Renault maintenance....

Dubes said:
Just checked online as I do like facts.

I see 8 Renault dealers 13 VW dealers 29 Toyota dealers in KZN. Wow! Suppose they need those Toyota dealers catering for the farmers in the Midlands!

I see 10 Renault dealers 23 VW dealers 33 Toyota dealers in WC.

I see 19 Renault dealers 37 VW dealers 43 Toyota dealers in Gauteng.

So yeah, maybe this is why the KZN guys cannot see the issue. We don't really expect a dealer in every corner. "Similar" number of Renault and VW dealers here. You're not really going to battle to find either.

Edit: added in Toyota.
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Thanks for proving my point, the stark differences between Renault and VW/Toyota.
 
I've got a Scenic. On the occasion in Jhb it was a worn bearing that did damage. Repairs done in one day, no parts delays.

Maybe your friends are just unlucky? :)
 
TehStranger said:
Thanks for proving my point, the stark differences between Renault and VW/Toyota.
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I fail to see the point though. If there are dealers close to where I live, where I spend 95% of my time, and in all the major centres, where I spend the other 5%, then why do I need hundreds of dealerships.

Your NAAMSA site may also explain the increased number of dealers for Toyota and VW (which I had considered before the site confirmed it). They have large (relatively speaking) small, medium and large commercial sales. A dealer with mainly passenger vehicle sales will not need a dealer in the little farming dorpie.
 
Dubes said:
I've got a Scenic. On the occasion in Jhb it was a worn bearing that did damage. Repairs done in one day, no parts delays.

Maybe your friends are just unlucky? :)
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They could be, but all of the stories beyond just them? It always seems like for every good French story their are two bad ones in my own experience (granted, small data set). Regardless, the smaller dealership network and potential parts waiting time is enough to justify not recommending the brand IMHO. Then there is resale value (which is an issue comparing French/Alfa to the others be it perception influenced or otherwise) that comes into account.

Maybe you could share some parts/servicing costs with us so we can compare in that regard?

Dubes said:
I fail to see the point though. If there are dealers close to where I live, where I spend 95% of my time, and in all the major centres, where I spend the other 5%, then why do I need hundreds of dealerships.

Your NAAMSA site may also explain the increased number of dealers for Toyota and VW (which I had considered before the site confirmed it). They have large (relatively speaking) small, medium and large commercial sales. A dealer with mainly passenger vehicle sales will not need a dealer in the little farming dorpie.
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Go look at the Passenger vehicle breakdown, Toyota and VW are miles ahead of all the Frenchies put together. The site let's you exclude medium and large commercial sales.
 
TehStranger said:
They could be, but all of the stories beyond just them? It always seems like for every good French story their are two bad ones in my own experience (granted, small data set).
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How many are just hearsay though? I constantly hear stories from people who are experts on Renault but have never had one themselves.

You've had at least two Renault owner's in here defending the brand.

Maybe you could share some parts/servicing costs with us so we can compare in that regard?
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I haven't had any work done in the last year, french car too reliable :) I did have the brakes done a while back and tyres changed (but those are not vehicle specific anyway) but I'll need to pull invoices for those. Earlier you alluded to them definitely costing more though. I would've assumed you had stats on hand to support this?

Go look at the Passenger vehicle breakdown, Toyota and VW are miles ahead of all the Frenchies put together. The site let's you exclude medium and large commercial sales.
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Yip, I am aware of how to navigate the site but you missed the point. There are some Toyota dealerships in the midlands, as an example, presumably catering to the farmers and their commercial vehicles. Would it make sense for a passenger vehicle dealership to set up there?
 
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Fazda said:
I was speaking to a C4 owner on Monday and he was raving about service, and parts availablity and cost in Durban. He has a 2006 C4 that has done 150 000 odd k's and has nothing but good things to say about it and the dealers. In that time, he has replaced one coil and the boot switch. His cambelt job was way cheaper than most, so maybe, Durban is the place to own a Frenchie! :D
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Mate who is a mechanic has got a C4. It was so cheap they purchased it to resell but ended up keeping it. Car has been hassle free but they obviously service it themselves so it never sees a stealership.
 
Nangi said:
What does the clutch take with it when it goes? Reason im asking is because I can just keep the 5k saved up till it does go, maybe itl hold on til the end of the car's life...
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What type of problem are you having?

If the clutch plate is just worn out all that will happen is that the clutch will start slipping more and more.
The only time you have to worry about the clutch is if the cable/hydraulic actuator goes (can't disengage clutch to change gears) or if the clutch plate disintegrates (stranded).

I've driven vehicles for thousands of km's with worn out slipping clutches. All you have to do is accelerate a bit more gently to stop the slipping. It's not life threatening and it won't damage the gearbox or engine.
 
Paul_S said:
What type of problem are you having?

If the clutch plate is just worn out all that will happen is that the clutch will start slipping more and more.
The only time you have to worry about the clutch is if the cable/hydraulic actuator goes (can't disengage clutch to change gears) or if the clutch plate disintegrates (stranded).

I've driven vehicles for thousands of km's with worn out slipping clutches. All you have to do is accelerate a bit more gently to stop the slipping. It's not life threatening and it won't damage the gearbox or engine.
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Its stiffer than normal and grabs 3/4 out, but its been like this for a while. I just decided to get quotes to see how much it will cost me when it does go.
 
TehStranger said:
Tell us about their Dealer support network compared to the big boys (Toyota and VW specifically)? Tell about their parts cost compared to the big boys? And parts availability?

There are new Renaults I wouldn't mind owning, but not in this country.
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Never had issues with parts on my Megane and not for my Volvo either.

I have also owned a Toyota Corolla D4D and an Audi A6, had crappy service from the dealers, endless recalls on the corolla and parts where also just as expensive.

Depends on the dealer, Renault Paarl for example is fantastic, other Renault dealers in CT not so much.
 
Fazda said:
You are perfectly correct - sadly most European cars (French/Italian/Swedish) have shocking resale values - any German make will hold its value considerably more than any of the others, and it has nothing to do with the cars, and everything to do with their record of poor service in SA, as well as the fact that South Africans have memories like elephants when it comes to anything negative about a car.

Same as the usual BS about Alfas that they "all" rust - yes, but that was back in the 70's and things have changed, but not in the mind of the average SA "gentleman" who usually dishes out his expert opinion with one arm on the pub counter and a beer in the other hand. Peugeot/Renault/Citroen are great cars with crappy reputations, end of story.
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What amazes me about the resale value thing is that a 2011 Golf 1.4 TSI sells for about the same as a 2011 Toyota Corolla 1.3 - despite the fact that the Golf costs almost 50% more new. In other words, the Golf loses far more resale value than the Toyota.
 
Dubes said:
How many are just hearsay though? I constantly hear stories from people who are experts on Renault but have never had one themselves.

You've had at least two Renault owner's in here defending the brand.
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Owners will almost always defend the brand (I'm not different). Not sure, but I've heard from a lot of French Car owners themselves.

I haven't had any work done in the last year, french car too reliable :) I did have the brakes done a while back and tyres changed (but those are not vehicle specific anyway) but I'll need to pull invoices for those. Earlier you alluded to them definitely costing more though. I would've assumed you had stats on hand to support this?
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Yes, I have comparisons of French car services from my mates, and my own experience with Audi/Honda/Toyota. All at Dealerships mind you. But I'd like to compare with your services, so that you can't accuse me of fudging facts. ;)

Yip, I am aware of how to navigate the site but you missed the point. There are some Toyota dealerships in the midlands, as an example, presumably catering to the farmers and their commercial vehicles. Would it make sense for a passenger vehicle dealership to set up there?
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Those same dealerships also cater for passenger cars, which means there will always be a dealership somewhere relatively close by. This is something the Frenchies don't have, and is an issue (especially for those that spend more than 5% of their time out of the City).
 
TehStranger said:
Owners will almost always defend the brand (I'm not different). Not sure, but I've heard from a lot of French Car owners themselves.
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I've learnt to disregard most of what you hear from the man on the street. The reason for this is that most people are far more likely to criticise than compliment.

I've also heard every owner of every vehicle moan about the cost when getting a service or getting work done. Parting with money is never nice.

I am not defending as I own the brand. My purchase was not a researched one either so no need to try and convince anyone I made a good choice. An offer came up that was impossible to refuse. Over 5 years later I have no regrets.

Proof of this, if any is needed, I'm looking for a new car. A Renault is one of those being considered. If my experiences were bad they'd not be on the list.
 
Dubes said:
I've learnt to disregard most of what you hear from the man on the street. The reason for this is that most people are far more likely to criticise than compliment.

I've also heard every owner of every vehicle moan about the cost when getting a service or getting work done. Parting with money is never nice.

I am not defending as I own the brand. My purchase was not a researched one either so no need to try and convince anyone I made a good choice. An offer came up that was impossible to refuse. Over 5 years later I have no regrets.

Proof of this, if any is needed, I'm looking for a new car. A Renault is one of those being considered. If my experiences were bad they'd not be on the list.
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Fair enough, we all have our own experiences as "men on the street". That changes somewhat when you hear it from those who should know about it (i.e. my mechanic friends or the french owners themselves).

I'd still like to compare servicing quotes at actual dealerships if you're keen. I drive a Honda, another brand "known" for expensive servicing, so it would be great to compare.

As I've said, I'd consider owning a Renault, their cup chassis is sublime and their performance engines have poke and character, but never in this country because of the issues I've raised.
 
Ancalagon said:
What amazes me about the resale value thing is that a 2011 Golf 1.4 TSI sells for about the same as a 2011 Toyota Corolla 1.3 - despite the fact that the Golf costs almost 50% more new. In other words, the Golf loses far more resale value than the Toyota.
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Check again, thats not right... The 1.3 corolla is under 150k, try finding a tsi under 200k (under 50k kms)
 
i am waiting for the delivery of my new Clio RS, hopefully today... The car is very well specced and handles very well.. The "best" hot hatch, the fiesta st, looks plain in my opinion and is very sparse on the inside..

If you look at the topgear issue from Jan (i think), there was a breakdown of all the major cars depreciation per year (from a company called Lightstone)...

All renaults are 25-30%.. Toyota's AND VW's are 20-25%, but most BMW etc are all 30-35%. Citroen is 35-40 across the entire range.

That says something to me about the renault's.. They are uping their game considerably. They have a Guarantee that if they do not have your spare part, they will give you a loan car. Try to get something like that from VW? Toyota's are only there because of brainwashed south africans (imo) as I find it a very bland and over rated brand.

I have driven a Fiat Uno, Opel Astra200iE, Opel Corsa 1.4i sport gamma, Ford Focus TDCI 2005 model and a Kia Sportage2.0 CRDi. As you can see I am not brand totally brand loyal, I go for the product that in my opinion offers the best value for money and that I enjoy driving.. And i havent had that much fun driving a car in a long time...
 
Co-worker took his Megane in for a service and they also told him that the brakes and clutch are in imminent need of replacement, at very much the same prices. He enquired about trading it in but was not happy with the value they offered for his car. I told him to try out Honda as they have been known to do good deals on trade ins.

Next day he arrived at work in a new Honda Ballade Elegance, that was 8 months ago and he is still very happy with his new car.
 
Rouxenator said:
Co-worker took his Megane in for a service and they also told him that the brakes and clutch are in imminent need of replacement, at very much the same prices. He enquired about trading it in but was not happy with the value they offered for his car. I told him to try out Honda as they have been known to do good deals on trade ins.

Next day he arrived at work in a new Honda Ballade Elegance, that was 8 months ago and he is still very happy with his new car.
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So this guy trades in a car in order to avoid simple maintenance? Wow. Talk about penny wise and pound foolish.
 
He's now got a better car with service plan so he is actually saving taking into account the upgrade.
 
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