Dont forget that in the car-by-car breakdown, HJ doesn't recommend them!! ;-) Full stop.
--
Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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Yeah but look how wrong HJ was about the Focus saloon.
I see what you're saying Avant. Now that my mate has had his Clio for a year, I don't completely miss them off my list now. Servicing wouldn't be a problem as I know two top notch blokes who do all that. The only thing is, Dad's still sour from his Peugeot experience which is why I probably can't set foot in another Peugeot dealer's again. Things were said let's leave it at that!
I don't think he'd let me buy anything French but he does admit the new Laguna looks nice.
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I like the latest shape Laguna, especially the Tourer. But I would be interested in what the best engine is for it? Gut instinct is the 1.9dci but there are (allegedly) many horror stories on these (none of which I have encountered on my Scenic)
The 2.2 dci seems to have major issues as well, and now we are saying no to the storming 3.0. Does that leave a bog standard 1.8 as the most reliable?
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I was always under the impresssion the 1.9 DCi was the one to have in any Renault.
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It's a pity they don't put the 3.0 DCI (from the Espace and the deceased Vel Satis) in the Laguna. Maybe it won't fit? - although the 3.0 petrol lump goes in, as we've seen!
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It's astonishing looking at autotrader with just "3.0" in the keywords at what you can get for 6 grand..ish when looking at Lagunas. I have to keep reading RF's comments to put me off again.
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Alternatively, budget about £2,000 to £3,000 more than what a Laguna would cost and put it in an interest bearing account (but one you can withdraw from immediately)- then go and buy your Laguna, taking an engineer friend with you if possible and checking the autobox very carefully for extraneous clunks and groans.
Then enjoy your Laguna, knowing that (a) you have something set aside for repairs, and (b) even if you need a new autobox it's still cheaper than a BMW, Audi, or German taxi of the same age.
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1.9Dci Lagunas depreciate far far less than other Lagunas.....
For very good reasons.
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What about - and dont laugh - a late model Citroen Xantia 3 litre V6? Think it was the fastest depriciating car on sale in the UK a few years ago. Might be tricky to find. Handles better thah the current c5, although thats not too hard. Just a thought.
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I'd have considered a Renault if everyone thought it was a better car but I don't like Citroens. The only model that appeals to me in some way is the new C5 but it's not the car that I'd buy if I had the cash.
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I should also point out, I've still not dismissed the S60 idea. I've decided it either have to be the T5 or the 2.4 though.
250 brake sounds good enough to me!
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We had a V6 Laguna and did 180K with few problems. When we sold it, it still had most of the parts it left the factory with. We had the manual version, so maybe we were lucky. Fond memories of the fantastic V6 engine, a great cruiser. Fuel consumption was inevitably high and the 72K service is high due to a large V6 being squeezed trasversally into the engine bay. Changing the plugs and cambelt was quite tricky.
I agree with Avant, Renaults can give very good service but it depends on the garage you use. I use Platinum in Bath who are excellent. But when I lived in a different part of the country, the Renault dealer there wasn't nearly so good. It's annoying to read of people returning their cars for a fault that can be fixed, such as creaking sunroofs in the cold weather. There is a cure!
Also, a lot of the problems with the dCi engine are in my opinion down to the 18K service interval. Unless you cover that 18K very quickly, I would strongly recommend a 9K oil change, using a good quality fully synthetic oil. As for upsetting your warranty, if you use a genuine Renault filter, who would ever know? dCi engines respond well to a really good thrashing, it helps to keep the EGR valve clean. Also I believe Renault dealers are now being issued with a tool that assesses the function of the valve and cleans it.
The 1.9dCi is the nicest diesel in my view, a really smooth and punchy unit. Better to get this than a thirsty V6.
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I'm too young for a diesel. I want a big engine first.
When I get married, then I'll get a diesel.
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If you hunt around, you may find a 605 V6. The remaining cars are worth peanuts now.
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605's probably a bit too old now to be honest. I only mentioned the Lagunas out of sheer chance and because they were so new for so little money.
I'd like my next car to be around 2002 or newer ideally but obviously I'd have to adjust that car dependent.
I'm ashamed to admit I was sitting in a Ghia X V6 Mondeo the other week and I liked the interior. (The sat nav helped). I kept having to slap myself though. Nice cars though they are, I can't get a Mondeo. I just...can't!
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It would have to be the V6, not the 1.9DCi.
To me, an important part of choosing a car is how the engine sounds and how this sound suits the nature of the vehicle. This inevitably means that five pots is the minimum I will even consider (for petrol or diesel) because most four pot engines by their intrinsic design just make a tedious, humdrum, "boom" under load. (I'm talking suitability for refined cars here, not the stratospheric RPM and airbox howl of four cylinder sports bikes that I like)
A nice inline 5 or 6, or a V6, invariably sounds far more cultured and sophisticated than a four, and such characteristics are surely part and parcel of any car purporting to be 'Privilege' or refined. Even diesels like my brother's V70 D5 and friend's 530D sound superb with their 'multi cylinder' configuration.
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SjB sums up my thoughts exactly.
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I really like the Sport Tourer and would certainly consider one at the right price, it is practical without being lard pink fluffy dice like some other estates, however an ex-colleague had a 1.8 that was rather troublsome. The 2.0 petrol is fine, perhaps a good compromise, of the diesels the 1.9 is slightly more refined though neither the 1.9 or 2.2 are storming performers being a bit weak in the torque stakes for their size compared to competitors, also the 2.2 gives up about 8 - 10 mpg compared to the 1.9. The best bet is probably one of the later 1.9's which have the 300nm engine first fitted to the Scenics, the early 1.9 DCI Laguna II's were 280nm.
I certainly agree with whoever it was who said that it is a shame that the 3.0DCi is not fitted to the Laguna.
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I certainly agree with whoever it was who said that it is a shame that the 3.0DCi is not fitted to the Laguna.
Would probably make it too front heavy. A V6 petrol is lighter than a V6 diesel.
Nice thought though, imagine the performance. But I'm sure Renault have thought about it.
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If you want a nice sounding big engine get a V8 - nothing sounds quite like a V8 under load.
I also wonder whether if you want the "big" engine experience you wouldn't be better off looking for something driving the rear wheels. The Volvo's are OK as the engines are relatively small and light by once you get into 3.0 litre V6's I think I'd prefer the rear wheels driven.
If looking French, you could probably pick up a 406 V6 for very little and seems to have a better reputation for not going wrong than the Renault.
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Hi Adam,
I know you saw the Laguna's for v.little cash. Is that the budget you have to spend or was it just tempting seeing them for so litle money?
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Hi SFR,
I only considered it because it was so cheap (for what it was). If it had gotten a good review I'd have been sorely tempted.
I'm hoping to change next year when I've left Uni and got myself a proper job. I'd be made up if I had 8 grand to spend on a car as that should get me a fairly decent one I reckon.
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I think your right!
I was thinking from the perspective of getting you a decent car such as the S60! I was going to try and persuade you to try the Diesel (163-185hp) which has character (5 cylinder) and a rorty noise (honest!). The problem is the £8k limit as I have never seem them quite that low. The petrol ones though can be acheived at that level and can be recommended. T5 sounds nice!
The reason for trying to persuade you to the diesel was because I recently tried the 180hp 2.0 petrol Turbo engine in a colleagues V70 and compared to my D5 there was nothing there in terms of power and shove. Still, I am married so Diesel is my thing! Happy hunting!
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The S60 so far is top of the list. You're right though. 8 grand. Given yours (and a few other people's comments) I'm tempted by the 2.4 even the T5. Now, 11k would get me a nice one. Problem is, I have no idea what I'll be doing in a year's time, no idea how much I'll have to spend, and no idea as to the S60 values then.
I'd be a very happy chappy if this time next year I had a T5 S60. Very happy :-)
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Good game, seeing what comes out of Autotrader with the keyword 3.0 . How do they fit the engine in a 3 litre Clio?
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How do they fit the engine in a 3 litre Clio?
By not letting you have back seats or a boot!
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Crikey Adam, for 6k you can have my Lexus GS.
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<<<< 406 V6 24v - always puts a smile on my face in sport mode. Mine was 2,700 for a late 2000 model a few months ago. Has all the toys and they all work (except the sat-nav in this godforsaken, land-that-time-forgot country which hasn?t been mapped).
Sooooon, soooon my son - be patient, it will be. ;)
- - - - - - -
I am the only Pole over here.
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Saw a Peugeot 607 2.2 hdi advertised today for 6495. It was an 02 reg with every conceivable toy on it inc heated rear seats!
Thought that was a lot of car for the money! Similar to this one on autotrader but not the same model
dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=1...2
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Did you end up getting the Laguna Adam?
In the meantime I had thought an Alfa 166 3 litre would have fitted the bill.
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No. I would have actively looked had they got better reviews on here but it's too risky. The 166 - don't like the looks I'm afraid. I like the 156 a whole lot more.
I'm going to save and save and see where I am next year.
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Hi Adam,
>>I like the 156 a whole lot more
Saw the 159 launched in Rome - another beautiful Alfa, and its launch should do nice things to the values of 156s from your point of view!
Lee
-- Lee .. A festivus for the rest of us.
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I like Alfa's and I'd like a 159 too Lee!
I'd have to buy one new though...and well....I'd never be able to afford to!
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