Faults:

Unfortunately quite a list!

First thing noticed was the squeaking brakes, presumed this would go - not so. Apparently this is a common fault with with the Meganes and a 'silence kit' needs to be fitted to rectify the problem.

Next mysteriously got a puncture front off-side. According to my handbook, my fabulous on-board computer would tell me any change in tyre pressure, not so! Good old driver intuition helped out here!!!

Next was gearbox, started off very smooth, however after 2000 miles became very jerky when the car was started (& as per dealers advice, I did leave it to warm up, but in the summer, don't think it being cold is a good enough excuse!). The car struggled in first gear and was over-revving a lot. Taken back to the dealer, who assured me that the 'computer settings had been readjusted'. Fine at first, then just got worse! Whenever I try to book the car in, they are unable to get me an automatic courtesy car so is often a 6-8 week wait and apparently could take some time to fix! So at 12500 the car showed it's true colours and doing 90mph (with 1 passenger) revved to over 6000rpm! Quite worrying on the motorway as it sounded as though it was going to explode! Not to mention it is costing me an absolute BOMB in petrol to run - driving around town (approx 30 miles per day) means I'm putting in £15 nearly every day!

Drivers side indicator went a while ago, at 14000 both headlight bulbs have almost gone, luckily the fog lights are keeping me going (illegal I know!).

The CD player is constantly over-heating (I have had the 6 disc changer fitted & that over heats as well!). On top of that now, its just treating every single CD as though I've dragged them through a gravel pit (even brand new ones!).

Clever little petrol gauge isn't so clever! On full tank, it doesn't change for about 1/4 of a tank, then drops remains constant, then surprise surprise it just drops again - which isn't very handy when it's guzzling petrol anyway!

Interior is wearing quickly, bit concerned!

Problems with the keyless locking, sometimes it doesn't want to lock, or has problems detecting the card to start up.

General Comments:

On speaking to someone at the dealership, it appears the above are common problems!

The automatic in particular is known to have gearbox problems and this has resulted in a ridiculous fuel consumption! I'm yet to experience the economical side of this car - my friend has a 2.6 V6 engine and spends a lot less in petrol then I do, which HURTS at 98.9p per litre! I've had a clio 1.4 1993 and that could live on £25 per week in petrol and was a LOT faster. The similarity, however, is gearbox failure tell-tale signs of banging when going into reverse, over-revving etc.

The handling on this car is poor round conrners and I live in London, I'm not exactly driving on winding roads in France! However on the straights i.e. motorway the car is great! It feels solid and passengers have noted how smooth it is (apart from the jerking when revving over 6000rpm!).

I've had a few extras put on: panoramic sunroof, 6 disc CD changer, keyless entry/start-up. All of these are great and agree with other reviews extra's like these are rare or expensive! So am extremely pleased with them.

I have a 3 door and getting in and out for passengers seems fairly difficult and must say leg-room is a little cramped - although its not exactly a Maebach, so can't really ask for much!

Owning a Megane, still attracts attention and the odd "I see you baby shaking that ____" which is amusing! It's distinct shape sets it apart from the rest and in black still looks very slick.

Boot space is very good, especially with the fold down rear seats, its amazing what you can fit in there!

The light into the cabin is great with the panoramic sun roofs, not to mention Renault have been smart enough to ensure the top half of the cabin is in a light colour!

I haven't been too impressed with the demisting functions in the winter, the angles of the window vents mean that only half the window remains steam free no matter what angles they are adjusted to!

Overall I do have a weakspot for Renaults, and do really like this car and would be looking to change to the Megane convertible as my next car! I just hope that I don't get any such problems in the first 6 months of owning one! Driving the car is smooth and relaxing, if pushed it does hit some good speeds - I won't say how fast, but I have pushed it past the top speed stated in the handbook and that was with 3 passengers and 2 weeks worth of luggage! I'm sure it has potential to do more, but won't be trying that until my washing-machine-sounding gearbox is sorted!

Watch this space!

Faults:

Small scratch on tailgate on delivery (polished out)

General Comments:

Fabulous car overall.

Comfortable, good looking in Sport Tourer guise, refined on the motorway, generous standard kit, solid build quality and astonishingly economical.

The little 1.5 dCi engine is all, but inaudible inside the car under 3,000 RPM, and punches well above its size (offering similar power and torque to VW's current 1.9 litre TDI unit), and gives very lively performance. Although you hear the turbo whistle up under the merest brush of the throttle, response is a little laggy under 2,000 RPM, but the 6 speed gearbox has quite close ratios (for a diesel) which means it's easy to keep it on boost. As a bonus, an 85 mph cruise sees just over 2,600 RPM on the rev counter.

Economy is astonishing. Unless you mercilessly thrash it, it never returns less than 50 mpg with 57-59 more likely on a run. In contrast to my old TDdi Focus which was more like 40 average and 47 on a run, yet was slower and far noisier.

My complaints about the Megane really are limited to two things. One is the handling. Although it's not bad, the power steering lacks feel and the understeer sets in far earlier and more doggedly than it ever did in the Focus.

That said, Renault clearly did their homework because the Megane is a far nicer companion on a long journey. Where the Focus was brilliant in the lanes, it was coarse, noisy, and tiring off them, and had truly appalling seats. Loping along the motorway or a fast A-road in the Megane, the relative lack of dynamics doesn't matter. Instead its superior refinement, more supple ride, vastly better performance and lower noise levels count for far more. Shame about the odd pedal position which can cause cramp in my right ankle on a long motorway run (complaint number 2)

Reliability faultless so far, although the myriad of electronics on the car does allow for plenty to go wrong. The keyless ignition seems gimmicky and the start button clearly has no physical link with the starter. On pressing the button, the car "boots" itself up, cranks the starter and sorts itself out. Clever, but ultimately rather pointless, and if it still works perfectly in 5 years time I will be amazed.

Overall though, the Megane continues to be a superb all rounder. The design has real flair (particularly next to the dull Ford Focus 2 and Golf 5), and I chose the Sport Tourer purely because I think it's far more handsome than the hatch. As a day to day runaround and motorway cruiser, it is as quiet, smooth and refined as any comparable car to come out of Germany. It's safe, cheap to buy, incredibly frugal and, touch wood, very reliable. Perfect family car material in other words. I'm well pleased so far.

Faults:

Excessive and distressing noise from sun roof at speeds in excess of 40 mph.

General Comments:

Otherwise am very happy with performance.