Thanks for all the replies.
After consideration, we want to stick with diesel for the driving characteristics and the fuel economy, not to mention the fact it will be easier to sell on again. Reliability is a gamble, but Warranty Direct will cover, for example, a 60,000 mile Renault Grand Scenic dCi with full cover on the turbo, complete cr fuel system and even timing belt failure if it's within the prescribed change schedule for £300 pa (against a £1000 pa fuel saving, better driving characteristics (IMO) and better residual values). I don't want a diesel Zafira, so that's out. A shame as it's a nice car in a lot of respects.
I am really keen on the Verso from what I've seen of it. We'll go and have a look at one at the weekend. We've got a test drive booked in a 2005 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi 120 this afternoon at the local Renault dealer. Not that I'll buy it from there (or until we've looked at the others), but I don't feel guilty about wasting a main dealer's time fitting car seats, playing with seat configs, and putting stuff in the boot, whereas I would if it were a private sale.
Have eliminated the Touran - bumped into a mate of SWMBO's dad's last night who is a VW dealer tech and said they have a whole host of things go wrong with them and far too many QC issues. Considered against the inflated screen prices, it's been eliminated without further consideration.
So, Scenic, Verso and C-MAX will be poked and prodded over the coming days, starting with the Scenic this afternoon. Will keep you informed.
Cheers for all your help
DP
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For me it would C-Max or Verso. Touran was essentially the prototype for the Golf, testing out the new engines and such so the Golf wouldn't suffer problems it did with the Mk4 - you can see this by the vastly different reviews given by owners of the two, essentially sister models. The Scenic would be pre-facelift and as such I'd have difficulty trusting the Renault electrics - especially the one's on that age of Megane/Scenic. That said, C-Max hasn't been that reliable either - but I would sooner pick it over the Scenic. Actually, as the all-rounder the Verso is probably the best option.
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OK just got back from the Renault dealership. The 1.9 dCi demonstrator had been clumped by a truck overnight and was out of action, but we did have a good poke/prod around, and a decent drive of a 1.6 petrol Dynamique model
Apart from being quite possibly the slowest car I have ever driven (made the Mondeo feel like a sports car), I was really very impressed. Just a very smooth, refined, comfortable drive. Build felt solid (car had done 15k and was as new), interior space is cavernous, and the seats and driving position were superb. Good visibility for a big car, doesn't seem to roll too much in the corners, and loads of lovely clever little detail touches such as the underfloor (and underseat) cubby holes, integral rear sunblinds, and the moveable rear seats that allow you to adjust rear leg room to boot space. The whole thing also reeks of design. As SWMBO said, "it's just so French, and I mean that as a complement".
Shame the demo car had an electric window fault.
Had a quick chat on the figures. The petrol model we tried (off the forecourt) is priced about a grand over the odds which is par for the course for a main dealer, but they're offering a silly money as P/X on the Mondeo (£2k for a 2000 Mondeo 1.8TD mk2 in no better than average condition with an intermittent PAS fault, a clonking CV joint, a clutch definitely nearing the end of its time on this mortal coil, and 135k on the clock - if I got a grand for it privately I would be happy). Good warranty - 6 months standard, with extension to a full year for just £125, and it covers all the cr injection parts, and the turbo / intercooler.
We're getting the diesel delivered to the house on Saturday for us to try. No obligation or pressure whatsoever.
Food for thought so far. Very impressed by the dealer's efforts. They're really trying to win our business, which many other dealers could do with taking notes about.
Cheers
DP
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See my thread on buying a berlingo. We went to see a Scenic and a Grand Scenic. The Citroen has them both beat. Bigger boot by a huge margin, diesel 1.6 HDI is fine, spec is good and it costs thousands less.
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mlj - I really like the Berlingo, and know someone who has one and is well chuffed with it. Sadly, SWMBO doesn't like the shape, and will not compromise on it.
We're going to find a Verso to have a play with at the weekend and see how they compare. Might have a sneak look at a C-MAX as well.
Cheers
DP
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My wife's got a 2004 Zafira 2.0 DTI. While it's rougher than my old 406 HDI when cold, it isn't that bad once warm. In fact, I much prefer driving it to my petrol turbo Passat. Maybe your loan car was a bad one (or my hearing's not what it was........).
We too were tempted by the Scenic - mainly by the snazzy interior - but reliability concerns stopped us from going ahead.
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OK, we've decided on the Grand Scenic in 1.9dCi guise, either in Dynamique or Privilege trim (depending on what we can find).
The C-Max was a grin a minute to drive (and went like stink in 2.0 TDCi trim), and the Verso better built, but neither could match the Renault's, comfort, engine refinement ,equipment and boot space. The Renault is also the most practical, best equipped and by a country mile (in our opinion) the best looking inside and out.
Salesman is hopefully finding us a car this week. Likely to be a 54/05 with around 30k on the clock and a 12 month comprehensive warranty chucked in.
Cheers
DP
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Hello DP,
Don't rule out the C-Max if you like driving!
We have a C-Max 2.0TDCi Ghia (and a baby daughter). C-Max replaced a Leon Cupra, which was great, but to be fair the C-Max is stunning for what is supposed to be a diesel bus. Drives really well, goes like a rocket and in Ghia trim is nicely appointed with cruise, millions of parking sensors, auto wipers, lights, dimming mirrors etc..basically drives itself. Also, it's easily the most comfortable car we've owned (ours has leather seats btw) and very easy to get both us and baby in and out of. Not managed to match the official mpg figures but overall it's averaging about 40mpg and on a motorway run at illegal speeds does 45mpg. I've had over 50mpg if you keep to the motorway limit (never got near official MPG in any of my cars - they must have all been faulty!). Lots of space, decent boot, gangster windows with built in blinds blah de blah all good for baby. Comically good on motorways. Build quality OK although some cheapo plastics and Ghia has electronic parking brake to go wrong one day. Early 2.0TDCi's suffered EGR problems, rear wash wipe motor recall and needed several software patches to cure poor MPG but later ones seem OK. Plenty around and pretty cheap now. Note this is not the same engine as in the Mondeo TDCi.
Reckon you'd enjoy driving this more than the Renault IMHO.
Good luck with your choice tho' anyway.
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