Is a 2003 Renault Scenic really *that* bad?
Discussion
What with me and the wife both turning 30 in the next year (I already have, sadly) it's time to look towards starting a family. Father-in-law may offer his 2003 Scenic (apparently they dropped the "Megane" moniker around this time) as a more suitable family motor for us.
It's a black 1.6 petrol manual. Not sure of the spec, but it has alloys, aircon and all rear seats are removable. Full dealer service history, owned since new by F-i-l. Just over 40,000 miles.
As a more practical car before any kids arrive I think it'd be great for me. Bikes in the back, seats removable so can lug stuff around. Also decent visibility and easy to drive for the wife.
It would mean getting rid of the 205 GTI. I know it's one of those cars that people always regret selling, but I've had it for 8 years now and feel I've got everything I can out of it. I'll be keeping the Elise as a fun car. Just don't much fancy putting a kid in the 205. I've seen them after a smash and they don't come out well.
My initial thoughts were "fairly new family motor, I'll sell it and the 205 and get myself a barge. A8 or a 7 series or something." Then I looked on Parkers at the value of the Scenic. I could sell some of my radio controlled cars for more than the Scenic is worth...
...so, at the moment I'm leaning towards to keeping the Scenic. It's a car with a known history, in the family since new. I don't need it to be fun or fast, just safe, reliable and easy to drive. Obviously the task of maintenance will then fall to me. Is it going to be a minefield? Will the 1.6 petrol engine bore me to death while being no more economical than something more exciting? Looking for replies from those in a similar situation if possible. "Boring" family motor, fun weekend toy.
It's a black 1.6 petrol manual. Not sure of the spec, but it has alloys, aircon and all rear seats are removable. Full dealer service history, owned since new by F-i-l. Just over 40,000 miles.
As a more practical car before any kids arrive I think it'd be great for me. Bikes in the back, seats removable so can lug stuff around. Also decent visibility and easy to drive for the wife.
It would mean getting rid of the 205 GTI. I know it's one of those cars that people always regret selling, but I've had it for 8 years now and feel I've got everything I can out of it. I'll be keeping the Elise as a fun car. Just don't much fancy putting a kid in the 205. I've seen them after a smash and they don't come out well.
My initial thoughts were "fairly new family motor, I'll sell it and the 205 and get myself a barge. A8 or a 7 series or something." Then I looked on Parkers at the value of the Scenic. I could sell some of my radio controlled cars for more than the Scenic is worth...
...so, at the moment I'm leaning towards to keeping the Scenic. It's a car with a known history, in the family since new. I don't need it to be fun or fast, just safe, reliable and easy to drive. Obviously the task of maintenance will then fall to me. Is it going to be a minefield? Will the 1.6 petrol engine bore me to death while being no more economical than something more exciting? Looking for replies from those in a similar situation if possible. "Boring" family motor, fun weekend toy.
I know someone who has had 3 of them, replaced every three to four years. First 2 were perfect and problems were few and far between, the latest one has been a total disaster. Seems to be luck of the draw but if you know the history on this one and it hasn't been too problematic then go for it. His have all been diesels and some say the petrols don't suit them but if the deal is good then it's probably ok.
Whatcar seem to give it a good review for the used ones. http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/used/renault/sc...
Honest John similar: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/renault/sceni...
Whatcar seem to give it a good review for the used ones. http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/used/renault/sc...
Honest John similar: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/renault/sceni...
An ex-colleague had a 52 plate. He had lots of problems with coil packs, basically if we had lots of rain in a short period one or two of them would die, he kept spares in the car for the breakdown guy to fit at the roadside. He also had power steering issues with it and central locking problems.
Couple of people I know have owned them and had no real problems think one had a coilpack go but that was pretty cheap.
The scenic afterwards however that started around 2004/5 is best avoided the electrics on those things is a joke and are best avoided my uncles costs him hundreds if not thousands in repairs and he only stuck about 10k miles on the bloody thing.
The scenic afterwards however that started around 2004/5 is best avoided the electrics on those things is a joke and are best avoided my uncles costs him hundreds if not thousands in repairs and he only stuck about 10k miles on the bloody thing.
They're not the best, truth be told, good value and well equipped, but not particularly good cars. I've bought and sold only a handful (both these, and the Megane of the same period), and they have lived with me for a while (which suggests a low consumer opinion of them), and when they have gone they've come back and bitten me in the arse with daft faults that simply do not crop up with other makes of cars. The Scenic is particularly prone to nasty, horrid understeer. They do not do corners in the wet, so not the final word in driver involvement but then you've got the Elise for that! The 1.6 petrol is acceptable however, decent on fuel and a lot more gutsy than the 1.4. Usual gremlins are electric window regulators that fail frequently - £80 to put right per window, and the clocks failing. Most have had speedo replacements and should have the supporting paperwork. Clutches are particularly weak and only good for 50k, depending on the car's use of course. In this instance it's nice to know where your car's coming from so you can be sure of its honest ownership. There is an abundance of these cars available in the trade and you they can be bought for absolute peanuts; late plate cars with low mileages. I get offered them but simply don't entertain Renaults that are anything other than Clios these days, so tend to avoid Meganes, Scenics, Lagunas and the like. Regardless, if this one is looking extremely cheap, it must be worth a punt.
Oh it's not cheap, it's free. 
Thanks for all the links to all above btw - have been reading and researching further all night.
Interesting to hear from a trade point of view as well. One option I was thinking of was to trade it in at the dealer that has sold and serviced it since new against a brand new Dacia Sandero. I presume I'll be offered around £800 for the Scenic? And of course, is a brand new Sandero (the £5995 one!) worth paying five grand for against a 9 year old Scenic as a family motor?
Thanks for all the links to all above btw - have been reading and researching further all night.
Interesting to hear from a trade point of view as well. One option I was thinking of was to trade it in at the dealer that has sold and serviced it since new against a brand new Dacia Sandero. I presume I'll be offered around £800 for the Scenic? And of course, is a brand new Sandero (the £5995 one!) worth paying five grand for against a 9 year old Scenic as a family motor?
HereBeMonsters said:
What with me and the wife both turning 30 in the next year (I already have, sadly) it's time to look towards starting a family. Father-in-law may offer his 2003 Scenic (apparently they dropped the "Megane" moniker around this time) as a more suitable family motor for us.
This is the critical failing with family men. Having one kid, and suddenly thinking they need to sell up a good car to buy a bus. Why? Your missus isn't even up the duff yet. It may never happen! But until it does, don't start driving a Scenic. You'll only curse yourself for it. If you do fall into the trap of thinking you need a bigger/more practical car then something like an A8/S Class/7 Series would be a much better choice. Massive, comfortable, more than big enough to seat wife and child. Up to three in the back, in fact. And, they are superb to drive. Luxury saloons like that appeal to petrolheads because they are fantastic cars. They'd be more than up to the task of family duties.
v8will said:
If it's free then it's a no brainer IMHO. Drive it till it breaks.
The only downside is 205 GTI will have to give way so we can afford to tax and insure the Scenic.Baryonyx said:
This is the critical failing with family men. Having one kid, and suddenly thinking they need to sell up a good car to buy a bus. Why? Your missus isn't even up the duff yet. It may never happen! But until it does, don't start driving a Scenic. You'll only curse yourself for it.
If you do fall into the trap of thinking you need a bigger/more practical car then something like an A8/S Class/7 Series would be a much better choice. Massive, comfortable, more than big enough to seat wife and child. Up to three in the back, in fact. And, they are superb to drive. Luxury saloons like that appeal to petrolheads because they are fantastic cars. They'd be more than up to the task of family duties.
I understand what you're saying, but I don't have the cash for a luxury barge, let alone the money to keep it in good health and petrol/tyres/road tax as well as keeping a Lotus.If you do fall into the trap of thinking you need a bigger/more practical car then something like an A8/S Class/7 Series would be a much better choice. Massive, comfortable, more than big enough to seat wife and child. Up to three in the back, in fact. And, they are superb to drive. Luxury saloons like that appeal to petrolheads because they are fantastic cars. They'd be more than up to the task of family duties.
Also wife will never drive anything that big. She's only considering driving a Scenic as it's nice and high up so she can see all around. If a kid does come along I won't be there all the time to take on the driving duties.
We have a 54 plate 1.5 dCi 80 in boggo spec, bought second hand in 2006 with about 7k on the clock. It passed 100k miles last week (last two years mileage has increased somewhat) and has been good vfm. 50mpg unless mercilessly hammered (ahem) and light (so far) on consumables.
EGR valve gummed up at 40k, possibly because I screwed up and used semi-synthetic oil instead of fully synthetic. Also lost two window regulators but were replaced by Renault FOC out of warranty. Electrics generally good, although second position on fan switch only works in v. cold conditions, suggesting mechanical fault in loom. £200 to replace so, being skint when it failed, we have left as is.
Radio sometimes gets stroppy and refuses to spit out a cd. Turning ignition off and on cures this.
I don't know how or why but the OH has managed to break half of the plastic trim fixtures around the back of the cabin so these appear to be a little fragile.
Interior reasonably kid-proof, although they managed to take out rear sun blinds. One each.
Otherwise it has been fine (lining us up for some clusterbork by writing this, I'm sure).
Handling isn't the best and it corners like an ocean liner in the wet, though this may in part be due to Michelin eco spec tyres. OTOH it has gripped like a b
d in several instances where I have managed to overcook corner entry speed so not all bad.
EGR valve gummed up at 40k, possibly because I screwed up and used semi-synthetic oil instead of fully synthetic. Also lost two window regulators but were replaced by Renault FOC out of warranty. Electrics generally good, although second position on fan switch only works in v. cold conditions, suggesting mechanical fault in loom. £200 to replace so, being skint when it failed, we have left as is.
Radio sometimes gets stroppy and refuses to spit out a cd. Turning ignition off and on cures this.
I don't know how or why but the OH has managed to break half of the plastic trim fixtures around the back of the cabin so these appear to be a little fragile.
Interior reasonably kid-proof, although they managed to take out rear sun blinds. One each.
Otherwise it has been fine (lining us up for some clusterbork by writing this, I'm sure).
Handling isn't the best and it corners like an ocean liner in the wet, though this may in part be due to Michelin eco spec tyres. OTOH it has gripped like a b
d in several instances where I have managed to overcook corner entry speed so not all bad. HereBeMonsters said:
Also wife will never drive anything that big. She's only considering driving a Scenic as it's nice and high up so she can see all around. If a kid does come along I won't be there all the time to take on the driving duties.
Last time I checked my A8, it had windows and I can see all around it too! Check the smoker barge thread. Nothing depreciates like luxury. The world is your oyster for between £1000-£5000...
I purchased one real cheap...half a grand it lasted about 9 months and dies, auto box went at 70k with full Renault service history...I used it as a dog mobile...it was a pile of crap and drove crap too...I hated driving it and my only enjoyment was watching the dogs destroy the thing
I'm assuming it's a Scenic II, if so:
I sold these from new, they are a bit hit and miss, good ones are great, bad ones aren't so.
Common faults:
The 1.6, whilst perky is a bit crap, the throttle control is awful, it's either off or on, it either bogs down pulling away or you end up revving the nuts off the thing to stop the bogging down and it's not that economical either, facelift 1.6's are far better.
Cambelts at 5 years or 72k are a must, if it hasn't been done it needs it, ASAP.
It's free, what have you got to lose?!
I sold these from new, they are a bit hit and miss, good ones are great, bad ones aren't so.
Common faults:
- Coils, however almost everything around that age suffered with coil issues not just Renault.
- Dash displays give up the ghost however Renault will contribute to the majority of the cost, it'll cost you £150 if it goes.
- Window regulator failure issues are common.
The 1.6, whilst perky is a bit crap, the throttle control is awful, it's either off or on, it either bogs down pulling away or you end up revving the nuts off the thing to stop the bogging down and it's not that economical either, facelift 1.6's are far better.
Cambelts at 5 years or 72k are a must, if it hasn't been done it needs it, ASAP.
It's free, what have you got to lose?!
Edited by HTP99 on Sunday 9th December 01:18
HTP99 said:
And in response to the two people who have mentioned handling, it's a people carrier FFS, not a sports car!
MX-5? ETA - it's PH. Of course handling is mentioned, relevant or not. Also, related, forgot to mention ride is quite smooth, only really appreciated when you jump into something German.
Edited by Insanity Magnet on Sunday 9th December 01:40
i've had 2 over the years, around '02 i had a new 1.6 fiji which i didn't find too bad. Wasn't slow, handled well for a bus and now have a 2ltr auto (i got lazy) and apart from the auto box throwing a hizzy fit (goes into safety mode, won't go above 3rd but turning engine off 'fixes' that) but only happens when you drive off and it's freezing outside.
Otherwise it's a pretty good car, comfy, tons of space and cubby holes everywhere with the added bonus that if you go fishing, etc you can take the seats out and enjoy the sun
Otherwise it's a pretty good car, comfy, tons of space and cubby holes everywhere with the added bonus that if you go fishing, etc you can take the seats out and enjoy the sun
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