Laguna II

manic_man

manic_man

manic_man

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
2,953
Location
Greater Manchester
Hi all,

I am currently putting aside a few pennises when I can with a view to replacing my ageing Xantia before the year is out.

Im likely to have around £3000 (+/- £500) not including insurance or what my Xantia is worth (~ £400 max at a guess)

Now I would prefer a large-ish hatchback and tbh would like something relatively modern, i.e. 2001+ Ideally i'd prefer a diesel, not for any economy reasons, I genuinely prefer a good diesel over a 1.8 or 2.0 petrol (though this depends on the car of course!)

Now I have never ever looked twice at the previous shape Renault Laguna, I know the previous one was dogged with mechanical failures. I remember reading the new one fixed all that but then it just totally got lost in the ether due to its poor risiduals, worse than the competition dynamics and slightly boring attitude.

None of these things matter when looking at a 3k second hand car imo!

I have been shocked to see that a 2003 Laguna 1.9 DCi Dynamique with around 75k on the clock (so thats 120bhp, climate, cd changer, half leather, metallic, alloys, electric everything etc) can be had for around £3500! An equivalent Mondeo would be nearly £1000 more.

I find it entirely acceptable and am interested to hear if anyone has any horror stories or any particular reason (other than things like a mondeo would handle better or a passat would hold its value better) that a 2003 Laguna at around £3500 would be a bad buy?

Genuinely interested to hear btw as I literally have no in depth knowledge about this car, other than it looks ok and seems to be damned good value second hand.

Thanks :)
 
Just no, no no. Absolutely, completely, no.

They are a reliability nightmare - you know when a previous car is bad becuase the manufacturer goes to great lengths to point out how much better the new one is when its released.
 
My neighbour works for the AA and swears the Laguna 2 keeps them in business. He told me that one day out of 8 call outs, 4 of them were Laguna 2s. They have the worst Frenchlectrics ever (apart from maybe the 307).

They're cheap for a reason.

Buy a Daewoo Nubira.
 
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Seriosely? The Laguna 2 is the worst car the AA deals with?

See thats interesting knowledge.

i only asked here because every single personal review i have found so far has gleamed about their (company) car and I was really struggling to find out why they were so darned cheap.

Anyone had any good experiences with this car they want to share?
 
I read Car Mechanics which take in and service cars etc, they do running reports and tell you whats good and bad, the laguna 2 is one of the worst cars you can buy atm, don't even think about getting one.
 
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=331&

What to Watch Out For
In five months and 3,000 miles, one reader's Y reg Sport Tourer has required two new gearboxes, one new driveshaft, one new drivers side electric window motor and repairs to the hand-brake. Other readers have suffered problems with the ambitious electronic gizmos, heating system failures, airbag failures, seat comfort and a lack of availability of essential spare parts. Don't buy the a nearly new example at auction as it may well be a reject car. Vital to clear scuttle ventilation plenum chamber drains of leaves otherwise water can get into the cart and into the ECU.

Coil spring failures as common as they are on other European makes and models.

Six-speed manual gearboxes have developed a second gear problem.

On diesels, blocked crankcase gas 'EGR' valves are leading to high engine temperatures and turbo and intercooler failures.

One report of brake pedal failing in use because pivot came loose. Check brake pedal pivot. Further report that brake pedal pivot is "hollow plastic" and that is why the pedal snaps off so easily.

Increasing numbers of premature clutch failure reported, especially on diesels.

Self-levelling Xenon lights reported to have developed a fault with self levelling that goes into dim dip mode.

Water has been known to get into the ECU creating short circuits and causing things like the car to attempt to self-start while the alarm goes off, the wipers wipe and the screenwashers spray screenwash fluid. This seems to be increasingly common.

On Sports Tourer, cables to tailgate and rear window release electric switches enter switches at the top and make them vulnerable to water ingress. Dealers have a fix for this.

Problem emerging of alloy wheels buckling after a few years.

On 2.2DCI, exhaust system can crack and separate just after the cat converter.


On 1.9DCIs EGR valve should open to allow carbon dioxide, which acts as a cooling gas) into the combustion chambers when the engine is under load (>30% boost). This allows the combustion chamber temperature to drop and thus the temperature of the exhaust gases. If it sticks in the closed position the exhaust gas temperature will rise causing a) the turbo bearings to fail and b) engine oil into the induction system. This will cause the engine to go on running until it has consumed all its oil and then it will go bang. Problems with EGR valves in Renault dCi engines are often the cause of rough running when the valve is stuck in the open position as well. In several cases turbos have blown but the EGR valve has not been replaced. Inevitably the new turbo unit will not last long. At Spring 2004 revise, only Euro IV engine was the dCi 90.

Faults listed by reader Mark Kirby include:-

Faulty tyre pressure warnings - turns out the handbook has the incorrect pressures.
Failed drivers door electric window - still faulty.
Failed Sunroof (fully open - an AA fix at 10pm one Sunday night)
Various rattles (''All new cars rattle, sir, and the manufacturers will admit that'' - NO THEY DON'T!!) - most of these sorted.
Poor fitting trim - interior and exterior.
New boot lining (needs doing again).
New headlining.
Dodgy key cards.
Since new - poor fitting tailgate - it rubs on the bumper - this has been 'repaired' at least 4 times.
Broken seat trim - when the car was 3 or 4 weeks old - new one has not arrived even now.
Badly fitted dashboard.

Further minor problem areas:-
1/Rear suspension bushes failed. A common problem I was told
2/Leaves in the drains letting water in. A sod to clear out and you WILL break the fixings.....
3/ Impossible to get cambelt changed unless done at a Renault dealer as it requires a tool specific to the engine.
4/ Rear screen Ariel reception poor in some areas

Aother reader's saga with a Laguna Sport Tourer 2.2 Diesel for 3 years: "The car seemed to have poor power delivery from the word go but the troubles
really started after three months of ownership. The Computer readout began to give completley false readings- reset by the local Renault dealer. The rear tailgate struts were replaced; and so we go on- replacement driveshafts, replacement gearbox and driveshaft again, replacement engine mountings, rear axle bushes and ride sensor. Many replacement items in and around the engine, a new catalytic convertor, turbo and mounting, inlet manifold that had collapsed, new battery, new clutch. New replacement weather seals around the windows and so it goes on and on. Outside the Warranty period; thankfully I had bought an Extended Warranty, the engine performance fell to a dangerously low level, fuel consumption fell to 24 MPG and there was a strong smell of fuel around the car when it was stationary with the engine running. It was found that the TDC sensor had fallen apart, so that was replaced- with its attendant wiring, I also queried the constant loss of tyre pressure and rapid rate of wear of one rear tyre, The garage diagnosed buckled wheels- after 30,000 miles and just 3 years; no scuff marks on the wheels! I approached Renault for some goodwill gesture of replacement wheels considering the problems I had experienced- their answer was a short sharp NO. It had taken me more than two years to persuade the Dealer that the engine had a severe power loss, it was eventually cured, but only for a short time, by a recall to replace the Exhaust Gas Regulator Pipe. And the advertised diesel fuel economy for this vehicle? No matter how long the journey, no matter how softly or hard I drove the car I never saw more than 40 MPG. Sadly mine was not a 'Friday Car' I have heard too many others complain, as we waited at the Service Desk, of similar problems. Looking at the costings for the warranty work on my car it would appear that the parts alone cost Renault more that £5,000. Thankfully the local Renault dealer has now bought my car; a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

A third reader's sequence of problems:-

1,2,3. Ignition coil failure. This has occurred 3 times. The car has now just been fitted with its 11th new coil.

4. Flat battery caused by corrosion on the negative terminal.

5. Electronic steering lock mechanism failure.

6. Near fire due to water getting into ECU as described above.
Click to expand...

And that's only PART of the page that deals with problems.
 
LOL

Water has been known to get into the ECU creating short circuits and causing things like the car to attempt to self-start while the alarm goes off, the wipers wipe and the screenwashers spray screenwash fluid. This seems to be increasingly common.
Click to expand...
 
Lol yup, that does look bleak.

I read the original Honest Johns review of the car when it was launched, but hadnt seen that page.

have found his lists of things that go wrong to be quite indicative tbh.

Hmm ok so thats why they are cheap then :)

next question, beaing in mind how pre-emptive (I like to plan and make sure what I do buy with my small amount of cash lasts, like my Xantia has) anyone got any suggestions other than a Daewoo Nubira?

The Mondeo seems like a reasonably solid choice, but £3500 seems to be getting 2.0TD's in fairly low trim levels from around 2001. Things like BMW's and Audi's are a nono at that level i think, if I want something a bit newer anyway.

I really dont care for the C5 much, though I have really liked my Xantia as a mode of transport.
 
manic_man said:
Seriosely? The Laguna 2 is the worst car the AA deals with?
Click to expand...

Well, yes if my next door neighbour is the only employee of the AA ;) The general consensus within his group of local colleagues is that they are terrible.

The alarm system is a big issue, and so is the electric parking brake amongst other things I'm not fully aufait with. Bare in mind that the parking brake emergency release is located OUTSIDE the car, so can be overidden by anybody :D
 
I briefly worked in the service department of a Renault garage where I was forever booking in Laguna after Laguna, often the same ones over and over. My impression was that are fairly nice to drive but badly let down by reliability.

Hope this helps.
 
Oh crikey! I was joking about the Nubira! I'd sooner recommend you'd jump into a vat of fuming nitric acid than actually buy one.

Not sure on the parking brake release location though, just what I've been told :D
 
No idea why, I totally forgot about Skoda!

I think I thought that Octavia's were still pricier than that.

That one is actually very well specced tbh, certainly as well as the Laguna's and Mondeo's I have been looking at. I mean looks wise they perhaps arn't as far up there as some (imo of course) but really, its a £3k car!

I assume the 1.9TD engine in that would be the same as the VAG 1.9TD that was in my dads 2000 Passat? If so it was a nice grunty engine, far more economical than my Xantia too (which I get ~ 35MPG out of due to the way I drive it...)

Well thats another added to the list of cars to really research. So far it reads:

* Laguna II (Scratched)
* Chevrolet Nubira (for if I have a major internal swap around and my left calf muscle and brain swap positions)
* Ford Mondeo
* Skoda Octavia
 
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manic_man said:
* Laguna II (Scratched)
* Daewoo Nubira (for if I have a major internal swap around and my left calf muscle and brain swap positions)
* Ford Mondeo
* Skoda Octavia
Click to expand...

Please remove the Nubira. Its place on your list is worrying me now, even if it's just a joke :(:D
 
Not *as* enamored with the 75 tbh. Mainly due to the fact the ones around £3000 all seem to be of higher mileage and slightly older than things like Mondeo's and now those Octavia's.

I'll add it to the list though and keep and eye out.

It took me over 4 months to find the Xantia I eventually bought. Was worth it though seeing as I paid £1500 and have paid since just over £600 in repairs/maintenance (not including MOT's but including tyres and brakes etc) for just over 4 years of motoring. Its still going strong now, but the clutch is getting a bit high and tbh it is just starting to really feel its age. Bargain motoring though :)

[EDIT] fine fine, i'll remove the Nubira ;)
 
One good point about the Laguna 2 though is the ride quality which is noticeably better than the more knobbly Mondeo. It's a very comfortable car to ride in on long journeys in terms of refinement. Less wind noise too at high speeds.

As for the Mondeo, those TDCI engines seem to have their fair share of problems at high mileages.
Octavia....zzzzZZZzzzzzzzZZZzZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....ugly and cheap looking inside and out and you'll also have pedestrians shouting "Taxi!" at you every 5 minutes.

If you're not bothered by the hideously dull looks, consider a C5, or if you are, a D5.
 
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