Renault removes models from UK market

Marcusm

Renaut has announced that it will cease to sell Espace, Laguna, Wind, Modus and one other model from the UK Market. Presumably this will apply in Ireland too. IS this academic, ie are they selling much?

robbie_998

Laguna very popular car i would've thought.

plenty of them about.


i wonder what the reason is for this.

MidlandsM

Marcusm wrote: »

Renaut has announced that it will cease to sell Espace, Laguna, Wind, Modus and one other model from the UK Market. Presumably this will apply in Ireland too. IS this academic, ie are they selling much?

what left? Clios and Fluences?

robbie_998

MidlandsM wrote: »

what left? Clios and Fluences?

megan

scenic

EPM

I've seen one Wind since they've been launched, very few Modus, I don't know who would buy a new Espace and the Laguna is surely one of the slower sellers in its class. Probably makes sense tbh if they arent selling.

JayeL

MidlandsM wrote: »

what left? Clios and Fluences?

No Fluences in the UK, it's one of those many small saloons we get and they don't. Ditto the Nissan Tiida, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 and Astra saloons.

Marcusm

JayeL wrote: »

No Fluences in the UK, it's one of those many small saloons we get and they don't. Ditto the Nissan Tiida, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 and Astra saloons.

Probably should have included the source - apologies for quoting the torygraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8966446/Renault-axes-five-models-for-UK-market.html

Just noticed that it says Fluence will now be sold in the UK and that it applies to the UK only. Surely this last part can't e true. Would they really produce RHD Espace and Laguna just for Ireland - I can't see them as a player in any other RHD markets.

JayeL

I can understand them stopping the Wind (amazed they built it in the first place, seems pointless), Modus (never sold in big numbers) and Kangoo car (never saw many of them).

But in stopping the Laguna and Espace, aren't Renault making a fundamental shift from full manufacturer to something more akin to Fiat; a manufacturer that focuses on small and medium-size vehicles.

BTW, I wouldn't have thought it would automatically mean the end of all of these models in Ireland. If Lagunas sell within expectations here, why not continue? We get the Fluence, which doesn't sell in huge numbers elsewhere in Europe and isn't even offered in the UK.

Renault haven't announced they won't make these models in RHD anymore, this seems to be a UK-specific announcement that's combined with a cut of 50+ dealers. I'd imagine they'll launch Dacia there next year and try and build up their network again with them.

robbie_998

honestly never actually heard of the wind until now myself and after a quick search it doesnt look partically great in the slightest.

the modest is a grand car for the elder in the UK quite similar to the honda jazz..... but for many reasons the Jazz sold better.

The Laguna isint too bad if i have to say myself. saw them about as a company car.

to be honest i have a bit of a soft spot for the espace - I can see the use of it and have filled a few of them up with bits and pieces along with kids and fitted quite a bit in and the upfront cab is quite comfy.

but it does have bad points - (my main one) the spare wheel is outside under the car held up with a bolt. My problem with this is if a mother gets a flat wheel at the side of the road and is stuck, it'll be very hard to get that wheel off and put the flat one on there (assuming the boot is fool)

i just see that as a really bad design flaw of not having a low boot.




for Ireland,

Would Mr. Cullen not have a lot of say in what goes about Renualt Ireland still ? or would he be under control of the UK head office or even EU head office ?

JayeL

Marcusm wrote: »

Would they really produce RHD Espace and Laguna just for Ireland - I can't see them as a player in any other RHD markets.

They sell them in Australia and New Zealand, Japan too. I'd imagine they'd sell as many in these markets as they do in Ireland.

R.O.R

Was talking to my Renault dealer yesterday afternoon and they have ceased RHD production of the vehicles already mentioned, so non for Ireland.

Laguna was getting on a bit, so wouldn't surprise me if there was a replacement in the pipeline. The other models are hardly volume sellers, so won't be a great loss.

Guy:Incognito

R.O.R wrote: »

Laguna was getting on a bit, so wouldn't surprise me if there was a replacement in the pipeline. The other models are hardly volume sellers, so won't be a great loss.

You mean the Laguna as a model name or the current one? Current model only launched late 07 so facelift maybe but still a bit early for a full replacement.

Laguna and Espace would be where most of my Renault interest would lie if I was in the market for a new one, dissappointed by the move. The others arent big losses.

R.O.R

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

You mean the Laguna as a model name or the current one? Current model only launched late 07 so facelift maybe but still a bit early for a full replacement.

off the top of my head I thought it was launched in 05, but looks like it was fairly late 07. Do remember driving a demo in early 08 now I come to think of it.

langdang

I like the Wind, I suppose those cars always look better "out forden" in the bayting sun.
As for the other models - maybe they'll unleash another wave of "big booty" cars on us, but make them really low emissions so people will still buy them even though they look crap.

MercMad

I had assumed the Fluence was the new saloon version of the Megan, until I sat in one. They are the most basic, horrid, ugly pieces of shlt cheap cars I have seen in years.

It looks like they have been built down to a price, and it would supprise me if they were actually built by Dacia !

R.O.R

MercMad wrote: »

I had assumed the Fluence was the new saloon version of the Megan, until I sat in one. They are the most basic, horrid, ugly pieces of shlt cheap cars I have seen in years.

It looks like they have been built down to a price, and it would supprise me if they were actually built by Dacia !

The Renault is a re-badged Dacia which in itself is a re-badged Samsung!

pajo1981

The Laguna's replacement will be a qashqai style cross-over.

Corssovers are the new family saloon in the UK apparently.

E39MSport

There's fok all Rennnaulllts on the UK roads.

They can buy real cars without getting shafted.

pajo1981

E39MSport wrote: »

There's fok all Rennnaulllts on the UK roads.

They can buy real cars without getting shafted.

Only 5% share, but still:

"Renault posts largest vehicle manufacturer market share gains in UK for March 2010

Private retail car sales up by impressive 77%
Fleet car sales rose by spectacular 187% year-on-year
Renault on course to hit ‘Destination 5’ UK market share objective"

http://www.renault.co.uk/about/category/7/newsnumber/23438a62-0f95-4fc7-b238-e30d6e99f2c6/newsitemdisplay.aspx

MercMad

MercMad wrote: »

I had assumed the Fluence was the new saloon version of the Megan, until I sat in one. They are the most basic, horrid, ugly pieces of shlt cheap cars I have seen in years..............

I said that once or twice and got flamed for it.
They are mega cheap feeling and looking as you say.

JayeL

The Fluence and the Koleos are both Samsungs, as is the LHD-only Latitude. I always thought the Fluence was a good-looking car but the other two are awful.

I think this is all part of a realignment of what European car manufacturers build. In the past, the company car market would lap up any amount of mass-market sedans and hatchbacks - today, with company car allowances and differing tastes, buyers aspire to something with a boot but buy something with a hatch.

So the kind of person that would have bought a Mondeo might prefer a 3-Series instead, even a nearly-new one. This trend wrecked the large executive sector for volume marques in the 90s (hence no more Ford Scorpios, Opel Omegas or Peugeot 605s) and with brands like Audi expanding their premium badge into just about every sector going, companies like Renault need to bring something very unique to the table or become irrelevant.

Saab thought they could sell hatchbacks in America forever and cancelled an SUV just when they needed it, it's a lesson from history!

johnf2020

robbie_998 wrote: »

honestly never actually heard of the wind until now myself and after a quick search it doesnt look partically great in the slightest.

the modest is a grand car for the elder in the UK quite similar to the honda jazz..... but for many reasons the Jazz sold better.

The Laguna isint too bad if i have to say myself. saw them about as a company car.

to be honest i have a bit of a soft spot for the espace - I can see the use of it and have filled a few of them up with bits and pieces along with kids and fitted quite a bit in and the upfront cab is quite comfy.

but it does have bad points - (my main one) the spare wheel is outside under the car held up with a bolt. My problem with this is if a mother gets a flat wheel at the side of the road and is stuck, it'll be very hard to get that wheel off and put the flat one on there (assuming the boot is fool)

i just see that as a really bad design flaw of not having a low boot.




for Ireland,

Would Mr. Cullen not have a lot of say in what goes about Renualt Ireland still ? or would he be under control of the UK head office or even EU head office ?

Dr.Bill has zero say in what happens..He has nothing to do with Renault Ireland anymore, and hasn't since 2007 when the Laguna 3 was launched. He is only a dealer,admittedly a high profile one at that. I remember an Irish dealer looking for some concessions at a dealer meeting in France a number of years ago---he was quickly put down by a very arrogant Frenchman who told him in no uncertain terms that "you Irish think you are so important..we can make your entire car production for one year,in one day".


http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/276397/axe_falls_on_renault_lineup.html

johnf2020

As a follow on from this,,bearing in mind all this relates to the UK market, at least for the moment

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/276487/dacia_no_haggle_pricing.html

Oafley Jones

R.O.R wrote: »

The Renault is a re-badged Dacia which in itself is a re-badged Samsung!

Never realized that, which is funny because I always said that the Fluence looked like it could have been a Korean car from about early 2000s. It really is a terrible formless blob of a car.

Robbo

No Espaces? But what will Dr Bill ferry his Apprentices in next year?

Oafley Jones

Robbo wrote: »

No Espaces? But what will Dr Bill ferry his Apprentices in next year?

No Apprentice next year either apparently. Didn't a number of his dealerships close around Dublin lately?

As a whole I think the current generation Renaults are the ugliest in a long time - with the exception of the Megane Estate GT line model* and the Laguna Coupe. The Clio is another car I wonder how they got so wrong in terms of looks, given that they were always a fairly stylish looking car. I'd say Nicole wouldn't be seen dead in it. The Laguna I and II were handsome enough as well IMO, but I wouldn't touch the III. As for the Wind, it reminds me of a beach car accessory for Ken dolls.


*It's amazing what a difference that body coloured front spoiler makes. No idea why it wasn't standard across the range.

opinion guy

R.O.R wrote: »

The Renault is a re-badged Dacia which in itself is a re-badged Samsung!

Samsung make cars now ??

johnf2020

R.O.R wrote: »

The Renault is a re-badged Dacia which in itself is a re-badged Samsung!

Dacia is completely owned by Renault .It uses older Renault hardware with modern Renault Engines and Nissan 4X4 systems for the Duster and their own body designs created at very cheap labour rates. Some of their cars are rebadged as Renaults for certain markets, but we dont get any of these-yet. Renaults alliance with Dacia goes back to the 50's...The Renault 12 wich arguably the most successful Renault here after the 4L was manufactured in Romania as the Dacia 1300 until the early 90's. Most of the Renault range ended up as Dacia's at some point.
http://www.daciaownersclub.com/

Samsung Motors in Korea is owned by Renault/Nissan Alliance. Yes the Fluence is a Samsung SM3 and the Koleos is a Samsung QM5 . So what...If you told any VOLVO S40/V50 Driver that they actually had a Ford Focus, I dont think they would be too happy.
I have a 2008 Koleos and I'm delighted with it. Truth be told the fact that it is built in Korea means that I have more faith in it. All the service items from are from a Qashqai.
Badge engineering is rife

As regards the Fluence being a formless blob,,,,the Irish market then likes formless blobs of Saloon cars....The Laguna sold well until the Megane Saloon came along in 2004 and killed sales. The Laguna 3 was selling well until the Fluence came along. We just have a thing about Saloons..Because the RHD saloon car market is small for Renault it makes sence for them to badge the Samsung and bring it here, and its worked..

listermint

Oafley Jones wrote: »

No Apprentice next year either apparently. Didn't a number of his dealerships close around Dublin lately?

As a whole I think the current generation Renaults are the ugliest in a long time - with the exception of the Megane Estate GT line model* and the Laguna Coupe. The Clio is another car I wonder how they got so wrong in terms of looks, given that they were always a fairly stylish looking car. I'd say Nicole wouldn't be seen dead in it. The Laguna I and II were handsome enough as well IMO, but I wouldn't touch the III. As for the Wind, it reminds me of a beach car accessory for Ken dolls.


*It's amazing what a difference that body coloured front spoiler makes. No idea why it wasn't standard across the range.

I would have thought Bill is on the back foot now Considering Renault are having their first Direct Foray into Irish direct sales with the purchase and opening of their new Flagship on the former Belgard Motors Site. I believe the grand opening is signalled for January but the place is already stocked with vehicles.

johnf2020

listermint wrote: »

I would have thought Bill is on the back foot now Considering Renault are having their first Direct Foray into Irish direct sales with the purchase and opening of their new Flagship on the former Belgard Motors Site. I believe the grand opening is signalled for January but the place is already stocked with vehicles.

Just proves that Renault don't think as much of him(or his brother)as he thinks they do:D

ofcork

JayeL wrote: »

The Fluence and the Koleos are both Samsungs, as is the LHD-only Latitude. I always thought the Fluence was a good-looking car but the other two are awful.

I think this is all part of a realignment of what European car manufacturers build. In the past, the company car market would lap up any amount of mass-market sedans and hatchbacks - today, with company car allowances and differing tastes, buyers aspire to something with a boot but buy something with a hatch.

So the kind of person that would have bought a Mondeo might prefer a 3-Series instead, even a nearly-new one. This trend wrecked the large executive sector for volume marques in the 90s (hence no more Ford Scorpios, Opel Omegas or Peugeot 605s) and with brands like Audi expanding their premium badge into just about every sector going, companies like Renault need to bring something very unique to the table or become irrelevant.

Saab thought they could sell hatchbacks in America forever and cancelled an SUV just when they needed it, it's a lesson from history!

Wasnt the 3 series outselling all the others mondeo etc in the uk for a few years.

Eric Cartman

ofcork wrote: »

Wasnt the 3 series outselling all the others mondeo etc in the uk for a few years.

the 3 series is the top of the class in the small saloon sector anyway , nobody has come close to it in the UK/EU market as its the only one left thats rwd , has a decent range of engines and decent value for money

ofcork

Yes but at a higher premium than mainstream saloons.

johnf2020

johnf2020 wrote: »

.................The Laguna sold well until the Megane Saloon came along in 2004 and killed sales. The Laguna 3 was selling well until the Fluence came along. We just have a thing about Saloons..................

There's been a Megane saloon available for a long time before 2004, sure the 19 was available as a saloon too, the Chamade iirc

rolion

Sorry to hear about Espace / Grand Espace...drove them for more than 10 years ! Love them,falling in love every time i see them ...

But,in my fairness and with many thanks to Renault...the Espace range was way ahead of his time !!!
Especially the latest version,with grand look,superb dashboard,panoramic sunroof,safety/ security,good engines (-bad electrics )... already was looking to the new Espace Mk5 ! But,it will be hopefully on the continental version.

But,as i said,Espace was,is and will be ahead of his time...
I will call it a normal evolution ... Espace has to wait for his time,maybe after 2012 !

PS:
Driving a Grand Espace MK4.
storing for 'history' a MK3.
looking to get my hands on a MK2.