Megane RS Reliability And Alternatives

[Meister-Man]

Let me throw a curve ball.
Kia Koup 1.6t

 

[martini96]

Look I know this thread is dead... but if anyone sees this: I drove the Megane. its really quick and IMO way better than a GTI or ST (faster and looks better). However... I then drove a WRX... man...incredible. if anyone on the forum is selling a WRX for less than R180k please let me know.

 

[ubercal]

Look I know this thread is dead... but if anyone sees this: I drove the Megane. its really quick and IMO way better than a GTI or ST (faster and looks better). However... I then drove a WRX... man...incredible. if anyone on the forum is selling a WRX for less than R180k please let me know.

bought a 2003 wrx for 85K , better then most cars on the road.Around 200kw , looks mad , sounds mad , decent power and goes around the bends like its nobody's business .... what you waiting for ?

 

[airborne]

bought a 2003 wrx for 85K , better then most cars on the road.Around 200kw , looks mad , sounds mad , decent power and goes around the bends like its nobody's business .... what you waiting for ?

How long have you had it for and what's the cost of ownership been like?

A WRX is wicked, especially the earlier models, they have aged really well.

 

[ubercal]

How long have you had it for and what's the cost of ownership been like?

A WRX is wicked, especially the earlier models, they have aged really well.

about 6 years.Fuel is the most expensive as i only get around 250km for a full tank.But like any old car things to need to be replaced.Just need to be on top of it and use some common sense , ie if you see 1 radiator hose go , then best to replace all the rad hoses with fresh new hoses that will last another 150 000 kms.I generally use liqui moly oil so that around R900 for a 5L , and change it out every 5000 to 7000km.There are plenty of aftermarket parts so generally go for those rather then OEM.Only certain parts i replace with OEM , and dont take it to the dealership but a good indie mechanic.

 

[neoprema]

I've owned:
4 x Renault Laguna's (3 were mine over 2-years each and 1 i bought for my parents)
1 x Renault Koleos (mine)
1 x Renault Modus (bought for my parents)
and in our family we've had 1 x Clio and 1 x Captur

Apart from a 1.9dci Laguna I bought second hand that gave me endless problems, every other Renault we owned worked perfectly. And when they did go out of warranty, parts were always available.

The reason I left Renault was to drive something a bit faster and bigger and the Laguna was discontinued. I bought a Ford Fusion. It was so nice, powerful and comfortable. At 56 000 on the clock I began to have Turbo problems and after battling for 4 months in-and-out of repairs I finally moved on, to the Mazda I have now.

That said, I know people with Ford's who've done over 200k KMs with no problems. So I would not say they're unreliable. BUT, if the topic is about Renault, and buying a Renault RS - I would buy one in a heartbeat.

In fact I've had a similar idea as the op but i'm already 40 now and thinking i'm too old to be running around in a hot-hatch, people will think i'm having a crisis? lol.

 

[ubercal]

I've owned:
4 x Renault Laguna's (3 were mine over 2-years each and 1 i bought for my parents)
1 x Renault Koleos (mine)
1 x Renault Modus (bought for my parents)
and in our family we've had 1 x Clio and 1 x Captur

Apart from a 1.9dci Laguna I bought second hand that gave me endless problems, every other Renault we owned worked perfectly. And when they did go out of warranty, parts were always available.

The reason I left Renault was to drive something a bit faster and bigger and the Laguna was discontinued. I bought a Ford Fusion. It was so nice, powerful and comfortable. At 56 000 on the clock I began to have Turbo problems and after battling for 4 months in-and-out of repairs I finally moved on, to the Mazda I have now.

That said, I know people with Ford's who've done over 200k KMs with no problems. So I would not say they're unreliable. BUT, if the topic is about Renault, and buying a Renault RS - I would buy one in a heartbeat.

In fact I've had a similar idea as the op but i'm already 40 now and thinking i'm too old to be running around in a hot-hatch, people will think i'm having a crisis? lol.

you never too old , its all in the mind.I know guys that are touching 60 and have souped subaru's.

 

[airborne]

I've owned:
4 x Renault Laguna's (3 were mine over 2-years each and 1 i bought for my parents)
1 x Renault Koleos (mine)
1 x Renault Modus (bought for my parents)
and in our family we've had 1 x Clio and 1 x Captur

Apart from a 1.9dci Laguna I bought second hand that gave me endless problems, every other Renault we owned worked perfectly. And when they did go out of warranty, parts were always available.

The reason I left Renault was to drive something a bit faster and bigger and the Laguna was discontinued. I bought a Ford Fusion. It was so nice, powerful and comfortable. At 56 000 on the clock I began to have Turbo problems and after battling for 4 months in-and-out of repairs I finally moved on, to the Mazda I have now.

That said, I know people with Ford's who've done over 200k KMs with no problems. So I would not say they're unreliable. BUT, if the topic is about Renault, and buying a Renault RS - I would buy one in a heartbeat.

In fact I've had a similar idea as the op but i'm already 40 now and thinking i'm too old to be running around in a hot-hatch, people will think i'm having a crisis? lol.

They aren't all bad but when they go bad man there's few things to beat a French vehicle for pain and suffering.

And you can spend the earth doing repairs and it adds just about nought to the resale value. Actually you might get less because people will rightly be terrified that the vehicle had been overcome by demons.

The reliability of French vehicles is reflected in their resale value, which is generally terrible. That benchmark never fails especially in a country like SA where the 2hnd market is so competitive, likewise luxury German sedans.

I think I would only buy an RS if it was cheap as chips so you literally couldn't go wrong.

 

[martini96]

I found a 2010 RS 250 Sport Lux with 58000 on the clock. Haven't negotiated a price yet, but I would expect it will be around R155K ... not sure if that is a good price? Webuy cars offered R140k for it.

There is the whole finding spares headaches with Renault, while Subaru is known for reliability and a big community.

So it would come down to a low mileage (60K-100k) RS or a WRX with like 150k+ on the clock, The deciding factor for me is definitely going to be the overall cost of ownership(sadly)...what do you think makes more financial sense? Difficult to say I guess.

but one day I will buy a STI with a fully built engine, and do it properly! I have a new found respect for Subaru. That being said the RS is still a beast and IMO is alot better than an ST or GTI (depending on what you want)

 

[martini96]

They aren't all bad but when they go bad man there's few things to beat a French vehicle for pain and suffering.

And you can spend the earth doing repairs and it adds just about nought to the resale value. Actually you might get less because people will rightly be terrified that the vehicle had been overcome by demons.

The reliability of French vehicles is reflected in their resale value, which is generally terrible. That benchmark never fails especially in a country like SA where the 2hnd market is so competitive, likewise luxury German sedans.

I think I would only buy an RS if it was cheap as chips so you literally couldn't go wrong.

I know, thats what im scared of haha... Would R150k be classified as cheap?

 

[martini96]

I've owned:
4 x Renault Laguna's (3 were mine over 2-years each and 1 i bought for my parents)
1 x Renault Koleos (mine)
1 x Renault Modus (bought for my parents)
and in our family we've had 1 x Clio and 1 x Captur

Apart from a 1.9dci Laguna I bought second hand that gave me endless problems, every other Renault we owned worked perfectly. And when they did go out of warranty, parts were always available.

The reason I left Renault was to drive something a bit faster and bigger and the Laguna was discontinued. I bought a Ford Fusion. It was so nice, powerful and comfortable. At 56 000 on the clock I began to have Turbo problems and after battling for 4 months in-and-out of repairs I finally moved on, to the Mazda I have now.

That said, I know people with Ford's who've done over 200k KMs with no problems. So I would not say they're unreliable. BUT, if the topic is about Renault, and buying a Renault RS - I would buy one in a heartbeat.

In fact I've had a similar idea as the op but i'm already 40 now and thinking i'm too old to be running around in a hot-hatch, people will think i'm having a crisis? lol.

No way, that's definitely not too old. I would go for it! Although its a very small car and practicality wise probably not the best choice. If you have a family you would need another car to go along with it. Thanks for the info

 

[airborne]

I know, thats what im scared of haha... Would R150k be classified as cheap?

Very surprised WeBuyCars would offer that much for such an old Frenchie.

What's the current retail value of that vehicle?

With these kinds of things as long as you don't mind potentially taking a loss you can get a lot of car for the money.

If you bought a new RS that would probably be around R650k, you lose R100k just driving it off the lot, 5yrs down the line you probably would have sunk a good R300k into it.

So if you get that older RS for R150k, what's the most you will lose after 5yrs, probably R50k, maybe R100k if you are unlucky and something major breaks. But if you are lucky and look after it you may lose barely anything, maybe just the cost of services/brakes/tyres.

So from an economic standpoint it's a pretty good gamble. And if that 2010 RS is mint thats a very good find, low mileage mint old vehicles are very rare.

Pretty amazing value for money, think of the all the maintenance and storage costs that the owner has incurred over the years, if you factored that in you'd almost be getting getting the vehicle for free.

Even just 10yrs of garaging at R1000pm(pretty much the going rate for a lockup garage in urban areas) is R120k.

 

[Meister-Man]

So it would come down to a low mileage (60K-100k) RS or a WRX with like 150k+ on the clock, The deciding factor for me is definitely going to be the overall cost of ownership(sadly)...what do you think makes more financial sense?

You saw what @ubercal said about wrx fuel consumption.

 

[martini96]

You saw what @ubercal said about wrx fuel consumption.

Yeah that's true, but much of a muchness... Renult can get 9l/100 if driving conservatively, Subaru is only slightly more, and I might save on maintenance due to cheaper spares being available