Things i don't want on my replacement car.
Discussion
Currently running an 11 plate Renault scenic 1.5 dynamique Tom Tom edition.Overall i do like the car and am amazed that the only things that don't work are rear fog lamp (i think broken wire) rear screenwash jet blocked.
the reason i bought it was because it had less than 89,000 miles on it as opposed to the 153,000 than its Astra predecessor had plus a few more bells and whistles and it is a 1.5 compared to the astras 1248cc and about 15 horsepower more.Long intro i know but i had time on my hands so here goes.
1/Electric parking brake.
2/Bulbs that can only be replaced by removing bumpers.
3/A clock which i am told relies on the satnav to keep time and shuts down if the car is parked up for 3 months.Not really bothered about satnav as i have never used one.
4/A heavy clutch like the scenic which has caused me medical problems.
5/Also not bothered about aircon as i had a bad experience with with it in a B class Mercedes once.
Sorry also forgot to mention i don't want a wet belt engine.
the reason i bought it was because it had less than 89,000 miles on it as opposed to the 153,000 than its Astra predecessor had plus a few more bells and whistles and it is a 1.5 compared to the astras 1248cc and about 15 horsepower more.Long intro i know but i had time on my hands so here goes.
1/Electric parking brake.
2/Bulbs that can only be replaced by removing bumpers.
3/A clock which i am told relies on the satnav to keep time and shuts down if the car is parked up for 3 months.Not really bothered about satnav as i have never used one.
4/A heavy clutch like the scenic which has caused me medical problems.
5/Also not bothered about aircon as i had a bad experience with with it in a B class Mercedes once.
Sorry also forgot to mention i don't want a wet belt engine.
Edited by oldagepensioner on Tuesday 9th June 18:47
You are going to be very limited in choice for newish cars without both a EPB and Touch Screen. Unless you go for cars older and will open up your choices such as a Mazda 3 and Honda Civic etc. but going back to circa 2016 or older.
But newer/brand new cars - as someone else mentioned you are looking at the basic spec Dacia Duster. I even had a Skoda Kamiq 2021 without an EPB, but that has touch screen controls..
I am sure there are a few others to choose from, but the older car you go for it opens up your choices as the tech won’t be as fancy as brand new cars or a few years old,
But newer/brand new cars - as someone else mentioned you are looking at the basic spec Dacia Duster. I even had a Skoda Kamiq 2021 without an EPB, but that has touch screen controls..
I am sure there are a few others to choose from, but the older car you go for it opens up your choices as the tech won’t be as fancy as brand new cars or a few years old,
I'm running a 2005 BMW 130i. I've had it for nearly 16 years, had 50K on it when purchased, 174K now.
The thing I'm really dreading If I have to change is the constant nannying from lane change / assisted braking / to close to car in front beeps. beep beep beep.
Even getting a lift to the airport in my old man's Nissan Hybrid drives me mental. He's 80 - leaves it all switched on as he can't be arsed working out how to switch it off every time he get's in the car.
The thing I'm really dreading If I have to change is the constant nannying from lane change / assisted braking / to close to car in front beeps. beep beep beep.
Even getting a lift to the airport in my old man's Nissan Hybrid drives me mental. He's 80 - leaves it all switched on as he can't be arsed working out how to switch it off every time he get's in the car.
I wouldn't let a bad electronic parking brake in a 2011 Renault put you off most new cars which will be fitted with them.
The original electronic parking brakes (where they stupidly tried to combine the parking brake with auto-hold) were rubbish, particularly on mid market stuff like Vauxhalls and Renaults. It was usually hill starts which let them down, not releasing at the right point, and some didn't auto-release at if you were trying to set off in reverse up a hill!
On more recent models they are fine, and just work pretty much invisibly. Some people would argue that they are more likely to go wrong when they get older, but the old manual handbrake wasn't exactly perfect either. It was also often a MOT failure (and annoyance) when the cable stretched too much and the adjuster seized up so it didn't apply enough even with the lever pointing at the roof.
The original electronic parking brakes (where they stupidly tried to combine the parking brake with auto-hold) were rubbish, particularly on mid market stuff like Vauxhalls and Renaults. It was usually hill starts which let them down, not releasing at the right point, and some didn't auto-release at if you were trying to set off in reverse up a hill!
On more recent models they are fine, and just work pretty much invisibly. Some people would argue that they are more likely to go wrong when they get older, but the old manual handbrake wasn't exactly perfect either. It was also often a MOT failure (and annoyance) when the cable stretched too much and the adjuster seized up so it didn't apply enough even with the lever pointing at the roof.
RedLightGreenLight said:
You are going to be very limited in choice for newish cars without both a EPB and Touch Screen. Unless you go for cars older and will open up your choices such as a Mazda 3 and Honda Civic etc. but going back to circa 2016 or older.
But newer/brand new cars - as someone else mentioned you are looking at the basic spec Dacia Duster. I even had a Skoda Kamiq 2021 without an EPB, but that has touch screen controls..
I am sure there are a few others to choose from, but the older car you go for it opens up your choices as the tech won t be as fancy as brand new cars or a few years old,
I don't have a problem with older cars as i think they got the tech balance about right so i tend to look at cars about 10 years old.The Renault although a year older than the Astra is a much quieter car to ride in,noticeably more powerful and better built than the Astra which i did wonder if it had been in an accident judging by the fit and finish and that it was ex fire brigade who are i believe self insured.But newer/brand new cars - as someone else mentioned you are looking at the basic spec Dacia Duster. I even had a Skoda Kamiq 2021 without an EPB, but that has touch screen controls..
I am sure there are a few others to choose from, but the older car you go for it opens up your choices as the tech won t be as fancy as brand new cars or a few years old,
oldagepensioner said:
Currently running an 11 plate Renault scenic 1.5 dynamique Tom Tom edition.Overall i do like the car and am amazed that the only things that don't work are rear fog lamp (i think broken wire) rear screenwash jet blocked.
the reason i bought it was because it had less than 89,000 miles on it as opposed to the 153,000 than its Astra predecessor had plus a few more bells and whistles and it is a 1.5 compared to the astras 1248cc and about 15 horsepower more.Long intro i know but i had time on my hands so here goes.
1/Electric parking brake.
I've read a few people saying they don't like electric handbrakes, my van has one and its really one of the best things I've ever had it works flawlessly, its a simple system with an actuator attached to the caliper.the reason i bought it was because it had less than 89,000 miles on it as opposed to the 153,000 than its Astra predecessor had plus a few more bells and whistles and it is a 1.5 compared to the astras 1248cc and about 15 horsepower more.Long intro i know but i had time on my hands so here goes.
1/Electric parking brake.
When its engaged you just drive off and its automatically released...brilliant.
And when it eventually goes wrong all that's required to change it is to undo two screws undo a plug swap it for a new one and that's it, it doesn't even need to be set-up.
Clad-Hach said:
I've read a few people saying they don't like electric handbrakes, my van has one and its really one of the best things I've ever had it works flawlessly, its a simple system with an actuator attached to the caliper.
When its engaged you just drive off and its automatically released...brilliant.
And when it eventually goes wrong all that's required to change it is to undo two screws undo a plug swap it for a new one and that's it, it doesn't even need to be set-up.
Maybe some are better than others, but I'm sure I have read of Jaguars with dying batteries having the handbrake stuck on, and have read about loads of BMW E89 Z4 owners needing "software updates" to get them working properly. When its engaged you just drive off and its automatically released...brilliant.
And when it eventually goes wrong all that's required to change it is to undo two screws undo a plug swap it for a new one and that's it, it doesn't even need to be set-up.
You can fix a mechanical handbrake with a spanner - no need for a laptop and specialist software!
Did you really find disengaging a handbrake that challenging?
oldagepensioner said:
...5/Also not bothered about aircon as i had a bad experience with with it in a B class Mercedes once.
I must say I find this one fascinating, as the hassle of not having air-conditioning, especially over winter to dehumidify the car, would surely outweigh any singular negative experience of it. What happened in that B class???RedLightGreenLight said:
Pitre said:
Auto power off. Ghastly invention.
Engine Stop Start you mean or the entertainment systems including in car electronics shut down if not used for a while automatically?If it s either, not a bad thing designed for their respective functional purposes
confused_buyer said:
The clutch is heavy because the springs go weak - it wouldn't have been heavy when it was new. Common issue on Renault 1.5dcis of that era.
What do you mean by "the springs go weak"?I've always put increased pedal weight of an older clutch down to the worn and thinner friction disc meaning the pressure plate surface has to move up to suit, which changes the angle of the "fingers" of the diaphragm spring enough to give you less mechanical advantage at the start of the stroke.
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