2003 Renault Scenic - Are they a good car?

gary_bre

Hi All

Im looking for a family car for the family (obviously) and Ive been looking at some MPV cars. We are on a budget of 2k for the car so we are limited in what we can look at.

We came across a Scenic and I taught I would post to see what kind of feed back I would get on a 2003 Scenic?

Are they any good? does anyone know how they are on petrol?
Details of car below
Make: Renault Model: Scenic Year: 2003 Price: €2,650 Odometer: 90,000 miles /
144,837 km Fuel Type: Petrol Engine Size: 1.4 Colour: Blue Body: Hatchback Transmission: Manual NCT Due Date: May 2013 Doors: 5

Thanks !

kwalshe

We had one of these with similar milage and it was a 04' . Nicely designed and practical for familys and overall not a bad car but had a few electrical problems . The whole dash needed replacement due to a known issue. If buying make sure this has been done. I only had to pay some of the cost of this because I was Mr Load and Angry at the dealers. Aswell as that needed to replace the exhaust but that was'nt so pricey.
Wost part about it was the MPG, heavy car with 1.4 engine , so no poke at all and on long trips it was thirsty.

We bought a Peugeot 307SW and we a much happier with it. There is no room difference as the Sceinec is just taller, MPG is brilliant (changed to Diesel) and it has 6 seats which is good for the 3 kids and us.

Tow

The model changed in 2003. The new version has well documented electrical faults.

wonski

gary_bre wrote: »

Hi All

Im looking for a family car for the family (obviously) and Ive been looking at some MPV cars. We are on a budget of 2k for the car so we are limited in what we can look at.

We came across a Scenic and I taught I would post to see what kind of feed back I would get on a 2003 Scenic?

Are they any good? does anyone know how they are on petrol?
Details of car below
Make: Renault Model: Scenic Year: 2003 Price: €2,650 Odometer: 90,000 miles /
144,837 km Fuel Type: Petrol Engine Size: 1.4 Colour: Blue Body: Hatchback Transmission: Manual NCT Due Date: May 2013 Doors: 5

Thanks !

Is it the new, or old model?

slave1

We had an 04 Scenic, 1.4l petrol, please walk away NOW, utter scutter of a thing, untold faults and costs re coils and lack of power and failed electric windows, never again.

gary_bre

thanks lads, done a bit of research on this car and the majority seemsto be negative.
gonna give it a miss and maybe look for something else !
thanks for the posts !

gary_bre

Lads what are the Opel mevira like?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3555404

Owryan

I must be the lucky one so. I ve a '03 scenic and its never given me a days trouble.

If i could afford it i would get something much more fuel effecient tho, it uses petrol just sitting in the drive.

Guy:Incognito

Owryan wrote: »

I must be the lucky one so. I ve a '03 scenic and its never given me a days trouble.
.

Our 05 hasnt put a foot wrong either in the 4 and a half years we've had it.

As with most things, it tends to be people that have problems that make their way online to give out. People happy with their cars dont usually bother.

I find the coil pack thing to be brought up as a major issue and implied that its some sort of major fault (as in massive cost). Plenty of makes suffer from coil failures. They are a €30 wear and tear item. So if your unlucky and replace all of them even twice thats a €240 outlay (plus labour but it really is a simple DIY job) over the life of the car.

wonski

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Our 05 hasnt put a foot wrong either in the 4 and a half years we've had it.

As with most things, it tends to be people that have problems that make their way online to give out. People happy with their cars dont usually bother.

I find the coil pack thing to be brought up as a major issue and implied that its some sort of major fault (as in massive cost). Plenty of makes suffer from coil failures. They are a €30 wear and tear item. So if your unlucky and replace all of them even twice thats a €240 outlay (plus labour but it really is a simple DIY job) over the life of the car.

The thing with those cars is that some are really good, and some are pure scrap...

Not sure if op looked at an older model, or the newer one (judging by the price it was the new shape), but have to say that the older the model gets, the better.
03 new shape scenic is asking for troubles, but they fixed few things along the way.

I have 00 1.4 for almost 2 years, and never had such a reliable car. No major issues, coils replaced once. Was thinking to change it, but no need really. I will drive it to the ground and will laugh at all Renault haters.
The engine is bullet proof so far. The design is outdated, and the car itself is less than slow, but i keep it for as long as it serves the purpose.

gary_bre

guys
this the the scenic i was looking at ! any thoughts

http://www.carsireland.ie/county/dublin/renault/scenic/detail.php?ad_id=807869&r=s.php%3Fm%3D72%26o%3D621%26l%5B%5D%3D10%26r%3D2003%26g%3D0

Tow

gary_bre wrote: »

guys
this the the scenic i was looking at ! any thoughts

http://www.carsireland.ie/county/dublin/renault/scenic/detail.php?ad_id=807869&r=s.php%3Fm%3D72%26o%3D621%26l%5B%5D%3D10%26r%3D2003%26g%3D0

The Sportway was the last of the old model. Insure timing belt and pump were changed (may be due another change next year) as required. May need new coils (€27 each) every 5/6 years, an easy DIY job. Not much else to go wrong. BTW it is a bit expensive I sold privately the same spec with approx 60K miles for just over 2k last year.

gary_bre

thanks Tow for your comments

the price is a bit high but im going to offer about 2100 for it as i think that reasonable.
So would this model be prone to the electrical issues that were stated by some posters?

Does anyone have a good motor website that does reviews and help on cars etc

once again thanks for all the posts on this !

galwaytt

gary_bre wrote: »

guys
this the the scenic i was looking at ! any thoughts

http://www.carsireland.ie/county/dublin/renault/scenic/detail.php?ad_id=807869&r=s.php%3Fm%3D72%26o%3D621%26l%5B%5D%3D10%26r%3D2003%26g%3D0

That model is actually about the best car Renault ever made imho, tbh. I bought two of them new, both the 1.4, and the only issue I had in later miles (88k miles-ish) was the coilpacks, which now costs less than €100 to fix, and takes 10 minutes by any DIY-er, and off you go again for another few years.

Neither ever gave me any electric problems, incl a diesel one I bought after the 2 x 1.4 petrols, except one: water/damp got into the plug on the drivers door jamb, and the elec window stopped working. Unplug, dry, WD40, and that was it - you don't even need any tools: it's a 'quick-release' plug anyway.

I'd buy one again no problem, but that one is too dear. You should pick up a good one of those for under 2k easily.

wonski

galwaytt wrote: »

That model is actually about the best car Renault ever made imho, tbh. I bought two of them new, both the 1.4, and the only issue I had in later miles (88k miles-ish) was the coilpacks, which now costs less than €100 to fix, and takes 10 minutes by any DIY-er, and off you go again for another few years.

Neither ever gave me any electric problems, incl a diesel one I bought after the 2 x 1.4 petrols, except one: water/damp got into the plug on the drivers door jamb, and the elec window stopped working. Unplug, dry, WD40, and that was it - you don't even need any tools: it's a 'quick-release' plug anyway.

I'd buy one again no problem, but that one is too dear. You should pick up a good one of those for under 2k easily.

+1
Would take any of the older models over the new shape Scenic. Even the guy who sold it to me regretted it - his grand scenic gave him some troubles straight away...
The only problem is it is old, outdated, but usually well equipped.

Wouldn't pay that money for it tough - you may find them much cheaper, and well kept.

As for the coils - it is not even diy job- if you can replace batteries in your remote, you are more than able to do this.