Renault Megane Hatchback (2002 - 2006) 1.9 dCi Expression (120bhp) 5d (2003/53) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

The car is a mix of high technology and extravagance, fortunately not taken to an extreme. It is not posh, but one will not feel embarrassed to park it in a posh place. It is not a students' or old peoples' car, but many younger people drive it and it can be frequently found around universities.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Those whom I know like it.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, it is a good car. It is let down by the dealer network, but it can be serviced outside it.

What are you likely to buy next?

I will keep this car for a while and then decide. The candidates are a new Alfa, if they improve it, or a BMW.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£10,000

When did you buy the car?

October 2004

Did you get a good deal and why?

One year old cars are not yet damaged by poor servicing and "extended" service intervals. In the same time cars lose most of their residual cost in the first year.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Looks, performance, safety, price. This combination was the best in the class. I was specifically looking for a 5 star NCAP car.

What was the dealer like?

Interested in the sale only. However, I was given a chance to examine the car properly. I was wrongly told that oil change was performed at the pre-sale service.

What's it like to drive?

The overall impression is very good for a non-sports car. The engine pulls "like a train", huge torque, the 3rd gear everywhere in town. No shifting down when overtaking at speed. Very fast acceleration 50-70mph. The gearbox is very smooth after changing to a high performance oil. Some may dislike the "intelligent" steering, but I like it. The car tolerates side winds very well. The brakes are excellent. Comfortable 4-way adjustable seats make it easy to drive long distances. A bit of warning: I test-drove a new Megane II recently, and the steering was excessively light for an unknown reason.

What's it like to park?

Good visibility, small car, the steering switches into the parking mode, the engine pulls without touching the accelerator. Easy overall.

Have you had any problems with the car?

1. Noisy rear brakes. The dealer showed complete incompetence. I could not wait and repaired them DIY. Took me 2 hours and £40 for EBC Greenstuff pads. 2. Exhaust rattle. Fixed under the warranty. Had to come back as the technicians damaged the heat shield. 3. 18k service. Issued with incorrect bill. They put too much copper grease into brakes and failed to tighten the oil filter correctly. All fixed DIY in 1 hour. 4. Headlight bulbs -- 2 bulbs on two occasions. The dealer wanted £40 for removing the bumper, which is unnecessary according to the handbook. Took me 20min to replace each of them DIY. *** In general, the greatest problem with this marque is its dealer network. I am off the warranty now and using an independent Bosch garage, which is reasonably good.

What's most practical about your car?

Low running costs (so far), reliable (if competently looked after), space is sufficient for shopping and for 2-3 people. The passenger seat must be moved forward in order to create comfortable space in the rear. Potentially it fits 5 people, but NONE of small cars are desgned for it.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The car IS the gadget full of computers and the options must be kept to minimum in order to make it dependable. I like the automatic headlights and the favourite is the self-dimming rear view mirror.