If there was a problem with the car that was logged with Renault while the vehicle was still covered by the factory warranty, then conventional wisdom says it’s Renault’s problem to put right. That’s what’s called a pre-existing fault and even though the car may now be out of warranty, if the problem was there before the warranty ran out, it’s still a warranty claim.

However, what would help your case no end would be independent proof that the problems you experienced in warranty were the same ones that ultimately caused the entire transmission to fail. Perhaps having the transmission inspected by a specialist would give you this information.

The issue will be that this transmission, in many cases, exhibited jerky performance even when it was brand-new. It’s likely Renault would point to this and tell you “they all do that,” suggesting that what you complained about back in warranty days was nothing to do with the failure. But you never know, Renault may wish to admit that this gearbox has known faults and flaws and look after you on the basis of customer care. Certainly, there are plenty of other Renault owners out there with similar stories to tell. Clutch-packs and the dual-mass flywheel have all been found to be wanting in this transmission.

It sounds like you have a bit of a thing for French cars right now, Carmel. In fact, you could argue that the French brands are experiencing a bit of a resurgence in Australia, particularly as each brand gets its quality act closer to the mark and the factory warranties have never been better than right now.

All three of the cars you’ve nominated have their strong points, and it will really come down to your personal preferences when it comes to which one is right for you. And let me guess; it was the Peugeot 2008’s odd dashboard/steering wheel relationship that put you off. That’s particularly true for shorter folk who have trouble looking over the wheel at the instruments. But then, such quirkiness has always been part of the charm of French cars, no?

In any case, it would also be wise to sample the Japanese and South Korean contenders at this end of the market, too, as there are some interesting offerings there as well. The Toyota C-HR would be one, the Honda HR-V another. Don’t forget, either, the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Juke and the Mazda CX-3. All have their strengths and weaknesses, but all are worth short-listing.

As for the MX-5, it’s true that Mazda has stuck to the original formula for the new latest little convertible. And, yes, that dictates a small, low car that is huge fun to drive but isn’t for everybody physically.

It's hard to recommend a car that would suit you without knowing more about what you want to do with it, but I would suggest you avoid sporty models, low-profile tyres, and consider an SUV such as a Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, or Renault Captur.