Renault Megane - Possible Purchase - Any Advice?
Renault Megane - Possible Purchase - Any Advice?
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Discussion

Skirmisheer

Original Poster:

157 posts

184 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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Hi Everyone

I've decided to put a Megane Tourer on my possible new car list.
We need an estate and the Megane also has a really low boot lip which is ideal for elderly dog to jump in and out.

It needs to be an automatic too as my left knee isn't quite as good as it used to be.

Looking on Autotrader the choice is between the 2 litre petrol or the 1.5DCi. Obviously I'm quite impressed with the fuel economy of that however I'm always wary about diesels when it comes to maintenance costs.

I've currently got a 2.3 petrol auto Mondeo and while it's a lovely car it does like a drink! It's also just too big for what we need.

The models I'm interested in are the Dynamique Tomtom.

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated before I start searching in earnest.

Cheers
Dave

TwistingMyMelon

6,519 posts

236 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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What year and budget?

Skirmisheer

Original Poster:

157 posts

184 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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Sorry, should have put that.

Realistically I'm looking at 2011 MY and up to £8000

TwistingMyMelon

6,519 posts

236 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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All the horror stories about Megannes would put me off, from memory this was mainly on the earlier model, but it would still put me off Renaults . Especially as there are pretty decent alternatives

Not much help I'm afraid!

rallycross

13,762 posts

268 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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I recently had the misfortune to have a Megane Tdi 1.9 130 bhp auto 2007 model, the auto is a complete dud compared to its rivals, make sure to try one on a proper drive before you buy one.

Also the fuel consumption was pretty poor for a medium hatch, it wouldn't do better than 37 mpg and was averaging 33 mpg mixed use with my wife driving it, a similar age model Golf or Focus will average over 50 (and have a much better g/box). That was an old shape 2007 model not sure how much was carried over to the later shape models?

valiant

14,331 posts

191 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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Looks like your after the latest shape (mk3?). Quality is considerably better than earlier marks by quite a degree and are no worse than any other mainstream brand.

Depreciation is steep compared to others probably due to previous editions lack of quality but that means decent bargains are available especially if you intend to keep the car for some time.

There's a few Renault salesmen on here (htp99 I think is his username) who will be able to answer any specific queries.

anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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Thread Title said:
Renault Megane - Possible Purchase - Any Advice?
Don't do it.

Skirmisheer

Original Poster:

157 posts

184 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
valiant said:
Looks like your after the latest shape (mk3?). Quality is considerably better than earlier marks by quite a degree and are no worse than any other mainstream brand.

Depreciation is steep compared to others probably due to previous editions lack of quality but that means decent bargains are available especially if you intend to keep the car for some time.

There's a few Renault salesmen on here (htp99 I think is his username) who will be able to answer any specific queries.
Thanks for that.
Yes it will be a Mk3 I'd be interested in.
You're also right about the depreciation which is why they have caught my attention when looking on Autotrader. In ideal world I'd be looking at getting a Focus Titanium as they are the only version that has decent kit level. I'd be looking at around £9000 though for one with sensible mileage and that's pushing my budget a bit too far.


Claudia Skies

1,098 posts

147 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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I quite like the Megane for "bread and butter" motoring but I've never yet felt the need to own a diesel.

shake n bake

2,221 posts

238 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
279 said:
Don't do it.
Based on...???

I've had a Megane for 2 years as my company hack, it doesn't get much sympathy from me, it's covered 25000 miles and hasn't ever missed a beat, it handles well, goes well enough for a smallish diesel and returns ok mpg.
Renault were honest enough to admit the previous generation of cars was crap, they dropped the lot and redesigned the range. The new stuff really is on par with any other brand for sale these days, we sell stacks of them and very rarely see them back aside from routine servicing.

Skirmisheer

Original Poster:

157 posts

184 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
shake n bake said:
Based on...???

I've had a Megane for 2 years as my company hack, it doesn't get much sympathy from me, it's covered 25000 miles and hasn't ever missed a beat, it handles well, goes well enough for a smallish diesel and returns ok mpg.
Renault were honest enough to admit the previous generation of cars was crap, they dropped the lot and redesigned the range. The new stuff really is on par with any other brand for sale these days, we sell stacks of them and very rarely see them back aside from routine servicing.
Which engine is yours?
I'm curious to know about any potential DPF problems too if anyone can help?

shake n bake

2,221 posts

238 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
Skirmisheer said:
Which engine is yours?
I'm curious to know about any potential DPF problems too if anyone can help?
It's the 1.5dci. I've yet to have one back with dpf faults, it's a really durable engine, been around for donkeys years and used by Nissan for years too.
Any diesel used correctly won't cause bother.

Skirmisheer

Original Poster:

157 posts

184 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
shake n bake said:
It's the 1.5dci. I've yet to have one back with dpf faults, it's a really durable engine, been around for donkeys years and used by Nissan for years too.
Any diesel used correctly won't cause bother.
Can you please explain what you mean by "used correctly" - I presume you mean the length of journeys it's used for? If so is it possible to quantify that?

shake n bake

2,221 posts

238 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
Skirmisheer said:
Can you please explain what you mean by "used correctly" - I presume you mean the length of journeys it's used for? If so is it possible to quantify that?
Of course, in a nutshell, up to full operating temperatur for a good period of time, and run through the rev range, people are often afraid to rev a car hard, they are built to do it and need it in my opinion. Basically, get it hot and take it to the higher end of the Rev counter a few times a month and it'll be fine. I've worked a diesel only specialist for a few years before moving to a franchise and I tell everyone who buys a diesel what I've said above.

Potatoes

3,606 posts

201 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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I owned one, it was rubbish.

Some examples from my 61 plate that I owned for less than a year:

  • I had to remove the bumber and grill to change a bulb
  • The tomtom unit crashed and had to be replaced
  • The central locking worked, intermittently
  • The passenger window opened some of the time
  • It was a boring drive - put me off driving for a little while so I got rid of it
It was pants!



Edited by Potatoes on Monday 9th March 22:22

Splitpin2008

195 posts

180 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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I once owned a Renault.
Lovely car I thought. drove nice but heater didn't work.
took both heater hoses off, backflushed it - heater now worked.

For a week.
Then the headgasket went.
Repaired that.

Then the dash started being silly.
gauges were all over the place, like flags in a storm.

Then is started using petrol like it was a Jag... 10mpg !!!!

Flogged it fast then.

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zedboy1200

885 posts

242 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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I had a 2001 'new' Laguna. Beautiful car when it went..... Which was rarely.

Fast forward to 2015. Daughter has a 100% perfect '14' Clio 1.2 petrol and son an incredibly discounted '63' dci Megane, also 100% perfect.

I think they're turned a corner.

Rawwr

22,722 posts

265 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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“With a mere 90bhp available, progress is too leisurely to be called fast, but on the motorway in fifth gear the Megane’s slow pace really becomes a pain. Uphill runs become power-sappingly mundane, while overtaking National Express coaches can become a long, drawn-out affair.” Not my words, Carol. The words of Top Gear magazine. Hello?

BFG TERRANO

2,172 posts

179 months

Monday 9th March 2015
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I had 2 company diesel renaults. Both utter ste. 51 plate Megane. Rattled itself to bits. Poorly built, just crap generally. Lots of minor but irritating woes.
57 plate Laguna. Not much better. Lots of electrical niggles and water getting in where it shouldn't and getting out from where it should be. Weird card type ignition key that failed several times at £100 a pop.

Skirmisheer

Original Poster:

157 posts

184 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
Rawwr said:
“With a mere 90bhp available, progress is too leisurely to be called fast, but on the motorway in fifth gear the Megane’s slow pace really becomes a pain. Uphill runs become power-sappingly mundane, while overtaking National Express coaches can become a long, drawn-out affair.” Not my words, Carol. The words of Top Gear magazine. Hello?
But the 1.5DCi in the model year I'm looking at has 110 BHP.

And while I appreciate everyone that replies I don't think it's really relevant giving an opinion on cars that are now around 15 years old and a totally different model.