1.5 DCi

[SoonToBeRenaultMan]

Can anybody give any thoughts or advice please ?
I am considering getting a 1.5DCi Megane not sure 3 or 5 door yet prefer the sporty looks of the 3 but 5 would be more practical.

What mainly appeals to me is the great MPG and 35pounds a year road tax as I do a lot of miles. I'm not bothered about blistering prformance if it can cruise at 90 on the motorway.

Are they reliable ?
How do they handle ?

I look forward to any advice.

Martyn.

[IainMW]

Welcome to the club

I'm not bothered about blistering prformance if it can cruise at 90 on the motorway.

The maximum speed limit is 70mph my dear boy!

Are they reliable ?
How do they handle ?

Yes much more so than they used to be and they handle very well, although if you read the motoring press, not as well as a Focus.

A 5dr would be more practical, but if that's not needed save some money and get a 3dr.

Good luck choosing

[Stranger]

I think it's a superb engine, the OH has the 86 version in her Modus. Reliable? All I can say is that she's not had any engine problems with this one or the last one that she had, regularly returns 55+mpg and like you say £35 per annum RFL is not to be sneezed at. Pulls well from standing and through the gears, plenty of torque and will cruise all day long at 70mph.

I don't know the weight difference between a 3 and a 5 door Meg (should be easy for you to find) but it would be something to bear in mind.

Oh and welcome along btw

[bucky]

Hi Welcome, I have this engine in my heavier cc and I find it performs very well returning 49-50 mpg. The only thing that annoys me is when travelling at about 55-60 mph on a roads you are constanly changing down and back up again if there is a slight incline in the road. Having said this, this is my first diesel car and I have always driven powerful petrol cars so the frequent having to change down might be normal for a lower powered car?

[IainMW]

Yes but the CC weigh's as much as an elephant.

Drive it in 5th instead of 6th and it will pull much better at those speeds

[bucky]

I have got into the habit of rarely using 5th and tend to get up to speed in 4th as it pulls really well and then straight into 6th. What does suprise me is that on the motorway at 70mph it pulls in 6th with ease when othertaking or hitting an incline.
Sorry if I am asking a stupid question but does this engine have a turbo, I find that through the gears it starts flat but then you get a sudden thrust of power about 2000rpm.

Thanks Colin

[SoonToBeRenaultMan]

Thanks for the welcome and comments.
I was trying to figure out the difference between the 86 and 100bhp outputs.
The stats 0-60, top speed, mpg etc don't seem to be any different between the 2 ?

[IainMW]

Bucky

The Turbo only starts to really work with any gusto above 2000 rpm.
If you are in to high a gear and below this rev range the car will not pull (Turbo Lag!)
As I said the CC is a heavy beastie and the 1.5dCi 106 engine will need to be worked to get the best performance out of it. You've got 177lb ft of torque moving a car that weighs 150kg more than a standard Megane hatchback!

SoonToBeRenaultMan

The 100bhp engines are a little quicker and a little better on fuel than the 80bhp engines.

[Gav]

I'm very pleased with mine, driving approx 15k a year mostly cross country. To me it handles well (Iain said the journos say not as well as a Focus, and that's probably true since the Focus is a lot wider - meaning if I'd had one it'd need new sides), and the performance is no problem at all. Excellent mpg, and comfortable too. I've found on the motorway the economy doesn't suffer too bad the faster you go...

[Margaretdorothy2]

I Have the 1.5dCI-86 and I am very pleased with both performance and m.p.g. I have just returned today from South Wales, a round trip of 470miles, and I got a return of 63.4 miles per gallon this achieved on average combining Motorway A and B roads plus a couple of traffic backups, i am really chuffed at the average, as this is the first time I have ever achieved such a great mpg, and I certainly didn't find any problem with the performance where possible did 70mph with great ease, a pleasure to drive.

Wish you all the luck with your purchase.
Margaret

[SoonToBeRenaultMan]

Thanks.
I see there are a few of us in or around Lancashire.

[JPB]

Hi there, we have two of the 106 meganes, a 3 and a 5 door. Both have been really reliable. 3dr done 28K trouble free the 5dr 20K all fine.Be carefull with the road tax as the 5dr goes up to £110 a year if you put options on especially the sunroof. You can put all the options you like on the 3dr the tax stays the same at a laughable £35. IMHO I'd get the 3dr and with the cash you save buy some nice options..

[jason]

Can anybody give any thoughts or advice please ?
I am considering getting a 1.5DCi Megane not sure 3 or 5 door yet prefer the sporty looks of the 3 but 5 would be more practical.

What mainly appeals to me is the great MPG and 35pounds a year road tax as I do a lot of miles. I'm not bothered about blistering prformance if it can cruise at 90 on the motorway.

Are they reliable ?
How do they handle ?

I look forward to any advice.

Martyn.

Hello Martyn
Good car fella but if you can find the extra pennies go for 1.5 Dci 106BHP Will save you having to down shift all the time Road tax £105 per year
still very good MPG......

Jason

[30something]

The road tax is only £35 on the 106hp, well mine is anyway!

[JPB]

The road tax is £35 for the 106bhp 1.5D 3dr regardless of the options, so you can get the sunroof with the 3dr, and not pay any extra.
The road tax for the 5dr is £35, without the sunroof, and £115 with the sunroof.
As for mpg get between 50 -55 mpg, running 80 miles a day.