Faults:

Starter motor.

Burnt valve requiring a head skim and setup at 135,000 miles.

Both front track rod ends and offside rear wheel bearing at 165,000 miles.

Internal heater packed up, OK after flushing out with a hose.

Rear screen heater packed up - not fixed yet.

General Comments:

This car is extremely roomy and comfortable.

The model I have is not too quick, a 2 litre would be better.

Considering the mileage I have done I reckon I've got a bargain.

Faults:

After about 2 months I came to use the car and the plip would not open the car so I used the key, but the car would turn over but not start, the immoboliser was cutting in, to summarise it needed an ECU, an immobiliser, and new plips, £665 worse off.

While driving home from work along the motorway last summer the dashboard started to behave erratically - lights going on and off etc, my attention was taken by a car behind who was blowing his horn, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw what looked like fog but was in fact the underside of the car burning. I pulled over and my passenger and I got out while the flames were coming up over the sill, within 5-6 minutes the car had burned out, the fire service said the cause was electrical.

General Comments:

I obviously will not have a Laguna again, Renault GB were no help at all because I bought the car second hand. Obviously they do not expect their cars to last more than 5 years.

Faults:

Off-side rear door seal leaks in heavy rain when the vehicle is stationary.

General Comments:

A superb family car.

Very comfortable, huge boot, good standard equipment.

Very tall gearing (3500rpm is 100mph) makes for a wonderful motorway cruiser and sports mode on the automatic 'box makes it pleasingly reponsive on the twisty bits! Automatic plus PAS and adequate power also makes it a good car to try round an unfamiliar city.

Excellent PAS and brakes, very good handling and yet good tyre life.

Faults:

After six months the battery failed and again after 70,000.

Needed a new clutch at 60,000.

Needed new timing belt at 60,000.

Brakes need replacing every 10,000.

Exhaust replaced at 40,000.

Engine blew up at 89,000.

Catalyst broke up, blocked exhaust and blew exhaust manifold, 90,000.

Radiator leak.

Door leak (still not fixed).

Clock stopped working (£90 to replace!)

Bonnet catches broken.

General Comments:

My local Renault dealer has seen more of this car than I have.

Bought from the dealer as ex-demonstrator for £13,000 in 1995, so far have spent nearly £7000 keeping it on the road.

Never again.

Faults:

Since I've owned this superb car, I have replaced the middle/rear sections of the exhaust and had the front brake discs and pads replaced. Otherwise the car has been a joy to own and run.

General Comments:

As I bought the car from a trade garage and not a main dealer, there was always the thought 'hope I've not bought a lemon'. But this car has certainly put any doubts I had right out of my mind. The Laguna is probably the most comfortable car I have ever driven and the build quality has impressed me no end. Everything is so quiet, there are no annoying rattles and standing at the traffic lights the engine is barely audible.

Had I have been able to afford the extra insurance premium, I would have opted for the 2.0RTi model as the 1.8 is slightly underpowered as it is only single point injection. But having said that, the superb handling, comfort and wonderful driving enviroment more than make up for lack of raw power and make for a truly outstanding car, which I would recommend to anyone in the market for a large family hatch.

I just hope after all this praise, the car starts first time in the morning.