probablyleon
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 11:49 AM |
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new car for my wife
Time has come to retire my wife's knackered old 3 series. I did my best to talk her into an Impreza but she was having none of it, apparently
she doesn't like the vents and bonnet bulges. After a frustrating hour showing her pictures of cars I thought might be a good bet she went solo
on Autotrader and arrived at a Renault Scenic  I've never even given these a second thought and as such know nothing about the potential
pitfalls, what to look for / what to avoid etc etc. Anyone on here got any insight beyond 'don't do it'?
Sorry to bring something so bland to the forum
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Ben_Copeland
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 12:09 PM |
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Reliability
Renault 33rd out of 35
Last year’s position 30th out of 32
Cars needing repair work 45%
Average repair cost £242
Best model Clio (’05-)
Worst model Espace (’02-)
Renault has failed to improve its reliability, with 45% of vehicles suffering failures. Just under 40% of issues are down to dodgy electrics, the
highest score of any manufacturer.(BAD!) Once again the Clio (’05-’09) is the most-dependable model, with a respectable RI score of 32 and a breakdown
rate of 19%. Renault’s worst model, the Espace (’02-), gets the wooden spoon in the MPV class.
Every french car i've been involved with was a money pit of poor electrically connections. Renault being the worse.
Although the Scenic isnt the worse.
[Edited on 16/3/13 by Ben_Copeland]
Ben
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britishtrident
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 12:18 PM |
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I presume it is a petrol ? Main engine problem on petrols is coil packs, if it starts to misfire it is usually a coil pack or occasionally an
injector.
My friend has had a 3 or 4 no drastic problems but the brakes always seem to need rmore attention than average like wise front suspension,
otherwise usual minor electrical niggles you get with french cars. On the first one he had the wiring adjacent to the engine ECU corroded but
that was an early one.
The Dci turbo diesel engine is more problematic --- they blow up at 80,000 miles upward unless they have been run only fully synthetic oil
which must be changed regularly. The problem was mainly down to extended service intervals and too low specification oil used by garages when
refilling the sump.
Part-synthetic or mineral oil causes tar deposits which clog first the EGR valve and then the oil feed to the turbo and the oil strainer in the
sump.
If I had one I would change the oil every 5,000 miles (using just about any suitable fully synthetic) and in addition renew the oil feed pipe to
the turbo at 50,000 miles and at the same time clean or renew or blank the EGR valve.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Staple balls
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 12:25 PM |
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BiL has a scenic, ran it most of last year with half the dash removed because of electrical issues, a connector had rotted or something, had to
replace a coupla ABS sensors too. That and constant coilpack replacement, he's taken to carrying a pair of spares in the glovebox.
Mechanically it seems fine mostly, nothing unusual for the age/mileage/abuse it suffers.
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adithorp
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 12:40 PM |
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When asked at work what we'd recommend, we just say don't buy French or Italian (or GM as well at the moment). If forced, I'd say go
Japanese (inc UK built, but not nissan as they're half Renault now) then Korean then Ford/VAG.
Of course we just see the ones with problems. I'm sure there's lots of good Fiats/Renault/etc out there, plus plenty of dodgy
Fords/VW/Toyota/etc... but they get more than their fair share.
ps. The customer usually turns up later with a Punto. Go figure!
[Edited on 16/3/13 by adithorp]
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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skov
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 01:14 PM |
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I'd avoid the scenic if you can.
My wife's had a 2005 one for a couple of years. It had 30k on the clocks when we got it, and has done about 40k now.
So far:
Various bits of interior trim have fallen off.
The heater/blower connector melted (luckily I've got small girly hands and managed to replace it without removing the dash)
The instrument cluster died.
The dephaser pulley is knackered (been quoted £700 to get that fixed  )
The battery died.
From reading up on Renault forums it sounds like we've got a good one!
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sdh2903
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 01:20 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
The Dci turbo diesel engine is more problematic --- they blow up at 80,000 miles upward unless they have been run only fully synthetic oil
which must be changed regularly. The problem was mainly down to extended service intervals and too low specification oil used by garages when
refilling the sump.
Part-synthetic or mineral oil causes tar deposits which clog first the EGR valve and then the oil feed to the turbo and the oil strainer in the
sump.
If I had one I would change the oil every 5,000 miles (using just about any suitable fully synthetic) and in addition renew the oil feed pipe to
the turbo at 50,000 miles and at the same time clean or renew or blank the EGR valve.
A work colleague of mine has a megane 1.5 dci which he uses to do a daily 120 mile commute, he is very lazy where maintenance is concerned, it's
had 2 oil changes in the last 80k using the cheapest possible oil from halfords. The car has just clocked 200k and for its last Mot needed 2 front
wishbones at 40 quid. He also averages over 60mpg. He recently pulled the egr valve out and it was immaculate.
Me personally I don't get on with French cars, I've had several including some of the best handling cars i've ever driven, but as an
overall package they just feel cheap and delicate.
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scudderfish
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 01:55 PM |
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new car for my wife
Post some photos of her and we'll discuss what you want in return 
Sorry.
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Simon
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 02:10 PM |
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I've had my Espace from ex demo (5000 miles, now 66k - for 5 and a bit years, longest I've ever kept a tintop) and have so far had new
fronts shocks after a dodgy bit of road in Scotland!
Only leccy prob is the CD/Radio which has jammed the cd's in.
Apart from that, it's been brilliant and if Renault were still importing, I'd have another. They're not, so it's gonna be a
LWB Vauxhall Vivaro crewcab or minibus next
ATB
Simon
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theduck
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 02:40 PM |
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My wife's z3 has been far worse for reliability than my similar age Clio (both circa 2000). In saying that though, I found when looking at
Lagunas that they weren't in the same league quality wise as the Clio.
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woodster
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 04:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
new car for my wife
Post some photos of her and we'll discuss what you want in return
Sorry.
Seems reasonable to me
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bashracing
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 06:42 PM |
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get her a 205 diesel simple as
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steve m
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 07:18 PM |
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Your wife can drive ............
mine can not, and as im banned at the moment, it would of helped if she could
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 08:09 PM |
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I've just bought the wife a ford cmax for taking the baby in, have to say ford have really pulled their socks up since my days of escorts etc
car is first class, amazing handling and the 2.0tdci engine a right rocket, damn thing wheel spins at 50mph! And still getting 55+ mpg on the dual
carriageway, tbh I'm very tempted to by one or a focus for myself
[Edited on 16/3/13 by Mr Whippy]
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 16/3/13 at 09:56 PM |
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I've got to ask why a scenic as opposed to a proper shaped car or a car that's got to be that size?
Imo those kinds of things are too tall or should have more seats.
Also keep calling it "the loser-cruiser" and if she doesn't change her mind... well there's something going on!
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blakep82
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 01:33 AM |
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Hmm, renault scenic... its not too late to consider divorce you know... just saying 
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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britishtrident
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 08:53 AM |
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Show her a Hyundai or Kia as everyday cars go they are good cars long warranties great VFM.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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probablyleon
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 09:38 AM |
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Thanks for the input... Yes there really is no accounting for taste. I've got till the end of the month to change her mind and find a decent
example of whatever we eventually settle on. Ordinarily I quite enjoy the process of searching for a new car but I'm not sure I can put
everything into something as dreary and potentially problematic as a French mpv (I can handle either one of those traits in a car but definitely draw
the line at both).
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 08:57 PM |
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Just make sure it's her decision to get one so when it's in the garage all the time well "you did want one of these dear"
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morcus
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 10:20 PM |
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I'm with ninehigh, sometimes it's the only way to learn. If she's gonna be the one driving it why does it matter?
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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locogeoff
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 10:49 PM |
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A mate at work has a Grand Scenic he's replaced a steering column for PS fault, numerous window regulators and the electronic handbrake. Seems
to require big replacements for small problems.
Regards
Geoff
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 17/3/13 at 11:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by locogeoff
A mate at work has a Grand Scenic he's replaced a steering column for PS fault, numerous window regulators and the electronic handbrake. Seems
to require big replacements for small problems.
Is that model designation representative of the garage bills?
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jossey
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| posted on 18/3/13 at 08:09 AM |
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Avoid diesel with dpf filters. Especially the mazda 6..
Thanks
David Johnson
Building my tiger avon slowly but surely.
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mcerd1
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| posted on 18/3/13 at 09:26 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
.....have to say ford have really pulled their socks up since my days of escorts etc
even the mk1 focus is a world away from any of the escort's
mine is now 12 years old and just hit 130k this morning - its had a hard life and got a couple of anoying little issues, but its still going with
mostly original parts !
and its just got the start of some rust on the rear arches and bottom of the doors
[Edited on 18/3/2013 by mcerd1]
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swanny
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| posted on 18/3/13 at 11:05 AM |
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focus cmax is a possiblew alternative to what she is looking at. we have one, does 60mpg on the motorway and averages 45mpg on short trips and a
mixture of driving. just avoid 1.6 diesel auto. they eat transmissions and repairs not possible. (circa3k replacement at dealer) some lovely high spec
cars about with full panoramic roof, leather for decent money
however, owners forum seems full of problems if i'd read that before i bought, i'd have bought something else.
ours so far, touch wood has been fine for the last 25k (now 7 years old.
off the wall suggestion from renault, if she's got her heart set on something french... what about a Megane Renaultsport ? built at a seperate
factory, and from what i read/less issues?
paul
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