RenaultSport Megane 225

[Wise]

Had my clio 182 for 5-6 weeks. Good wee car, but I just feel its a bit small for me. Thought I could live with it but am struggling

So now looking at either getting a Megane or a LCR. Only got about £4000 to spend, and not to sure if that would get me a good one(Megane). And have heard stuff about the earlier ones not being very good or reliable but now sure how true this is.

Got to go and view some of both and make my own mind up.

Just want to know if there is anything wrong and to look out for on the early RS Megane's will also be doing around 15k a year if that makes any difference...

Cheers

[Hoygo]

Do your budget stretch to a R26? If yes or if you find even a high mileage one cheaply go for it,its much better than both and much more reliable than a 225.

[sumo69]

The OP has a £4k budget - dont think the R26's are that low.

£6k may find you a few tolook at.

David

[16v_paddy]

Just look out for the same things you looked for when buying the clio, service history etc as the engines are pretty much the same so the same service intervals & belt changes apply

[Butter Face]

Check that the windows work, along with the air-con and the blowers (on all settings)

[mattius]

I looked at the clio's when i bought my megane 225, its not as crazy as the renaultsport clio's but its got so much room inside its brilliant and such a good cruising car.

Check the electrics and the service history, the windows are a problem, the motors aren't well sealed and tend to get damp, i fixed mine and put plastic sheet over the motor which has stopped it.

Tyres are expensive, as are front driveshafts which seem to go often, make sure it has all the toys it should like tyre sensors, try and get an unmolested one, too many are botched under the hood with boost valves etc.

[DanlewisR26]

mattius said:

I looked at the clio's when i bought my megane 225, its not as crazy as the renaultsport clio's but its got so much room inside its brilliant and such a good cruising car.

Check the electrics and the service history, the windows are a problem, the motors aren't well sealed and tend to get damp, i fixed mine and put plastic sheet over the motor which has stopped it.

Tyres are expensive, as are front driveshafts which seem to go often, make sure it has all the toys it should like tyre sensors, try and get an unmolested one, too many are botched under the hood with boost valves etc.

Ermm i dont know what your talking about but its utter trip.

Regulators yes they go if your car is under 7years old renault provide 70% of the costs

Front drive shafts don't go often the CV clip fails. CV boot kit from renault £31 drive shafts around £130-140

I wouldn't get tyre sensors they fail and when you get a new one its a dealer trip to get it programmed.

Botched no you cant run a boost valve in one with out some major work. Its all electronic after all. A lot of people map them to stage 1 gives around 250-260Bhp with around 270ft torque.

Stage 2 you need FMIC, Exhaust and a decent map as rods can go banana shape when running more than 300+ torque

LUX kit comes with leather and keyless entry

70,000 5year service (cambelt waterpump) is around 400-500 from specialists and near enough 1.2k from dealers.

[mattius]

DanlewisR26 said:

Ermm i dont know what your talking about but its utter trip.

Regulators yes they go if your car is under 7years old renault provide 70% of the costs

Front drive shafts don't go often the CV clip fails. CV boot kit from renault £31 drive shafts around £130-140

I wouldn't get tyre sensors they fail and when you get a new one its a dealer trip to get it programmed.

Botched no you cant run a boost valve in one with out some major work. Its all electronic after all. A lot of people map them to stage 1 gives around 250-260Bhp with around 270ft torque.

Stage 2 you need FMIC, Exhaust and a decent map as rods can go banana shape when running more than 300+ torque

LUX kit comes with leather and keyless entry

70,000 5year service (cambelt waterpump) is around 400-500 from specialists and near enough 1.2k from dealers.

I went and saw 4 different 225's before buying mine

3 of them had broken window motors (no renault don't cover the costs i checked they said only under warranty which has expired in a 2006 car.) thats a £90 part then a fiddley job or £100 of labour.

2 of them needed a new front drive shaft, local indie charged £300 to replace, part may only be £150 but labour is over £100 if you don't fit it yourself.

Sorry i meant dump valve not boost valve...

Never had a problem with tyre sensors they work great.

Given that the op has a budget of £4000 to buy the car, these are all going to be rather large bills relative to the purchase price! might not be large to you but is to some others!

So in my experience, it isn't "utter trip" you may have a different experience but thats what a forum is about hearing others opinions...

Edited by mattius on Monday 17th September 18:05

[Wise]

Thanks for the replies.

I could afford to, but don't want to spend any more the 4k because am trying to save for a house, and its as much as am willing to spend on a car just now tbh.

Just wondering if £4000 will get me a good one that's in good shape. And not going to need £££ spending on it every other week unlike my mk4 Golf I had before


Don't mind stuff like the 'wee' jobs mentioned, because I do 90% of the work on my cars anyway. So the faults that have been mentioned, are the only 'common' faults. It's not as bad as I thought it was going to be! The LCR has a lot of common faults its self.

Cheers

[DanlewisR26]

Should get a decent phase 2 for that money just do a good check and make sure it has decent history. Jack the front up and check for play at the front.

[SeanyD]

To be honest £4k you'll need to look around, as many at that kind of price/age/mileage will be starting to become a bit tired. Tyres/Brakes/Suspension will cost a lot of money for a refresh, so many might get shot rather than doing the work.

(The last service on my F1 230 came in at around £1,500)

I'm not saying they aren't out there, just saying look and choose very carefully.