2004 Renault Megane Diesel Manual Hatchback by Petey • 25th September 2018
Although a fairly basic spec model, (no electric mirrors or rear electric windows or fog lights), my first car after passing test and it was bought from a cousin as her first car. In the family for 8 years, easy to tax, (only £30), low insurance group essential for me as younger driver, and great MPG as I usually got close to 50 miles per gallon. Servicing was always cheap too and apart from one regulator for drivers electric window, (£35 from breakers yard), a new battery (£70), after incorrectly wired dash cam drained the original one which was 9 years old at the time a rear brake caliper, (£55 in readiness for the 3rd MOT I put it through), I would not consider this car expensive to maintain.
The 1.5 dci engine is not the most powerful but more than adequate for starter drivers especially as I seldom had more than 3 passengers travelling with me, mine has over 155,000 on the clock and ran as smoothly the day I sold it as when I first got it, testament to merit of good servicing and strong build. All in all, despite many forums often being really critical of this French brand for electrics etc my experience has been very positive. Many of my peers have purchased several makes of cars during the time I owned this car they have spent considerably more both running and maintaining them, in fact I was twice able to come to their aid when two different cars broke down in the winter cold snaps.
If you are not a fashionista and are looking for a car that is kind to your pocket then this has to be a contender.
