opinion on Renault Grand Scenic

LilacPixie

Does anyone have an opinion on a Renault Grand Scenic?? We are needing to seriously think about replacing our now 7 year old laguna and with baby number 3 a real possibility in the next 2-3 years we are trying to plan ahead and buy something that will take 3 kids, toys baby stuff and 2 adults.

harveybobbles

Grand Scenic's are quite nice to drive for an MPV. I'd only have one if it was under warranty as there is just waaaaaaaaay too many things that fail on them.

jaydeeuk1

One of the most unreliable cars money can buy.

AdrianHi

Two friends have them.
No real reliability issues though with relibility high on my list of priorities I'd be looking for something suitable Japanese first resorting to something Renault later. Unfair? May be, just my impression and there are reliability surveys around that put most french cars in the bottom half of the results.
How was the Laguna?

Grand Scenic 1.5 diesel surprisingly capable and quiet (both are this diesel) returning around 45-47mpg for mixed town and open road driving.
Comfortable to sit it, spacious. One of the two owners (the lady of the family) doesn't like the amount of body roll round corners but lives with it. A Toyota Corrolla Verso is said to be better in this respect and this mid-sized MPV is my favourite in the market subject to test drives - not driven any of these vehicles.
Mazda 5 is realistically only 4 full sized seats, middle seat to small to be of any use. Honda HRV a 6 seater but has an odd shaped and small boot.
Citoren C4 Picasso is the one winning the awards right now but that's going to attract the same "reliability" comments.
So a short list to test drive:
Renault Grand Scenic
Citroen C4 Picasso
Toyota Corrola Verso

then go and buy the Toyota :rotfl:

LilacPixie

I actually like our laguna. had her for 6 years no major issues had to do the usual things like tyres, new brake discs and pads and It needed a new battery last winter etc but nothing major. Our spare keycard thingy stopped working aparently the battery died in it but the local dealership re-paired it with the car for nothing and told us to rotate them regulalry rather than leaving one sitting on a shelf for 2 years.Maybe we are lucky because unreliability rumours seem to follow renault but i'm not sure how much of that is a myth. TBH if it wasn't for the fact it is just not big enough (can't get 3 car seats across the back seat) we would have no problems keeping it for another 2-3 years then trading it in or selling it privately
.
We will be looking at buying 2-3 year old car I would imagine. I have never bought new, would rather someone else took the biggest hit on depreciation.

I am used to driving largeish cars, works car is currently a A6 Avant so the idea of an MPV doesn't bother me. Looked at the Mazda 5 and wasn't impressed. The salesman seemed to decide the best pitch was to tell me how easy it was to drive and no harder than a corsa told him i wouldn't know as I had never driven a corsa in my life. The car itself as you say is really only 4 seats which is pointless for us and you get more room IMO in a Vectra Estate. Not looked at the toyota YET!! OH point blank refuses a Citreon MEN!!

AdrianHi

The Mazda 5's selling points are sliding doors and it is very good and car like to drive. But the seats right it of unless you are a family of 4 ... who probably don't need an MPV in the first place.

Consider buying a vehicle 6-12 months old. Once you get past the initial depreciation hit most cars loose a similar amount of money each year for several years. Even buying pre-reg or an ex-demo 3 months old is good enough if the dealer is sensible about price.

Definately worth test driving the Toyota too. Best value is had with the SR model though limited colour choice (black and 2 shades of silver IIRC) otherwise it is the T3 or T Spirit. These are the models that come with tinted sun protection windows as standard so you don't have to faff about with stick on blinds.
Best engine is reconned to be the diesel but not the top of the range 180bhp T180.

Have to say I was very impressed by the refinement of the Renault Scenic diesels - very smooth and quiet.