gareth

Our 172 has been okay (when not comparing with a scooby obviously) but it's when the dealers get involved that things go pear-shaped.

Just came up for the first (2 year) service last week. Main screwup was forgetting to replace the oil filler cap (but replacing the little cover that hides it!). Also omitted to order in the air filter but were happy to just miss it out and hope I wouldn't notice...

Other minor faults have been (1) seatbelt warning light always on, from new, (2) backbox split at around 5000 miles...

NotoriousREV

Faults with my Clio (not a Cup, or even a 172 ) and dealer:

While signing to buy the car and going through loan approval, the dealership lied to us. They told us that Renault Financial Services had refused our application. Unfortunately for the dealer, he didn't realise that myself and MrsREV met while we worked at Capital Bank, in the Renault Financial Services department. A quick couple of phone calls and we had our loan at a discounted rate and side-stepped the dealer.

The day we picked it up, got home and the fuse for the sunroof had blown (although it had been working a the salesman had demonstrated where the button was) and the airbag light had come on about half a mile from the dealership. I replaced the fuse, opened the sunroof, closed it again and the fuse blew once more.

The car went back to the dealer, wiring fault discovered on the sunroof and fixed. However, during the search for the airbag fault, the dealer had to remove the dashboard. The fault was discovered in the ignitor for the passenger airbag. It would take 6 weeks for the part to arrive and they didn't want to reassemble the car as it would be extra (unpaid) labour.

After 2 days, dealership called and asked for the courtesy car back. Told them no. They agreed to provide a hire car. MrsREV was dumped at car hire place by a surly mechanic and on picking the hire car up, was told that the excess on the insurance was £2000 Also, MrsREV had specifically requested a small car and was given a Mondeo

Eventually, the airbag was fixed and the car back on the road and aside from various peices of trim (including the handle that allows the drivers seat to tilt forward) had come adrift, the car seemed to settle down.

Then, one day the speedo decided it was leading a boring life, indicating the speed on an urban Clio and started fantasising about the speeds it wanted to indicate. It sat on the drive, at an indicated 140mph, it would pop down to ASDA off the clock (estimated 200mph!) and just for laughs and giggles, would occasionally drop to 40mph.

We reported this to the dealer and booked the car in to have the work done, along with a service. There was a few days wait for a courtesy car though, but that was fine, so we took the first appointment available with a car.

The day of the repairs, the dealership call us and say that the new speedo will be £350. "Er, warranty" say I. No, say the dealership, the car passed out of warranty 2 days ago. Tough sh@t.

Call Renault UK "we didn't sell you the car, warranty isn't ours (extended warranty offered to us by the dealer) not our problem, au revoir".

Call Trading Standards "not much we can do".

Settled for leaving car as is and bad mouthing Renault to anyone that will listen.

EDITED to add: this doesn't include the alarm problems and the fact that the exhaust rusted off in less than 2.5 years.

[Edited by NotoriousREV - 9/11/2003 12:51:36 PM]

DrEvil

Well my otherhalves clio is a 1.2 Sport, nothing fancy, but:

- 2x ECU code updates so far, to fix stalling problems (equated to around 6 garage visits)
- various electrical problems, things just stop working, such as the hazzards.
- Seat bag cable in passenger seat worked loose after 4 months, she was told all two door cars with air bags suffered from this (wish I'd been there for that one!).
- She was told 3 weeks after picking the car up, she should be GRATEFUL for a courtsey car they have provided due to the car cutting out frequently.
- Some other issues which were more dealer created.

The only Renault dealer we have some faith in is Mill-Lane in Aldershot, they are the only one we have been to that has shown any sort of professionalisim(sp!)!

We will never buy french again (I already dislike Peugeot after owning a 306 from new before)!

Shame you guys are experiencing the same or similar issue

Alex

[Edited by DrEvil - 9/12/2003 10:36:45 AM]