Buy today in an hour! What to check?

BJC

Howdy folks,

I'm going to have a look at a 2001 renault megane coupe in about an hour.

Just a quick one for you motoring boffins, is there anything specific to check on the old meganes?

Cheers!

tin79

Check your brain is functioning if you are considering buying an old megane

Not sure with this generation but sister had a 2004 one and it was an electrical nightmare

BGozIE

As above, a friend of mine had a 2005 megane coupe. You were very lucky if the electric windows went down, very very lucky if they came back up!

A lot of electrical issue's with the MkII megane, although I don't think the one you are going to view is as bad, not completely sure.

BJC

I know I know, but it's a cheap runaround with tax and nct and less than 65,000 miles. Need something for a few months that won't break! Check all electrics anyway, cheers.

Soarer

BJC wrote: »

I know I know, but it's a cheap runaround with tax and nct and less than 65,000 miles. Need something for a few months that won't break! Check all electrics anyway, cheers.

Probably looking at the wrong car so.

Get an old Toyota or something. You'll sell it for near on what you bought it for afterwards. There's nobody gonna want that Megane.

wesf

If its a runaround thats going to be trouble free then you couldn't be looking in a worse place!! Get a starlet/corolla, you won't have any trouble, cheap to run and tax and as was already said you will sell it on easily.
But I get the feeling you have your mind made up, we will await the "problem with megane thread".

wonski

Actually 2001 Megane is much more reliable than 2004/05 models. Saying that not the best choice when it comes to cheap, reliable motor.
Check all electrics including rear wiper and press every button posssible.

canhefixit

Actually owned a 99 mk1 megane and have to say it never ever let me down and I clocked up over 200k with it, only thing that ever played up was the central locking as it had a complete mind of its own! I had thought about getting another megane but the newer ones are well known for their electrical problems.

One other thing to check for is make sure the sills are solid and rust free.

keithsfleet

The old meganes aren't the worst.

They're Mechanically sound but as people have said, watch out for the electrics.
They don't have much but what is there is they're weak points.

After that just make sure the chasis and sub frames are straight and free of tin worm.

Keep an eye out for fluid leaks and fluid condition but that's a given on a 12 year old car and not Renault specific.