Should I buy a secondhand Scenic

K T

K T

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I saw a 2003 Renault Scenic 1.6 with 118 000km on the clock advertised for R44 000 by a fellow country club member and got quite excited about buying it for my daughter who is going to varsity next year. It looks in excellent condition, hasn't had any major issues and the owner is a local.

I then phoned a mate, who knows cars, and he told me to stay away no matter what. Apparently when Renault's start giving hassles you then have big problems with getting parts, costs, etc. I must admit I thought it was a damn good buy, but maybe there is a reason for that.

What do you guys think?
 
i had a second hand 2004 scenic and wrote it off.
it was a nice car with all the gadgets and gizmos, but i really didn't have a good experience with my local dealer (from a cost and service point of view).
services were pricey and it was thirsty.
i honestly don't know how mechanics are supposed to work on those cars. lift the hood and see how much space there is to get at the engine.
my other car is a 2002 corolla. everything keeps going right.
 
if u looking to buy a tv for about 25+k within the next 2 yrs, then you alright with the scenic. After 140000km u shud sell it!
 
I have a 2000 2.0 Megane with 140000km on the clock - I bought it at 85000km. It's still going strong and I am still very happy with it. Servicing and parts are not cheap but I like it. The fuel consumption is okay too.

I have two friends with scenics (one petrol one diesel) and both are happy too.

Yes, a Renault is not a Toyota. But if you can find a tame service centre, you should be fine.

If you know (and trust) the owner and know the history of the car, then its a pretty safe bet.

Just check on the book value asking price - Renaults don't old value well.
 
i wouldn't buy it.

Friends had one. The car had a problem, was a small part needed. They were told they had to wait 6-8weeks for the part to arrive.

The car was still driveable, but if they did they could have caused more expensive damage.

They eventually sold the car 6months after the repair PURELY coz they didn't want to wait like that with another repair, should one be needed at some point...
 
Seeing as you're from East London, I'm presuming that your daughter will be going to UCT. If that is the case, then no, don't buy. The parking spaces for students are on the narrow side and a scenic is a bit larger than your average polo. Also given the fact that you mentioned daughter, it's statistically safe to assume she won't have an easy time with a smaller car let alone a scenic.

Secondly, no... it's French.

Thirdly, the mandatory "pics?" :p
 
I have a 2001 Megane that I want to torch. Once the mileage started clocking (150k+) the old gal just started giving me problems.

Problems thusfar are: engine mountings (apparently a known issue?) worn and needed replacing, water pump, fan belt (numerous times), pulleys (twice), fuel line (fan belt sliced that one). Now she is at the workshop and the mechanic has quoted around R6k to fix something or the other (I am not at home and cba). I told him to make me an offer on her. Oh and as stated above parts are not cheap.

But that's just my experience.
 
Last edited:
Jase said:
I have a 2001 Megane that I want to torch. Once the mileage started clocking (150k+) the old gal just started giving me problems.

Problems thusfar are: engine mountings (apparently a known issue?) worn and needed replacing, water pump, fan belt (numerous times), pulleys (twice), fuel line (fan belt sliced that one). Now she is at the workshop and the mechanic has quoted around R6k to fix something or the other (I am not at home and cba). I told him to make me an offer on her. Oh and as stated above parts are not cheap.

But that's just my experience.
Click to expand...

There's a reason why 60% of cars at the UCT parking lots are Polos :)
 
I think with any French car its luck of the draw. You can either get something that behaves and lasts or you can get a serious lemon that will make you want to slit your own wrists.

My boss has 2 of them, the old one and the new one.

His old one seems ok, but fixing it aint cheap.
 
I have got a 2001 Scenic 1.6 with 250000km on the clock, had it since new. been driven very little in the past 3 years as I bought a bakkie. The car has given me very good service considering I drove it like I stole it, live on a plot so it's up and down dirt roads every day of it's live, work used to take me to the North West all the time to the diamond mines, used to take out the back seats and put rolls of armored cable in the back or big electric panels. The Scenic has transported loads of horse food, lucern and shavings as I have horses on my plot. Fuel consumption is not bad, servicing costs at dealer are shocking, I have found two scrapyards in GP that do Renaults so I get most of my parts there now and do my own work. Had a timing belt snap on me just before 90000km, R 6000 later as the dealer did not replace it at 60000Km as the factory recommends, they wanted to change it at 90000km as of a new mod that was made after 2001? When replacing the rear shocks on this car only use original Renault ones as they are installed at a angle and as of that any other make dont last more then 6 months. Tire size are odd and can be expensive to replace, just go one size up they are cheaper and the car handles much better. Renaults have the most comfortable seats ever, the high driving position is nice as well. Trade in vale is non existent, I got offered for mine 3 years ago R 27000. Would I buy a low mileage one and live through it again? any day!
 
Imagine a 'mommy's car' car parked off in the varsity parking lot.
At least the guys at campus will steer clear of your daughter.
But seriously sir,I'd rather stick to a smaller,more reliable car for a first year student.
I'd even look at the Chevrolet's Sparks and Ford Ka's which you can pick up virtually brand new for that price.
 
actually the guys will be flocking to make use of that back seat
just saying ;)
 
DrYes said:
Imagine a 'mommy's car' car parked off in the varsity parking lot.
At least the guys at campus will steer clear of your daughter.
But seriously sir,I'd rather stick to a smaller,more reliable car for a first year student.
I'd even look at the Chevrolet's Sparks and Ford Ka's which you can pick up virtually brand new for that price.
Click to expand...

Lol, while Renaults are known to be unreliable, I don't think Chevrolet and Ford are much better either :p

Cars you can't go wrong with (in descending order): Honda Jazz, VW Polo, Toyota Yaris.
 
Rouxenator said:
Actually, in terms of quality its more like this : Jazz, Mazda2, Corsa, Yaris ... (in descending order)
Click to expand...

Talk about stirring up a hornets nest! :erm:

Anyway...
Jazz - too expensive
Mazda2 - too expensive
Corsa, Yaris - looking good
Fiesta - thoughts?

BTW, no two doors please, or three doors, get my drift?
 
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