Drivers window mechanism seized in the down position. Purchased one from a Renault Breakers for £50 Renault wanted £380 plus 5hrs labour.
Alloy wheel nut Key is far too soft and bends very easily.
Dashboard lights fail very easily. £3 from Renault they wanted £30 to fit them, easy to do in about 30 minutes.
Slight creaking from clutch mechanism, into gearbox. Not major though, just dry a dry seal.
This car is very, very understated, it is a serious bargain if you after performance, comfort, looks, gadgets, and an excellent ride.
It isn't such a bargain if you are after good fuel economy. It can easily attain 33 mpg on a really good run, but it normally averages between 20-25mpg, not cheap when it has a 66l tank.
Interior is durable and the leather is very supple, gadgets galore from cruise control, computer, climate control, air conditioning and fingertip CD control.
Exterior is classy, refined and hides what lurks under the bonnet! Effortless Acceleration, smooth gear change and lots of torque.
Ocean Blue Metallic paint is really deep and polishes to an immaculate quality.
Handling is very good, with Variable Assisted Power Steering (Lighter the slower you are going), cornering is the one and only drawback, yes it holds the roads like it's running on rails, although body roll is quite significant. This is only due to the self leveling suspension i. e with three in the back it will raise the back end so the car is level again.
Servicing is VERY expensive from Renault, 72,000 service is a BIG one Cam-belt, filters, Platinum Eroded spark plugs x 6, Oil etc. This Service alone is about £750. Lucky mine was done!!
This is undoubtedly a pure bargain £18,500 new, purchased a mint condition one for just over £4000.
My 1999 3.0 RTI purchased in 2002 at 30,000 miles has been a very reliable car bar the odd computer glitches like no oil, side lights not working when switched on, fuel gauge goes to empty, but they all return to normal. If moisture/rain goes in the aerial roof, it seems to play havoc with the alarm system and you know when the water drips through the interior light cluster. Rarely the car do not start, I press the gas down and it starts with black smoke out of exhaust. Most times my climate control temperature setting do not follow the actual temperature. Think digital climate control is a waste of time preferring the dial system. Only thing gone wrong (breakdown) was the battery at 4 yrs old... one faulty cell causing starting problems and the air con activated on it's own. I have replaced the expensive spark plugs £81 which the back 3 is a pig of a job and Renault have done air con service 3 yrs ago. It is now 8 years old, 64,000 miles and haven't done the cam belt yet as it is 3 years overdue!!!
Bloody hell mate! Get it done otherwise it's gonna be new engine time. I'd get this done as a priority!
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