Megane mk2 or mk3???
Discussion
Some years ago, 6 to be exact, I purchased a base spec 06 plate mk2 Megane 1.4. Absolutely loved it, drove really well, comfy, underpowered and that airplane style handbrake was superb. Ran it for 2 years before opting to get a much newer Aygo on finance, and there were a few niggles with the Renault that I couldn't afford (at the time) to get sorted out. 4 years of Aygo ownership has been superb, and I've never ran a car that uses less fuel and costs zero pounds in road fund licence per year. However, the hankering I have for all things French never went away and as my finance deal comes to an end in roughly 14 months I'm considering another Megane...and rightly so imo!
Even in poverty spec, my previous Megane had enough equipment for me, and I'm not overly fussed on the model. However, I'd go for the 1.6 engine over the 1.4 and I don't want a diesel. My maximum budget will be £2k which should get me a really nice mk2 1.6...but would I be better off getting the mk3 1.6 if I can?
Even in poverty spec, my previous Megane had enough equipment for me, and I'm not overly fussed on the model. However, I'd go for the 1.6 engine over the 1.4 and I don't want a diesel. My maximum budget will be £2k which should get me a really nice mk2 1.6...but would I be better off getting the mk3 1.6 if I can?
RS_MAN_CHILD said:
MK3 will be better Renault made massive strides with reliability & build quality between mk2-mk3!
Try to get a GT180 or TCE180 massive torque & legendary F4rT RS series engines £2K ish should get you close to one!
Cheers mate.Try to get a GT180 or TCE180 massive torque & legendary F4rT RS series engines £2K ish should get you close to one!
Didn't realise the 180bhp engine was so good on fuel according to the figures...almost 40 mpg!
themoog75 said:
Cheers mate.
Didn't realise the 180bhp engine was so good on fuel according to the figures...almost 40 mpg!
When you have a heavy right foot though fuel consumption will be way lower LOL...those TCe180 & GT180 engines encourage sporty use of throttle BTW....!!Didn't realise the 180bhp engine was so good on fuel according to the figures...almost 40 mpg!
They are same engine as RS250 just detuned a little & 1 size smaller turbo but still massive acceleration due to 322nm & so lightweight!!
I agree with others here. Renault made big improvements in overall quality between the mk2 and mk3 Megane (same applies for the mk2 and mk3 Clio btw), although the main powerplants remained largely unchanged. But Renault petrols tend to be pretty bomb-proof if taken care of anyway. The 1.6 especially is very well sorted out.
If you don't necessarily need a bigger car why not look for a Clio with the 1.6 engine? It will be nimbler, better on fuel and that bit more fun to drive,
If you don't necessarily need a bigger car why not look for a Clio with the 1.6 engine? It will be nimbler, better on fuel and that bit more fun to drive,
Salamura said:
I agree with others here. Renault made big improvements in overall quality between the mk2 and mk3 Megane (same applies for the mk2 and mk3 Clio btw), although the main powerplants remained largely unchanged. But Renault petrols tend to be pretty bomb-proof if taken care of anyway. The 1.6 especially is very well sorted out.
If you don't necessarily need a bigger car why not look for a Clio with the 1.6 engine? It will be nimbler, better on fuel and that bit more fun to drive,
I have a fair amount of cleaning kit to cart about, plus two teenage kids. Having to constantly take all my kit out so the kids can fit in is a pain in the arse so I want something with a big enough boot to carry everything. I'd consider an estate, but I'm sure I can get away with a standard Megane hatchback. I have no idea about the boot in a mk3 Clio though.If you don't necessarily need a bigger car why not look for a Clio with the 1.6 engine? It will be nimbler, better on fuel and that bit more fun to drive,
themoog75 said:
Salamura said:
I agree with others here. Renault made big improvements in overall quality between the mk2 and mk3 Megane (same applies for the mk2 and mk3 Clio btw), although the main powerplants remained largely unchanged. But Renault petrols tend to be pretty bomb-proof if taken care of anyway. The 1.6 especially is very well sorted out.
If you don't necessarily need a bigger car why not look for a Clio with the 1.6 engine? It will be nimbler, better on fuel and that bit more fun to drive,
I have a fair amount of cleaning kit to cart about, plus two teenage kids. Having to constantly take all my kit out so the kids can fit in is a pain in the arse so I want something with a big enough boot to carry everything. I'd consider an estate, but I'm sure I can get away with a standard Megane hatchback. I have no idea about the boot in a mk3 Clio though.If you don't necessarily need a bigger car why not look for a Clio with the 1.6 engine? It will be nimbler, better on fuel and that bit more fun to drive,
I have owned both, a 2007 MK2 1.5 DCi and currently a 2011 MK3 1.4 TCE.
I would go for a MK3 every time, it feels leagues ahead of the MK2 and is a much nicer car to drive. The MK3 has much better build quality and feels a much more modern car to drive.
Go for a Dynamique model as they have a decent spec level, avoid Expression, Extreme or Bizu as these are bottom of the range.
Also if you are going for a 1.6 petrol or 1.5 diesel be aware there are two different versions of the engine. With the 1.6 petrol there is a 100BHP version with a 5 speed gearbox and a 115BHP version with a 6 speed gearbox. With the 1.5 diesel there is an 86BHP five speed and 106BHP six speed. Ignore all cars with the five speed gearbox, the six speed is way superior.
With the MK3 the main issues are the drivers door check strap will click as they wear out (I bought a replacement genuine one on eBay for £25, not got around to fitting it yet). If it is a Coupe the rear lights will suffer from condensation. Changing the cabin filter is a horrible job as the clutch pedal needs to be removed, don't be surprised if the filter is 10 years old or has been just left out.
I think the MK3 Megane is the only bargain car out there, for some reason they are much cheaper than an equivalent Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra.
I would go for a MK3 every time, it feels leagues ahead of the MK2 and is a much nicer car to drive. The MK3 has much better build quality and feels a much more modern car to drive.
Go for a Dynamique model as they have a decent spec level, avoid Expression, Extreme or Bizu as these are bottom of the range.
Also if you are going for a 1.6 petrol or 1.5 diesel be aware there are two different versions of the engine. With the 1.6 petrol there is a 100BHP version with a 5 speed gearbox and a 115BHP version with a 6 speed gearbox. With the 1.5 diesel there is an 86BHP five speed and 106BHP six speed. Ignore all cars with the five speed gearbox, the six speed is way superior.
With the MK3 the main issues are the drivers door check strap will click as they wear out (I bought a replacement genuine one on eBay for £25, not got around to fitting it yet). If it is a Coupe the rear lights will suffer from condensation. Changing the cabin filter is a horrible job as the clutch pedal needs to be removed, don't be surprised if the filter is 10 years old or has been just left out.
I think the MK3 Megane is the only bargain car out there, for some reason they are much cheaper than an equivalent Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra.
Joey Deacon said:
I have owned both, a 2007 MK2 1.5 DCi and currently a 2011 MK3 1.4 TCE.
I would go for a MK3 every time, it feels leagues ahead of the MK2 and is a much nicer car to drive. The MK3 has much better build quality and feels a much more modern car to drive.
Go for a Dynamique model as they have a decent spec level, avoid Expression, Extreme or Bizu as these are bottom of the range.
Also if you are going for a 1.6 petrol or 1.5 diesel be aware there are two different versions of the engine. With the 1.6 petrol there is a 100BHP version with a 5 speed gearbox and a 115BHP version with a 6 speed gearbox. With the 1.5 diesel there is an 86BHP five speed and 106BHP six speed. Ignore all cars with the five speed gearbox, the six speed is way superior.
With the MK3 the main issues are the drivers door check strap will click as they wear out (I bought a replacement genuine one on eBay for £25, not got around to fitting it yet). If it is a Coupe the rear lights will suffer from condensation. Changing the cabin filter is a horrible job as the clutch pedal needs to be removed, don't be surprised if the filter is 10 years old or has been just left out.
I think the MK3 Megane is the only bargain car out there, for some reason they are much cheaper than an equivalent Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra.
Valuable info, thanks. I just prefer the styling of the MK2 over the MK3 and, having driven both, I can agree that the MK3 is indeed nicer to drive than the MK2, but I was just as happy behind the wheel of my old MK2 as I was my mums MK3.I would go for a MK3 every time, it feels leagues ahead of the MK2 and is a much nicer car to drive. The MK3 has much better build quality and feels a much more modern car to drive.
Go for a Dynamique model as they have a decent spec level, avoid Expression, Extreme or Bizu as these are bottom of the range.
Also if you are going for a 1.6 petrol or 1.5 diesel be aware there are two different versions of the engine. With the 1.6 petrol there is a 100BHP version with a 5 speed gearbox and a 115BHP version with a 6 speed gearbox. With the 1.5 diesel there is an 86BHP five speed and 106BHP six speed. Ignore all cars with the five speed gearbox, the six speed is way superior.
With the MK3 the main issues are the drivers door check strap will click as they wear out (I bought a replacement genuine one on eBay for £25, not got around to fitting it yet). If it is a Coupe the rear lights will suffer from condensation. Changing the cabin filter is a horrible job as the clutch pedal needs to be removed, don't be surprised if the filter is 10 years old or has been just left out.
I think the MK3 Megane is the only bargain car out there, for some reason they are much cheaper than an equivalent Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra.
If I have to get a MK3 because I can't find a MK2 that fits the bill, then so be it...but as soon as a MK2 comes up I'll be chopping the MK3 in for it.
Whichever you buy, take a look in the front, under floor storage bins to check to see if they are full of water. There are a couple of drain holes under the front scuttle panel which get clogged with old leaves and mud. The scuttle then fills with water and this then comes into the car absolutely soaking the carpet.
If you buy one that is dry, the first thing to do is to remove the scuttle panel and clean out the mud and detritus. You have to remove the wiper arms so put some masking take on the screen before you remove them so you know where to reseat them, Then remove the plastic scuttle and give the underneath a good clean with hot, soapy water. A net curtain rod is the best thing to rod the drainage tubes with to ensure they are clear.
Oh and the sound deadening at the back of the engine will definitely be sagging and ruined with water. I ended up making some holes in it and cable tying it to the end of the scuttle.
Go for a phase two, they are much better built than the phase 1 with most of the electrical gremlins fixed. Check to see all the windows work and that the heater motor works on all speeds. Oh and check both keys if it has them, the transponder can become detached from the circuit board which will stop the car from starting. In the past I have had to carry a butter knife to insert into the slot to apply pressure to the card to force the connection so the car will start.
Usual MOT failures are due to snapped springs, worn ball joints, worn track rod ends and worn brakes and tyres. Try and find one that has not been run on a shoestring which is tough these days as these cars are worth so little now.
Oh and check to see the engine undertray is there.
If you buy one that is dry, the first thing to do is to remove the scuttle panel and clean out the mud and detritus. You have to remove the wiper arms so put some masking take on the screen before you remove them so you know where to reseat them, Then remove the plastic scuttle and give the underneath a good clean with hot, soapy water. A net curtain rod is the best thing to rod the drainage tubes with to ensure they are clear.
Oh and the sound deadening at the back of the engine will definitely be sagging and ruined with water. I ended up making some holes in it and cable tying it to the end of the scuttle.
Go for a phase two, they are much better built than the phase 1 with most of the electrical gremlins fixed. Check to see all the windows work and that the heater motor works on all speeds. Oh and check both keys if it has them, the transponder can become detached from the circuit board which will stop the car from starting. In the past I have had to carry a butter knife to insert into the slot to apply pressure to the card to force the connection so the car will start.
Usual MOT failures are due to snapped springs, worn ball joints, worn track rod ends and worn brakes and tyres. Try and find one that has not been run on a shoestring which is tough these days as these cars are worth so little now.
Oh and check to see the engine undertray is there.
Joey Deacon said:
Whichever you buy, take a look in the front, under floor storage bins to check to see if they are full of water. There are a couple of drain holes under the front scuttle panel which get clogged with old leaves and mud. The scuttle then fills with water and this then comes into the car absolutely soaking the carpet.
I used to do this once a year on my MK2. For added inconvenience it drains into the heater motor and blows that up as well but luckily that's a really easy job as long as you enjoy lying upside down groping about in your dashboard breaking bits of plastic and disassembling the glovebox, ripping out bits of insulation, and unplugging mysterious cables etc. If your scuttle drains aren't blocked your aircon drain might be so that'll flood the footwells and soak the pollen filter. It's difficult to tell what the cause of having to remove your entire interior to dry it out could be sometimes so it's probably best to assume everything's blocked. The door drains don't work either so they fill up with water which eventually evacuates through the speakers. If there isn't any water in the car it doesn't mean it's not leaking, it simply means it isn't raining.
My windows did actually work but my key often didn't although there are companies that can refurbish those so that they work perfectly for at least 6 months.
Honestly, if it wasn't for the groovy suspension and engine in mine I'd have pushed the f
king thing into the sea. They really aren't very good. Edited by StoatInACoat on Tuesday 23 May 16:31
StoatInACoat said:
If your scuttle drains aren't blocked your aircon drain might be so that'll flood the footwells and soak the pollen filter. It's difficult to tell what the cause of having to remove your entire interior to dry it out could be sometimes so it's probably best to assume everything's blocked.
Oh yes, that happened to mine as well leading to a wet passenger side front floor carpet. I tried to find the drain from underneath to unclog it but failed, luckily the aircon stopped working shortly after solving the problem.Cheers folks. Will be a 2008 model as that appears to be the run out year before changing to the MK3.
A friend of mine runs his own garage so I'll get it up on his ramps and check all the drain holes etc and the plan is to do the work to it between us, mostly for a learning curve for myself.
A friend of mine runs his own garage so I'll get it up on his ramps and check all the drain holes etc and the plan is to do the work to it between us, mostly for a learning curve for myself.
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