Renault Megane Dynamique - Good price?

superhez

Hi there just looking on some opinions on whether people think this car is a good buy. I am looking for 5 door, not too high insurance or tax which it seems to offer and a low mileage.

http://www.parks.uk.com/used-cars/search/14644/Renault-Megane

I know some people complain about electrical faults on Renaults but I have had a few with no problems and quite like them. This is the first time in a lot of years I've bought anything other than a really old banger though so just wondered if this seemed reasonable and if I can expect to haggle the price down (and if so how), won't get any trade in as i am currently driving an extremely old Micra.

Any thoughts/tips would be good.

jase1

Seems very expensive for a 5 year old Megane to be honest.

Lum

Mileage seems worryingly low to me, less than 5,000 miles per year! The car may have spent it's life doing lots of little small trips, which is the best way to kill a car.

Also non-personalised 56 plate but the site claims it was first registered in 2008? Either someone just screwed up filling in the website or there is something suspicious going on.

Personally I'd feel happier driving around in an ancient Micra than a 5-6 year old Megane. Stick that 4 grand purchase price into an easy access ISA, just in case anything does go wrong with the Micra, and keep driving it.

If you really want a newer car of that size, a Focus would be a safer buy.

superhez

Thanks for the replies I have about 9k in an instant access ISA and the Micra is due it's mot the end of this month so thought I would spend some of my hard saved cash on a newer car, was thinking between 3-4k.

I know the Micra will need some filling work done, maybe £200-300 plus it is starting to stall (not good on an automatic) may just need new spark plugs, but the lack of power steering is hard work and feel now is the time I want to invest in something a bit newer.

May have a look at Focus's as a few people have recommended Fords.

Lum

Fair enough if the car is genuinely on its last legs.

I only really mentioned it because we get a lot of people here wanting to get rid of perfectly good cars for a newer model in order to save money on fuel, a saving that will be completely wiped out by the purchase cost of a new car.

superhez

Lum wrote: »

Mileage seems worryingly low to me, less than 5,000 miles per year! The car may have spent it's life doing lots of little small trips, which is the best way to kill a car.

My Micra is 16 years old and has 35,000 miles on it

superhez

Lum wrote: »

Fair enough if the car is genuinely on its last legs.

I only really mentioned it because we get a lot of people here wanting to get rid of perfectly good cars for a newer model in order to save money on fuel, a saving that will be completely wiped out by the purchase cost of a new car.

No I understand that, I am an avid moneysaver and don't just spend for the sake of it which is why I really want some advise before making this purchase so I do appreciate it.

Can I be really cheeky then and ask your thoughts on this http://www.northroadgarage.co.uk/used-cars/ford-focus-1-6-lx-5dr-kelty-201212458145829

Lum

superhez wrote: »

My Micra is 16 years old and has 35,000 miles on it

Yes, but that's a 90s Japanese car, from the days when cars were over engineered and built to last!

My Nissan Cefiro is 19 years old (in August) and has about 40,000 miles on it.

Lum

superhez wrote: »

Can I be really cheeky then and ask your thoughts on this http://www.northroadgarage.co.uk/used-cars/ford-focus-1-6-lx-5dr-kelty-201212458145829

On paper, it seems reasonable. Mileage still seems a little low to me, but not too bad. Not really much to go on really.

Also, since you're a low mileage driver yourself, congrats on not going for a diesel! :T

Lithian

Having a quick flick through autotrader there are better specced younger meganes around the £3k mark, still doesn't strike me as especially good value at £3k but not far off.

The focus you linked again seems really overpriced, depsite being an 05 its the older shape (98-04) with the base trim and nearly base engine. Again a quick flick through autotrader shows you can get a newer car with the newer shape (should depreciate less) with better trim and a better engine for less money.

Don't get too tied up with low milage, its only one of many contributing factors for wear and with something like a focus 140-150k miles should be a doddle (and probably much much more)

atrixblue.-MFR-.

i must say the megane is not a rule out, just keep looking, things tend to go wrong on the early models such as keyless entry systems, the key card, automatic steering lock not to mention the pencil coil packs are very prone to going down (sorted with a newer version valeo or lucas), 2006 onwards have less problems, a dealer service history is better than one thats been maintained on the cheap by an indy garage, use the wrong oil in them it damages the dephaser pully in the VVT engine resulting in pully and cambelt failures, you dont do enough miles to warrant buying the 1.5 DCI less problematic meganes.

here i would seek out a jap or ford with your budget,