RENAULT SYMBIOZ

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Discussion

minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Sunday 1st September
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As I seem to be the only one so far that has bought one.... lol

I've had a 1.5 diesel Kadjar from new since 2018, to be honest I was never was fond of Renault as a brand but a ridiculous deal saw me buying one.

I have to say the ownership and reliability/cost of running it has really impressed - we've got a terrific local dealer and the only thing it's been outside the network for, was to have the timing belt changed as Renault's price was nearly twice the local garage.

It's reached a point where although I could carry on, new vehicles are only getting more expensive and mine will depreciate to a point where the payment (yes it's financed... lol) will become really stupid.

Plus I work in greater London and Khant is going to screw me over at some point with it being a diesel.

This in the back of my mind, set me off looking for a replacement. Didn.t fancy the VAG stuff, we had a new golf as a courtesy car and the safety stuff was horrible to live with, so that went out of the window. Likewise, we have work Kia's and the dealer support has been so bad, I won't touch them. We have a new 73 plate Mokka on the fleet which seems to break at the drop of a hat, so again, no....

This bought me back to my local dealer, we negotiated a decent deal and a fair price on mine so have signed on the dotted line for a mid spec Techno Esprit Alpine. It's currently on it's way to the |import centre, hopefully I should have it in a couple of weeks.

update as things once it arrives.

The Rotrex Kid

31,658 posts

167 months

Sunday 1st September
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Hadn’t really looked at these tbh. Are they the replacement for the Arkana?

Looks like the same 1.6 Hybrid? Have you driven one?

The same engine goes in the Clio, where it’s superb IMO, in the Arkana, not so much, revs very hard, not really enough power for the size of the car IMO.

The sunroof looks trick, shame you only get that on the top model.

minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Sunday 1st September
quotequote all
I had a test drive of it, being an automatic hybrid it's a lot different coming from a manual diesel!

It's slightly longer than a Captur and not as big as the Arkana, it drove nicely. Seems strange driving in silence under electric power!

The roof was very smart in the top end one, but it's got decent spec in the middle of the range.

zbc

899 posts

158 months

Wednesday 11th September
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I should have mine tomorrow. A few problems with the dealer and now it's the insurers who are being a pain. I'm in France and planning to take it to the UK on Friday so hope that it goes through smoothly

zbc

899 posts

158 months

Thursday 12th September
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Happy new car to me

minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Friday 13th September
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That's a great colour and the one I would've gone for but for some odd reason, they don't do it in the trim level I wanted.

minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Friday 13th September
quotequote all
Just collect mine, as mentioned elsewhere. When I contacted GA to change to the new model, it would let me.

Online only insurer, and only having dealer cover until tomorrow got me into a bit of a panic. I managed to speak to someone via the accessibility phone number (naughty). He explained they were unable to offer cover!

I had to cancelled the existing cover, in the end the new insurer is about £150 quid cheaper than my old car which this has replaced!

All's well, but I didn't need that!




Sheepshanks

34,998 posts

126 months

Friday 13th September
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minky monkey said:
I have to say the ownership and reliability/cost of running it has really impressed - we've got a terrific local dealer
Is it the dealer a PHer works at?

I;ve been to our local one twice in the last few weeks to look at EVs - first time a salesman couldn't be found, it was weird, there seemed to only a receptionist in the place. Second time we found a salesman wandering around outside and he told us no-one is buying new Renault EVs!

minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Friday 13th September
quotequote all
I can only speak from my experience. I had similar issues at Nissan. Walked in, got ignored made to feel like an inconvenience and walked out. Very odd!

I've used the dealer since 2018 and touch wood, they've been great on the sales and service side.

There's good and bad all over, I've had shocking experience at Kia dealers locally. I'm lucky this one is a goodun!



minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Monday 16th September
quotequote all
So, after a few days of use, I happy with the MPG on the Symbioz, I have a commute mainly of 30 and 40 MPH roads of around 18 miles each way. This mornings journey was 64 MPG. My old diesel Renault Kadjar sat at just over 50 MPG.

I can't get the USB music system working properly yet, in the old car it was fairly straight forward but this one does not seem to recognize all the artists - it may just be an issue with the stick itself so I will need to look into that. I may just jump into using Spotify. .

It drives well, a little more bumpy but having gone from 17 inch to 19 inch wheels, this was to be expected.

minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Wednesday 18th September
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Six days old and it's first puncture....

FFS.


minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Wednesday 18th September
quotequote all
Luckily all sorted, £30 for a tyre repair. A replacement Primacy E 2 tyre from black circles is £200.

zbc

899 posts

158 months

Wednesday 18th September
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I ended up doing about 1500 km over the weekend. A lot of motorway driving so the hybrid wasn't much use. Nice to drive nonetheless.

No punctures yet!

PeteBeale

4 posts

1 month

Sunday 6th October
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Anyone have one of these with the solarbay roof?

I've noticed that my rear courtesy lights don't come on when I open the doors. They both work via the switches tho and can be set to permanent on or permanent off.

Have checked the setting in Vehicle > Welcome and the auto feature is on. The fronts work as expected when the doors open and close.

Went to the dealer today to ask for advice and had a look at the one in the showroom without the solarbay and the rear courtesy lights are the three light/switch style with the toggle switch in the middle with the neutral position being the one where the lights are controlled by the doors. They were unable to confirm what the expected bahavoir is for the solar roof model as the lights are different and the only one they had was being prepped.

I'm waiting to hear back but it would be useful if someone with the same spec could check the correct function of the rear courtesy light.

Renault's offical E manual is less than helpful and doesn't even show they rear courtesy light setup I have.

Cheers


Edited by PeteBeale on Sunday 6th October 17:59

minky monkey

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

173 months

Thursday 10th October
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I asked the question on the Symbioz facebook group page as mine doesn't have the roof, will post up any answers.

HTP99

23,288 posts

147 months

Thursday 10th October
quotequote all
PeteBeale said:
Anyone have one of these with the solarbay roof?

I've noticed that my rear courtesy lights don't come on when I open the doors. They both work via the switches tho and can be set to permanent on or permanent off.

Have checked the setting in Vehicle > Welcome and the auto feature is on. The fronts work as expected when the doors open and close.

Went to the dealer today to ask for advice and had a look at the one in the showroom without the solarbay and the rear courtesy lights are the three light/switch style with the toggle switch in the middle with the neutral position being the one where the lights are controlled by the doors. They were unable to confirm what the expected bahavoir is for the solar roof model as the lights are different and the only one they had was being prepped.

I'm waiting to hear back but it would be useful if someone with the same spec could check the correct function of the rear courtesy light.

Renault's offical E manual is less than helpful and doesn't even show they rear courtesy light setup I have.

Cheers


Edited by PeteBeale on Sunday 6th October 17:59
I checked our showroom one yesterday, if has the Solarbay roof, the rear lights work (or don't) exactly as you describe yours, I've had a fiddle about with the actual switch; on, off, but no they don't come on when the door is opened as the fronts do.

mcmigo

145 posts

160 months

Thursday 10th October
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I do like these, but i find myself liking most of the current Renault range. They have really upped their game.


PeteBeale

4 posts

1 month

Thursday 10th October
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HTP99 said:
I checked our showroom one yesterday, if has the Solarbay roof, the rear lights work (or don't) exactly as you describe yours, I've had a fiddle about with the actual switch; on, off, but no they don't come on when the door is opened as the fronts do.
Thanks very much for checking and confirming the expected bahavior. I've just had confirmation from another owner on the symbioz forum (yeah im surprised too I think I'm the 3rd member) his is the same so it's not a fault unique to my car.

I'm hoping it just needs some sort a firmware tweak. At this time of year and having a kid in a car seat the lights not coming on in the back automatically is a PITA. The scenic with the solarbay roof the lights came on when the back doors are opened. Can't see why it would be different for the symbioz.

The salesman is raising a technical query with Renault and I'm booked in next week. At least it will be officially logged as an issue if not resolved.

Will report back.

Thanks again.

Edited by PeteBeale on Thursday 10th October 12:35

PeteBeale

4 posts

1 month

Thursday 10th October
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minky monkey said:
I asked the question on the Symbioz facebook group page as mine doesn't have the roof, will post up any answers.
Thank you for this. Seems from the feedback I've got here and elsewhere this is expected bahavoir. But I'm hoping they can change it somehow!

Other than this quirk I'm loving the car.

The Rotrex Kid

31,658 posts

167 months

Thursday 10th October
quotequote all
PeteBeale said:


The salesman is raising a technical query with Renault and I'm booked in next week. At least it will be officially logged as an issue if not resolved.
I'd stick a quid on not a single soul at RUK knowing about it/realising it hehe