2005 Renault Megane Oasis from UK and Ireland - Comments

Clutch sensor for key-less ignition.

This car is a special edition based on the the Expression model in the UK.

Included in the spec are, air conditioning, panoramic sunroof, alarm and key-less entry / ignition.

First of all, let's get the negatives out of the way. The 1.4 lacks low down grunt to deal with the Megane's weight. However, the engine does have better pull higher up the rev range.

The steering is very artificial initially, but you do get used to it quite quickly. Body control is rather sloppy on more winding routes and space in the back is merely adequate, whilst visibility is generally very poor, due to large A, B and C pillars.

Strangely however, none of this seems to matter as the Megane is an excellent car to own.

Refinement is excellent and you always feel very relaxed. Perhaps the Megane has been designed to make you take a more relaxed driving style. This certainly seems to paper over the Megane's many dynamic shortcomings.

The Megane certainly takes a "Form Before Function" to design both inside and out. It is this that distances the Megane from Golf wannabees such as the Focus. The Megane really is a nice place to sit with a nice sloping dash design and lots of cubby holes for storing CD's and the like.

I hired a Focus on a recent holiday and whilst I admit the Focus out handled the Megane comprehensively and was certainly bigger all round, it was an otherwise utterly forgettable car. The design both inside and out had all the style and allure of a wheely bin, with everything having a "built down to a price feel". So despite being faster (in both performance and handling terms), I couldn't wait to give the Ford back, before the unending gloom and cost cutting caused me to slit my wrists.

I can't quite put my finger on what it is about the Megane that makes you feel so good about owning it (certainly it's not the handling). The car just seems to put you in a good and relaxed mood. Perhaps it's because the interior doesn't put you in a gloomy mood.

I must point out how wonderful the key-less entry and ignition is. Even if I don't buy another Renault, I will certainly look for this feature on a future purchase.

However, this has been the source of the only problem I have had with this car. The key-less ignition works by forcing you to depress the clutch pedal, or the brake pedal (car must be in neutral when using the brake) then pressing a starter button. I have always depressed the clutch pedal on my cars before starting so this is the method I use for starting the Megane. For the brake pedal I assume that the sensor works off the brake lights, however, for the clutch, a sensor has been added to the clutch pedal. Unfortunately, of all the designs Renault could have chosen, they have picked the worst design! Essentially a push button switch is attached to the clutch pedal. When you depress the pedal the push button is pressed against a fixed plate. This closes the switch, allowing you to start the car. Unfortunately, because the switch is attached to the pedal, stress is placed on the wire connection to the switch. After only a month the wire snapped (you could still start the car on the brake pedal). Renault promptly fixed the fault, but within 2 weeks the wire had snapped again. Why oh why Renault did you not fix the switch to the bulk head and the actuation plate to the pedal? This would instantly solve the problem.

Because this is a fundamental design flaw I didn't bother taking the car back to Renault. Instead, I came up with my own fix. The aim was to take the stress off the switch connection. All I did was take some bell wire and soldered this to the switch contacts. I then bent the wire over and cable tied it to the switch. I then folded the wire back again, once again cable tying it to the switch, then connected this wire to the original. Because of the double fold in the wire there is now no stress being placed on its connection to the switch (the pull is on the wire fold not its connection to the switch). I put this fix in place several months ago and the fault has never resurfaced.

In summary, the Megane is a real joy to own (am I the only one he gets a strange sensuous feeling when washing the Megane's rear?).

If your only definition of enjoyment from a car is its ability to hang off its door handles on every corner, then the Megane is not for you. However, if you want a car that makes you feel good just by looking at it (both inside and out) and are looking for a more refined and relaxed drive then I totally recommend the Megane, although perhaps not with the 1.4 engine, it requires a little too much revving to make any progress which is somewhat at odds with the Megane's relaxed character. Go for one of the excellent diesels (I probably will next time).

I have been considering buying a Megane Privilege. Your reveiw was very informative, answering my questions and I have now decided, I`ll order a Megane Privilege. Thanks.

Time for an update.

Still really enjoying owning the Megane. Since my original review, I've had to ferry several people in the rear and all of them have stated how comfortable the rears seats are (how many cars have you travelled in where the back seats feel like a cheap after thought?).

My fix for the clutch sensor is still fully functional, keyless entry / ignition is brilliant! It's now very annoying having to fish the keys out of my pocket when driving my wife's car! Oh how quickly we adapt to new gadgets!

Some uninsured muppet drove into the front wing recently and whilst his car got it's lights smashed (hah!) the Megane has flexible plastic wings, so all I suffered was a slight scuff to the paint work! Result!

I got a Golf (petrol) 1.6 FSI as a hire car whilst the paint was being touched up, so here's another quick comparison :-

The Golf is slightly more solid inside, but lacks storage space. The Megane has opening armrests both in the doors and between the front seats, the Golf has none, so all CD's and such have to be put in the Glovebox. In this day and age of snotty little oiks on BMX's armed with bricks, covered storage is a high priority to me.

The driving position is better in the Golf because the seat can be set very low. I'm 6ft3" and the seat went lower than was comfortable! My Dad's 3 series is the same, why is it the Germans can manage this, but the French can't?

The golf rides pretty well, but man the engine is gruff. It's quite nice at first, sounds sort of sporty (in a diesel sounding sort of way), but it soon gets quite grating. In fact the thing never quietens down. The stirling work performed by the driving position is then completely destroyed by the awful seat back which has totally inadequate lumbar support. So the entire couple of days I had the car were spent with a headache and a bad back!

The auto dimming rear view mirror was a good idea and the blue back lighting to the dials is soothing, but it's lack of finger tip controls for the stereo is criminal in this day and age, especially as radio stations seem incapable of outputting at a constant volume level.

Much like with the Focus, I was pleased to get back into my quieter and more relaxing Megane (comfortable seats, YAY!).

I've been enjoying having the panoramic sunroof. Both glass roof panels have sliding covers which help suppress wind noise at high speed and keep things a bit warmer in the winter! When you consider that both the seats and dashboard in my Megane are dark (to match the metallic black paintwork), the light made available through the roof is excellent. However, because I have air-con I never open the sun roof (only the front panel opens, I've opened the roof once and the fabric wind deflector fills up with bugs, so I'm not doing that again!). Because I don't open the roof, it would, therefore, be nice to have a full single (fixed) panoramic roof panel, rather two individual panels (although a blind would be a problem I guess).

The engine has loosened up nicely, but it still lacks low down grunt, you have to make regular sortees to 4000rpm or so. Above 4000rpm the pick up is pretty good, but the engine switches from refined to harsh. It feels like the engine has got two distinct mappings. Personally I would happily trade some of the top end umpf for some more low down grunt, this would be much more usefull in day to day driving.

So, 8 months and 16,000 miles into my ownership, would I buy another Megane? definitely, but this time I would stump up the extra few hundred quid for the diesel (even the bottom range engine has 40 more lbs torque than my 1.4).

External Looks : Good

Internal Design : Very Good

Comfort : Excellent

Ride : Good, though does get caught out by pot holes

Handling : Average

Economy : Good, 40mpg average with air-con on all the time.

Performance : Poor - Adequate (get the diesel, or a 1.6).

Visibility : Poor, Thick pillars all round.

Fit and Finish : Good

Equipment : Very Good

Running Costs : Excellent.

Hi, This comments were very informative.

I am planning on getting a Megane II Sedan 2007 with 1.6v here in Panama City.

I am still comparing between that one and a Corolla or the new Lancer 2007.

Regardless of the decision I'll take, I love the interior design of this car.

I hope I'll make the best decision and come to the Renault Owners club.

Regards.

I bought my 1.6 Megane Dynamique in January 2005 from a main dealer. It was a Renault To Go purchase, 3 months old with 5 miles on the clock. Two hours after collection the motor of a front door electric window failed leaving the widow stuck open and the AA had to be called and the car went back to the dealer who could not get a part for a week leaving me with a courtesy car. In the following 6 - 9 months the air bag warning light came on twice (bad wiring under drivers seat) the seat belt visual and audible light came on. The window motor on another door failed - the dealer stated renault had upgrade the part and fitted two new ones to the front. The indicator arm failed to self cancel and was replaced whilst at the main dealer getting repairs the rear windscreen was scratched and had to be replaced. The faults with the wiring to the seat belt and air bags appered again and a new wiring loom was inserted. I complained to Renault Customer Services as I was quite a bit out of pocket with fuel expenses not to mention time - all they were prepared to offer was a £100.00. voucher. I lost faith in the dealer and went to another as, guess what faults continued, including the wiring to the sensor of the clutch for the keyless start having failed a very annoying rubbing sound from the steering/suspension which can be heard at low speeds when a right hand lock is used and to date despite 4 returns to the dealer is still present. Next week I am again taking the car back to the dealer - the clutch sensor for the start facility has failed again (after 4 weeks) and for them to try and detect / resolve the rubbing noise in the steering. When I get it back even though I have lost quite an amount of money in its present value having lost all faith in Renault - cars and service, I shall be glad to see the back of it as I have made my mind up to buy a new Volkswagen Golf. (having been a VW owner for 20 years prior to my Renault experience)

I bought a Megane, and it's now just 4 years old.

1 day the clutch wouldn't come out of the floor, €140 for getting the clutch fixed.

Master fuse blew one day, £40.

Today my electric passenger window went down and won't come back up!

It's a well designed car apart from its poor electrics. Cheap to run almost apart from the electric problems.

I wish I could get it fixed without going to Renault, and being let's face it, robbed!