I've seen an 02 Renault Laguna 1.8 petrol Dynamique for sale at a main dealer, 56K, FSH, seems to be in good nick. £2995.
I know it hasn't exactly been given a glowing review in car-by-car, but I like the car and it does have its good points:
5 * safety
Xenon headlights - I live in a rural area
Quite comfortable.
I'm told the petrol versions are much more reliable than the diesels. I'm quite handy with the spanners, so wouldn't mind changing the odd coil pack etc. if it came to it. Also not bothered if things like tyre pressure monitor doesn't work.
Worth a punt or best avoided?
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It sounds way too expensive for me personally. Buy a Vectra C or Mondeo 3 instead - better reputation and cheaper parts.
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Loads of that age/mileage for £2k... it's far too much. Main dealer markup on this age of car (if they sell them at all) is horrific.
A £3k 2005reg Mondeo/Vectra will be a far safer bet.
David
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Worth more than an old Irish punt (!) but not as much as £3k.
If you particularly want a Laguna, have a look at www.autotrader.co.uk and see what Lagunas of that age are going for - or what age you can get for £3k. Try for an independent dealer who may give you 3 or 6 months' warranty but won't charge as much as a main dealer.
Alternatively, I'd pick a Mondeo or Honda Accord if that's the size of car you need.
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Horrible car based on previous experience, Avensis/ mondeo much better bet!
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7 year old French barge for £3k ??
Having a laugh , that vendor !! Offer £1500 and walk away.
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If you're going to go for a Laguna go for an 04 one on. Still feel like they are thrown together out of recycled egg cartons but are usually reasonably reliable compared to the previous model years.
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I run a 52 plate Laguna 1.8 Expression so mechanically it's the same car.
I bought it at 64k miles and ran it all over Europe. Generally it's very comfortable and until it got to 90k miles was faultlessly reliable.
After that I had the differential fail, front suspension collapse, heater controls failed, tyre monitors fail, instrument pack now only reads kilometers plus a whole host of other problems in a six month period that lead to my spending over £1,500 on it.
It now has 190,000 km on the clock and, touch wood, seems to be going through a better patch.
It does about 32mpg around the lanes, 38 on a run.
The petrol Lagunas are always a grand cheaper than the equivalent diesels so I would expect an 02 car to be £1,500 - £2,000.
There are probably better cars out there for the money.
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Thanks to all. I think you confirmed my suspicions, and in this case I think my heart was in charge rather than my head! Always good to get a sanity check from the back roomers!!
I'm thinking of replacing a MKII Mondeo 1,8. It has 130K on the clock and has been 100% reliable other than a few leaking coolant pipes. Why am I changing? I use the car for work any my boss thinks it looks too old and scruffy - not in keeping with the corporate image you know! The Laguna at least looks quite modern, but I'd probably need to keep the Mondeo too for when the Renault is in the garage! ;o)
To my mind the MKIII mondeo is a bit of a drab looking thing unless you go for the top specs, and also maybe slightly too big for me. I have driven a veccy C in the past, and I liked it but but I found the seats rather uncomfortable. (one reason for looking at the french offering!) Are the seats in the SRi / Elite better than the Club? I'd love something like a Saab or Volvo (perfect seats), but they are too expensive to run for me. Not all that fussed on the old focus either.
I've also looked at a 1.8T MG ZT and a Rover 75. Very nice, but I'm a bit worried about the dreaded head gasket problems!
Back to the drawing board!
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"I use the car for work any my boss thinks it looks too old and scruffy - not in keeping with the corporate image you know"
Is he going to give you an allowance to fund the new one then?
"Are the seats in the SRi / Elite better than the Club"
Not sure, but the ride in the SRi will be harder and you get sports style seats. I'd look for an Elegance, Design or Elite if you want comfort. The Mondeo 3 is a comfy car with good seats, even in LX spec.
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Whay dont you just tidy the car up then rather than buy another one?
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"Whay dont you just tidy the car up then rather than buy another one?"
To be honest it's not in particularly bad condition - just looks rather "dated".
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So am I reading it right that the OP is changing their car, out of their own pocket, because their boss doesnt like the look of it, but wont be paying a penny towards this flight of fancy?
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My bosses hate me parking my Mondeo 3 with all their Mercs, BMs and Audis, but I own it outright and they're all still paying for theirs! If you like a car and aren't interested in badge snobbery, take a punt and buy it if it gives you pleasure! I'm proud of my car and the 2 people I give a lift in to work every morning love it too. Comfy seats, good heater, legroom and Metallica in the CD player. It does everything I want it to. I personally like Lagunas - if you can put up with the niggly French electrics :-)
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I've also looked at a 1.8T MG ZT and a Rover 75. Very nice but I'm a bit worried about the dreaded head gasket problems!
Get the 2.5 V6 ZT. Great car, no head gasket worries and reasonable economy.
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"Get the 2.5 V6 ZT. Great car, no head gasket worries and reasonable economy."
Unfortunately the company policy states 30mpg+ (they pay for fuel). What sort of enonomy are you getting on the MG? Most people seem to reckon about 27mpg for the 160, 25mpg for the 190.
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Have a look at the Citroen C5. You'll get a 02/03 2.0 HDi with decent mileage for under £2k.
Best diesel engine there is, 50+mpg and still pretty modern.
Or you can get the facelift version for £3k.
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If the Mondeo is on the large side then try a Skoda Octavia - shorter but with just as big a boot. If the boss doesn't like it but isn't paying for it - then he needs a good taxidermist.
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You say about Volvo / Saab costs, but my Volvo S60 2.0T manual does 34-35 mpg out of town, and there are loads of independent specialists for parts and servicing. Goes like stink if you need it to as well. Loads available for £2k+. £3k gets you a really nice one.
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I have a diesel Laguna 52 plate, bought it 8 months ago knowing it was a bit of gamble. Cost £2,800 (75k) but had FSH and including cam belt change.
I have 85 mile round commute to work pretty much all on motorway, and it laps it up, giving an average 54MPG at steady 60 - 70 mph.
Now it squeaks all other the shop, leaks some oil, things fall off, but dare I say it I actually have grown to like it and have a soft spot for the old beast. I have the opinion it will break sooner or later and I will sell it, if the estimated bill is large. However as it's work is underdemading, little braking and constant revs, I quitely optimistic it will make the next 8k to reach the 100K landmark.
What I am saying Laguna's are not the best built or most reliable cars, but my relatively cheap and economical is serving me well.
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"My bosses hate me parking my Mondeo 3 with all their Mercs, BMs and Audis"
Sounds like they all need to get out more.
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DP, thanks I might have a look at some S60s. The seats look soooo comfy - like big sofas! I'm surprised a 5 cylinder engine gives you 35mpg - not far off my 1.8 Mondeo.
All of the S60s I have seen in auto-trader for the sort of money we're talking about seem to be over the 100K mark, but I hear Volvos are fairly well made. Maybe a high mileage Volvo would be preferable to a low mileage Laguna. Even the positive Laguna postings on the thread are along the lines of "like the car but ......"
I think the S60 would probably look classy for quite some time to come.
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My bro-in-law had a diesel version a few years ago, in the 6 months he owned it, the list of faults it developed was a list as long as my arm!
I wouldn't bother.
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