Renault Megane Problems

This situation raises a few questions. The first of which is how a car with just 9000km showing needs new front tyres. I know the Megane is a powerful front-wheel-drive car and will, therefore, be potentially very hard on front tyres, but 9000km? Surely it must have been driven hard in its previous life to chew through a set of tyres in such a short distance. I’m smelling a car that has been used for track days and, therefore, driven hard.

The other thing is that a performance car like this will absolutely live or die on the quality of the tyres under it. Putting cheap tyres on it will seriously compromise its performance and even potentially its safety in an emergency.

But it’s not too late to make things right. Tell the dealer that you’re prepared to pay the difference between the cheap tyres and the Potenzas the car should have and see if they’ll play ball. I know it would have been nice if this had all been explained to you before you signed on the dotted line, but some dealers (like some business people in any industry) will do everything they can to save themselves a few bucks. In this case, though, the result is a potentially compromised car in your driveway.

If the dealer won’t play, and you still want to buy the car, take it straight to a tyre shop and have a performance tyre fitted. But don’t forget that some of the Chinese tyres on the market now are far from as bad as people think. While you’re at the tyre shop, ask for a professional opinion on the tyres the car was supplied with.

I wouldn’t have even started talking to them about fixing it; I would have walked away and refused to take delivery of the car. But having started negotiating with them about a fix they have recommended the touch-up guy, that’s then their responsibility and you have the choice of accepting the work done or rejecting it. By going to another panel shop you are taking responsibility for the repair and I’m not surprised that Renault would refuse any warranty on the panel and paint thereafter. Have them do the repairs, don’t get involved yourself; you are only muddying the waters.

I understand your frustration; I also agree that diesel buyers should be made aware of the possible consequences resulting from the way they will use the car. Blocking of the DPF because of being used on short, low speed trips is quite common across most brands, so it could be argued that you should have done you homework and known that. As to whether you have good grounds for a refund I can’t say, but I suspect you could request a refund, or part refund, as a gesture of good will from Renault.

The best times to buy are usually the end of the financial year, or at model run-out times, that's when the specials are on. The CVT and dual-clutch autos are both still unknowns in terms of long-term reliability, but either should be ok over the five years you plan to keep the car. Any of the cars you list, and the list is a long one, would be ok. It really comes down to what you like.

Do you have the original papers you signed when you bought the car, they should show the odometer at the time you took over the car. That would be your starting point.

When you take it in for service ask them why there should be a discrepancy.

That is appalling service. If the required parts were not available here they should have been airfreighted in. Contact Renault's customer help service and ask for their help. (Ph 1800 009 008).

I would question the Renault if you're doing lots of kays in then country. I'm sure it would be reliable, but having it serviced when you need to could be an issue if you're away from a main city. The Kia is a good choice, so too are the Mazdas. You could add the Honda Accord, Subaru Liberty and Suzuki Kizashi to your list.

Modern engines do use some oil, and it's wise to check the oil level regularly, say once a month. Some engines also use more oil during the run-in period, which is what you're going through now. It's hard to say whether your car is using too much or not. I suspect it's not, but if you are concerned about it have the dealer conduct an oil consumption test to determine exactly how much it is using. That's the only way of telling if it's too much or not.

The offer you've had is a normal one offered by most car companies. They pay the cost of the parts and you cover the rest, but to my mind that's a bit of a cop-out. The part failed, and to fail in a matter of three years means it was defective and not up to the job. I agree that you could well have a claim under the statutory consumer laws, but it comes down to how much you want to pursue the matter.