we got a phone call in the pub last night from Phill's brother to say they were ripping one
apart on the show.
Just another example of TG trashing a rare car for kicks (anyone remember the Alpine?).
I dont watch TG anymore tbh.......
And to think a couple of years ago Clarkson put it in the 'sub zero' on the cool wall.......... :roll:
And as was discussed at length on the old forum, the Avi was not a monumental failure, but
it was a way of Renault getting out of the contract with Matra who built the series 1-3 Espace's.
Renault had a 20 year contract with Matra, and the series 4 Espace was built by Renault not
Matra. However, when Espace 4 came out, there were still 2 years of the contract with Matra
left, so the Avi (a concept car) was put into production - it was cheaper for Renault to have
5000 built (only 435 in RHD), and lose £100,000 on each car, then pay off Matra's contract.
Phill's car is the 51st car built, and he bought it brand new in 2002. He had to wait over
six months for it (they lent him a Vel Satis whilst it was being built as he'd sold his Espace
privately), and he eventually took delivery of her in November 2002. She was on a 52 plate,
but now sports the more fitting registration M4TRA.
She's a beautiful car to drive, I love her to bits, and she will never be sold.
Pic of me and Avi at the Ace Cafe in 2006