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

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]

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.

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.

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]

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!

quote:

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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.

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new car for my wife

Post some photos of her and we'll discuss what you want in return



Sorry.

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

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.

quote:

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Originally posted by scudderfish
new car for my wife

Post some photos of her and we'll discuss what you want in return



Sorry.

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get her a 205 diesel simple as

Your wife can drive ............

mine can not, and as im banned at the moment, it would of helped if she could

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]

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!

Hmm, renault scenic... its not too late to consider divorce you know... just saying

Show her a Hyundai or Kia as everyday cars go they are good cars long warranties great VFM.

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).

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"

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?

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

quote:

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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.

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Avoid diesel with dpf filters. Especially the mazda 6..

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy
.....have to say ford have really pulled their socks up since my days of escorts etc

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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

If I was after a car for my wife I would be thinking about a older jag or something else British. Doing a deal on a French car would be lie taking an open unguarded kick to the nuts! Swapping her for a German car would be better than that.