Renault scenic help needed - confused with various models!

[Olaffles]

Really fancy a renault scenic, but confused as I've seen a megane scenic, dynamique scenic, grand scenic etc etc. Help! I'm looking for the 5 seater version that isn't massive!!

Diesels are stronger engines so would always recommend that but they cost more. Quite a bit more. The 2l petrol is very cheap but expensive to run.

I really can't emphasise enough to stay away from the 1.6tdci tho. The turbo goes and there's a history of it going again within a mile. Literally a mile. Mine was less than 1000 miles /3 months and cost 441 the first time to fix (cheapest price, everyone else 750 minimum) and I refused to fix it again as there's no point. It will go again. Part is covered by warranty but it's not the part that fails so you HAVE to pay

I'd run a mile from French electrics and electronics unless you can extend the manufacturer's warranty to 7 years at the time of purchase. Buy something far eastern.

I have a megane with non-working windows! have spent £450 on them so far so currently only one not working.

You also have to pay someone to replace any headlamp bulbs that go because of the way they've designed the front end - ludicrously complicated to replace, even garages scratch their heads at it. NEVER AGAIN will I buy Renault.

Diesels are stronger engines so would always recommend that but they cost more

That's not exactly true and certainly not good advice. Diesel engines may well be physically stronger due to the higher compression ratios involved but they are certainly not more reliable these days. Old diesels were pretty bomb proof but are now hugely complicated with lots of expensive things to fix. A simple petrol engine is likely to be more reliable. Also unless doing 15k miles per year or more the diesel option rarely makes good financial sense, add to that the problem with doing mostly short journeys in modern diesels and my advice would be to stay well away.

In my experience shirt journeys are equally bad for petrols and diesels. I've recently had a golf that was only doing 2 x 3/4 mile journey a day and started to get serious problems because the engine was just starting to get warm as the journey finished.

I'm yet to notice any difference in efficiency from my 1.6 tdci focus to my 1.6 petrol Picasso or 1.9 petrol 3 series really. Even on long journeys.

I've never heard anyone say any bad about modern Diesel engines.

I would really really strongly advise against a Scenic ours was bought at 3yrs old and has been a money pit. The general response by the garage man is 'yeah scenics do that' everytime ive taken it in for something.

Generally, short journeys are not great for any engine however if you use a modern diesel for mainly short/low speed/round town journeys you are likely to experience DPF issues. A modern diesel is just not suitable for this kind of use.

What's counted as modern though? Mines an antique a little old so would never class it as modern. Y focus was 55 plate so you think it's new but it's almost ten years old so isn't really...

So.... I'm looking for a petrol engine (do about 10,000 miles a year, 3-4 days a week only short trips of a few miles, a few times a week 40-50 mile round trips, every fortnight or so a few hours motorway journeys)

I need an automatic. Any other recommendations?

What's your budget? Seat alteas are cheap and part of VAG so always a good buy. I saw a few for £1500 when I was looking.

I think you've probably been put off a Scenic by now , but if not...we've had ours for 8 years and are generally very pleased with it. We don't have it serviced by Renault, but by a reputable garage and the only thing they can't fix is the key that's stopped working which would need reprogramming... We have a Grand Scenic, which has the two extra seats in the boot. The five seater doesn't have a massive boot, but you can now get the Grand Scenic without the extra seats if you need a big boot (at least I think you can).

Having said that, I'm not sure we'd get another one, but not because we've had a bad experience with it - DH is quite keen on an S-Max next time round, but we're going to hang on to our Scenic until we have to get rid of it!

That's interesting tkband, I'm glad you've not had problems too!

I keep hearing good things about Ford C Max and S Max. C Max prob big enough for us just more expensive for newer car with lower mileage. Looking at spending 8 - 9k on something pref 3 or 4 years old with low mileage. Is that impossible?!

Ooh will check out the Altea, thanks Raskova.

A quick google and the Altea looks great! Thanks will continue to research!

Raskova

In my experience shirt journeys are equally bad for petrols and diesels. I've recently had a golf that was only doing 2 x 3/4 mile journey a day and started to get serious problems because the engine was just starting to get warm as the journey finished.

Twelve hundred metres is not a short journey, it's a nanojourney. Of course that's going to screw any engine, the water won't even be slightly warm, never mind the oil. The exhaust will never get up to temperature so the catalyst won't be doing its job so your car is pumping out lots of unburnt hydrocarbons, condensation will build up inside the exhaust and rust it from the inside. DPFs have already been mentioned, and within the next few years we'll have gasoline particulate filters to clog up on those microdrives.

Why would you not walk, cycle or, if you have a physical disability, use a mobility scooter?

That's my DDs DFs journey and it's 2 different dual carriage ways so not walkable. Mines about 15 but all country roads.

His golf had condensation build up. He's more careful now

I am, of course, genuinely sorry that driving a 'nano journey' offends you so.

We don't all have the time to walk 4 miles to and from work and some of us have to look very posh for work and the windswept look just doesn't cut it.

I had a scenic, 53 plate. I loved it, but lost loads of money over the 15 months I owned it.

I now have a Grand Picasso, 2 years old (company car), it has flappy paddles, so can be manual or auto. That said, at a month old it spent a month in the garage having the entire wiring loom replaced after a leak caused corrosion.

Can I just say that headlights on a scenic are easily replaced by teenagers in Halforda for about a fiver each. We have had ours done that way every time, never been a problem. It helps of course that halfords employ students studying mechanics in their shops.

Do they, shouldwego? I thought they were just normal sales people who had a bit of training on average car stuff??

Just for balance, our Grand Scenic is nearly 7yo and has been great. Very reliable apart from a few wear and tear issues this last year - garage says all stuff you would expect 6 years in. It's also automatic and had no issues with that.

They certainly do round here. I was surprised when they sent what I thought was a spotty teenager out to do it but he told DH he was in his second year of studying mechanics at the local college. He also knew exactly how to do it and that he would have to go inside etc.

Obviously not all of them are students/ experienced but the ones they send to do things with cars tend to be.

The staff in Halfords always groan and say 'Megane?' When I ask for new headlights to be fitted. They unfailingly tell me that Renault headlights are the worst to fit.

Three of my windows packed in. I paid a small fortune to have 1 fixed but haven't bothered with the others.

Would avoid Renault next time.

We don't all have the time to walk 4 miles to and from work

I didn't read your previous post as 4 miles, I read it as 'three quarters of a mile' - 3/4, 3 divided by 4.

Hence why I said "twelve hundred metres".

Get a Zafira. Cheap insurance (unless it's the vxr) cheap repairs, reliable, loads of dealers and not too big.