Later Megane - Hello New car. Tips please.

HungryJoey

Hello everybody, My mother is fed up with the megane, And I will agree with her on some points that it is a bit radicilous, All the electronics. Also she feels she made a mistake getting the 2DR Coupe Model. She has it about 6 months and she is going to trade it in. Any Ideas what we might get on a trade in :

03 Megane Coupe Dynamique
Air Con
16" Alloys
Panoramic Roof ( All glass )
For lights,
Spoiler
Its also got Pearleasant ( Spelt wrong ) Champagne Paint. Looks the buiusness.

The full spec megane coupe dynamique. Google it if you need any more info.

Anyway,
There are a few cars she was looking at, Astra, Golf, Leon, Corolla,

But we recently decided, The spce of all above is a bit low for what you pay for a 05/04 car. You dont get much. Astra was my 1st choice, She hates it so thats a no. Golf, I love but i will agree with her, You don't get much in it for what you pay and the 1.4 engine is very weak, 79Bhp IIRC. Corolla very expensive and horrible to look at. Leon was her favourite, Get Air con etc for a good price and its basic enough for her inside.

But we just realised, and can both agree fully.. we both like the Citroen Picasso. She got the idea of an uncle who drives the 2.0 HDi model, and goes like the clappers.. And is an Extremely comfy car to be in and great visibility, Which is what she hates about the megane, absoloute terrible visibility due to the 2 door model. She likes the idea of being high up, Great big windows, And a good spec and 04 model we found in merlin motors which we are going to see first thing tomorrow morning. Low milage and its a nice dark red ( don't ask but she absoloutly adore's this colour, She wanted a megane in this colour) but if thats what she likes, ill let her. I like black, but she doesn't.

Here it is : http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=288364 I think thats a fair price for the Spec, Looking at the picture more closely, it looks to have a Panoramic roof, which some picassos offer, If somebody can clarify this that it has a Sun roof, I would appreciate it. Also, What would your verdict be on this car, I love it. So does she so we are pretty keen on getting it.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated, As we don't want to make the wrong choice again. Also, Budget is around €17996 and no more, even 18K there is still a little to high. Also, I would love to get a 1.6HDI, if we can find any. I can't find any around dublin, If anybody can find one, I would greatly appreciate it. Should offer a bit more speed then the 1.6Petrol, Which face it.. Isn't going to be very fast but she doesn't mind.

Thanks alot,

Hj

colm_mcm

the only problem is that Picassos are even more flimsy than the Megane

HungryJoey

Yes I am aware that they are plasicy inside, But TBH we aren't worried about that, As it is a Mini-Mpv and generally speaking MPV's aren't luxourios to look at.

I am also looking for some 1.6HDI's witin her budget, Can't find any.

Hj

colm_mcm

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=302826


try a Focus C-Max 1.6 TDCI, much better car and same engine as HDI.

picasso is based on the old 1997 Xsara, and is a load of rubbish

HungryJoey

Dude, That is about 4 K more then my mother has to spend. If she could afford that, She would take it. And is no way as near as spacious inside nor does it have them practical seat's. Even 18K is pushing it for her,

And have you driven a Picasso ?

Hj

colm_mcm

yeah, i sell cars for a living, they're nippy enough, but then practically any turbo diesel is these days,

HungryJoey

Thats a nice car, 2K still over budget... And what are the spec's of that ?

Hj

colm_mcm

how about this?


http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=286245&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Audi%20A2%2C%20Diesel%20Only%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=1107491&CFTOKEN=43037283


good badge!

HungryJoey

Ermmm an A2 ? I think Ill pass on that one How can you go from a Picasso to a A2 ?? Id keep the Megane over that. Although I know that car probably is quality.

Looking at the top gear survey results, Im shocked to see how bad the Focus CMax turned out 138th or 159 . The Picasso atleast is an improvemnt over that 108-159. Although I know the Top gear survey isn't exactly the most accurate, But it certainly isn't saying anything too positive about the Cmax.

Hj

HashSlinging

your better off selling the car you have and then going to a dealer with straight cash. they'll knock thousands off, get a trade in price from a few places beforehand, you'll get an idea of the real value of the car.

HungryJoey

Thats a good idea actually. I will enquire about that, but asking her now, She is saying she doesn't want the hassle of trying to sell it, as it is an 03 Megane, 3 years old now and it might be hard to offload for any decent money. She is saying it is easier just to trade in. But I will look into it, Cheers.

Hj

colm_mcm

I'm guessing that if she bought a mehane cabriolet that she hasn't got a load of child seats or need a huge car?

HungryJoey

It isn't a cabriolet, Its a 2Dr Coupe model its called. She doesn't have any children to carry around any more, Everybody is grown up but she does carry around people often enough wether it be some of us or Friends. She want's a big car anyway, And she really likes the picasso, So much room in it and easy to drive. She travels Quite often to other countries and she needs the room, She is fed up with a small car like the megane,

Edit : A little of topic, But just searching at renaults MPV's i came accross an avantime, I didn't think they existed in Ireland. It looks absolutly amazing inside. I would love to see these around here. http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=285063&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Renault%20Avantime%2C%20Car%2C%20County%3A%20Dublin%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=237960&CFTOKEN=99732716

Hj

colm_mcm

oh, so it's the old model coupe then, sorry. If she likes the Picasso, then she should get it. (but they're awful!!)

HungryJoey

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2025/img11117vc.jpg Its that model. Not the old one. Your confusing your Coupe with Cabriolet. http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/5592/img11137mc.jpg

What makes you say its so awful, They are comfy, afordable, Engines are fine, very practical and have good visibility. Yes they may look basic inside, Plasticy but tbh, in a car like this.. Its perfect.

Also, looking at the spec of this 1.6 Plus package, It has quite alot including the panoramic roof which you don't see too often on picasso's, Alloys, Aircon and possibly Climate control. So we are definetly going to have a look tomorrow anyway. Id' love to get some opinions of a picasso owner on this forum.

Hj

colm_mcm

that's a 3dr hatchback as opposaed to a 2dr coupe!

it depends how much you value reliability i suppose

HungryJoey

http://www.renault.ie/vehicles/meganehatch/meganehatch_options.asp Sorry, I believe you are wrong. Click model and you will see what a Megane coupe is, and what a cabriolet is. There is a difference. ( Also known as Sport Hatchback Coupe )

And I believe this is the cabrio. http://www.renault.ie/vehicles/meganecabrio/meganecabrio_index.asp

Anyway, this is all beside the point.

Hj

maidhc

If the Megane is being offloaded because it is troublesome...

...why on earth buy another french car? It makes no sense at all!

colm_mcm

doesn't a coupe have to not be a hatchback in order to be coupe



( i know a hyundai coupe is technically a hatchback)

TempestSabre

maidhc wrote:

If the Megane is being offloaded because it is troublesome...

...why on earth buy another french car? It makes no sense at all!

I don't get that either.

Make more sense to get a saloon aswell.

HungryJoey

We aren't offloading it because its troblesome, She's getting rid because she doesn't like it Period.

Hj

maidhc

OK, I thought you posted threads about it being troublesome before and assumed it all became too much to bear.

HungryJoey

Well yes I did, it was call it troublesome, But TBH we wouldn't be so predjustice towards the french and all of their cars. We are going to view this car tomorrow at merlin Motor City, and Will inform you how it goes, Just out of inerest, Does anybody know the BHP of this early 04 1.6L Petrol engine ?


Thanks

Hj

prospect

maidhc wrote:

If the Megane is being offloaded because it is troublesome...

...why on earth buy another french car? It makes no sense at all!

????
This quote makes no sense?

So because they have a troublesome version of a particular release of a specific model of a single manufacturer...... That means all French cars are rubbish???

Thats a bit like:
Breaking news:
New Mazda recall for break light issue, DONT BUY JAPANESE CARS ANYMORE!

HungryJoey

Very true prospect.

Anyway, Were out today, And shocked to find we were only getting quotes of about 11k for the megnae we paid 16K for 5 Months ago, ITs abosoloutly disgusting, But I supose nobody want's 03 Megane's. Especially the 2 Door, We were told its hard to sell.

We wen't to about 5-6 Garages today, And on our last stop.. we pulled into ryans garage in blanchardstown who specialise in Seats/Old MG's. We were told to go down there as we know the family who runs the garage, And they are less of sharks down there as it is a family run buisness. Anyway, They gave us 13K for the megane, and we bought a brandnew Leon, Very pleased. My mother love's it, Says the gear box is beautiful compared to the megane, aparently the clutch is too heavy in them, and considering a weaker engine, ITs quite pokey. This hopefully touch would should be a alot more reliable, so we decided to buy new, They had a nice 04, then 05 and in the end we got the 06. New reg. Has all the bits in it, Air con, alloy's etc... We were pretty happy with that deal, as other garages were requiring around the 8-9K mark to upgrade to a new car, where as here we only had to Pay about A little over 5. We also got 2 Year warrenty with The garage, 2 Year AA and various things like so.

I have to admit, although it is a fairly basic car regarding electronics, The build quality is pretty impressive, I believe its bassed on the Golf. My mother hated the Megane, The 2DR was horrible, and in general, she didn't like it.

So thats it, Should go ok...

Cheers,

Hj

maidhc

I thought the whole "once bitten" thing would have had some effect.

I know so many people with French cars, and they all have the same story. Look sideways at them and they break. Maybe it is all hearsay though, and really they are as good as toyotas!

Leon a far more sensible option! Is it the new shape or the old? Best of luck with it!

BigCon

I bought a 03 Megane 1.5 dci a couple of months ago and it's the best car I've had to date (so far, touch wood). Better that the 4 Opel's I had before it...

HungryJoey

Don't get me wrong, The Megane is a much more... Well better spec'd car, And you are driving the DCI version Bigcon ( 80BHP IIRC with a heck of alot more Torque ) , They are a far superior engine over the 1.4V 16 engine. But quality wise, I would be very suspicious of the megane. Comes packed with stuff and is extrememly comfy to be in, With its arm rests and soft seats, But resale value as just experienced and reliability is very questionable.

I notice one thing, The Megane's 1.4V 16V engine is far more refined then the Seat leon/Golf 1.4L 16V engine, The megane offers a Pokey ish 98 BHP where as the 1.4 in the Golf/leon is a 75Bhp engine, thats a quarter less power. Oh well, at this stage for my mother, I would put reliability ahead of performance at this stage. She has lost enough money as it is and that is alot of money over a 5 month period.

Hj

unkel

Better luck this time hopefully

HungryJoey

Yeah, Hopefully should go ok. Disapointment the megane was, Reliability wise. I mean my dad drove a Laguna up until End of 05, And replaced it with a Tdi passat, But his laguna gave no trouble. Ahh I dunno, Bad luck I supose.

Hj

bazz26

HungryJoey wrote:

Very true prospect.

Anyway, Were out today, And shocked to find we were only getting quotes of about 11k for the megnae we paid 16K for 5 Months ago, ITs abosoloutly disgusting, But I supose nobody want's 03 Megane's. Especially the 2 Door, We were told its hard to sell.

We wen't to about 5-6 Garages today, And on our last stop.. we pulled into ryans garage in blanchardstown who specialise in Seats/Old MG's. We were told to go down there as we know the family who runs the garage, And they are less of sharks down there as it is a family run buisness. Anyway, They gave us 13K for the megane, and we bought a brandnew Leon, Very pleased. My mother love's it, Says the gear box is beautiful compared to the megane, aparently the clutch is too heavy in them, and considering a weaker engine, ITs quite pokey. This hopefully touch would should be a alot more reliable, so we decided to buy new, They had a nice 04, then 05 and in the end we got the 06. New reg. Has all the bits in it, Air con, alloy's etc... We were pretty happy with that deal, as other garages were requiring around the 8-9K mark to upgrade to a new car, where as here we only had to Pay about A little over 5. We also got 2 Year warrenty with The garage, 2 Year AA and various things like so.

I have to admit, although it is a fairly basic car regarding electronics, The build quality is pretty impressive, I believe its bassed on the Golf. My mother hated the Megane, The 2DR was horrible, and in general, she didn't like it.

So thats it, Should go ok...

Cheers,

Hj

Well she bought the Megane for €16k in 2005 and got €13k for it in 2006. €3k depreciation a year is about right on a car like the Megane. I know she only had it 5 months but unfortunately depreciation is based from year to year whether or not you get a year's use out of it or not.

HungryJoey

Yes I know, As I said we got around 13K for it, which still is a fair drop in price. I understand that, that was just fluke I think that we got that price from Ryan's, but as I said, We have contacts there. Most other garages were giving us about 10.5K for it, Nearly died when we heard that. That was a loss of around €6000 and is alot of money. But we did ok with 13K, Im sure he will have a hard time trying to sell it off, as he did with his last one, and ours is a 3Dr, he said nobody wants them.

Hj

unkel

bazz26 wrote:

Well she bought the Megane for €16k in 2005 and got €13k for it in 2006. €3k depreciation a year is about right on a car like the Megane. I know she only had it 5 months but unfortunately depreciation is based from year to year whether or not you get a year's use out of it or not.

Fair point except that if they would have paid cash for the Leon, they would have saved another couple of thousand. So the real depreciation is at least €5k for 5 months owning the Megane

HungryJoey

Yep well, We/She/Me Learned a lesson anyway, Never buy 3Dr, Megane over 3 years old or well, Renault Full stop. Although I will still miss the megane in a way, But ah well.

Hj

bazz26

unkel wrote:

Fair point except that if they would have paid cash for the Leon, they would have saved another couple of thousand. So the real depreciation is at least €5k for 5 months owning the Megane

True but also the new car will loose another €3k just by driving it out of the showroom.

Better off not thinking of it this way and just enjoy the car.

HungryJoey

Yep, well touch wood, if she goes ok it will be kept for a couple of years.

Hj

Soupi

i just got dejavu reading your story,my boyfriend's mam had an 03 megane 2dr coupe(not hatchback to that the one who doesn't know the difference) 1.6 sport and hated it,so did his mam and i wasn't too pushed on it when i drove it either.it didn't feel like a real car at all,felt more like a space ship,all the electrics,hardly any engine noise,bad visibility etc.she sold it at the end of last year and bought a brand new Seat Leon,my first car was an ibiza and it was a brililiant car.anyway she absolutely loves it and above all they hold they're value very well and are made to last.

i don't agree with staying away from renault though,my sister drives a laguna and it's a great car and my boyfriend's mam had a clio before the megane and loved it,that's why she bought the megane.

oh and another thing that we have in common is that my uncle worked in ryan's garage for years.what a small world

HungryJoey

Heh, Sounds all to similar, Is your unlce a dealer in ryan's ?

Hj

Soupi

doesn't work there any more,used to fit the tyres. ryan's aren't that bad when it comes to deals,he's bought alot of his cars out of there

HungryJoey

Yeah, They are nice people there, I was talking to the former owner of the garage today, He's a nice man so he is.

Anyway, Picked up the New car today, VERY impressed. Its one beautiful car and my mother LOVES it, Easiest car to drive that she has driven in a while and the engine is far pokier then the Megane's.

Anyway, Glad she loves it, Smells nice and new and very solid build.

Hj

colm_mcm

Ryan's is tiny though, everybody all over the place

HungryJoey

So what, They had a fair selection of cars, They are nice people... Not your Normal Car dealer sharks.. It is a very genuine, Nicely run garage. Been there for years, It does well for its self.. In the 1-2 Hours I was there.. I lost count of the amount of cars that were being driven out of that place. They gave us a great deal and we were pleased. What more can you want It was pretty nice though, At the end.. The former owner of the garage ( Tim Ryan ) who my mother knows to see... He is well in his late 60's, who is often walking around the garage in his spare time, Came up to us and said " Thank you for coming here and for your buisness " - And had a good chat with us, But he doesn't know us all that well but made an effort to speak to us. Now, come on.. You don't get much garage sale's man saying that. So far I would highly recommend Ryan's Garage - Blanchardstown. Lovely People there to deal with. Don't get put off by the old, Scabby looks of the garage.

Hj