|
I'm thinking of buying one of these so that my son can drive it, and am going to look at a 75000mile example on saturday from private buyer, also possibly looking at a similar car from a dealer in the same area. What sort of problems should I be looking for, apart from those in the car-by-car breakdown on this site? Please, only comments on this car and not its suitability or viable alternatives...cheers.
|
Hi Mike.
Happy to help.
I own a 1999 Megane 1.6 16v Sport, so I know plenty!
Meganes tend to have good engines, from mine and others experience so check usual things like Rumbles from engine, oil in water, whether the timing belt/ chain has been changed, if its been serviced regularly, and just generally if it runs well. A major Megane problem is wheel bearings. They can go on a regular basis so listen for rumbles from wheels and hums. There will be no play because of the kind of bearings they are so be careful! CV joints and suspension can go. Check car on full lock turns and listen for clunks and vibrations. Trim can rattle, but if its a good car it will have been attended to or will be a good example of a megane like mine. Electrics can be funny but so far I have had no problems. If you can, go for a 1.4 or 1.6 16v instead of the 8v. They are better engines and more economical as well as more responsive and quieter. Just a final note. Meganes can be unreliable, but I have had no problems.
I think Meganes are great, and I would have another one.
Any more questions i will be happy to help.
|
|
Thanks for your quick reply. The first one I'm looking at is a private sale. I do know that it has done 74000, and had a timing belt change at 50,000 early last year which implies that it has put the last few miles on fairly quickly (probably a good thing). I also know it has a full service history from a Renault dealer, last at 70,000-ish. It has only had two owners, last one for three years. Asking price is £1800 negotiable (private sale) - hoping to pay £1600-1650 which seems a good price but obviously no warranty. The car is 1998 - I was assuming it had an 8-valve engine but I'm out of touch with Renaults these days (had a string of Renault 12s back in the 1970s and early eighties!). Do some of the 1.4s have 16 valves then - and were they concurrent with the 16v? I'm not too worried about the power angle, as I'm only buying so that my 17-year old son can drive it, but the economy/responsive/quietness could be important as I will be the main user for the moment.
|
The megane you are looking at is an 8 valve and the RN is the base model.
the 1.4 16valve appeared in early 1999 on a T plate. Its definately the better option if you can get one. The 1.4 8v is a little old fashioned technology wise. Plus getting the 1.4 16v will mean the spec of even the base model will be better. Things like speed sensitive wipers, twin airbags, better stereo, more electrics, plus a lot of the problems with the megane will have been ironed out during the face lift. Plus I think they look better. The insurance will still be cheap (group 4 or 5) .
If you can get a metallic one all the better. Solid painted meganes are a pain to keep polished. (Most solid cars are).
The 1.4 16v although faster than the 8v, will use less fuel and be quieter. My 1.6 16v does on average 49 mpg. I did a full tank to empty once and managed to just get 600 miles (a little fuel gauge roulette!) Plus I think all facelifted meganes including base models have ABS.
But these are just my opinions. You will know what you need.
I hope I am helping!
I was looking on EBAY and there is loads of megane 1.4's. Im not saying buy one of ebay, but it gives you an idea of price, spec and what private meganes are like.
|
Thanks for this useful info, unfortunately funds are limited to under £2000, and I doubt whether I'll get a facelift model for this money (but you never know on ebay). Certainly the Megane seems cheaper than some of its more trendy rivals, especially considering its safety.
Sounds like the 14 8v is the old 1397cc unit, which IIRC was a development of the 1289cc engine used in the 12!
|
I have had a scout about and you are right. Cheapest facelift car was about £3000.
Have you looked at getting anything like and Astra? Astra's are good cars, and there are hundreds for about 1500 - 2000. My wife has an Astra 96 P. Had it 3 years and it has never had any repairs.
A good 97R Plate 1.4 16v about £2000. Well specced, and reliable.
|
|
Try and avoid the dark solid colours, (like the blues) the paints a bit soft and they have light coloured undercoat. Scratches easy then looks unsightly. Renaults metalic, or pearlescent paints seem to be hard and durable.
|
|
Both the examples I was planning to look at are solid - one bright red, the other dark blue. Does the bright red have these possible paintwork issues? But £1600 (target price) sounded good for the bright red 1998 FSH 74000 mile example - basic spec I know, but I'm looking at value and safety as key buying points.
|
I personally wouldn't buy a solid red or blue car. They are just so much hassle. Red cars go flat the minute it rains on them. As do blue. My megane is metallic capsicum red. It looks shiny all the time. Plus metallic is much easier to resale down the line. 1600 is a good price, but I would try to pay more for one with metallic. There are loads on Autotrader.co.uk and fish4cars.co.uk
|
|
I trawled autotrader.co.uk and the two I mention were the only ones I came up with within 30 miles, at the right combination of price and engine size. Although I've since realised that the 96-98 model years are all as safe as each other, so perhaps I'll trawl again for perhaps an older car with better spec. including metallic.
|
|
|
|
Have you looked at getting anything like and Astra?
Mike H did state at the start of this thread "Please, only comments on this car and not its suitability or viable alternatives...cheers."
|
|
|
|
