Renault Modus a good buy?

Baron_von_Zach

Does anyone have experience of owning one? I like the Note, but the SWB Modus is more aesthetically pleasing on the eye to me.

oldhand

Baron_von_Zach wrote: »

Does anyone have experience of owning one? I like the Note, but the SWB Modus is more aesthetically pleasing on the eye to me.

Perhaps,but it is a renault......:(

forgotmyname

Depends how cheap it is, Dont pay retail money.

motorguy

Baron_von_Zach wrote: »

Does anyone have experience of owning one? I like the Note, but the SWB Modus is more aesthetically pleasing on the eye to me.

Great cars.

My FIL got one two years ago - a 2010 1.2 75BHP standard model. He loves it.

I've just sold on a 2010 1.2 TCE 100BHP Grand Modus model and again a great little car.

Couple of things though - firstly pay a bit extra and get the 1.2 TCE. Its a light pressure turbo engine - "performance of a 1.4, torque of a 1.6, economy of a 1.2" and is suited well to the car. The 1.2 75BHP can feel a little underpowered by comparison.

Also, consider the Grand Modus variant. Its got a lot more bootspace - all the extra space is in the boot - its actually no longer in the wheelbase than the standard car.

jase1

oldhand wrote: »

Perhaps,but it is a renault......:(

They do share a lot in common mechanically with the Note though.

Renault's smaller cars are generally pretty robust -- it's the bigger ones that would scare me, too many electrical toys to go wrong.

motorguy

jase1 wrote: »

They do share a lot in common mechanically with the Note though.

Renault's smaller cars are generally pretty robust -- it's the bigger ones that would scare me, too many electrical toys to go wrong.

Its the diesels i avoid.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

motorguy wrote: »

Its the diesels i avoid.

the diesel units are pretty good, most failures are from the person not knowing the modern diesel is not supposed to be used for going to church and back and dropping kids off at school and doing 12 miles perweek in them like older gen diesels.

mgdavid

I would never buy a Renault (I once worked for them).

TrickyWicky

It's a Ren-Oh. Avoid like the plague. Having said that, I've had 4 and loved them all but they are utter money pits. If it's not the electricals it's the mechanicals. If it's not the mechanicals then it's the electricals.

They have made some very good cars over the years (the laguna had a 2L volvo engine and box for instance) but they don't do it often believing that the best way to make money is to force people to buy parts / servicing frequently. The consequence is that they have an appalling reputation at the moment. Look at VW though, everyone loves them, robust, pretty reliable, fan clubs, restoration clubs, brand new parts still available for VWs built in the 50's etc.

It shows a big difference in company mentality and customer loyalty. VW look after their customers and the customers love VW. Ren-Oh treat customers as cash machines and consequently they're slated heavily for it. VW is thriving, Renault dealerships frequently close down (my mate has worked for THREE!).

Having said all that, if you buy a Renault they're the sort of car you very quickly fall in love with. We have one on the drive, not used for a while but it's a great car and we love it to bits. Every toy you could want, comfy, lovely soft suspension etc but a bit quirky with the electricals.

CKhalvashi

I'd recommend a Ford Fusion/Vauxhall Meriva, purely due to experiences with Renault's aftermarket servicing department.

Last car I had from them was a DCi Scenic (then only briefly), but their customer service does leave a lot to be desired!

CK

motorguy

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

the diesel units are pretty good, most failures are from the person not knowing the modern diesel is not supposed to be used for going to church and back and dropping kids off at school and doing 12 miles perweek in them like older gen diesels.

True, although because the O/P is buying second hand they wont know how the previous owner treated it and drove it, hence why i would avoid one second hand.

Another big problem is lack of servicing and general maintenance, which again is hard to prove or disprove when a car has been cleaned up and made all nice and shiney again on a dealers forecourt.

Of the 1.5DCI, in the motor trade they are seen as bad news - the turbos can give trouble in mid life, injectors, pumps, etc too. Theres also a (well founded) belief that once they start to go wrong they are expensive to maintain.

I know quite a few traders (myself included) who will simply refuse to stock a renault diesel for the above reasons.

Problems i've seen with the petrols are mainly limited to coils (£12+vat upwards from your local motor factors) and o2 sensors (£60+vat) upwards. Oh and the 1.6 16v engine more usually fitted to scenics, lagunas and meganes is prone to needing a diffuser pulley at approx 70K miles upwards which is about £120 for the genuine part, plus another maybe £80 to fit it (as the timing belt has to come off to fit it i'd recommend its done as a matter of course at the same time).