Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - Bitemarx

I bought a Renault Megane Hatchback (59 Reg) 1.5 dci two weeks ago from the local Bristol Street Motors. The car drives well and feels really comfortable for the 54000 miles it has on the clock.

Having read the other posts that mention Renault Megane on this forum, I'm wondering about the choice I made. Any long term Megane users here who have any pointers to give?

Thanks

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - RobJP

There are quite a few people who have had problems with them - and have posted about their problems on various forums.

There are lots of very satisfied owners too. They don't have anything to say, so don't post anything on any forums.

Personally, I know 2 people with Meganes. One has had his 2005/55 car since 2008, and is perfectly happy with it. The other has a 2010 car, and has owned it from new. Again, perfectly happy.

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - Avant

I agree with Rob. Renault had a sharp drop in quality in the early 2000s but had been getting better by the time yours was built. We hear more problems with diesels made by VW, Ford and Mazda than we do about French cars.

Yours has done a good average mileage, not too high, not too low, and presumably has a service history. Good luck with it.

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - pd

The iffy Meganes were mainly from about 2003-2005. Later models were much better and even the early ones are now so cheap they can still be a good buy as long as you accept it is a disposable car.

If it is a nice car, just enjoy it and stop worrying.

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - SteveLee

There aren't many truly unreliable cars these days - most Renaults, Citroens and anything else with "iffy" reputations will for the most part be perfeectly reliable. The 1.5dci engine has a very good reputation - it can;t be that bad - Mercedes use it.

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - daveyK_UK

Is your 59 plate the new shape (mark 3) or the last of the old shape (mark 2)?

If its the Mark 3 is is considerably more reliable than the 2002 - 2009 mark 2 heap of junk.

While on the subject of the Renault Megane, the new Mark 4 Megane due out next year looks good.

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - bathtub tom

I'd never bought a French car because of their perceived reliablity problems and quirky electrical systems - I've never owned a VAG or vauxhall either in fifty years of motoring.

My current car's a Yaris (made in France)!

The problems I've had with BMC (BL, Rover, ARG, whatever you like to call them) however..................................................................................

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - gordonbennet

The two French cars i can recall owning was a Renault 21 Savanna estate with the 2068 NA engine, one of the best cars i owned, completely reliable for years, and we owned a 2008 C2 VTS HDi which again was trouble free but only had for maybe 2 years.

I think French cars of this era are excellent if bought at the right price, recently saw a 10 plate i think Laguna petrol estate on 85k miles up for £1895 from a dealer, that has to be worth a gamble, if it cost £1000 in repairs over 3 years it would still work out cheaper motoring than most of the competition on which nothing went wrong.

A renault 16 put me off many years ago, and other French cars i found the same, very awkward to work on compared to the Britsh cars of the same era, but now everything thats not Japanese semi off road based is horrible to work on.

Renault Megane - Should I worry simply because it's French? - galileo

I had two Peugeot 504 estates, both bought used with over 70K on the clock, no problems at all, then a couple of Peugeot 309s, also only ever needed consumables such as brake pads.

Years later, SWMBO had a Peugeot 106, that had a habit of randomly showing the engine warning light for an hour or so (with no effect on running). Never did find out the cause, not had a Pug/Citroen or Renault since.

Now I think about it, the 309s were built at Ryton, so weren't French really.