Megane 225 Lux
Discussion
So 12 months have elapsed since we purchased our 2004 225(Lux).
My initial impressions where of a well specced car, that was pleasantly rapid but with a poor gearchange.
We picked the car up @ 18k needing a service, 2 tyres, MOT and tax @ around £4k.
Its now @ 32k and needing another service and an MOT.
Impressions?
Build quality is poor, which is a shame. Trim showing wear and rattles that come and go with the weather. Our car was specced with rain sensing wipers, panoramic sunroof, climate, heated leather seats, keyless entry/go. Leather is not leather, unless leather is now made from Tesco bags, but hold you very well.
Performance?
The gearchange in the 6-speed box is woeful. Really no feel or weight which makes changing through the box a real chore.
Brembo calipers aid the stopping, pleasantly assisted in a way the VAG head-meet-windscreen system can only dream of, they have also yet to fade in spirited b-road hooning.
The 220bhp motor is gruff, and not particularly smooth but pulls very cleanly with minimal lag. Mpg is good at approx 30mpg over the last 14k mainly in b road traffic.
Reliability?
Well its French, which at first i laughed about. However now i do not.
2 dead elements in the heated seats, a wheel bearing (meaning 2 new discs), an engine mount, 5! injectors, 2 window regulators, a wing mirror motor and a swivel hub bearing outside of normal servicing (@12k) don't make for easy reading. Nor does the £280 for an MOT and oil and filter change that the main dealers charge.
Conclusion?
Would i have another? In short no. I love the performance/mpg ratio (0-60 in mid 6's) and the spec of the car. It drives well on b-roads with great brakes and steering, but the varuca on the heel is always the gearchange.
The dealers are a joke (car returned with dirty handprints on the interior) and the reliability a real worry.
Very much a 'nearly car' IMHO.
Cheers
Matt
My thoughts exactly
I bought an 08 reg 175 diesel last year (not many diesels about in RS trim and the only visual diff is the lack of boot spoiler which is tiny anyway). Couldn't agree more about the build quality, rattles that come and go depending on the weather/day very annoying but must admit I've gotten used to it now. I'm also now under the impression that mechanically its a ticking time bomb waiting to empty my wallet! Seats are a bit strange, not sure if they are different in the diesel but mine don't seem to hold you in very well. Electrically I've had a few issues, namely the buttons on the door handles to lock the doors, despite going back to Renault 3 times the passenger side buttons still refuse to work, I've given up now!
Judging by those prices it wont be going back to Renault for a service either!
Aside from that though handling is fantastic and it goes well too.
Judging by those prices it wont be going back to Renault for a service either!
Aside from that though handling is fantastic and it goes well too.
Chris Peacock said:
Nice honest review......Very un-biast..........
Bored of reading "my leon has the bestest linier power/gearchange/damper rating blah blah in the world ever"
Whats your next purchace ?
Well as we picked up the car at a very reasonable outlay, and that the car has now been totally fixed, im intending to keep it.Bored of reading "my leon has the bestest linier power/gearchange/damper rating blah blah in the world ever"
Whats your next purchace ?
Whether this is a bad idea, time will tell. I'm trying to like it, and it has plenty of good points.
But its french
The colour for reference is Inferno Orange (superceeded by 'Fast Red') and is actually a fab colour. Very metallic, and has resisted stone chips very well
Plans are to remap at some point, (260bhp 280ft/lb for £300) and to lower its 4x4 stance. An exhaust is needed as the car makes literally no noise, but im in no hurry.
I've had 2 R5GTT's, a Clio 172, a Megane Dynamique 2.0, a Clio Dynamique S and I'm now on a Twingo RS133 and never had a moment's problem with any of them, apart from a camshaft sensor on the 172 and a crash in the second Clio. Like someone has said, they can be hit or miss and I've heard of others who have had problems. But my original 'can't go wrong' comment was aimed at the driuving experience rather than the ownership experience some people have had
Love the way that looks, I always thought I'd move on to an R26 after my old one when I had a proper job after Uni, but I'm so completely put off by the build quality... Shame as they look great and even the 100bhp Dynamique models are fun to hustle down a back road...
Quick note on the wipers, I changed my arms for a set of post-facelift model wipers (late 06-on) which were straight ended, rather than hooked, these took flat-blade wipers from the word go, so no need for the massive adapters...
As for problems, the reason mine has just gone, window motors/regulators are ridiculously common because of the lack of waterproofing in the doors. Renault charge something ridiculous for replacements, but if you're feeling brave, have a Haynes manual (reminds me, need to do something with mine) and time you can change them yourself for a pittance. I found that the regulator was fine, but the motor had packed up, wet inside or something, dropped and never came back up, I bought a One-touch motor from a Laguna for £15 on eBay and swapped them myself.
As you've had window failures, have you found water in the door pockets yet? Usually comes in through the speaker grills, I taped Clingfilm to the back to try and stop it, which worked, sort of...
Quick note on the wipers, I changed my arms for a set of post-facelift model wipers (late 06-on) which were straight ended, rather than hooked, these took flat-blade wipers from the word go, so no need for the massive adapters...
As for problems, the reason mine has just gone, window motors/regulators are ridiculously common because of the lack of waterproofing in the doors. Renault charge something ridiculous for replacements, but if you're feeling brave, have a Haynes manual (reminds me, need to do something with mine) and time you can change them yourself for a pittance. I found that the regulator was fine, but the motor had packed up, wet inside or something, dropped and never came back up, I bought a One-touch motor from a Laguna for £15 on eBay and swapped them myself.
As you've had window failures, have you found water in the door pockets yet? Usually comes in through the speaker grills, I taped Clingfilm to the back to try and stop it, which worked, sort of...
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