34 replies to this topic

[Silent Steve]

Ah I think I understand. Dont feed it folks!

Heh.

But for once in my life I was being genuous. I troll no more.

My father bought a Renault Megane of the year to which you refer (it's a diesel, not an R anything) and he has spent thousands replacing:

The dashboard. The electric window lifters (?), The Tyre pressure sensors (he gave up with these and removed them) and a whole heap of other non mechanical woes.

I speak only from real experience.

NB - If I start giving a crap what people on the internet think, I swear, I will top myself.

[theotherjonnymac]

Work colleague bought a 4 yrs old one and had all sorts of electrical gremlins which apparently are not uncommon with them - as he has subsequently found out from discussion on forums.

[Jezter]

Hmmm, thanks TOJM. That's brought a bit of balance to the argument. I was thinking about 57/08 plate.

[Silent Steve]

BTW - This shaped Megane came 100/100 (ie dead last) in Auto Express Driver Power "Reliability/Build" category today.

[snotvomit]

My mum had a standard Megane and the electrics were hell - windows failed first, then heater control would cause the dash instruments to go berserk. Few mechanical problems, but loads and loads of electrical problems. She gave up on it after spending maybe a grand in total on electrical fault-finding/repairs. Maybe the Renaultsport cars have better electrical quality?

[Deadlysub]

My Dad had a Megane non Renaultsport and he had a lot of things go wrong with it but I have known a few people with Renaultsport cars and they seem to be a lot better built.

[Jezter]

Thanks for the responses guys. Really helpful to hear both sides of the argument.

[Tuuurtle]

How about a Focus ST, Jez? No French electrical niggles there!

[Jezter]

I've put a question mark by the R26 Jez and added the Focus ST and the Golf GTi (MkV) to the list. Good call mate.

How about a Focus ST, Jez? No French electrical niggles there!

[ArticMonkey]

Funny how 3-4 comments and your put off, all from stock cars made in a different factory. Get on the forums and ask the real owners and not 'my friends cats mate had one' types. Good luck.

[jonnyboy]

The Megane is so far ahead of the Golf GTI and Focus ST in terms of driving enjoyment that its almost offensive to write about them in the same post!

[Jezter]

Thanks for the reality check Artic and Johnnyboy!

[jonnyboy]

lol on a serious note it is worth having a good look round the other options. The Golf is screwed together better and a bit more classy. The ST sounds nicer.

[ArticMonkey]

But if you want to have a car closest to the fun factor of a vx, then keep looking at the meg. Renault put their time and effort into the cars chassis and handling rather than trim and German like build. You compromise on some areas to gain in others. Me and Jonny have nothing to gain from promoting the meg, we just had hand on experience with one for over 2-3 years.

[Andy_sx]

A very good mate has one, and its a really nice place to be in terms of hatches of that era IMO, its not quite as up market as the Golf etc in some respects, but I think its great. Only problem he has encountered over 3 years ownership is the pins in the front calipers. We tried replacing the brakes this weekend and on both calipers the retaining collet has siezed complete and utter bvall ache, which so far hasnt been fixed using a press. It will be sorted by his machineist at work, but recent pads may be a good thing to look out for when purchasing Oh, and the noise the engine / exhaust makes is odd in a very lovely way, very gruff and gluteral, not what i was expecting at all