Megan know it all's in here please
- Thread starter Born_2_Kill_83
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Renault have some ridiculous ad campaign going on at the moment. It's basically about how there's a correlation between how many Meganes there are and how "sophisticated" an area is. One of the things they came up with, in an ad in the Metro I think it was, was that there's a correlation between the number of Megane's and the number of seafood restaurants in the area. WTF. Stupid.
In a Megane? 5th Gear did a test, it took a trained mechanic 45minutes or something silly like that to change one as it's really hard to get to and parts have to come off - may even have to remove the bumper.
All to gain 5* NCAP apparently.
You can do it, most people will remove the road wheel closest to the light, I have changed mine and they take me about 10 mins a piece. Its fiddly but not impossible, smaller hands would make it a lot quicker. But plenty of garages will take the bumper off rather than fiddle, I believe thats overkill.
I have a Meg 225, the only problem I have had is that the tyre pressure sensors fail and they cost about £100 to change them. Plus you get rattles, buts that French cars for you.
I have a Meg 225, the only problem I have had is that the tyre pressure sensors fail and they cost about £100 to change them. Plus you get rattles, buts that French cars for you.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I have a Mégane but couldn't recommend one, sorry.
I put up with the issues they have because I want the chassis/suspension/engine on the RS250 - I certainly wouldn't consider buying a bog-standard one when you'll get so much more for your money with literally any other small family hatch.
I put up with the issues they have because I want the chassis/suspension/engine on the RS250 - I certainly wouldn't consider buying a bog-standard one when you'll get so much more for your money with literally any other small family hatch.
Have had an 06 1.9DCi 130 currently on 86k since December 2008. Not had a single issue yet.
Though I would agree re: the interior door handles, they do nick easily, the previous owner obv wore lots of rings on her fingers and has taken a few chunks out of the rubber coating on mine (didn't notice when I bought it) which is a bit unsightly. But they haven't got worse. Something to have a look out for though I guess.
Either way, seems to me that so many people can't be wrong and they must be more likely than other cars to go wrong, so i guess IF you get lucky, they can be a bit of a bargain motor, if not then you will probably join the camp who hates them
Your gamble I guess.
Though I would agree re: the interior door handles, they do nick easily, the previous owner obv wore lots of rings on her fingers and has taken a few chunks out of the rubber coating on mine (didn't notice when I bought it) which is a bit unsightly. But they haven't got worse. Something to have a look out for though I guess.
Either way, seems to me that so many people can't be wrong and they must be more likely than other cars to go wrong, so i guess IF you get lucky, they can be a bit of a bargain motor, if not then you will probably join the camp who hates them
Your gamble I guess.Price.
£3450 got me an 06 1.9 DCi 130 Megane, in good condition (apart from those silly little nicks I mentioned) that has flown through 2 MOTs without an advisory and (for me) drives perfectly well given I spend most of my days sat in traffic in a city centre or on the motorway where it cruises in 6th at 1800rpm in a very relaxed fashion.
£3450 wouldn't have gotten anything like that sort of age or condition with a Focus, though I agree it is less likely to fail (note ALL cars can be lemons so its never a certain thing...) and if I spent my time wizzing down backroads then it would certainly be the better drivers car.
And yes, I am aware of the dangers of trying to justify buying a Megane on these forums! But you asked why people do it, that was my reasoning. Had I had more cash or different criteria, I wouldn't have done it, but I didn't and I didn't so I did.
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Well unfortantly it was a bag of nails, I wouldnt of had it if it was free 
It looked like some-one had lost it on some ice and it hit about 3 posts on its way into a ditch then repainted it outside with a brush, it was truely terrible.
Anyway I've got her considering Focus's now so we're going look at a couple of these and with 2.5k we should be able to pick up a cleaner example than a Megane.
It looked like some-one had lost it on some ice and it hit about 3 posts on its way into a ditch then repainted it outside with a brush, it was truely terrible.
Anyway I've got her considering Focus's now so we're going look at a couple of these and with 2.5k we should be able to pick up a cleaner example than a Megane.
I had a Megane 1.6 Expression before I moved to a Fiesta ST.
Nothing but problems with electrics. Rear electic windows felt the need to wind down when deadlocked, and then refused to go up again. Resulted in disconnecting the battery, reconnecting the battery, winding up an inch (as far as possible) and repeating the process until closed.
TDC sensor failed, meaning it was impossible to start the car on the first attempt. Never a good look in a carpark, or with guests.
Cam position sensor (I think) also failed, meaning random bogging down and roadside stops on the way to get it fixed.
I'd spend my money on a Focus every time...
Nothing but problems with electrics. Rear electic windows felt the need to wind down when deadlocked, and then refused to go up again. Resulted in disconnecting the battery, reconnecting the battery, winding up an inch (as far as possible) and repeating the process until closed.
TDC sensor failed, meaning it was impossible to start the car on the first attempt. Never a good look in a carpark, or with guests.
Cam position sensor (I think) also failed, meaning random bogging down and roadside stops on the way to get it fixed.
I'd spend my money on a Focus every time...
It's nice to hear your wife is considering cars other than the Megane, they really are awful cars. You won't hear me say this often but I would sooner have and recommend a Vauxhall Astra over one of those things. Not that I am recommending the Astra mind, I actually recommend the Focus, but the Astra is preferable to the Megane.
I drive a megane renaultsport 230 f1 r26 (mouthfull!) and it's a great little car, nothing wrong in nearly 4 years of ownership and for the price included a lot of extras that you'd have to add on top of the astra/focus of the same size/model. I enjoy driving it and IMO is a great car.
Soldato
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My wife has a 2003 1.9dci dynamique and it's been a great car, not a single thing has gone wrong in the 18 months we've owned it. Apart from when I hit a huge pothole and it needed a couple of parts that got damaged, but that was a cheap fix.
I bought mine from a friend who had it from new so knew that it's been looked after, from my experience I can recommend them.
I bought mine from a friend who had it from new so knew that it's been looked after, from my experience I can recommend them.
I think that, when considering other opinions on cars, it is important to differentiate between those who know either through direct experience or indirect experience (i.e. a partner of somebody who owns one or a family member etc.) and those who simply regurgitate the opinions of other people who are supposedly knowledgeable.
I know many people who have slated car x without any personal information whatsoever and were doing so simply to appear knowledgeable in front of their friends and family.
Others opinions are of course important in the decision making process, but they are just that, opinions. I don't choose what albums I buy simply because someone else says it's great, I make that decision myself, though in cases where I know my music tastes have been similar to somebody else's in the past, I sometimes take a punt on their advice.
Personally I quite like things like the ReliabilityIndex (http://www.reliabilityindex.com/) there are others out there, while not entirely impartial, they do offer a data based outlook at the reliability aspects of a car, rather than Dave down the pub saying they're rubbish because his mate Darren doesn't like them as Darren's boss once owned one and it went wrong.
This wasn't a snipe at anybody in this thread per se, nor was it an attempt to specifically defend the Megane, from my own research I can tell you that the trim and general build quality of the early to mid Mk2's IS worse than many other rivals (with an apparant noted increase from late 06 plate onwards when the final facelift of the Mk2 happened), however I can also say that if they work as they were designed to (and many do day in day out), they CAN be a fantastic bargain.
I know many people who have slated car x without any personal information whatsoever and were doing so simply to appear knowledgeable in front of their friends and family.
Others opinions are of course important in the decision making process, but they are just that, opinions. I don't choose what albums I buy simply because someone else says it's great, I make that decision myself, though in cases where I know my music tastes have been similar to somebody else's in the past, I sometimes take a punt on their advice.
Personally I quite like things like the ReliabilityIndex (http://www.reliabilityindex.com/) there are others out there, while not entirely impartial, they do offer a data based outlook at the reliability aspects of a car, rather than Dave down the pub saying they're rubbish because his mate Darren doesn't like them as Darren's boss once owned one and it went wrong.
This wasn't a snipe at anybody in this thread per se, nor was it an attempt to specifically defend the Megane, from my own research I can tell you that the trim and general build quality of the early to mid Mk2's IS worse than many other rivals (with an apparant noted increase from late 06 plate onwards when the final facelift of the Mk2 happened), however I can also say that if they work as they were designed to (and many do day in day out), they CAN be a fantastic bargain.
Another point people fail to consider is that if someone has exercised personal choice and chosen a Megane it could be argued that the opinions they may hold could be flawed. Yet if someone chose instead to avoid a megane, it shows they are capable of rational and sensible thought process and should be listened to.
In summary why would you buy a car you know is poor?
In summary why would you buy a car you know is poor?
[TW]Fox;17305230 said:
To append your summary with another thought, why would you necessarily choose to pay much more for an older car in worse condition with a worse specification that potentially you may not find any better and may be no more or less reliable?
I know you have driven a Megane as a hire car (remembering back to something you typed a few years ago) so at least you are coming from a position of some knowledge. I wonder, how many other people who instantly state "Meganes and indeed most French cars are utter rubbish" do so because they know this due to experience or due to extensive research from good sources, or whether they do so because its vogue and they think its what is expected of them.
Personally I HATE the way the Mk2 focus looks, I think its interior is about as horrible as any car I can think of. I also find its seats uncomfortable, its diesels rattly and unrefined and know many people who have had some quite catastrophic failures, albeit not many who have complained the windows don't work quite right.
However all of that is my opinion and I don't expect other people to take it at gospel.
Soldato
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Friend of mine had one, 2005 iirc. In the 9 months she had it the following went wrong:
All rear electrics failed at 10pm on a February night, meaning all the lights - brakes & indicators too - went out.
The whole steering rack failed at 70mph. Trouser-filling and she was lucky she was going in a straight line.
Engine management problems all of the time that Renault kept saying were nothing.
The drivers window dropped and refused to raise.
Immobiliser had a mind of it's own.
In the end, the garage allowed her to swap to a different car (2004 focus) after the warranty claims ran and ran. Wouldn't touch one.
All rear electrics failed at 10pm on a February night, meaning all the lights - brakes & indicators too - went out.
The whole steering rack failed at 70mph. Trouser-filling and she was lucky she was going in a straight line.
Engine management problems all of the time that Renault kept saying were nothing.
The drivers window dropped and refused to raise.
Immobiliser had a mind of it's own.
In the end, the garage allowed her to swap to a different car (2004 focus) after the warranty claims ran and ran. Wouldn't touch one.