New Boy On The Block!

[Fergy539]

Hi everyone! Yesterday, picked up my 2007, 2.0, Megane CC, 56K, black with all red leather (Mmm!) and drove her back a 100 miles or so, so got to know her a little better! Just a few questions if someone could advise. 1) the two key cards I've got, do people keep them together in case one fails or is that not a good idea and leave one at home and then I thought if one fails and I'm miles from home how do I get it? 2) I see no spare wheel or a get you home wheel, just two cans of Goop! Shld I invest in a gt you home which is smaller and might fit in the boot and if so, does anyone know a good place to by one. Thanks to all who respond. Never bought a Renault before so fingers crossed. Regards Allan
Fergy539 Posts: 1Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:06 pm

[continentalgt]

Hi Allan and welcome, I fitted a cord onto my key card and just hang it around my neck as I don't need to plug mine in, I leave the spare at home and have never had any problems.

I believe there might be a space saver wheel available but I don't think they are very plentifull, I got hold of a full size matching alloy nervasport wheel on a well known auction site for around 50 notes delivered.
I modified the boot floor by removing nearly all of the sunken section, trimming it and refitting it so that it sits on the full size wheel.
Not too difficult if you are good at DIY

I have heard of others modding space saver wheels off of other make vehicles but I didn't fancy that.

This is my first Renault and I didn't feel over confident when I first bought her but at the time it was the only thing out there that fitted the bill, 2 years on and she hasn't missed a beat.
Mine is a 2 litre as well, quite refined, torquey but not particularly quick and quite thirsty averaging 35mpg or 40 on a run.
No roof problems in fact I opened it today for the first time in months to take advantage of the weather no probs at all 18 deg here in Torbay today

[Fergy539]

Cheers for that! Had roof down today and it was rather nice I have to say. Looked another Megane CC y'day and had read a few things about roof leaks. The boot carpet was damp and when I felt the rear floor mats, I could have had a nice wash as both mats were like sponges! Gave the guy the keys back and told him and did the same thing before buying the one I got yesterday and it was bone dry. Will have a think of the spare issue as don't like the Goop Cans! Allan

[continentalgt]

Oh just one more thing regarding space saver wheels, I did read somewhere that a space saver can only be fitted to the rear axle as it fouls the front brake caliper.
This would mean that if you get a flat on the front you would have to move the rear wheel to the front then put the space saver onto the rear.
I can't say if this is true or not as I said I read it somewhere but it does make some sense.

I gotta say it is reassuring having a spare in the boot though.

[ChrisM]

I think people usually buy a 16" steel wheel (Megane hatch) from a scrap yard or ebay and mod the boot to fit, there are carpets on ebay now copies but better then Renaults prices, never bothered myself just bought new tyre repair foam cans from Lidl at £4.99 each!!! gone from 41K to 119K never had a problem with a puncture, he says as he goes home to night now to find a flat bottom, isn't there a phrase for that somes about someones law!

[AlexB]

Without a spare the repairer will fit whatever they have in stock. Then, you will have to replace it again or drive on different tyres, which is a no-no. So, get a proper spare and include it in the rotation sequence, thus using it actually.

[Meganeccdarren]

Without a spare the repairer will fit whatever they have in stock. Then, you will have to replace it again or drive on different tyres, which is a no-no. So, get a proper spare and include it in the rotation sequence, thus using it actually.

Why is driving on different tyres a no no Alex? As long as they have the same rating and are the same size and profile there is nothing wrong with that surely ?

[AlexB]

You mean you will be happy to pay the cost of a decent tyre for a budget one, while knowing that this makes your car to have different tyres on different corners? It does not make sense. What can be improved by having non-uniform tyres? The size can be slightly different between front and rear for performance reasons, but otherwise I don't know. It is still possible to drive safely on dodgy tyres, but you will have to slow down and constantly think about this handicap...

All tyres are different and behave differently, the materials and shapes are different. It is possible to start discussing the specifics, but there are just too many of them.

Besides, yours is a CC, they are supposed to be pretty, and you don't want your girl wear different left and right shoes. It just looks funny.

[Meganeccdarren]

My wife always wears odd shoes Alex

Oh and we have a beige interior but black mats . They don't match the carpet and don't effect the car in anyway

On a serious note I drive over 70,000 miles a year and recently had an odd tyre fitted to my 140mph Insignia ( of course I only do drive at 70 by the way, I was referring to its top speed published). This was because it had a high speed blowout at 70 and no spare. The tyres were all almost new but the conti,s are now no longer available in said tread pattern so it was a choice.... Scrap 3 good tyres with 6mm tread and put 4 of the same new ones on (at £230 per corner) or opt for an odd tyre.

What would you do?

[AlexB]

Do you mean £140-160 per corner depending upon the size (18 or 19)?

If the good tyres are discontinued Conti SC2, then have a look at the production date. They may happen to be not so good, actually. Furthermore, the old discontinued model might be inferior compared to the model in production. They are still available on the web, BTW...

With such a huge annual mileage even a small probability of an accident becomes a threat. So, the quality of the thing connecting the car to the road needs to be chosen as high as possible. You might know this better than anyone after the blowout...

Why were you having this problem in the first place? Was it because of not having a matching spare? Isn't it an answer to the original question?

[Meganeccdarren]

No spare just a can of squirty stuff
I see you are an expert on tyres Alex, that is great, how are you on the simpler stuff such as dash cd removal in my other post?

[AlexB]

Hi Darren,

I was thinking about your question involving Insignia and 70k annual mileage. There can be an odd tyre or and odd tyre... If, for example, the three remaining are budget tyres, then it is better to replace them anyway to avoid further blowouts or other surprises. Have a look at their production date stamp and overall condition. Of what model/size are they actually?

[Meganeccdarren]

Hi Alex
I have no choice in the tyres, it's leased so I have what they put on

Always branded, never budget though


I got the CD player out by the way. The keys you suggested worked well and we're only £3.99. BARGAIN!

Darren

[AlexB]

Good, well done!
I didn't know it was leased...