Renault 19 TXE (Renault 19)

Member Name: Aleph

Product:	Renault 19
Date:	12/11/03 (1426 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very comfortable, torquefull and expressive engine, neutral handling, in a good average

Disadvantages: drinks too much petrol, electric circuit reliability, f**** long ration gearbox

I've purchassed a Renault 19 TXE recently. the TXE is basically the same as teh GTX (1.7 petrol engine) but with an highest finition and more gadgets (electric windows, centralized opening command, adjusatble seats, climatisation, alloy wheels, etc)

It was a 100 000 miles old red one. Paint was fading, but some products made it clear red again.
I didn't have any problem with the engine, exept for the throttle which was partially obstrued by a too old petrol filter. i replaced the petrol filter and put some cleaning product in the tank, I solved the problem (acceleration with the two bodies of the throttle wasn't that reliable, which is a bit unsafe).
I've changed the high tension wires, too. It's now a lot better, especially under rain (it made some electrical problems)

As it is a TXE and not GTX, it came driectly wich 14" alloy wheels, making the handling better andd the cornering faster. I noticed more velocity for both cornering and acceleration with the lighter wheels I pruchassed later (I kept the 14" size, though).
I have michelin Energy tyres (175/65/14). they're not that bad with this car and really sure when the macadam is wet. But I'd rather have tyres with a better grip on dry floors.
Chassis is sure, and efficient. there's not too much roll, ant handling is neutral. Just, like most of traction cars, it tends to understeer.... and the oversteer brutally. But you need to be very fast to notice that. I don't advise you Continental EcoContact tyres, they don't go with this car well.
That's for handling. For engine, it's a very good car. Accelerations are better than most of standard cars. It's faster than a Xsara or a 206 Hdi and nearly any other diesel bellow 110ch. it's faster too than a lot of newest cars which are heavier, even with more power.
The engine is really torquefull. You can drive it as you wish, like a diesel in low revs (it does accept
to go from 30 mph in fifth gear) or like a sportcar in high revs (from 4000 to 6000 revs, you'll have the more power). then, you'll hear a bestial growl from the engine. joyfull !

parts are cheap in France, but they seam to be more expensive in UK. that's a shame.

i noticed a few defauts : electric problems as the electric circuit is old, the engine drinks a lot of petrol in town or on motorway, and the long ratio gear box (cheaper insurrance in France) dosen't fit the engine that well.

Summary: