New mobile dog unit - warning boring French marmite content

[addsvrs]

Back story.

Bought a new ST Bernard puppy back in December to go with our current old girl Retriever. The missus has a Fiat Grande Punto (or as i like to call it a Grande sto) and has been ferrying the puppy round in the passenger footwell, puppy classes / vets / socialising etc etc. Puppy is getting bigger and bigger so that option was getting to be a non starter (puppy likes to wedge her head behind the gearstick ,meaning only 2nd and 4th gear could be used.)

So new car time, accelerated due to the sto needing more money spent on it this week (both top mounts knackered)

Various different scenarios were discussed, another small car (Fiesta) and use my Mondeo for the dogs (I wasnt super keen on that)


Maybe a SUV or large hatchback, in the end she decided she wanted a small estate for the low boot entry and squarer shape. 1st hurdle overcome we went car shopping.

Not much choice in this sector, 3 series / A4 / Golf / Focus all ruled out for either expense or poverty spec in our budget. Although im allergic to buying french cars (for more than 1k anyway) when I saw this i though it looked ok and was well priced / spec'd. She liked the colour ! Test drive went ok and the dealer even let us bring the dog along aswell.

Negotiations went on for a week or so, "we dont ever discount our cars because the prices are checked every day" resulted in £500 off (small victories) fresh service and MOT (3 tyres, front and rear pads and wiper blades) and a deal was done. Managed to punt the sto on to my mechanic and picked this up Thursday




2011 Renault Megane Sport Tourer 1.5 Dci GT Line.
Spec - 55k, 1 owner, Full history, Keyless go, built in Sat Nav, cruise , tints , auto lights + wipers , Bluetooth , part leather , GT spec bumpers / wheels and £20 tax

1st impressions are fairly pleased, everything works, both dogs fit in the boot, missus likes driving it and hasnt broke down yet haha. Of course driving dynamics, interior materials and build quality are inferior to the big boys but the value for money seems a good trade off. What we paid for this (6k) we couldnt even get into a poverty spec leggy 320d (£7500 for a 2009 with 103k) at the same dealer. As a tool for the job it fits perfectly

Havent got anymore photos yet but will put some interior ones up if any interest

[Master Bean]

Your dog looks unhappy.

[addsvrs]

Lol, obviously thinking a feckin Renault? where's that bmw I sat in ?

[M3333]

I dont think the dog wants to go in it.

Thats what my face used to do when i was a small boy and my dad muttered about buying an Austin Allegro.

[Butter Face]

Great car. Good looking too, compare it to the standard Megane tourer and the GT line is a much. Enter looker and a nicer place to be.

Don't let the renault haters put it down, they're reliable, efficient, great spec and the majority of people will think you'll have spend a lot more money on that than you did!

The Malta Blue colour is exclusive to the GT Line models as well so it's nice to have that. I sold a very similar car yesterday, albeit with the 1.6 dci engine.

[anonymous-user]

If it's anything like my mates Megane it'll be the absolute perfect dog wagon; his often winds all the windows down on it's own when he's left it locked in a car park so you'll know your dog will not overheat

Mind you the dog might get a bit wet when it does it in the pissing rain.

[Butter Face]

dme123 said:

If it's anything like my mates Megane it'll be the absolute perfect dog wagon; his often winds all the windows down on it's own when he's left it locked in a car park so you'll know your dog will not overheat

Mind you the dog might get a bit wet when it does it in the pissing rain.

It's not. Your mates Megane will be a Mk2, this is a Mk3. They are very different.

HTH


(p.s I know you're just having a laugh, but some people do think all french cars are the same. They're not)

[anonymous-user]

Butter Face said:

dme123 said:

If it's anything like my mates Megane it'll be the absolute perfect dog wagon; his often winds all the windows down on it's own when he's left it locked in a car park so you'll know your dog will not overheat

Mind you the dog might get a bit wet when it does it in the pissing rain.

It's not. Your mates Megane will be a Mk2, this is a Mk3. They are very different.

HTH


(p.s I know you're just having a laugh, but some people do think all french cars are the same. They're not)

I believe it is a Mk2 yes, it made me laugh because my 1989 Rover 800 did exactly the same thing. Of course that doesn't mean all British cars are st either

ETA - On reflection I've come to realise his car choices are always a bit odd. The Megane in question was bought brand new and is a saloon version. I've never seen another one!

Edited by dme123 on Sunday 19th March 11:35

[MidlifeC2S]

I've bought a few pups in my time.

[Jonmx]

Our '10 plare Clio recently departed to make way for a bigger car for dog reasons. The only issue we had with it was it's voracious appetite for headlight bulbs. My wife would also agree with getting that car for the colour, it's generally the main reason behind car choice!

[Vitorio]

I like that, drove a Bose version of the same for a year and a half, the 1.5 DCi is competent enough, and the megane is a comfy comfy car for its size, very good at munching the miles while taking a boot full of random stuff.

[addsvrs]

Luckily we have never been badge snobs in our house so have no problem having a top spec 'lesser' car rather than a povo spec 'prestige' brand. She actually cleaned it herself over the weekend which is a minor miracle. Cant even remember her ever cleaning one of her cars.