Renault Espace V Ford Galaxy

[GillC1]

Hi,

Thinking of changing my car, i already have a galaxy which is good but am also looking at a renault grand espace. Has anyone got any comments on the espace as a tow car.

thanks

 

[Icemaker]

Hi Gill, you need to be very carefull with the espace regarding the train weight as renault are very tight on theire allowance. i was looking to buy a grande espace 2,2 dynamique 2005 model but found that i would have been over the max train weight with my van loaded to max. renault give the max tow weight as 2000 kgs but state that this is with "driver only" if you have any passengers or luggage you have to deduct theire weight from the max tow, my van weighs 1640 kgs so i only had 360 kgs left for all my family and luggage, it just did not work. its such a shame as the espace is a lovely car but any van weighing over 1400 kgs will give you problems regarding passengers and luggage. just a thought but why not wait untill june when the new galaxy comes out, ive seen the pictures and its much bigger than the currant one and is an all ford car rather than a shared one, it looks very nice and could be worth the wait.

 

[GillC1]

thanks for the reply, is this not the case with all tow cars? or is it just renault that have low train weights.

thanks

 

[Icemaker]

up to now i have only found renault that calculate the train weight like this. i have a seat alhambra which is identical to your galaxy and my kerbweight is 1760 kgs and my maximum tow is 2000 kgs, if the car was an espace it would have a max train weight of 3760 kgs but i actually has a train weight of 4000 kgs, 240 more than the espace. thats nearly 1/4 tonne more carrying capacity.

 

[tj_4]

Hi

I tow with a Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.5CRD, it is a very capable tow car. Previous 2 cars were Galaxy's. I wouldn't go back to the Galaxy.

 

[Icemaker]

unfortunately the voyager has a very low max tow limit of only 1600 kgs so again the car is unsuitable for most of the larger vans which is why i did not suggest it, also the depreciation is much higher than a galaxy or espace.

 

[tj_4]

Icemaker, 85% of the Seat kerbweight is 1496kg, below the tow weight of the Grand Voyager 1600kg which is only 76% of its kerb weight. A far safer combination I suggest.

 

[Lutz]

I wouldn't put so much emphasis on kerbweight, Steve. There are so many other factors that play a role in what is and what isn't safe and weight is just one of them. I would certainly not say that the Grand Voyager is a 'far safer combination' but only give it half a tick on that account.

 

[Icemaker]

I wouldn't put so much emphasis on kerbweight, Steve. There are so many other factors that play a role in what is and what isn't safe and weight is just one of them. I would certainly not say that the Grand Voyager is a 'far safer combination' but only give it half a tick on that account.

Steve, i never mentioned kerbweight with regards to the voyager i stated its maximum tow which is only 1600 kgs whereas the galaxy / alhambra / sharran has a maximum tow of 2000kgs 400 more, also the kerbweight of the alhambra is 1760 kgs in stylance form and as we all know the 85% rule is only a guide line. whereas my alhambra can tow my ace twin axle with ease and well within the law the voyager can not. i was in no way implying that the voyager is not a reasonable car just that the magority of vans from 4 berth upwards are too heavy for it due to its maximum tow limit.

 

[Icemaker]

Steve, i never mentioned kerbweight with regards to the voyager i stated its maximum tow which is only 1600 kgs whereas the galaxy / alhambra / sharran has a maximum tow of 2000kgs 400 more, also the kerbweight of the alhambra is 1760 kgs in stylance form and as we all know the 85% rule is only a guide line. whereas my alhambra can tow my ace twin axle with ease and well within the law the voyager can not. i was in no way implying that the voyager is not a reasonable car just that the magority of vans from 4 berth upwards are too heavy for it due to its maximum tow limit.