Prince among people carriers (Renault Megane in general)

Member Name: dave27

Product:	Renault Megane in general
Date:	16/04/01 (724 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent smooth drive, exceptionally comfortable

Disadvantages: It's a people carrier damnit

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UPDATE
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My company has just agreed a new company ca
scheme which meant that I could have afforded a new Audi after all. However, I'm so pleased with my Megane, that I'm glad I didn't wait.
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When I was looking to change my company car recently, my first preference was for another saloon. I'd been driving a Toyota Carina which was well past its best, but the time had come now to order my new car after four years with the old one. My first preference was for an Audi,which was what I'd had first several years before but I would have had to pay up and make my own contribution and I'm far too tight for that so I spent quite some time looking around.

In the meantime, my wife started working on me. She'd been after a people carrier for several years and was desperate for me to get one and what she'd set her heart on was a Renault Scenic Megane. She tried subterfuge, emotional blackmail, bribery, even being nice to me, which is most unlike her. She even tried telling me that it was a hatchback rather than a people carrier, because she knew that I was dead set against that kind of vehicle.

I didn't fally for that one, but in the end she managed to persuade me to go along to check one out and have a test drive. I was pretty reluctant, but in the end she wore me down and we visited our local Renault driver one Sunday night to try out a Sports version. I was very apprehensive and looking forward to telling her that I didn't like it, but unfortunately I couldn't.

You see, it was actually a marvellous ride and the Megane handed like an absolute dream. I was duly impressed and though I was of half a mind to keep on looking, I thought what the hell, and settled for the bird in the hand and placed my order for the Megane. I'd been finally sold on it and my min
d was made up.

For a people carrier, the Renault Scenic Megane 1.6 Sports version is a pretty marvellous car. It's big and roomy inside with an acre of leg room both in the front and at the back. It's easily enough to take five in real comfort and six at a push. The thing is that it's also exceptionally versatile and you can take the three back seats out and make this car into a small van. The seats are exceptionally comfortable and relaxing, especially so on longjourneys. A week after getting the Megane, my family of four went on a 200 mile round journey from Preston to Stafford and back and I have to say that I've never experienced such wonderful comfort. Again, I was very impressed.

In fact, the only problem we encountered on the whole journey was with a bit of a side wind. The Megane is quite a high sided vehicle and is consequently very susceptible to the ravages of strong wind. We had to take in the Thelwall Viaduct on our trip and this is always quite hairy. It was exceptionally bad the night we drove over it and we were being swept all over the place. It felt a little out of control, but that was because it was EXCEPTIONALLY windy and I still felt very, very safe, which hadn't been the case in the Toyota.

The visibility for the driver is marvellous throughout and for a big car, it's exceptionally easy to park, with the power steering making even the most difficult manoeuvre a real dream. No fears there. The wonderful visibility coupled with the steering made for a great combination and this is a deceptively easy vehicle to drive.

There are two sunroofs, one at the front and another at the rear, electric wing mirrors and windows at the front
and air conditioning comes as standard. This is real luxury and it's all within the asking price. A word or two on the stereo too. It's a CD player and radio, and again this is standard. I didn't think the CD quality would be worth
it in a car, but I was pleasantly surprised by an absolutely marvellous listening experience. It's just like being in your own front room and Renault have certainlly pulled out all the stops here. The radio too is exceptional and it's the first time that I've been able to experience crystal clear reception in a car when listening to Radio Five, crackle city at the best of times. Yeah, the stereo is a dream, and you've got the added luxury of being able to operate it all with the merest touch of a button on one of the stalks attached to the steering wheel. Renault seem to have thought of everything here.

Another electronic feature which is controllable without moving your hand off the steering wheel is the on board electronic computer which provides all the driving info you could possibly want. You get a full set of details relating to your journey, including total mileage to date, miles travelled on the journey, average miles to the gallon, average miles per hour, gallons used, miles before the tank needs to be filled. It can be very distracting if you spend a lot of time staring at it, but extremely useful if you want to manage the economy which is very good with the Megane. I managed around 36 mpg quite easily in nearly every type of driving condition with little real effort.

The car also combines power with this luxurious comfort and there's grunt to spare under the bonnet with the 1.6 engine quite powerful enough for even the most demanding speed demon. The brakes are smooth and effective and the first time I slapped them on it felt like a real emergency stop as I was halted dead in my tracks. Power indeed.

One very surprising feature I found with the Megane was the comfort with which I was able to enter and dismount. In saloons it's step out and force yourself up, but here it's just a question of moving a leg out and you're at ground level, a totally unexpected boon the first time you experie
nce it, such comfort.

Yes, I'm an absolute convert to the wonders of the Renault Megane, although it'll take me a little longer to get used to being the driver of a people carrier. After all you need to be middle aged to be one of those. I'm just a forty year old Audi driver in disguise at the moment, who is finding a change as good as a rest. At least it's shut the trouble and strife up and the kids seem to like it too. Peace of mind and silence is an extremely worthwhile commodity.

Away from the specifics of the model I chose the Renault Scenic Megane comes in a multitude of different models, ranging from the 1.4 16V at just £12,300 on the road, through my 1.6 16V Sport model at £13,800 right up to the Monaco 2.0 16V Auto at £17,400. It's a strong and extremely varied range and the standard offering on even the lower end of the range is simply stunning. Renault have struck exactly the right balance with this particular range and can rightfully hope for big things. The Espace is Renault's flagship, top of the range people carrier, but the Megane is quite good enough for me, with enough luxury and power for even the most discerning and demanding of customers.

Strongly recommended.

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UPDATE
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Unfortunately, within a week of taking delivery of my gleaming new car, the wind blew the back door shut, bending one of the tail struts in the process. I got very worried that I would have to pay to get it fixed, but I took it down to the suppliers and they ordered the part straight away and two days later had it in for replacament on warranty - now that's customer service! I was quite concerned that they would ask me to pay, but no, not a prob, they just needed to send the old strut off as proof, and it only took them about 10 minutes to fit it.

GREAT!

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