If you want to ride like a prince, you don’t have to lose a fortune. That is, if you can live with an older car and less gadgets than you are used to these days. In that case, this Renault 25 is an interesting option.
For decades you could leave it to the French to come up with a wonderful luxury limousine. Think of the Citroëns DS, CX and XM, but also certainly the Peugeots 604 and 605. Later they did that again with the C6 and 607 respectively. Renault, however, also hooked up in the 80s with the 25 A car that was not as extravagantly designed as the flagships of Citroën, but with which you could certainly be seen well at the time.
Once you got into the 25, you found gadgets that we also knew from the Citroën CX. For its time, for example, it had a dashboard that was quite extravagant, futuristic and perhaps not equally practical everywhere, and you took place on enormous leather-covered seats in which you could really sink down. That there were similarities was not a big surprise when you consider that designer Robert Opron was both at the cradle of the CX and the 25. In terms of driving comfort, the 25 just couldn’t make it with the Citroëns equipped with the hydropneumatic suspension system, but you can count on the 25 to get out without a penny after a long ride. The 25 was a perfect alternative for those who wanted to drive well, with a little more dynamics and a more business-like appearance than a CX.
Towards the end of 1986, a Dutchman decided that the 25 was his or her car and ordered this one. The choice fell on the most modest motorisation, because we have a 25 GTS here. It had a 103 hp 2.0 four-cylinder in its nose. However, that modesty was wonderfully compensated by going for the lavish Monaco version. This included the Baccara leather seats that radiated pure comfort, but also, for example, the metallic brown paint and beige-colored plastic in the interior. Power windows, remote central locking and power steering were also part of the indulgence.
We are now 36 years later and this 25 is still with us, but is looking for a new owner. The provider, a private individual, reports that the car has its ugly spots here and there. We do indeed see some dents in the left front door and some (rust) damage just above the bumper, but one of the original hubcaps is also missing. It is also not entirely clear what has happened to the 25. After all, there is a five-digit counter in it, so assume that it has gone round at least once. But hey, the asking price is not crazy for such a nice and now extremely rare thing: only €2,100. Surely there must be an enthusiast who is willing to take the gamble?
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl