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Fittings
and furniture
The various permutations of seating
you can work out in the Renault cope with virtually any combination of
persons, luggage and live stock though the car is basically a four
seater with room for a fifth in the back. Arranged normally, everybody
has plenty of legroom and 12.6 cu. Ft. of our test luggage can be heaped
into the boot. To make more luggage room, the entire rear seat rocks
forward on levers compromising a little on legroom but not uncomfortably
so. This leaves a gap between the rear squab and the parcel shelf so
live stock in a basket could breathe in the boot. Touring luggage for
two people or a long load can be carried by tipping the rear cushion
forward, estate car fashion and turning the backseat about the pivots in
its upper edge and suspending it horizontally by the straps provided to
clip on to the grab handles. Other positions include a rather restricted
double bed and a rest position arrived at by half reclining the
passenger’s seat and pulling the bottom of the rear squab out to line
up with it. The well-written handbook explains everything in detail.
Oddments space is provided by the central armrest, and two under-facia
cubbyholes, the larger one like the armrest being lockable. Small items
can be laid on the rear shelf though this lifts up with the boot lid to
ease access.
All this is standard Renault 16,
but the instrument panel is not, and the result is a decided improvement.
Speedometer, still optimistic, and rev counter with round dials, clear,
bold figures replace the 16’s two-level-slot speedo and are flanked by
an instrument cluster housing water temperature, fuel level and volt
meter gauges, the latter is connected across the voltage regulator and
should always read “plus” above idling speed. On the other side a
matching cluster contains warning lights for parking brake, oil pressure,
high beam, turn indicators, rear window demister and the iodine vapour
spot lights (when fitted). A short steering column stalk operates the
indicators and a longer one pulls to flash the light, pushes for the
horn and turns once for sidelights and twice for headlights. As before
the side lights on each side can be used independently for parking but
two speed wipers are new. The whole facia is neatly surrounded by
mock-stitched vinyl, which is also used to cover the steering wheel.
Additional internal lighting includes a passenger’s reading light and
illumination for the ignition/steering lock and the smoker’s requisite
compartment which includes a cigar lighter.
Servicing
and maintenance
After unlocking with a key and two
catches which pinch together, the bonnet pros open with a strut. Most
things in need of routine attention are still easily accessible only the
oil filter being slightly obscured by the new manifolding. Sparking
plugs are well buried in sockets between the valves but easily removed
with an especially long spanner provided in the tool kit. After two free
services at 300 and 1,200 miles during the running-in period, service is
required at 3,000-mile intervals consisting mainly of attention to
engine and gearbox oils, the only greasing requirements being the rear
hubs at 30,000 miles.
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