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The Renault Avantime can easily be seen as a blunder of Renault. The model failed, partly because production was stopped before the car could be a success at all. This had everything to do with the collaboration with Matra, the car manufacturer that was used more often for the MPV versions for the Renault. But Renault itself also made a very mediocre choice, which turned out to be a failure for the Avantime.
If you have a Renault Avantime, then the scarce edition is a challenge for the after market. Unless you have windscreen damage, because an after market windscreen is inexpensive and easy to find when your Renault Avantime needs a windscreen replacement. Before we go deeper into this, let's take a look at this flop model, of which less than 8500 copies have been made yet.
Matra was the automaker who produced the Avantime. This was also the manufacturer responsible for the Renault Espace. When Renault decided to produce the Espace 4 at a different location, Matra got the Avantime in exchange. The Renault Avantime had to be placed in the higher segment of the market.
That segment got busy right away. Renault also had a model made in its own factories for the higher segment, which would become a direct competitor of the Avantime. A strange choice. Ironically, both models did badly in Europe. Just over 58,000 copies of the Renault Vel-Satis were sold. By the way, the Avantime floped much harder with one tenth of these figures: 8,033 cars were sold in Europe.
The Renault Avantime had to convince the owners of the traditional coupé models like the Mercedes CLK, Volvo C70, Peugeot 406 Coupé, just like the people who were looking for an SUV like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, BMW X5 and Mercedes ML. It was precisely this split that made the Avantime a stranger. But the real problem is that there isn't so much wrong with the car. The 210 hp V6 engine is strong enough for the heavy car, and the six-speed manual gearbox is fine; the automatic version never made it to the market.
Why hasn't it? Because Matra was forced to pull the plug on the project after less than two years of production. One and a half billion francs had been put into the development and with the disappointing sales figures in the start-up phase, it was a crane on the wallet of the French car manufacturer. Renault could not transfer the production of the Renault Avantime to another location because it would be far too expensive. And of course at that moment Renault was already using the Vel-Satis, which sold better.
By the way, the Renault Avantime was not brought to all countries. For example, the spacious CUV (coupe utility vehicle, an invention of Renault) never came to Sweden. On the one hand because it would cost too much, on the other hand because the French realised beforehand that they would never win the battle against Volvo.
Windscreen damage is annoying, but when should a car window be replaced? In case of limited damage, such as a small chip, the car window repair is many times cheaper than replacing a complete windscreen. However, if the car window damage is more extensive, such as a large chip or a large crack, having your Renault Avantime windscreen replaced is the only option.
Is this damage in the driver's field of vision? If so, the windscreen must be replaced immediately if it is a branched crack or an asterisk (chip) with a diameter of more than 20 millimetres, according to the Dutch national road transport authority (RDW) manual.
Windscreen replacement is not cheap. Certainly not if you choose the brand dealer, where only brand automotive glass is sold. If you want the best value for money for your Renault Avantime windscreen, the Renault dealer is not the best option.
On the after market, automotive glass is offered that is made in an identical way, often in the same factories as the brand glass. However, no brand logo is used for after market automotive glass. This brand logo does not do anything for your windscreen, but it does make brand glass much more expensive than after market automotive glass. A new windscreen for your Renault Avantime costs only € 899 on the after market!
€ 899.00 | |
A purple coated windscreen for a Renault Avantime with heating and rain sensor | € 899.00 |
A car window replacement can often be done well when you're technical, have time and it's a side window of your Renault. However, replacing a windscreen yourself is not recommended, unless you have a lot of experience with it. An incorrectly fitted windscreen carries a lot of risks. It can come loose when braking hard or even leak when not properly installed.
If you opt for our after market windscreens, you can immediately choose our certified fitting partners who will be happy to replace the windscreen of the Renault Avantime for you. Car window replacement at home is, of course, also an option, so you don't even have to go on the road. Practical when this is not allowed with the current windscreen damage.
Are you proud owner of one of the few Renault Avantime models, but do you have windscreen damage you really want to - or even need to - get rid of? On our website you can easily find the right windscreen for your Renault, after which you can choose whether you want it delivered with or without installation.
Can't find what you're looking for, or would you like to contact us personally to ask your questions? Please contact us so we can help you directly and personally.
