff, I guess its worth a shot calling my local Renault dealership
Well done, great review! My first Vel Satis was a 2,2 dci from 2002. Engine, electronic and parking break malfunctions were my daily companions, but the unique design, the sheer number of features and the value for money was growing on me. So I bought a well maintained 2,0 dci from 2007. Till today I drove more than 50000 km ( 32000 mls ) with NO problems at all. Not a single electronic issue ( Keyless entry and go, parking break and anything else is still working ) and 7,5 l/100km ( 32 mpg ). The most annoying thing in my opinion is the sticky soft touch lacquer on the middle console. Greetings from Germany
Hey, thank you for watching and your very kind words! It’s a complicated car so I suppose there could be many issues, but I’m glad you didn’t let it put you off and bought another and had no issues! It’s a great car and I’m glad there are other fans, some people just don’t understand why its so good! I agree with the sticky plastic. I guess when new it made it look all nice and Matt but over time it just becomes sticky everywhere! I hope you continue enjoying your car! Mit Freundlichen Grüßen!
I strongly recommend the 3.5 V6 petrol version in Initiale trim (available with only an automatic gearbox): an amazing car! (Leather, precious wood and absolute comfort).
I can absolutely imagine the petrol V6 one is the one to go for. A big refined engine would suit the Vel Satis very well, and if I’m impressed by the refinement and power of the little petrol then the most powerful engine must be epic. I have a V6 automatic Avantime, so I wanted a slightly more economical Vel Satis that wasn’t a diesel. I also love this model with the optional cream leather and the wood in my car. Thanks for watching and commenting
@@carmanick Yes, your model is already very beautiful with the cream leather seats. But on some versions you can even have wood on the steering wheel! ;-) The Nissan V6 engine is epic but, indeed, it is far from economical. It is my only car, I got it for 4,500 euros and I drive it mainly on motorways so I don't mind spending a bit more on petrol but I understand that other people may think twice before buying one.
@@Tanirogalarn oh I would love a wood on the steering wheel. Initiale also has the nice pattern on the wood. The Vel Satis is a wonderful motorway car, it is the most relaxing car I’ve ever been in I think! Sounds like you got a good price and get good usage from your Vel Satis, I hope you have many more miles of happiness
@@carmanick Yes, the mysterious black squares on the wood! I did get a good price for it, especially since it had only around 90,000 miles. Thank you for your wishes, I intend to keep it for as long as possible (and I usually drive only about 2,000 miles per year).
Great vid Nick. I think you summed up the Vel Satis perfectly. Agree with everything you said having owned a few myself! I agree they should be celebrated more as a car but unfortunately they are always overlooked due to the 'striking' looks.
Thanks! Really appreciate that and want to make sure I represent the dedicated owners well, as it is them keeping these cars alive. Hopefully recognition will come to the Vel Satis soon, like it seems to have for the Avantime. Also want to make sure people know what’s good about it, as the other videos hate too easily on this car!
It’s a great car, thanks for selling it to me! I just need to stay on top of a few things and make sure i presence but use such a rare unappreciated car!
@@carmanick and remember nick...if you ever decide to sell it there's someone in market harborough that might be interested in buying it back haha! Loved that car. Well pleased it went to someone as enthusiastic about it as I was. Its such a great car!
@@carmanick Hi, great review. I am from Serbia to, i live 75km away from Belgrade and i am the only one driving VelSatis in my town. I have 2.0dci Initiale with DVD system and remote control for the back seat passengers. The best trim level, everything is very good functioning, it is from 2007. Any of my friend if they see Velsatis somwhere, they know it is me. I dont go thru Serbia to much, but for comparison on how many VelSatis is there, i have literally seen next to me on roads in past five years like 6 cars.plus several parked in different towns. So i have seen maybe just above 10 in the past 5 years. There are some on car selling online sites.
@@borisgaming4473 hi thanks for the kind words! Oh that's amazing you have a Vel Satis, especially as it is so rare in your country. Initiale is the top level so that is very nice, and the DVD option is so cool! We didn't get the Vel Satis in the UK after 2005 when they facelifted the car The Vel Satis is very rare in the UK, apart from some broken ones I found not far from. Me, I've only seen maybe three since I got mine 4 years ago, and that's because I know the owners and met them! I'm glad you are representing the Vel Satis in Serbia and you appreciate how good they are! I hope you continue to have good luck with yours, my electronic handbrake has failed so I need to fix that!
I'm confused. After such praise, I expected you to conclude: "To my greatest regret, I must part with it. If you are interested make me an offer..." But no; none of that. All these compliments are therefore free. So I say Bravo! Vel Satis has found its master in Great Britain. He even likes the exterior style. Thank you Mr. Carmanick for these enlightened comments. May this beautiful car allow you to drive many miles!
Haha thankyou. No I bought this for me, and I hence want to share why I love it so. I've had her 4 years now, and spent a lot this year getting some paintwork done, the headlining retrimmed and now new springs and dampers! Far from perfect but far too special to not care for! Thanks for watching and commenting :). Some of my other cars I don't keep as long, but this is a lifer, along with a couple of others I am fortunate to own.
@@carmanick I drove Vel Satis for the first time in 2000! So you won't be surprised if I tell you that at the time she didn't look at all like the one you cherish. Some would even have preferred the style of then...
That’s strange. I thought it was a Ford thing until recently where other brands now do it but Renault seem to be doing it many many years ago! Sounds like you’ve had a few Renaults ;p
@@carmanick Yes I've had a few. R5, Two MK2 Clio's, Mégane 2, Laguna 2, Traffic and currently a 1997 MK1 Mégane Coupe. Renault did a lit of the things we take fir granted first like remote radio controls.
@@baratakos350 that's awesome. Did he buy it new then? Awesome it's stayed in the family. Glad there's people out there that appreciate them. All the videos on TH-cam seem negative and I can't understand so thought I'd try and do a good video! I will keep my VS forever
@@carmanick Yes, he bought it newly, and me and family still love it. I hate when peoples say: "nevet buy france car" etc., like why. France cars has more luxury and elegance than german or other cars. Vel Satis is my faveorit car for ever, also I never want to sell it.
@@baratakos350 I completely agree. French cars are always so modern, unique and innovative and Vel satis is a great example of that! So comfortable, spacious, stylish and full of clever features! French cars forever! :)
The mirror angling down is sometimes done so you can see the kerb. I think it should only occur when reversing. It looks like you might have more wires crossed.
Yeah my cayenne does this. To be honest since filming this a year or so ago it's stopped doing it, but you're right it could be that it has the feature and it's got a bug. If it starts playing up I'll look into it properly and check it has that function ! Otherwise it could be just getting power when it shouldn't be!
Thanks Nick. Really enjoyed your review. Had the V6 petrol but didn't keep it very long. After having been spoilt by the Renault 25 V6 in late 80's I was so disappointed by the Vel Satis ride quality. Lucky for me I ditched the 25 before the fatal transmission problems . Replaced with Citroën CX 25 GTI which I wish I still owned. Magnificent car.
Thank you Pete I appreciate that. I do agree with you on the ride quality. I do think that it should have been more of a focus. But there's too much I like about it to worry too much, and luckily the seats are really comfortable to take the edge off the ride! The 3.5 petrol V6 is definitely the one to go for! Renault 25s are like hens teeth nowadays and the CX (especially in GTI or Turbo 2 spec) is definitely on my dream list! Fantastic car and luckily have a cult following so hopefully they get preserved. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Two other French cars I owned and adored Nick were the Citroën BX 19 GTI and the Renault 21 TXI. Both outstanding drivers cars. Only a few ever sold in NZ so rare now to find ones in good condition.
@@ziggymx5 wow you're in NZ? I'm surprised there were any older Citroens and Renault's there! Just not a market I would think the French would have sold into on the 80s and 90s! Both sound great cars indeed! I have a soft spot for Renault's and Peugeot's, I've also got an Avantime. There's nothing quite like a big luxury French car!
@@carmanickMy parents had a CX when I was younger. Huge car for the time and it was so smooth over everything. It certainly had a character and unique French touches to it too. It was grey. Unfortunstly it also was mot the most reliable car and eventually got replaced by a new car a Renault at that 🙂 .
@@sharonec5419 Oh that's amazing that your parents had a CX and you got to experience one! I love the CX, but I've never actually been in one. Would love to own one one day but for now I've just bought a Citroen C6 to accompany my Avantime and Vel Satis
My favourite car! Very cool video, a proper users guide with history and story. Nicely done sir. I used to own ph1 3.5 and will own it again someday. I would say it is a remarkable car from a wonderful times. Where did you find all the data?
That’s great and thanks for the kind words. Glad you owned one and the 3.5 V6 is a great version! We only got ph1 in the UK. Hope you own one again soon! Well some stuff I just know but I also own a brochure that I could check information and also try to make sure what I say is right!
Good review, although I opted for the Avantime I have always had a soft spot for the Vel Satis, which long term wil be far rarer. Interesting you said the ride was not as good as it could have been, I feel the same about the Avantime and would prefer it to be a bit more floaty, although have never felt the Avantime to be over-assisted, just lacking feel due to being miles from the wheels. Would love to have those front seats though - if only they flipped forward I would swap a pair into my Avi!. Was nice to see some of the interior features, and presumably it was a thing in the early 2000's to not tell anyone the spec in a Renault, as similarly they hid the trim level in the glove box on the Avantime.
Thank you for the words and for watching. Unfortunately the Vel Satis doesn’t quite have the following as the Avantime, so there’s actually now less on UK roads (taxed) than Avantimes despite selling more... Yeah the ride seems to bottom out too easy, you just have quite big thuds over Rough surfaces. I have an Avantime too and the ride has the same issue, although I think the suspension is quite good for roll in both cars. The Avantime being heavier with a lot of weight up high means the suspension has a bit more to deal with! The steering is the Avantime is much heavier than the Vel Satis but I do prefer that slightly heavier steering, it’s not that heavy but the VS is too light, it’s too easy to steer at speed! I guess the trim badge is just supposed to be a nice surprise to find!!
Interesting cars, I'm running a 2003 V6 diesel at the moment and its been on the whole very reliable, although a front spring broke last month over a speed hump, (most parts seem readily available from Autodoc).... This is my second as back in 2008 I had the petrol V6 3.5 which later encouraged me to get a Nissan 350z as the engine was fantastic. I love mine nowadays though as something exclusive but really very practical for a large car. Agree with the ride comments though as it just doesn't have the same luxurious ride as the Citroen CX, DS, BX or XM all of which I have owned previously, great cat though and thanks for the interesting review.
Oh that's really nice of you to say, always nice when someone else with a VS corroborates my opinion! That's great you have one and have had one before, there's so few in the UK and the following is small, but I think that's because people don't give them the time of day! Hopefully you can get a spring ok. Yeah parts are much better than the Avantime. I have a fuel leak ob mine in struggling to stop despite replacing the line. The v6s are very well suited to the car, but I'm surprised how well the entry 2.0 petrol does, I think it's because of how light the VS is for a big car. However the 2.0 can only use E5, so it'd probably cost the same to run the V6!
@@carmanick Hi, I did get all the parts and did both sides last Sunday, I replaced springs, struts, top bearings, link rods and dust covers, it wasn't too bad a job and parts were £300 so I'm quite pleased at the moment. I may even tackle the back soon if I can find the brackets used to retain the clamped springs. Yes it is nice having something a bit different..
Well it’s got to have one thing wrong with it. It’s nowhere near as bad as the Avantime! I’m sure you f that’s your only problem then your clio can’t be that bad! It is ahead of its time, forward thinking, and I think it’s exactly what it should be! They could’ve done a Peugeot 607 but... who remembers that?!
Hi, Nick! very interesting video. I came across this video of yours after seeing an advert for a 2006 Vel Satis 2.2 dCi Privilege Manual diesel car, priced at £4000 for 57k miles. Want to know what you think of the advert and the maintenance costs or any repairs that i should anticipate. Should i go for it? I want to use it mainly for long drives/ travel.
@@naidutesting hey, thanks for watching and commenting. I'm so glad you're looking for a Vel Satis. There's not a lot of people out there looking for one but a very small and loyal owners group. That's a really low mileage! So I can't comment too much on the diesel, but the owners Facebook group could provide insight. The 2.2 is used in many many Renault's so it's a well known engine. My Vel Satis has been pretty reliable, I've had some small electrical issues that have been cheap to fix. All I would really say is check the handbrake works properly, it should disengage automatically when setting off and switch on by itself when you turn the engine off. Listen for.rear knocks, the rear suspension is quite complex so there's a few bushes there! Rust isn't really a problem but look out for it anyway, just check general electrics like cruise control and dual zone climate control. I've built up some spares for mine if you ever need anything. Good luck with it and happy to answer any other questions.
thanks for getting back so promptly. I saw the video you mentioned. Looks like he invested some more money for the repairs. what do you think of the car and how much can i ask for it?
@@naidutesting it's hard to say. The values can vary, but the mileage is very low which is very good. It's hard to value older diesel cars, due to ULEZ, is it a diesel you are specifically after? The person who runs the facebook group has a 2.0 petrol for sale. The one you are looking at has the optional leather interior which is nice, and seems good condition all round. The values on autotrader seem higher than they have been for some time, so i think maybe there is some wiggle room. Also worth mentioning is that this is probably one of the last registered Vel Satis in the country, i have not seen an 06 one before. So that's quite interesting! I think try the vel satis owners facebook group, owners there can help with anything specifically on the 2.2 diesel. There is also the vel satis website with information. www.velsatisclub.co.uk/resources-and-ads
Thanks. Yeah I have trialled one but it's always been distorted so haven't figured that out. Also annoyingly is when I upload to TH-cam the audio seems to be dampened versus my editing software, so it's been very hard to predict how it comes out and then not having much I can do about it! I'm going to attempt to use a proper external microphone in future videos
Hi. In my opinion the ride quality isn't super brilliant, it is comfortable, but over bumpy roads it is not so smooth and you can hear lots of noise. The seats are super comfy so that makes up for it though! Maybe do a test drive and see yourself?
@@carmanick Thanks! Was thinking of buying a used one, but ride comfort, especially over speed bumps and small flaws in the road, is a deal breaker for me.
@@Kamadev888 ah I see. I think for me the ride quality isn't as good as I expected, but the handling was better than I expected! So perhaps the wrong mix for this car! The ride is better than my Avantime though!
It's subjective for sure. The C6 is very cool, I think looks a bit awkward from the front but I'd have one for sure. The Vel Satis was launched 3-4 years before the C6. Vel satis on sale in the UK from 2002.
Yeah I recorded this a while ago, and had various audio problems, from microphones to my editing software (uploading to TH-cam makes everything quieter for example?!). Thanks for watching
These things can be expensive to fix for little benefit. I think it’s a great feature and it works really well for such an early system, and mine still works after 18 years, but I’m not looking forward to the day when I have to fix it if it does go wrong!
@@carmanick It was going to cost me more than the value of the car but I still regret selling it. It had many of the features of your car including the blinds which were excellent. It was intended to go head to head with the Mondeo but many features put it closer to the class above. Apparently Land Rover, VAG group and many other expensive cars all suffer the park break issues and it's always an expensive fix but many new cars now have this type of system.
@@markonmotoring I guess any electronic system has its faults sometimes! I do appreciate the view that it’s unnecessary hassle for replacing a simple lever but it does add to the comfort experience and guarantees your handbrake is on! The Laguna were pretty forward thinking with their tech and look compared to rivals. I think that’s a car that’s almost disappeared but deserves some recognition. And you could get it with the 3.0 V6 engine!
@@carmanick Mine was a facelifted 1.9 DCi Privilege but I once drive a pre facelift Privilege fitted with the 3.0 V6 and five speed auto. Very very smooth and quick but was averaging 25mpg over the test route of around ten miles. It would definitely have a ace in my dream garage though and for my money a much better ling distance touring car than anything German.
@@markonmotoring yeah you pay for that performance and smoothness with fuel economy! I’d love a 3.5 V6 Vel Satis but this is my main car so needed something a bit more reasonable! Is the yellow Megane coupe your current car?
I'm sure they do. I haven't had issues though but there's a Facebook group that we could ask that question on. Clever system, auto releases and auto engages with engine off which is not what I expected for one of the first systems to market
@@PeteretePeter I understand. It's strange as the sound is fine in my editing software but the uploads to youtube seem to dull the audio! I hope to use an external microphone for future videos to resolve this. Thanks for watching and for making me aware.
The reason for this cars failure is I fear...Automobiles to a great extent has gone beyond human common senses...and early 2000s was a crux for that.. It would have been a great success if it was launched either 10 years back or today...if you call it ugly ,just see what Elon musk is doing.
@@pramodhb6796 I think a lot of it is branding, it was a rather expensive Renault, it was a bit quirky looking and in this segment rwd and a saloon bodystyle was the norm, which suggested expense! But I feel this was a unique offering, similar to my C6, which are both different cars but share the lack of success or appreciation! Thanks for watching and commenting
Citroen got the French luxury car right in 1957 with the DS and ID (which - 60+ years later - still look futuristic). The Vel Satis, by comparison, was an ugly shed of a car, with nearly no technical innovations.
You are completely right on the sense that the Citroen DS was a true luxury car, with innovations that were revolutionary to the industry and only delivered higher levels of comfort and luxury! Since the CX though I’d say french luxury cars were either bit forgettable or didn’t deliver what they set out to, like the XM, Safrane, R25, 605, 604 etc. The Vel Satis was a different car and I think it is great! It’s not innovative in the sense that the DS was, but it hard to be so innovative on today’s world. But from the sense of comfort, attention to detail, space, design, and refinement, I’d say it is really good luxury car! Ugly is obviously a matter of opinion! It is also one of the most expensive vehicle programmes, so there must’ve been some innovations somewhere! Was nearly the first car to offer and electronic parking brake, one of the safest vehicles on the road, front seats that were unique and have yet to be offered by other companies, a unique rear suspension setup unique to this car and adaptive cruise control (in 2002!).
The Vel Satis was innovative in the sense of giving a new answer how a luxury car could be like in the year 2000. It was not just altering the limousine template which all the other manufacturers did but starting from a white piece of paper. That is what I love: a new concept questioning the tradition. So it is a bit higher to be comfortable in getting in an out, and offers better visibility, it has more interior space than its rivals of similar length, it is a hatch for increasing practicality. I find beauty in it via its intelligent concept and innovative details often coming from Renault's experience with Espace and Scenic. And at last in my eyes there is a consequent overall aesthetic inside out and in many details, which I admire in cars designed by Patrick le Quément, the french soul, that does things a bit differently but charming and uniting functionality with aesthetics. Still I understand one can find this car ugly, it is like Björk's music, you love it or hate it. I love Björk and the Vel Satis.
Allegedly back in the day a swedish magazine highly critisized the Renault key card, and stated that the technology will never go any further, low and behold and here we are now where almost every car new car has push-to-start and an electronic parking brake, haters gonna hate but Renault were definetily ahead of the game back then.
They were indeed! I guess it’s not quite keyless start as you need to put the keycard in the slot, but loads of car adopted that style of key ‘dock’ and yeah nearly all cars have electronic park brake now! I imagine Renault developed both technologies at big cost. I can confirm after 18 years they both still work!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@carmanick yup, I myself drive an 06 Megane, and the keycard technology still works like new. And as I'm a zoomer, I was surprised to learn isofix became mandatory only in 2014. Heck, even the Volvo S40/V50 didn't have isofix, it really shows Renault also very much focused on safety
@@onelyone6976 glad you’re a Renault fan too and the styling of that megane was awesome! What body style is it? Yeah the safety aspect is one of the reasons why i bought it, but yeah back in the early 00s renaults were the safest cars around, being the first to get 5* NCAP. Renaults do get a worse rep than they deserve!
@@carmanick I have the facelift model hatchback, I've heard the facelift fixed a lot of the electrical faults present on early models. Renault's do get a much worse rep than they deserve. They are generally though quite reliable and make good engines, but they were famous for electrical faults in the early 00s but every manufacturer has their own problems and Renault is no different. They have also improved drastically from the early 00s in terms of build quality and overall fault-freeness but with that their uniqueness and innovation has sort of disappeared sadly, with maybe the exception of the Laguna 3 coupé.
Seats look like straight out of American 1970s luxo-boats, I love it
Haha they are pretty special. Not sat in seats in another car like it !
@@carmanick do u still have the car? How did it hold up? My biggest fear buying one would be to find a qualified mechanic to work on it
@royale7620 I do! Coming up to 4 years of ownership.
To be honest I try and do all repairs myself. Mechanically it's quite conventional, but it does seem to have some quirky faults that take me some time to diagnose. I imagine not many garages would be willing to fix them. There are Renault specialists but the Vel Satis isn't so common that even those haven't worked on many of these. It's well engineered, it was an expensive development program for Renault, but after 21 years all cars have their problems! It just has some novel features on it!
My next job is replacing the faulty electronic handbrake!
Getting some.parts is the biggest challenge. There's not a big following for this car, so many are scrapped when they have problems. Of the 1250 sold in the UK, there's less than 10% of them still roadworthy
@@carmanick Im in Romania and there are currently 7 for sale, the most expensive ones being with the 3.0 diesel at 4000 euro and cheapest a junk one with the 2.2 for 1100, I found some nice ones ranging from 2700 to 3200 in the Netherlands with the 2.0 diesel and petrol, thinking of buying a cheap spare one for parts, I can do basic work myself but big stuff would be better for mechanics who know their stuff, I guess its worth a shot calling my local Renault dealership
Well done, great review!
My first Vel Satis was a 2,2 dci from 2002. Engine, electronic and parking break malfunctions were my daily companions, but the unique design, the sheer number of features and the value for money was growing on me. So I bought a well maintained 2,0 dci from 2007. Till today I drove more than 50000 km ( 32000 mls ) with NO problems at all. Not a single electronic issue ( Keyless entry and go, parking break and anything else is still working ) and 7,5 l/100km ( 32 mpg ). The most annoying thing in my opinion is the sticky soft touch lacquer on the middle console.
Greetings from Germany
Hey, thank you for watching and your very kind words!
It’s a complicated car so I suppose there could be many issues, but I’m glad you didn’t let it put you off and bought another and had no issues! It’s a great car and I’m glad there are other fans, some people just don’t understand why its so good!
I agree with the sticky plastic. I guess when new it made it look all nice and Matt but over time it just becomes sticky everywhere!
I hope you continue enjoying your car! Mit Freundlichen Grüßen!
Paint it, or wrap it 👌
It can be removed with no acetone nail lacquer remover. Effect is brilliant.
I strongly recommend the 3.5 V6 petrol version in Initiale trim (available with only an automatic gearbox): an amazing car! (Leather, precious wood and absolute comfort).
I can absolutely imagine the petrol V6 one is the one to go for. A big refined engine would suit the Vel Satis very well, and if I’m impressed by the refinement and power of the little petrol then the most powerful engine must be epic. I have a V6 automatic Avantime, so I wanted a slightly more economical Vel Satis that wasn’t a diesel. I also love this model with the optional cream leather and the wood in my car. Thanks for watching and commenting
@@carmanick Yes, your model is already very beautiful with the cream leather seats. But on some versions you can even have wood on the steering wheel! ;-) The Nissan V6 engine is epic but, indeed, it is far from economical. It is my only car, I got it for 4,500 euros and I drive it mainly on motorways so I don't mind spending a bit more on petrol but I understand that other people may think twice before buying one.
@@Tanirogalarn oh I would love a wood on the steering wheel. Initiale also has the nice pattern on the wood. The Vel Satis is a wonderful motorway car, it is the most relaxing car I’ve ever been in I think! Sounds like you got a good price and get good usage from your Vel Satis, I hope you have many more miles of happiness
@@carmanick Yes, the mysterious black squares on the wood! I did get a good price for it, especially since it had only around 90,000 miles. Thank you for your wishes, I intend to keep it for as long as possible (and I usually drive only about 2,000 miles per year).
Absolutely. I have one...
What an absolute beauty.
:)
Great vid Nick. I think you summed up the Vel Satis perfectly. Agree with everything you said having owned a few myself! I agree they should be celebrated more as a car but unfortunately they are always overlooked due to the 'striking' looks.
Thanks! Really appreciate that and want to make sure I represent the dedicated owners well, as it is them keeping these cars alive. Hopefully recognition will come to the Vel Satis soon, like it seems to have for the Avantime. Also want to make sure people know what’s good about it, as the other videos hate too easily on this car!
Great to see you're enjoying my old car nick! I agree the Vel satis is an awesome and much underrated car. A future classic I feel.
It’s a great car, thanks for selling it to me! I just need to stay on top of a few things and make sure i presence but use such a rare unappreciated car!
@@carmanick and remember nick...if you ever decide to sell it there's someone in market harborough that might be interested in buying it back haha! Loved that car. Well pleased it went to someone as enthusiastic about it as I was. Its such a great car!
@@mattw1110 of course, I will be sure to let you know and you’ll get first refusal if I ever do consider it!
Here in Serbia, many people think it's ugly car. My opinion is that Vel Satis is amazing car.
Glad you think so! I think the design is divisive, you either love it or hate it. Are there many Vel Satis in Serbia? Thanks for commenting!
@@carmanick I'm fan of this car. In my city there isn't plenty of Vel Satis.
@@carmanick Hi, great review. I am from Serbia to, i live 75km away from Belgrade and i am the only one driving VelSatis in my town. I have 2.0dci Initiale with DVD system and remote control for the back seat passengers. The best trim level, everything is very good functioning, it is from 2007. Any of my friend if they see Velsatis somwhere, they know it is me. I dont go thru Serbia to much, but for comparison on how many VelSatis is there, i have literally seen next to me on roads in past five years like 6 cars.plus several parked in different towns. So i have seen maybe just above 10 in the past 5 years. There are some on car selling online sites.
@@borisgaming4473 hi thanks for the kind words!
Oh that's amazing you have a Vel Satis, especially as it is so rare in your country.
Initiale is the top level so that is very nice, and the DVD option is so cool!
We didn't get the Vel Satis in the UK after 2005 when they facelifted the car
The Vel Satis is very rare in the UK, apart from some broken ones I found not far from. Me, I've only seen maybe three since I got mine 4 years ago, and that's because I know the owners and met them!
I'm glad you are representing the Vel Satis in Serbia and you appreciate how good they are!
I hope you continue to have good luck with yours, my electronic handbrake has failed so I need to fix that!
@@predragantonijevic9349 very comfortable and amazing! 😊👌
Really interesting video, I’ve never been so sure about the Vel Satis but I think you’ve convinced me otherwise!
I'm confused. After such praise, I expected you to conclude: "To my greatest regret, I must part with it. If you are interested make me an offer..." But no; none of that. All these compliments are therefore free. So I say Bravo! Vel Satis has found its master in Great Britain. He even likes the exterior style. Thank you Mr. Carmanick for these enlightened comments. May this beautiful car allow you to drive many miles!
Haha thankyou. No I bought this for me, and I hence want to share why I love it so. I've had her 4 years now, and spent a lot this year getting some paintwork done, the headlining retrimmed and now new springs and dampers! Far from perfect but far too special to not care for! Thanks for watching and commenting :).
Some of my other cars I don't keep as long, but this is a lifer, along with a couple of others I am fortunate to own.
@@carmanick Awesome. I felt concerned because this car marked my professional career. I'm reassured to know yours is in good hands.
@@pilou827 oh really? What's your story? Would love to know! Did you work for Renault?
@@carmanick I drove Vel Satis for the first time in 2000! So you won't be surprised if I tell you that at the time she didn't look at all like the one you cherish. Some would even have preferred the style of then...
Love how you love that car, hope I will own one someday, too :)
I’m glad you’re a fan, I hope you get one too! I do love it, it’s really cool and better than I expected in many ways!
I had a Mégane 2 in period and that also has the capless fuel filler. My Laguna 2 Privilege however did not.
That’s strange. I thought it was a Ford thing until recently where other brands now do it but Renault seem to be doing it many many years ago! Sounds like you’ve had a few Renaults ;p
@@carmanick Yes I've had a few. R5, Two MK2 Clio's, Mégane 2, Laguna 2, Traffic and currently a 1997 MK1 Mégane Coupe.
Renault did a lit of the things we take fir granted first like remote radio controls.
Great video! Hi from a 3.5v6 VS owner! :D
Hello, thanks for watching and the kind words. The 3.5 V6 is definitely the one to go for, very jealous! How long have you owned yours?
@@carmanick My grandfather bought it in 2003, I love it. 🔥🙌
@@baratakos350 that's awesome. Did he buy it new then? Awesome it's stayed in the family. Glad there's people out there that appreciate them. All the videos on TH-cam seem negative and I can't understand so thought I'd try and do a good video! I will keep my VS forever
@@carmanick Yes, he bought it newly, and me and family still love it. I hate when peoples say: "nevet buy france car" etc., like why. France cars has more luxury and elegance than german or other cars. Vel Satis is my faveorit car for ever, also I never want to sell it.
@@baratakos350 I completely agree. French cars are always so modern, unique and innovative and Vel satis is a great example of that! So comfortable, spacious, stylish and full of clever features! French cars forever! :)
The mirror angling down is sometimes done so you can see the kerb. I think it should only occur when reversing. It looks like you might have more wires crossed.
Yeah my cayenne does this. To be honest since filming this a year or so ago it's stopped doing it, but you're right it could be that it has the feature and it's got a bug. If it starts playing up I'll look into it properly and check it has that function ! Otherwise it could be just getting power when it shouldn't be!
Thanks Nick. Really enjoyed your review. Had the V6 petrol but didn't keep it very long. After having been spoilt by the Renault 25 V6 in late 80's I was so disappointed by the Vel Satis ride quality. Lucky for me I ditched the 25 before the fatal transmission problems . Replaced with Citroën CX 25 GTI which I wish I still owned. Magnificent car.
Thank you Pete I appreciate that. I do agree with you on the ride quality. I do think that it should have been more of a focus. But there's too much I like about it to worry too much, and luckily the seats are really comfortable to take the edge off the ride! The 3.5 petrol V6 is definitely the one to go for!
Renault 25s are like hens teeth nowadays and the CX (especially in GTI or Turbo 2 spec) is definitely on my dream list! Fantastic car and luckily have a cult following so hopefully they get preserved.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Two other French cars I owned and adored Nick were the Citroën BX 19 GTI and the Renault 21 TXI. Both outstanding drivers cars. Only a few ever sold in NZ so rare now to find ones in good condition.
@@ziggymx5 wow you're in NZ? I'm surprised there were any older Citroens and Renault's there! Just not a market I would think the French would have sold into on the 80s and 90s!
Both sound great cars indeed! I have a soft spot for Renault's and Peugeot's, I've also got an Avantime. There's nothing quite like a big luxury French car!
@@carmanickMy parents had a CX when I was younger. Huge car for the time and it was so smooth over everything. It certainly had a character and unique French touches to it too. It was grey. Unfortunstly it also was mot the most reliable car and eventually got replaced by a new car a Renault at that 🙂 .
@@sharonec5419 Oh that's amazing that your parents had a CX and you got to experience one! I love the CX, but I've never actually been in one. Would love to own one one day but for now I've just bought a Citroen C6 to accompany my Avantime and Vel Satis
I bought one at the weekend, I love it 👌
Oh wow, that's great! What's the engine and spec? Great to know there's people still interested in buying them and keeping them going!
@@carmanick Hi, It’s the 2.2 diesel privilege 2004 on 109000 miles! I’m on the Facebook group, just uploaded some photos! Cheers!
My favourite car! Very cool video, a proper users guide with history and story. Nicely done sir. I used to own ph1 3.5 and will own it again someday. I would say it is a remarkable car from a wonderful times. Where did you find all the data?
That’s great and thanks for the kind words. Glad you owned one and the 3.5 V6 is a great version! We only got ph1 in the UK. Hope you own one again soon!
Well some stuff I just know but I also own a brochure that I could check information and also try to make sure what I say is right!
Good review, although I opted for the Avantime I have always had a soft spot for the Vel Satis, which long term wil be far rarer. Interesting you said the ride was not as good as it could have been, I feel the same about the Avantime and would prefer it to be a bit more floaty, although have never felt the Avantime to be over-assisted, just lacking feel due to being miles from the wheels. Would love to have those front seats though - if only they flipped forward I would swap a pair into my Avi!. Was nice to see some of the interior features, and presumably it was a thing in the early 2000's to not tell anyone the spec in a Renault, as similarly they hid the trim level in the glove box on the Avantime.
Thank you for the words and for watching.
Unfortunately the Vel Satis doesn’t quite have the following as the Avantime, so there’s actually now less on UK roads (taxed) than Avantimes despite selling more...
Yeah the ride seems to bottom out too easy, you just have quite big thuds over Rough surfaces. I have an Avantime too and the ride has the same issue, although I think the suspension is quite good for roll in both cars. The Avantime being heavier with a lot of weight up high means the suspension has a bit more to deal with!
The steering is the Avantime is much heavier than the Vel Satis but I do prefer that slightly heavier steering, it’s not that heavy but the VS is too light, it’s too easy to steer at speed!
I guess the trim badge is just supposed to be a nice surprise to find!!
Interesting cars, I'm running a 2003 V6 diesel at the moment and its been on the whole very reliable, although a front spring broke last month over a speed hump, (most parts seem readily available from Autodoc).... This is my second as back in 2008 I had the petrol V6 3.5 which later encouraged me to get a Nissan 350z as the engine was fantastic. I love mine nowadays though as something exclusive but really very practical for a large car. Agree with the ride comments though as it just doesn't have the same luxurious ride as the Citroen CX, DS, BX or XM all of which I have owned previously, great cat though and thanks for the interesting review.
Oh that's really nice of you to say, always nice when someone else with a VS corroborates my opinion! That's great you have one and have had one before, there's so few in the UK and the following is small, but I think that's because people don't give them the time of day! Hopefully you can get a spring ok. Yeah parts are much better than the Avantime. I have a fuel leak ob mine in struggling to stop despite replacing the line. The v6s are very well suited to the car, but I'm surprised how well the entry 2.0 petrol does, I think it's because of how light the VS is for a big car. However the 2.0 can only use E5, so it'd probably cost the same to run the V6!
@@carmanick Hi, I did get all the parts and did both sides last Sunday, I replaced springs, struts, top bearings, link rods and dust covers, it wasn't too bad a job and parts were £300 so I'm quite pleased at the moment. I may even tackle the back soon if I can find the brackets used to retain the clamped springs. Yes it is nice having something a bit different..
thx for sharing, quite interesting to watch :)
@@McAmberthankyou very much :)
Great video and a very interesting car that’s way ahead of it’s time! And despite the electrical gremlins… at least the horn works on your Renault! 😉😂
Well it’s got to have one thing wrong with it. It’s nowhere near as bad as the Avantime!
I’m sure you f that’s your only problem then your clio can’t be that bad!
It is ahead of its time, forward thinking, and I think it’s exactly what it should be! They could’ve done a Peugeot 607 but... who remembers that?!
Vel Satis and Safrane were the best ones from Renault imo
Красный и классный Vel Satis !👍
Hi, Nick! very interesting video. I came across this video of yours after seeing an advert for a 2006 Vel Satis 2.2 dCi Privilege Manual diesel car, priced at £4000 for 57k miles. Want to know what you think of the advert and the maintenance costs or any repairs that i should anticipate. Should i go for it?
I want to use it mainly for long drives/ travel.
@@naidutesting hey, thanks for watching and commenting. I'm so glad you're looking for a Vel Satis. There's not a lot of people out there looking for one but a very small and loyal owners group.
That's a really low mileage!
So I can't comment too much on the diesel, but the owners Facebook group could provide insight. The 2.2 is used in many many Renault's so it's a well known engine.
My Vel Satis has been pretty reliable, I've had some small electrical issues that have been cheap to fix.
All I would really say is check the handbrake works properly, it should disengage automatically when setting off and switch on by itself when you turn the engine off. Listen for.rear knocks, the rear suspension is quite complex so there's a few bushes there! Rust isn't really a problem but look out for it anyway, just check general electrics like cruise control and dual zone climate control. I've built up some spares for mine if you ever need anything.
Good luck with it and happy to answer any other questions.
@@naidutesting hi, I just realised the car you're talking about is the one high peak autos has done a video on. Seems they only bought it for £2000!
thanks for getting back so promptly. I saw the video you mentioned. Looks like he invested some more money for the repairs. what do you think of the car and how much can i ask for it?
@@naidutesting it's hard to say. The values can vary, but the mileage is very low which is very good. It's hard to value older diesel cars, due to ULEZ, is it a diesel you are specifically after? The person who runs the facebook group has a 2.0 petrol for sale.
The one you are looking at has the optional leather interior which is nice, and seems good condition all round. The values on autotrader seem higher than they have been for some time, so i think maybe there is some wiggle room.
Also worth mentioning is that this is probably one of the last registered Vel Satis in the country, i have not seen an 06 one before. So that's quite interesting!
I think try the vel satis owners facebook group, owners there can help with anything specifically on the 2.2 diesel. There is also the vel satis website with information.
www.velsatisclub.co.uk/resources-and-ads
Very interesting car, but you need to invest in a worn microphone. I could barely hear you.
Thanks.
Yeah I have trialled one but it's always been distorted so haven't figured that out.
Also annoyingly is when I upload to TH-cam the audio seems to be dampened versus my editing software, so it's been very hard to predict how it comes out and then not having much I can do about it!
I'm going to attempt to use a proper external microphone in future videos
Thanks for watching though :)
Does anyone know if this car has a soft ride over bumps and faults in the road? Or is it uncomfortable?
Thanks!
Hi. In my opinion the ride quality isn't super brilliant, it is comfortable, but over bumpy roads it is not so smooth and you can hear lots of noise.
The seats are super comfy so that makes up for it though! Maybe do a test drive and see yourself?
@@carmanick Thanks!
Was thinking of buying a used one, but ride comfort, especially over speed bumps and small flaws in the road, is a deal breaker for me.
@@Kamadev888 ah I see. I think for me the ride quality isn't as good as I expected, but the handling was better than I expected! So perhaps the wrong mix for this car! The ride is better than my Avantime though!
The Citroen C6 does look a lot better than the VelSatis.
And they came out at the same time pretty much.
It's subjective for sure. The C6 is very cool, I think looks a bit awkward from the front but I'd have one for sure. The Vel Satis was launched 3-4 years before the C6. Vel satis on sale in the UK from 2002.
👍
Amazing
Are you a fan of the Vel Satis?
0:08 use wireless microphone please
Yeah I recorded this a while ago, and had various audio problems, from microphones to my editing software (uploading to TH-cam makes everything quieter for example?!).
Thanks for watching
The reason I sold my Laguna 2 was because that fancy electronic park brake failed.
These things can be expensive to fix for little benefit. I think it’s a great feature and it works really well for such an early system, and mine still works after 18 years, but I’m not looking forward to the day when I have to fix it if it does go wrong!
@@carmanick It was going to cost me more than the value of the car but I still regret selling it. It had many of the features of your car including the blinds which were excellent. It was intended to go head to head with the Mondeo but many features put it closer to the class above.
Apparently Land Rover, VAG group and many other expensive cars all suffer the park break issues and it's always an expensive fix but many new cars now have this type of system.
@@markonmotoring I guess any electronic system has its faults sometimes! I do appreciate the view that it’s unnecessary hassle for replacing a simple lever but it does add to the comfort experience and guarantees your handbrake is on!
The Laguna were pretty forward thinking with their tech and look compared to rivals. I think that’s a car that’s almost disappeared but deserves some recognition. And you could get it with the 3.0 V6 engine!
@@carmanick Mine was a facelifted 1.9 DCi Privilege but I once drive a pre facelift Privilege fitted with the 3.0 V6 and five speed auto. Very very smooth and quick but was averaging 25mpg over the test route of around ten miles. It would definitely have a ace in my dream garage though and for my money a much better ling distance touring car than anything German.
@@markonmotoring yeah you pay for that performance and smoothness with fuel economy! I’d love a 3.5 V6 Vel Satis but this is my main car so needed something a bit more reasonable! Is the yellow Megane coupe your current car?
Anyone every have Electronic Handbrake Issues with these ?
I'm sure they do. I haven't had issues though but there's a Facebook group that we could ask that question on.
Clever system, auto releases and auto engages with engine off which is not what I expected for one of the first systems to market
The cameraman was too static. He's explaining interior features with no visuals of the features. Tiresome.
The cameraman is a tripod so it’s very static ;p. But taking your point I will do more close ups and panning shots in the future
@@carmanick It’s quite hard to hear you too.
Much easier to hear you now you’re inside ✔️
@@PeteretePeter I understand. It's strange as the sound is fine in my editing software but the uploads to youtube seem to dull the audio! I hope to use an external microphone for future videos to resolve this. Thanks for watching and for making me aware.
The reason for this cars failure is I fear...Automobiles to a great extent has gone beyond human common senses...and early 2000s was a crux for that..
It would have been a great success if it was launched either 10 years back or today...if you call it ugly ,just see what Elon musk is doing.
@@pramodhb6796 I think a lot of it is branding, it was a rather expensive Renault, it was a bit quirky looking and in this segment rwd and a saloon bodystyle was the norm, which suggested expense! But I feel this was a unique offering, similar to my C6, which are both different cars but share the lack of success or appreciation!
Thanks for watching and commenting
Citroen got the French luxury car right in 1957 with the DS and ID (which - 60+ years later - still look futuristic). The Vel Satis, by comparison, was an ugly shed of a car, with nearly no technical innovations.
You are completely right on the sense that the Citroen DS was a true luxury car, with innovations that were revolutionary to the industry and only delivered higher levels of comfort and luxury!
Since the CX though I’d say french luxury cars were either bit forgettable or didn’t deliver what they set out to, like the XM, Safrane, R25, 605, 604 etc.
The Vel Satis was a different car and I think it is great! It’s not innovative in the sense that the DS was, but it hard to be so innovative on today’s world. But from the sense of comfort, attention to detail, space, design, and refinement, I’d say it is really good luxury car! Ugly is obviously a matter of opinion!
It is also one of the most expensive vehicle programmes, so there must’ve been some innovations somewhere! Was nearly the first car to offer and electronic parking brake, one of the safest vehicles on the road, front seats that were unique and have yet to be offered by other companies, a unique rear suspension setup unique to this car and adaptive cruise control (in 2002!).
The Vel Satis was innovative in the sense of giving a new answer how a luxury car could be like in the year 2000. It was not just altering the limousine template which all the other manufacturers did but starting from a white piece of paper. That is what I love: a new concept questioning the tradition. So it is a bit higher to be comfortable in getting in an out, and offers better visibility, it has more interior space than its rivals of similar length, it is a hatch for increasing practicality. I find beauty in it via its intelligent concept and innovative details often coming from Renault's experience with Espace and Scenic. And at last in my eyes there is a consequent overall aesthetic inside out and in many details, which I admire in cars designed by Patrick le Quément, the french soul, that does things a bit differently but charming and uniting functionality with aesthetics. Still I understand one can find this car ugly, it is like Björk's music, you love it or hate it. I love Björk and the Vel Satis.