Octavia or Grand Megane-Help me choose!!!!

killer007 · 23-01-2011 12:01AM #1

Going to trade in my 8yr old Citeron C8 and had my mind make up to go for a new Octavia diesel 2.0 or 1.6.
Now I see that Renault are offering €4,900 off a Grand Megane for an 8 yr old trade in (€3,390 trade in allowance and € 1,500 Renault scrappage).
Should I re-consider and get a Grand Megane diesel.

Ardennes1944 · 23-01-2011 12:03AM

this should be good

faw1tytowers · 23-01-2011 12:07AM

I find the 1.6 isnt powerful enough for the octavia. But lovely car. I am a renault fan and in the process of looking for another scenic. Renault scrappage deals are best out there!

EPM · 23-01-2011 04:10AM

Can't ignore the megane now that the quality is what it should be

Alanstrainor · 23-01-2011 04:15AM

Alright andyseadog, I deleted your post. This is not after hours, posting stupid pictures on thread is just annoying, and is neither clever nor funny. Any more of it and you'll be getting infractions/bans.

Topper Harley · 23-01-2011 05:02AM

I'd go with the Megane based on looks. Although on looks, I'd go for the 3 door coupe, but I assume since you're considering the Grand Megane you're thinking of practicality and a 3 door doesn't really come under that. Based on anything other than looks, I have no idea.

faw1tytowers wrote: »

I find the 1.6 isnt powerful enough for the octavia. But lovely car. I am a renault fan and in the process of looking for another scenic. Renault scrappage deals are best out there!

I used to have a 1.6L Toledo (very similar to the Octavia). I never found it wanting for power, unless I had four passengers and even then not much.
Then again, I've taken stick on here before for suggesting that a non V8 Mustang should be introduced in Europe.

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 23-01-2011 10:46AM

The octavia has a huge boot.

-Chris- · 23-01-2011 10:57AM

Which spec of Grand Megane are you lookng at? I was driving a Tom Tom edition for a month or so and I was amazed at the spec. It's a fine car to drive - seats not massively comfy (to me) - but otherwise I couldn't really fault it.

If you're comparing cars, ignore the "scrappage", it's just discount by another name. Generally discounting a car heavily at the front end has a negative effect on the second hand value, so it's a double edged sword.

Get the cost-to-change for each car (how much you need to cut a cheque for), drive both cars, and then decide which car is worth the money.
Discount is a red herring most of the time, cost to change is where it's at.

Irish Fire · 23-01-2011 11:07AM

What's the Renault going to be worth in 3 - 4 years time, with so many on the road they will be 10 a penny...... Don't forget when they give trouble they give trouble.

CabanasBoy · 23-01-2011 11:19AM

Drive both for as long a test drive as you can wangle from the dealers, I'm biased towards the Skoda but if you've had a thing for French cars you'll find the firm seats and superior build quality in the Octavia a bit strange, I personally would not relish the prospect of long term ownership of a Renault and I know from my own experience that long term Skoda ownership is a sincere pleasure.

CabanasBoy · 23-01-2011 11:44AM

CabanasBoy wrote: »

Drive both for as long a test drive as you can wangle from the dealers, I'm biased towards the Skoda but if you've had a thing for French cars you'll find the firm seats and superior build quality in the Octavia a bit strange, I personally would not relish the prospect of long term ownership of a Renault and I know from my own experience that long term Skoda ownership is a sincere pleasure.

Just a couple of other points,

The Octavia design is getting a bit long in the tooth and will probably be replaced in 2 years (ish) with a brand new one but being a long established design usually means less problems.

The Megane is a much newer design and new designs are generally prone to problems and recalls.

killer007 · 23-01-2011 11:46AM

Thanks for the advice , plan to keep the car long term but want a good price for it in 5 years time so Skoda is the way to go.

Thought this thread might end up in Humour for a while!!!! A big boot is always good

BrianD3 · 23-01-2011 12:10PM

You plan to keep the car long term but you're going for the one with the 2 year warranty (Skoda) instead of the one with the 5 year warranty (Renault)?

The Megane III is a reliable car with excellent build quality. The Skoda is also good but if you have a problem with the modern diesel engine in either of these cars, chances are it'll be expensive. Turbo, injectors, high pressure pump, particulate filter, dual mass flywheel etc. Each of the above have the potential to give a bill of several hundred euro if not more. In that case, a long warranty is a big selling point. You'd want to check exactly what is and isn't covered by warranty of course.

PS the Megane III did very well in the reliability/problems section of the latest Auto Express Driver Power survey

The main advantage that I see with the Skoda is that boot in the hatchback is huge and possibly bigger than the Megane estate boot. The boot in the Megane hatchback is tiny compared to the Octavia boot.

colm_mcm · 23-01-2011 12:14PM

Hyundai i30 CW worth a look too, 5yr unlimited mileage warranty.

ThisRegard · 23-01-2011 12:16PM

We have one of each and would find it hard to choose as both are great, but I think the Megane may just edge it in terms of looks and comfort, and toys. On weekends away we take the megane due to what feels like more space and much better economy. The octavia is a 1.6 and it's fine, you don't need anymore unless you like traffic light grand prixs on a daily basis.

Regarding resale prices I wouldn't take much notice of a posted comment above, Octavias are all over the place too and older models are worth feic all. Neither is an issue for us as we plan on using them a long time.

colm_mcm · 23-01-2011 12:32PM

I think the small warranty on the yet unproven vw 1.6d would be of concern, the potential repairs could make it an expensive long termer, just speculation I know but when there are similar cars out there that are less of a gamble over 5 years

coolbeans · 23-01-2011 12:40PM

Get the Megane. The Skoda is fine but it's still a bloody Octavia i.e. dull as ditchwater and everyone will think you're a taxi. Seriously, the Megane is a decent car with loads of toys and every bit as well built as the Skoda. I actually think the Skoda is the modern day equivalent of the mid nineties Corolla, that is, white goods.

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 23-01-2011 01:33PM

coolbeans wrote: »

Get the Megane. The Skoda is fine but it's still a bloody Octavia i.e. dull as ditchwater and everyone will think you're a taxi. Seriously, the Megane is a decent car with loads of toys and every bit as well built as the Skoda. I actually think the Skoda is the modern day equivalent of the mid nineties Corolla, that is, white goods.

That kind of talk can get you into trouble around these here parts.....;) we should not be comparing a megan and an octavia in the first place, rather an octavia and a S class merc or 7 series. Maybe against a phantom or maybach. Although why you would buy one of those is only cause your a badge snob. And low tax, more money than sense. Although the octavia had a much bigger boot than any of those.

coolbeans · 23-01-2011 01:38PM

Fukking Octavias, I mean seriously, they're everywhere...like fridges...and signposts.

Ardennes1944 · 24-01-2011 01:01AM

coolbeans wrote: »

Fukking Octavias, I mean seriously, they're everywhere...like fridges...and signposts.

there must be a reason. they're obviously very good at what they do

Irish Fire · 24-01-2011 01:34AM

coolbeans wrote: »

Fukking Octavias, I mean seriously, they're everywhere...like fridges...and signposts.

Unlike the Renault they are always on the road and not on the back of an AA truck.......

maidhc · 24-01-2011 08:21AM

killer007 wrote: »

Going to trade in my 8yr old Citeron C8 and had my mind make up to go for a new Octavia diesel 2.0 or 1.6.
Now I see that Renault are offering €4,900 off a Grand Megane for an 8 yr old trade in (€3,390 trade in allowance and € 1,500 Renault scrappage).
Should I re-consider and get a Grand Megane diesel.

The deciding factor here is the value of the C8. The €4,900 is just a discount, not a "trade in allowance" despite what Renault market it as. Sell the C8 privately, and then start shopping with cash. It will give you a clear picture of where you stand, but either way you will be standing in a better place and probably not in a Renault showroom.

ThisRegard · 24-01-2011 10:14AM

Irish Fire wrote: »

Unlike the Renault they are always on the road and not on the back of an AA truck.......

maidhc wrote: »

but either way you will be standing in a better place and probably not in a Renault showroom.

The boards motoring expertise strikes again :rolleyes:

MidlandsM · 24-01-2011 10:24AM

-Chris- wrote: »

Generally discounting a car heavily at the front end has a negative effect on the second hand value, so it's a double edged sword.

I don't agree with this as in 3 or 4 years time, there may very well be a shortage of good clean low emmissions cars like these for the secondhand market due to low enough sales these days versus the boom times, so the OP may well do ok at the other end of his ownership.

Irish Fire wrote: »

...... Don't forget when they give trouble they give trouble.

:rolleyes:.........same can be said for any car.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Hyundai i30 CW worth a look too, 5yr unlimited mileage warranty.

+1

and the kia ceed sw.

Stevie Dakota · 24-01-2011 12:09PM

We have a previous gen Megane estate. It does some things brilliantly, spacious, comfortable, very refined, huge boot, very economical, well equipped. Add to that Renaults improved reliability/quality with the new model and it is a very compelling package.

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 24-01-2011 02:01PM

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

huge boot,

Oh yeah, how huge, The octavas boot is so big that that is has its own post code.....huge boot in a megan I dont think so.

wellsir · 24-01-2011 02:14PM

have you looked at the Fluence?

colm_mcm · 24-01-2011 02:32PM

Jaxon Ugly Respirator wrote: »

Oh yeah, how huge, The octavas boot is so big that that is has its own post code.....huge boot in a megan I dont think so.

Think the boot on the octavia hatch is about 20% bigger than a grand megane though.

Henry Ford III · 24-01-2011 02:44PM

wellsir wrote: »

have you looked at the Fluence?

Not a wind up but any time I've seen an ad for that car I can almost hear a rasping fart, as "Fluence" becomes "Flatulence"

no1beemerfan · 24-01-2011 03:22PM

Both are fine cars and look well etc. However the octivia is out a while and its only got 2 years warrenty.

Renault have put a lot into the new cars (both in terms or equipment and sorting out the bad reputation caused by the laguna II mainly and the last megane model). They come with a FIVE year warrenty and also being that bit cheaper to me it only makes sense to go with the megane. (The VW group don't have a glowing reputation lately either).

maidhc · 24-01-2011 05:36PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

The boards motoring expertise strikes again :rolleyes:

History has yet to produce a state owned car manufactuer with a highly unionised workforce that makes well built and reliable cars.

BL wasn't, and modern Renaults up to and including the Laguna II werent. Maybe the very latest are better, but it will take 6-10 years before we know.

Until then, being biased is perfectly acceptable IMO.

Octavia or Grand Megane-Help me choose!!!!

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