1999 Renault Megane Alize 1.4 petrol
Summary:
Good car spoiled by silly design faults ie.. water pump repair and easily stalled engine
Faults:
When we bought the car it was badly prepared, damaged spare tyre and various bits missing from interior.
Grommet covers for the hatch door hinge bolts missing and these bolts are right over the exposed passengers heads.
Then the engine management computer malfunctioned in the following weeks, the the rev control for the air con lost it and the car would not drop lower than 3000 revs, very alarming as it was only an intermit-ant fault.
They eventually replaced it with a unit that would not operate the air con.
The latest fault was the water pump, this failed at 42000 ml, no problem I thought it is still under warranty, it was just as well as the total cost would have been over £600 and we still had to pay £120 towards the price, as the Renault warranty would not cover timing belts and parts damaged in the repair process, so beware £600 plus for a water pump!!
General Comments:
The car handles well.
Low noise levels and comfortable on long journeys.
Very economical.
1.4 petrol good power output, but easily stalled at low revs.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 26th June, 2002
30th May 2006, 13:58
I recently traded in my 1.4 litre Megane Alize hatch at 84,000 miles. I was impressed by the large car feel, the soft suspension, the adequate handling, the comfortable seating position for a 6'2" driver and the radio controls. Less impressed by electrical sensor failure at 58,000 miles, heater failure which leaked fumes into the interior apparently due to the poorly specified coolant recommended by Renault and the cost of servicing, a minimum of £700 to fix the heater as an example. A shame really as the car is basically sound let down by the short-term cost saving mentality of the manufacturer and dealers. Needless to say it wasn't a Renault I bought to replace it.