I BOUGHT A RENAULT MEGANE FOR £295! 

3 years ago I bought a 2006 3 door 1.5 DCi as a runabout with 122,000 miles on it. Engine is excellent. Never had any leaks - water or oil . All the windows work. It starts every time, is great on fuel. Has a clean MOT and the MOT station says here is no corrosion underneath. It is not perfect - the stupid message centre keeps telling me the key card battery is low when it isn't - so I have spent the last three years ignoring it and never let me down. It costs me £30 road tax. Spare parts are cheap and I can park it anywhere and which from personal experience is more than you can do with a Golf GTi or a Prodrive Impreza. I suspect the 2 litre diesel will be less reliable and more expensive and a waste of time but this little 1.5 has surprised me. People even say it looks stylish. I might have bought it as a run about but it just keeps running ! Using it also keeps the miles and so depreciation down on everything else. It might disappoint some for me to say it but it has not turned out to be a bad purchase at all.

Obviously I wouldn’t want one, but I did always like the look of those old Meganes, like a lot of French cars they’re funky and interesting in a world of boring VWs and Fords.

Bought one of these as my first car at an auction for £350. Everything mechanically important worked a treat, but everything else (electric windows / sunroof / blower fan / remote central locking) ended up broken.

I hope someone left £294 in the ash tray……

My uncle used to have a then new 2004 Megane with the dCi. We obviously didn’t get these in Canada and I always thought it was so ahead of it’s time, especially with that key card system and push button ignition. Compared to the VWs of the time it was very modern. I think it has aged quite nicely too.

i love the styling of these era renault, they were properly brave and quirky, that is the reason people love them over dreary german cars. and also the renault 1.6 petrol engine is a gem of and engine, just powerful enough to be fun, economical enough for what it is, and the chasis in the megan are a joy to drive and trash around

I know what you mean of the typical Renault smell, having owned several myself and currently own a Captur! 😂

I had one of these. It was only a couple of years old at the time. I’ve got to say, the sunroof and electric windows worked… whether you wanted them to or not. It also had the optional extra where the alarm tested itself in the early hours of almost every morning. I kept it for 4 very long months before I decided it was time for a change. And so I never forgot about it, it left me with the gift of all the bits that had fallen off it during my ownership. Ah, memories.

Renault had sorted out the Meganes by 08/09 & the last ones this shape can be a good bargain buy if they’ve been looked after imo. Unpopular opinión I know! Love these “I bought a heap……..” videos.

I am impressed Matt! Not long ago you would have been ploughing money into it non-stop in a vain attempt to save it yourself and then giving consideration to the idea of keeping it because it owed you more than you could ever get back!

I bought my dad one about 5 years ago for £600. it has passed 4 mots, with absolute minimum spend, it got a battery last year, and one of the fog lights has water in it. My dad is the most anti french car person you could ever meet previous to this car. He loves it. Great comfy seats, 100% dependable and i am quite sure when he stops driving in the next few years (he is 87yr old), he will probably hand it back to me, and it will probably do £500 still. I realised years ago that the French get a rough deal in the motoring press, because its all predominantly German owned and/or funded.

No stupid ads..just pure content. Respect. I’ll watch you any day every day

Surprisingly decent condition & not a bad MOT result Great review as always 👍

thank you for not scrapping it, this is my favourite era of renaults

Great video, really good to see you keeping cars like this, fully functional and working (just) and sort of recycling in this time of national economic need. Well done.

I read the title and said Why? Now I'll listen and probably say why again.

I have 1.9 dci from 2008 for 6 years now,and 230k miles.I bought it to be my temporary car and then fell in love with it

Love these videos.. noticed the production quality has stepped up bigtime! Would be good to see subscribers cars reviewed by yourself and see if your correct about the things you notice.

She still looks good honestly I mean it's design is really beautiful 😍

Good to see some regular cars being featured. Not the usual high end luxury cars that are beyond the scope of many.

These cheap junkers with some life left in them are the most interesting content!

Good tip for when inspecting an (older) diesel like this. With most brands you can just lift off the engine cover. Its always good to inspect the injectors with diesels. They are prone for leaks, when left unchecked they can be very hard or nigh inpossible to remove. Resulting in totalling a car in some cases, (diesel injectors can be really expensive!). Especially older Mercedes diesels are known for leaking injectors. Great content again Mark! Good find for the money, can be a reliable daily driver for a customer with a smaller budget. I actually worked as a Renault Salesman. I can really appreciate you being a honest dealer. Keep up the good content! Regards from the Netherlands.

I watch your channel as you kind of think and philosophize like me. I also would pre-judge the car based on the radio station and how clean they left it etc etc. Love these cheap part ex cars and how you deal with them!

Dont underestimate the mk2 megane. Drove my 2006 1.6 16v for 7 years, and i was the 3rd owner. Only problem though, getting parts in South Africa was expensive, and some mechanics refused to work on them. If covid 19 didnt happen in 2020, i probably would still drive it. Very comfortable driving.

the progress bar for the sponsor segment is a nice touch. I know all about carvertical already! Might even use them the next time I buy a car

It's great how you say you can't lose before seeing the car then after seeing it talk yourself into fixing it up. Lucky escape this time by passing the car on. Wonderful keep them coming.

Hello Matt, another interesting video, showing you doing what you do every day. Good idea to give it to your mate. Ged

Guy round the corner from me has been running around in his base model clio for what seems like decades. Every now and then the French throw up an eternity car that keeps going. Lot of old cars here, on the island (bute) with low miles and a fairly easy life. It proves your point Matt, its how you look after them, as much as the make.

A good honest review, thankyou. The earlier Megane like the Scenic c. 2003-2006 suffered from many of the faults you anticipated but particularly the window modules, corrosion in the fuse box near the battery, broken wires - mainly in the tailgate of the estate amongst a few other niggles but they were generally mechanically strong and needed to be well used and serviced well before the 18,000 mile recommended interval especially in Diesel form. The later versions , 2006/7 onwards were better and the 2.0dCI M9R was very strong and swift. We had a 1.6 VVT estate and a 175 DCI RS version - yes I bought two and both were excellent. They were always a popular choice across Europe and sold well. That said, after purchase, I often panicked after reading the negative owner reviews but if well maintained , they were generally reliable, safe and enjoyable. As you know, the post 2009 version is a lot better.

Really excited to know u will be doing a vid on the FJ Cruiser. Hope it’s out soon👍

We had a ‘56 reg one of these for 5years - a base 1.6 16v Expression model. It had the usual dodgy French electrics in terms of electric windows that had a mind of their own and would go up and down when they wanted when it rained. Mechanically it was 100% reliable in the 85k miles we did in it until it developed a slight gearbox whine at 150k. It was comfortable and never returned less than 40mpg, even when transporting the five of us around

Good decision, nice to see you jog one on for a change.

Great direction, production and editing. Really impresive delivery.

Really really enjoying the content of cars on the videos keep it up 👌👌

You're right Matt with Renaults... I currently own a Renault laguna, one of the windows don't work, the sunroof doesn't work and water gets inside the doors but it still gets me from A to B. Great video!

Looking forward to seeing the video on the FJ Cruiser. Since they stopped selling them in the US the second hand values are what they cost new!

Megane 2 is the best car ever, I have mine since 2008. and it is still in perfect condition ❤ all it takes is regular maintenance

I had a 1.6vvt one, had 3 working windows. I can't remember much about it which says a lot, but it did feel like it had a wide wheel base that kept it planted on the road better than other hatch backs I'd had. Replaced headlamp bulbs through the wheel arches for some crazy reason.

A friend of mine has had two of these, both 1.4 petrols and they have clocked up ridiculous miles with very few problems! Bit of an unsung hero

The megane sports are all something a little bit special. Love the 225s of these and the mk3 is great too.

These were a decent little car, the biggest cause of the electrics messing about was due to water getting into the UCH under the bonnet. Replacement window regulators and keycards aren’t overly expensive either.

I had a year 2000 Renault Grand Espace 3 litre automatic from new. Wonderful car! My kids nearly killed me when I got rid of it after 10 years. It was like travelling in a private plane!

nice little motor bro nice and cheap for someone in that price range great bit of content bro and great channel

Wisdom combined with experiential knowledge personified Matt... To be honest, the only experience I've ever had with Renault is breaking down { cars, vans and trucks }. As a truck driver, the only truck I've ever broken down in repeatedly and I mean repeatedly has been a Renault Magnum. I drove a Volvo F 16 globetrotter 500 BHP H Reg for many years and it never let me down. One day I got back into the haulage yard and my boss told me to fuel up my truck, drop my trailer and come in to the warehouse. He told me he had a surprise for me. Yes, he had a massive surprise for me. It was the latest Renault Magnum. I was horrified... I told him I just wanted to keep my Volvo F-16. It was reliable and bulletproof. It's taken me to Russia and back, Italy and back, France Germany Bulgaria the Czech Republic, Poland and every other country on the European continent for many years without a single problem. Please don't burden me with a Renault Mega Problem.... He told me that he had fitted a television, DVD player and a top-of-the-line stereo system with Alpine amplifier as well as giving me a new trailer with a specially constructed metal box for my gas cooker and storage for my food. I decided to give it a try. The next week I set out to the Czech Republic to deliver Vauxhall parts to the Vauxhall factory there. I crossed the border into the Czech Republic. It was raining heavily. The roads as you may be able to imagine are very rough in that country. As I was travelling along, the windscreen started to rattle, so I decided to pull over. As I reached a halt, the windscreen fell forward, not falling out but there was a gap of maybe 4 inches. The rain at this point was pouring in. The electrics went down and I called DKV for assistance... They toed me in and spent a week repairing my crappy French truck.... On my way home I broke down three times. It cost my company a lot of money. When I got back into the yard I parked the unit up and went into the office. My boss handed me the keys to my old Volvo. There was one request I made at that point; " Can I keep the new trailer ?. The cooker and storage space for my food is terrific " Two days later I set off to Russia in my old Volvo and I continued for a further 5 years without a single problem in my beautiful old reliable fun to drive Volvo F 16.

Decent of you to think of your mate and give him a chance to make a modest profit, so well done.

I have the same one, just in white color with 1.5 dCi engine for 11 years (it is the model from 2007). Such an great and reliable car, never dissapointed me

I drove my Twingo 1.5 dCI 2009 until it hit a bit above 470,000 km (that's almost 300,000 miles for EU-hating Island folk, ooh!). Worked like clockwork including botH electric windows - rear ones don't open on a Twingo. 😅 Then sold it for a bit more than EUR 600 last year. Now got a Duster 4x4 with the same engine, hope to do at least as many miles. Surprisingly, the Duster is even more economical (done 70+ imperial mpg on it - that's a 3.9 to 4.0l/100 km for EU citizens of the World [in 2wd mode on mostly highways, of course {does around 5 to 6l/100 on mountain trails when I have the 4wd lock engaged}] ) on a long 2000km journey across the EU. I believe it was around 2007 Renault had started fixing their mess and started producing reliable cars. My two penises. Maintaining the Duster costs peanuts just as did the Twingo. As you can tell, I'm saving money to buy an electric by the 2050s by when one of two things may have happened - world has ended, or electric cars actually started making sense. In the meantime, just as John Lennon would have said, I'm living the life. Cheers.

Great post, as always. Noticed on inster, you maybe featuring a Audi Allroad, eta? 👍

Left hand drive will automatically make you say euro🤣🤣 me and my 6 year old love your content, so thanks for the awesome uploads, also I used car vertical via your link its a really comprehensive with the reports 👍🏾 Thanks again 🔥👍🏾

I did a lot of research years ago when I was considering a Megane for my driving instruction school. Cheap to buy and run. I found that Renault drastically improved their woeful electrics reputation from 2006 so I finally got a 2007 megane 1.5 dci. It was excellent and never let me down. So good I bought another a few years later when she'd done 190 k miles.(to be honest, didn't really need to get another, just wanted the 110 bhp one with six speed gearbox). The 08 I bought was just as reliable. I had a friend who contracted himself out as a car electrician to various big car companies around that time and he was very surprised and impressed with Renault quality. He told me they were, by far, the most stringent. I have a feeling they may have slipped again from 2012 onwards. Probably to save money... I wouldn't buy a later model but I've had no trouble with 06 onwards and have a 2011 Renault Wind as my everyday car and wouldn't have any problem getting a Laguna Coupe (2012ish) which is a beautiful car.

I only had one fault with both Megane I owned. Drivers side window. Great mpg and actually a great car.

Great video - cool hair as well 💥

That camera is fab 👍

i had a later version with the space ship dash as a company car, it lasted a whole 700 miles before the semi auto slush box went on holiday, it was replaced with a Fiat doblo and the smile returned to my face 🙂

I'm glad it wasn't scrapped on the spot; that is a tidy, good looking car that doesn't require much to get it into a good state, and would be perfect for a family on a budget. Out of intense curiosity, I checked, and it's had a fresh MOT and tax in September this year, which means it's still running around. For some reason, I was kind of pleased to see it still lives on.

Looksan honest car with plenty of life left.We had a 1.5diesel pool car that ran to well over 200,000 miles.Took it to the dealer for a headlight bulb and they quoted an hour to take the bumper off...no there is an access cover in the wheel arch.Bullet dodged.Local garage did the Cambelt for 450 all in and yes ,all the windows worked ... .

Would be nice to see an update when your mates does all the work.

Great review as ever love the Toyota!

I ran one of these with the 1.5 diesel with the 6 speed box back in 2007 to run as a company vehicle. Great car, fantastic on mpg. I changed it for the R26 version which was an awesome beast which I wish I’d kept. I never had any problems with any Renaults I owned, I had a Clio and a Laguna estate over the years as well. I must have been lucky I suppose.

our family car has been a base model mk2 Renault Megáne sedan (1.5 Turbo Diesel) for 8 years when I used to live in Turkey. absolutely awesome car, it was a joy to drive, had great fuel economy, lots of space and very ergonomic. We drove all the way from the north west to the south west and south of Turkey multiple times in it without it breaking down a single time. here in the UK we bought a mk2 Citroën C5 Exclusive tourer for only £2750 and it's an absolute bargain for what it is.

love your channel

We have a renault megane currently. 1.5 Turbo Diesel. just hit 200k miles about a month ago. Had a new turbo, full spec with autolights, windows etc. Everything works other than 1 window doesnt do anything and ABS light is constantly on. no issues other than that. We actaully just removed the stock radio and installed a android headunit and is one of our main cars we use to travel to work and back. Bought it for £500

Like these cinematic shots

Gripping episode Matt , real life stuff and not all M3s and Porsches. 👍🇬🇧

Did you just happen to have a camera man this day? Not used to seeing so many angles of yourself Matt. And the different shots when looking through the boot. Very good 👍😂

I had one of these Meganes, a top-of-the-range one with leather seats and lots of gadgets on board. It ran like a dream and I was sorry to have to trade it in for something bigger, as the family was growing. Funnily enough, I still miss it.

I bought a Megane CC 1.6 petrol (hard top convertible) new from a car supermarket in 2007 for £13k. It never broke down, the roof didn't leak and I sold it with the original battery and exhaust after 10 years for £2500. I think I may have been lucky though I do really look after my cars too. I like the styling of the Megane in your video. I know people who had terrible problems with these when they were new though (one even returned his car).

Don't know about the specs in the UK, but the 2.0 DCI (150HP/340Nm and 8.7s from 0-100, not bad in those days...) was only available as GT, which was pretty much full option. For instance, it actually came with xenon headlights.

I used to have one of these and it was very nice car.. big up from Scotland 👍

Love your work 👍

Cool hatchback and innovative as well. Keyless entry + go and a 5 star safety rating- the first for a small hatchback. I think the DPF needed doing because it was juddering on start up as the gear lever was vibrating and the glow plugs needed doing as well. Hope your mate checks the clutch but I think it is a decent cad. They are getting rare and they could be a future classic with its innovative design. If only it was a R26R 😂

Had a 55 plate 1.6 VVT Dynamique as a delivery vehicle for a spell. All electrics worked but the engine light was permanently on (briefly went off after a garage reset). Flat spot when pulling off. Not a bad car by any stretch. Made a profit when I scrapped it too to save money on supremely expensive MOT requirements probably due to the hell I put it through doing the job.

Many moons ago we had a black Megane, Oasis - 1.6 petrol... it was absolutely amazing. Loved that car. Only ditched it when a VW caddy ditched me into a central reservation near Rubery... Loved it. Well worth £1200 with an MOT and service.

Great cheap buy Matt! Bargain after everythings sorted! :D

Dream car....it doesn't matter if it keeps breaking down, can't afford the fuel for it anyway.

Haha. I had a 1.6 dynamic as a courtesy car. Very similar to yours. Megane had 500 miles on the clock. Windows worked intermitantly, band driver seat was jammed in one position. I did like the colour and the odd looks though. Good video.

Being 10 years old when this shape Mégane launched, I will forever have a soft spot for their styling. I think the entire Renault range looked fantastic in the early '00s. I once had a go in a 2.0VVT Mégane CC and was pleasantly surprised by how nicely it drove. I reckon a hatchback with the same engine would be nice...until the electrical equipment failed.

Meganne mark 2 DCi - the best car I've ever owned; Bought one to flip 2 years ago and it stays till it dies. The one featured will obviously need the abs fault and service light attending to before an mot. That is the reason previous owner ditched the car, garage quote to fix abs would be a blank cheque !

Yeah thinking back to my helicine days of driving Renaults, I tried one of these (petrol with a CVT ) and on a test run found I hated it, as my Clio at the time had more going for it but was aging so swopped it for my first Audi A3 Diesel. When you started it up Matt it sounded like a Tractor.

Good video mate

Check under the front mats...there's extra storage there too... FJ is for driving on the right, the correct side of the road, like what I do! Finally you have a LHD vehicle for me!!!!! Do you deliver? I'll get the kettle on and open the vin rouge !

I sold a megane scenic, was driving along near my garage and I could see a long line of traffic and smell rubber, it was the customer heading back to mine with the auto brake locked on.

i have this megane from 2004 with 259.000km ... of course 3 windows motors (50 euro used but still working) 2 batteries , never abs , 4 key cards ( 2 of them my bad and the cost is about 180 euro each) but i like it couse never let me somewhere from mechanical issue .. that car is for comfort and easy kms .. if you want more just check rs version of that and trust me its another chapter .. and my ''relationship'' with megane started randomly as my father needed fast a car for mom ... so it was bought used with 5k kms .. and today i can certain confess that my next car will be again megane but 2016 1.5hdi 130hp rs line .. lovely design and solid engine with comfort and quietness around .. its enough for me .. great vids by the way !

The thing in the boot is an adaptor for a pushchair to attach a car seat.

And now you speak in euros ! Lovely mate cheers from your #1 French follower

Actually insane that for only £500 ish you can own a road legal car that is still fairly modern with a torquey engine 💪🏻

5:23 In continental Europe this trim level used to be called Dynamique. There was only one spec. model higher, named Privilége. (Without countig R.S., though)

Another good video ... I've always believed don't buy second hand french cars ... I do prefer the old filming style with you holding the camera though

Look forward to the FK cruiser review. Looks like a tonka truck made full size

Looking good both car and the buyer 💪🙂

Been in the states for 2 months now nearly time to go home BUT love the FJ please, please, please do a vid on it.

In Poland, they’re commonly called “tow truck queens”. I don’t think I need to explain further...

Thanks Matt as always

I have a GT model with the same engine with almost 250k Miles, as you fell impressed with your car, i was when i bought It and never let me down in 3 years of ownership, as amazing as it sounds.

NY first renault megane mk2 did 120000 from new 2 wiring issues, Mk3 1.6 dci 160000 no issues at all but I do service my cars twice a year. Currently in a mk4 1.5 dci 54 k and no issues so far. The mk 4 is a peach to own and drive. A very underated car in my experience you should try one 👍i I can get close to 70 mpg on the motorway if I behave myself. I must be lucky never had a clutch either 👍

That key card lived on in the next generation I had a 2010 newer shape one. Was a decent car to be fair much improved in terms of quality

Many thanks for your great videos. Having worked previously in the trade for 15 years I do love your transparency and passion in your profession. I never did see that very nice Avensis on your website. What price did you advertise it for please and did it need alot spending on it ..? Thanks once again.

I bought a 2004 Megane with the 2.0L and all fruit, leather, glass roof, auto, with 230,000km that’s about 130,000 miles. Living in Australia it had no rust because of our 40c summers, only work it needed was a new steering wheel clock spring to fix the airbag fault, front lower control arm ball joints, new discs and pads, which are normal wear and tear items on all vehicles as you rack up mileage. When l sold it on at 300,000 km everything still worked and no rust or leaks. Longevity has more to do with climate more than perceived build quality. My Discovery 1 tdi has over 500,000km- 300,000 miles with no rust.

I have a lot of respect for Renaults, very bold and modern design. Yes maybe slightly dodgy electrics, but their engines are always very strong and can make excellent workhorses😅

Ive had a Renault Megane 2006 1.6 diesel sedan. Only had a steering issue and a couple of clocksprings. That was why the ABS light came on. Also an engine light on which didn't seem to effect how the car ran. Covered it with black tape. Had the car for 11 years and adding brakes and oil and such, I was very happy with it. Some person ran into the back of it while parked and that was the end of that. That car did not deserve it's ending. It had 270,000 kms on the clock. I then bought a second hand Renault Megane 2008 x84 hatch and have had that for 5 years. It had 91,000 kms and now It has 175,000 kms. Changed the rotors and have it serviced once a year. No problems at all. Both cars were/are diesels, and I am impressed with the gearbox. On both cars the gear changes were always smooth. My next car will be another Renault Megane. Very underrated cars.