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Hi Catherine,

Go for the Ford C-Max. They're ruggedly reliable and good to drive. Méganes of that era are best avoided.

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Hi Riccardo,

No, it's not. You're quite right that the 1.5-litre CDI engine in the A 180 model is derived from Renault's long-serving dCi engine, but the 220 CDI unit is Mercedes' own 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine in 170hp trim.

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Hi Remigijus,

Renault’s official recommendation is not for a change at a specific mileage, but at a specific year. They say it should be changed every six years, so it sounds like yours is due.

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Hi Liam,

By and large, yes. Some minor electrical glitches here and there but Renault had really gotten on top of he reliability problems that plagued the previous Mégane.

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Hi Paul,

The coil pack would be the first place to start, as they fail regularly in that model Laguna. The vibration, we suspect, is from misfiring at low speeds.

It's definitely a job for a qualified mechanic, but let us know how you get on.

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Hi Noel,

Not really, no. 

The second generation (the strikingly styled one with the bustle boot) looks great and is nice to drive, but suffered from a catalogue of reliability disorders including dodgy electrics and brakes.

The third generation (current model) is far better from a reliability standpoint but rampant discounting of the car during the most recent scrappage scheme has seen used values collapse, so while they're cheap to buy, you'll never get rid of it. 

Actually, the best Mégane to buy might just be the first generation, which ran from 1994 to 2002. Yes, they're all getting old now but they were reasonably robustly built, exceptionally comfy and not at all bad to drive. Pick one up for buttons and drive it until it owes you nothing.

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Hi Dolores,

The Fluence isn't one of our favourite cars, to be honest, as it's a bit dull to look at and drive, but in reliability terms it should be mostly OK. The 1.5 dCi diesel is pretty solid in that regard, and it's very economical. Just keep an eye on the electrics, as things like electric windows can give trouble. Other than that the only concern is resale value - it's an area where many previous Renaults have fallen down, so you need to be aware of that. If you're planning to trade it in for another Renault in a few years' time, you'll be OK, but switching to another brand could prove a problem when it comes to trade in.

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Hi Susan,

Wow, you're a glutton for punishment aren't you? You pretty much couldn't have picked two less reliable cars. The Discovery is best avoided. If you could afford to trade up to a third-generation model I'd say that's worth a go, as Land Rover was starting to get on top of its quality issues by then, but the old Series II is just bad news. Gearboxes go, electrics go and even the suspension can fail. I know what you mean about falling in love - it's happened to me too with old Land Rovers, but you're looking at a very high-maintenance partner there.

The Espace is a little better, but not by much. The diesel engines are very fragile - check for smoke, check for oil levels and if there are any signs of overheating, run don't walk away. Check anything with an electrical wire coming out the back of it too as it can all go wrong, although the electronic parking brake and electric windows are especially prone to wrongness. Also, keep an eye on the tyres. Espaces go through them like butter and 20,000km is about as much as you'll get out of a set.

If you really want a seven-seater that works properly, can I suggest either a Mitsubishi Pajero or Toyota Land Cruiser? Not as cool as the Discovery, but they won't let you down.

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Hi James,

At that low mileage it should be fine. Electrical gremlins are what strike the Scenic, especially the electric windows, but also watch for problems with the cruise control, alarm, electric parking brake and even the indicators. The good news is that the engines are pretty robust and either the 1.5 or more powerful 1.9 dCi diesel engines are good choices. 

Oh, do watch for bits of the cabin coming off in your hand too...

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Hi Denis,

While it shouldn't suffer from any massive mechanical issues, the second generation Mégane upheld Renault's unloved reputation for electrical problems. Basically be suspect of anything with a copper wire coming out of the back - electric windows especially, but also wiper and light stalks, keyless ignition and remote central locking, which all seem to give problems. The engine management system can also go for a bit of a bath, causing sluggish throttle response and poor starting. Squealing brakes usually just means that the pads need changing.

Hope that helps