Thinking of buying a Megane diesel

[dash2212]

My son who is soon 19 is thinking of buying a renault megane diesel, he does around 12k a year maintains the car himself with a bit of help from me but i am no mechanic so far we/ he has been luck with his cars just servicing and breaks so realy dont want to buy a pup. He does not earn much first year electrican apprenticeship has saved hard so can afford an late 2003 early 2004 with 80k. Can any owners give us some advise whats your experiance been like thanks.

[terry_mccann]

The later the better, so much is for sure....especially the pre - 2004 models are prone to the odd failure.

I would go for the 1,5 dCi with three figured HP....I think it is the best compromise in terms of efficency and power and costs...

Typical problems with diesels are failing glowplugs and (sadly enough) turbos, stuck EGR-valves and things like that. But then again, you have those problems with all modern Diesels, given their technological complexity nowadays.

As for Meganes in general, quite often the front strut bearings are wearing out as well as the complete front steering mechanics, they are quite touchy after lots of miles....but there again, in that segment of cars things like that simply happen.....

At the end of the day, bear in mind that a Megane is much cheaper than e.g. a Golf.....in terms of value for money you can't get a better car in my view.

[dash2212]

thanks for tips has anyone else got anything to add probalbly looking at a 1.9 diesel there seam to be more arround will have to check insurance group

[terry_mccann]

If I would go for my car again I would ignore the 1.9 and go for the 1.5....I only chose the bigger engine because my car is fitted with partial leather and I couldn't find a 1.5 with it...

[candleman]

My 1.5dci Sports tourer is a group 5, while I believe the 1.9dci is a group 7. For a 19 year old it could save him some dosh when he comes to insure it.

I forgot to add that the road taxis cheaper to. £95 quid next year for the 1.5 106bhp version

candleman

[Stranger]

£35 currently for the OHs 1.5 dCi 86 Modus, think it goes down to £30 next year but I may be wrong. It pulls like a good 'un and returns 56mpg on average.

[pw981]

These cars aren't the easiest to work on mechanically! If you get a chance to look at the 1.9 dCi engine bay, look at the oil filter. I'm not saying DIY maintenance on the Megane isn't impossible, it just isn't very easy!

[andywills]

i'm suprised that no-one has brought this up yet. if he's only does 12k miles a year, you'd be wasting your money on a diesel. a lot of car companies (in experience alfa romeo, saab & mercedies) used to only recommend a diesel if you are doing 20k plus, but when the latest company car was bought (mercedies), we were told that 35k is now the recommended average to warrant a diesel

[cyclonebri1]

I was going to make a separate post but as this is a similar topic I'll add my bit here.

Firstly tho I would disagree with the issue of 12k / per annum not being enough to warrant owning a diesel. We have had a diesel Clio for 5 years plus, (52plte 85hp 1.5 dci) it has returned an average of 64mpg over 5000miles and has saved it's depreciation value in that time by halving the fuel costs of our previous 1.4 petrol clio.

My daughter has a 1.5dci 80 megane that gives almost twice the mileage that our other daughters 2.0 petrol megane gives

I have a 1.5dci 106 megane estate that does anywhere between 50 and 70mpg dependant on driving. The point is that when buying 2nd hand the massive difference in cost between a diesel and petrol variants is hardly worth bothering about, and the maintenance costs, especially if you maintain it yourself, are comparable.

What I was going to post, and it backs up what I've written, is that today we have traded in the clio and bought another 1.5dci megane, 106 this time. I'll try and post a link shortly if it's still on autotrader.

The car is a 2007 metallic black 1.5dci 106 Dynamique with panoramic roof, done 14k miles and is spotless it cost me £6795, and that is a UK car from a Renault main agent. No diesel "surcharge" there. Quite pleased with that deal

HERE WE AREhttp://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/RENAULT+MEGANE/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-21-51-240-4294966747-4294967142/advert.action?R=200844322307415&distance=8&postcode=s458de&channel=CARS&make=RENAULT&model=MEGANE&min_pr=&max_pr=7000&max_mileage=

[rjacko]

have one the first 1.9dci dynamique 03 3dr bought at 6 months old, ex demo model.

only issues are driver door handle sensor, glow plugs, sun roof binding due to lack of use, all sorted by renault. its my wifes car, think its got about 40k on it so been lucky in comparison to some older cars you hear of on this site. would recommend 1.9 but the megane is a nightmare to work on if your going to do it yourself and renault dealerships are expensive. into cars and work for toyota and i hate doing anything on it but all modern cars seem to be pigs to work on.

good luck with whatever you opt for

ps this one may be for sale soon

[ANDI]

well i think that that you will also find diesels are cheaper to insure,my girlfriend and i are the same age ,driving same lenght of time,her 1400 is £200 fully comp and mine is £110 tax per year mine is £35, hers does 38/40 to the gallon and mine does 70 plus,her service cost £210 and my service cost £140 add that up and then work out your diesel cost over petrol and mileage and the diesel 1.5 wins everytime. it also pulls my 1000kg trailer,no problem,will pull like a train and purr down the motorway at 85 doing less than 2800revs, sorry but all this about 35000 this and 12000 that,is sales bull, and just to add insult to injury we travel more or less the same distance to work and back every day approx 35 miles each way,it cost her basic, unleaded at 95pper litre about £8 or so per day that £40 per week.diesel at £105 per litre, per day is £4.80 ish thats £24 per week. £40 x 48 (the other 4weeks are holidays) =£1152 saving £768 per year,£55 saving on insurance,£60 saving on servicing,£75 saving on tax. £2440 petrol and £968 per year on the basics. give or take, and mine is quicker by about 10miles per hour, my next door neighbour has the 1.9 does 45 to the gallon is 280 per year insurance and the road tax is 140 i believe. So again it really is a case of pay your money and take your chance, and so far 18 months,and no running costs other than servicing.

[ANDI]

also forgot to mention that if he is going to be posing around town on the weekends etc my girlfriends car in town speeds drops to about 33 and mine drops to about 60 and that again is a fair difference,

[ANDI]

go to unanswered posts and there is a 15dci for sale £5500 might be worth a look??