Which modern French everyday shite? Dilemma.

[R9UKE]

Under pressure to make a decision due to ebay auctions ending and the number of road legal Renaults in the fleet decreasing...

 

Now I realise these aren't typical Autoshite, but they are Autoshite.

 

My everyday car was a Mégane II. Great car in every way, with a nice stream of niggling problems to cement it's reputation as shite. It was written off by a reversing neighbour a month back, and I properly miss it. Cheque from the insurers is due to arrive in the morning.

 

Option 1:

Another Mégane II

2.0 Privilege (top spec) 5 door

58000 miles

Taxed and tested until end of may

Cream leather, sat nav, xenon headlights - very rare optional extras.

Price: £1300.

Location: Birmingham - flight over, ferry home.

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... e/96744973

 

Option 2:

Renault Vel Satis

2.0 T Privilege (not top spec)

96000 miles

No tax or test as it needs "imported" into the UK and given both in the process

Beige leather

Price - Probably £1400

Location: Dublin. Road trip, but importation fee of £80 plus tax and whatever it needs for MOT.

 

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/for-sale/cars/3071463

 

 

I'm leaning towards the Mégane. Not having to drive a Vel Satis every day would allow me to buy a 3.5 V6 petrol at some point, probably for about £800. It is also £200 less to insure and less to run.

 

But then driving a Vel Satis every day is bound to be eventful, which us shiters know is a positive!

 

Help please, ignore prices on both ads, I've done my own negotiations!

[lancashireclamper]

With the good weather almost here how about this?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENAULT-MEGAN ... 2258181571

 

15 Miles from Heysham Port, could help with collection/storage etc if necessary,

[eddyramrod]

I've just looked at both of those. OK, I have no experience of either model, but the VS looks like a much nicer place to sit. I would expect the Megane to move a bit quicker, being the same engine in less body, but how much that matters is up to you. The biggest neg I can see on the VS is the colour. That's disgusting. If they were both the same colour (preferably the blue of the Meg) I'd pick the VS, immediately. Anyway, it's your choice, can you live with that?

[R9UKE]

Haha the colour selection for the Vel Satis wasn't the most uplifting!

 

That Mégane cab is pretty sexy. In fact, the cheque might just stretch to one of the above as well as a cheeky offer on the like of that

[eddyramrod]

Never mind those, go and grab the Impala! You won't regret it....

[lancashireclamper]

Haha the colour selection for the Vel Satis wasn't the most uplifting!

 

That Mégane cab is pretty sexy. In fact, the cheque might just stretch to one of the above as well as a cheeky offer on the like of that

 

Give us a shout if you want it looked over,

[gtd2000]

Just how troublesome/unreliable are those Meganes?

 

I had a new one on a longer term arrangement in Israel a few years back but I ended up with a range of other vehicles each time I flew in and out.

 

I actually liked it overall and it was the most economical of all the cars I drove.

[R9UKE]

Cheers LC

 

Eddy I can guarantee the Impala will still be in situ when you arrive back in the UK!

 

The Méganes really aren't that bad at all. I had mine for three years and mum has had hers for a year. The worst issue between the two was the windscreen scuttle drains blocking up, taking out the wiper motor and the heater fan as it forced water into the car through the air intake. Other stuff like electric windows and boot catches playing up - nothing that actually stops you getting there, unlike the Vel Satis I had.

 

I was the highest bidder here

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320864899358? ... 500wt_1202

 

Seller seems like a right tool with a description like that but it seems he's just computer illiterate. If it's as good as it has all been implied then I'm looking forward to my 5 hour run up to scotland once I've flown over to Brum to get it on saturday

[Ross_K]

Quality shite right there. Leather seats and all...

 

Is that the same 2.0 turbo lump from the Vel Satis, or did they lop the turbo off for the Megane?

[R9UKE]

Yep, autoshite beige interior spec

Can't wait to see just how bad the sat nav system is. Still the original 2002 map disc and it's a turn by turn system with no map, just arrows and voice guidance. GR9!

 

Turbo lobbed off this one thankfully, we all know Renault's record with turbos. 136 bhp from this one instead of 165 from the T. I had this engine before, hard to find but well worth waiting for. It'll pull away comfortably from 30 MPH in 6th gear.

 

Flying into Birmingham airport on saturday morning, he's meeting me there in the Meggy. Stay with relatives for a few days then up to Scotland for the ferry back home on tuesday

[eddyramrod]

Don't forget your camera! I'd say call in and see us on the way up but we're not there yet...

[R9UKE]

Well I'm sure if I rely on the shite navigation system we should arrive around the same time

[Ross_K]

Oh yeah, that turn by turn satnav is gr8. NOT. I've got a similar setup in the 307 - apparently you can upgrade the Peugeot system to a proper satnav by dropping several several hundred quid on a colour MFD.

 

I'd be tempted to wang in one of these off ebay instead, except you know it would die as soon as the Paypal payment cleared:

 

Hey look, they've got a shitey Megane version too.

[cort16]

Are you sailing back through Cairnryan?

[R9UKE]

Ah, perfect way to make the car look eastern european! I have a feeling they could possible be EVEN worse than the turn by turn! Where the hell would that even go in our cars? The 307 is the same - small display at the top of the centre console and the units themselves in the middle. God that would make them real shite.

 

 

Are you sailing back through Cairnryan?

 

Sure am sir. First time since Stranraer closed down, it's only 5 miles up the road, right?

[cort16]

I think so. Different port, same shit road to get there.

[R9UKE]

Got stuck behind a Honda Jazz driver for most of it last time, very frustrating when you have V6 Power

[eddyramrod]

Olde-skoole satnav...

 

[Ross_K]

Sure am sir. First time since Stranraer closed down, it's only 5 miles up the road, right?

 

Eh what? Stranraer closed down?

 

You need to sail from Troon for the ultimate shite ferry experience. Or is that closed too?

 

The "terminal" was a portacabin last time I went that way...

[cort16]

It still sails from Troon but it's seasonal.

[gdhaydock]

Stenaline relocated from Stranraer to a new facility in Cairnryan last year at some point.

 

Think P&O still have a service from there as well.

 

Use it several times a year for visiting family in Belfast, but not been on the new one yet. Think they've done away with the fast ferry due to them now being able to do a 2 hour crossing in a traditional ferry.

[Ross_K]

Yeah I always thought it was a bit crap that the HSS took so long to cover the short distance, given that you could do Dublin-Holyhead in the same amount of time.

 

Something to do with the residents near Belfast Lough complaining about the HSS making waves on the way into Belfast or something like that?

 

I do remember hearing about a jetskier being run over by the HSS too. God knows which story is true...