Don’t buy a Renault
My parents bought me a Renault Modus in October 2005. All was fine for the first year until my latest service, the 30 000km service. For starters, the service cost me R1400 for labour… which is well about industry standard. Then I was told that my front brake pads needed replacing, that was another R900. Then I was informed that my tires needed to be replaced urgently. Thats were the major issues started.
You cannot get tires for the Renault Modus in South Africa. Even Renault themselves admitted that they can’t get tires! A three week search ensued resulting in 1 tire found in Uppington and another 2 in Johannesburg. Those were joined by my current spare tire and finally fitted today at a cost of R2000. But how can every Renault owner undergo this process each time they need to replace the tires. A friend of mine’s mother has been waiting since April 2006 for a new spare tire for her Renault Senic. Come on Renault.
Next issue… At my service I was informed that my car’s alternator was flawed and had been since it left the showroom, but that they would get parts for it as soon as they good. That would explain the really odd sound I’d heard since day 1 but always thought to be part of the “Modus sound”.
After two weeks I got the new alternator and tension pulley installed free of charge (amazing) and I was phoned at 3pm to collect my car. After work (4:30pm) I had a friend take me down to collect – only to be told “Sorry, your car is out on the road test. Just wait a minute.”
I wasn’t offered a seat, a cup of coffee or anything. I stood on the service department floor waiting for my car to get back. When it did I was just given my keys and shown some control certificate thing. Thats it, no apology.
I drove off and about 10 minutes later realised that not only was the sound still there – but it was far worse than ever before.
I contacted them today to tell them how unhappy I was and was told “okay, we’ll have someone call you on Monday about it”.
Sigh. Come on Renault.
Hmm, which branch was this? This is indeed, very bad service. And, about the tyres. Did you only try Renault dealers? Because I’m really sure that the rest of the country would have the required tyres, and at a much cheaper price. R1000 for a tyre? Thats ridiculous. But, yes, after service like that, dont buy a renault. O, and watch out for electric windows. They can be very ehm, fussy. Aurora’s car’s window winders have had to be replaced already. (the electric ones)
Steve
2 Feb 07 at 12:13 pm
Yeah hectic hey?! I tried a bunch of other tyre places first which didn’t have them – apparently they’re a unique tire… sigh. Eventually Blue Route Motors (SupaQuik) managed to source 3 and use the spare as the 4th. Oh… and its Monday – and I got no call from Renault Tokia. This means war.
timkeller
5 Feb 07 at 9:47 pm
HAHAHAHAHA,
Poor u. I always thought Renault was good. We have friends that bought a Citroen and it broke so they got into contact with the dealer because it was fairly new and they were told that it would have to wait to be fixed. This was last year. I dont think that it ever got fixed.
J
Jonathan Wagener
6 Mar 07 at 3:10 pm
renault are terrible when ti comes to guarantees warranty’s and parts as it takes three weeks for them to get a new card key for those that have card key starts as they have to be ordered from France. loose your key or damage it then basically your car is of the road for three weeks plus. Cost wise is another story and the keycard costs 150 plus minus plus another 75 for the computer technician to allign it to your car when the key comes in from france, eventually. Stick to ford and you cant go wrong
Bill
19 Mar 07 at 4:35 pm
i want to buy a renault modus 2005 model 1.4 expre it has only 28k on the clock and the price is cheap.
please advice me of the prices of spares and isurance costs
ridwaan
3 Aug 08 at 11:05 am
Hey Guys, bought one back in 2006, have been kicking myself ever since. They have all the bells & whistle on this little car, but they don’t tell you how hectically they depreciate in value. Had to replace my side mirror, and there was nothing wrong with it but the rotating thingy that attaches it to the arm, they wanted R2500 for a new one, I laughed and said I would live without the mirror thnx. Services are very expensive and they catch you all the time on your service plans etc. Rather source a delaer for parts (brake pads, disks etc) it saved me R2000 on my last service. Still took it in for a service, and they serviced but would fit the parts…. no problem I have a workshop mechanic that can help me out with that (they even admitted that the genuine parts I got were cheaper than they would have sold to me) they mark their parts up drastically. To add to that, I hope I can help you out here, but I learnt the hard way on the tyres, they dont need to be “conti’s”, phone Jcks Tyres in Durban they will sort you out. I got different to the originals that were on the car and they have been working just fine for the last 6 months. Make a plan bud, you seem to be falling for the salesman pitch. Anyway I agree and will happily fly the banner with you “don’t by Renault” kuk car, my next cars gonna be a VW or a Toyota. Lokal is lekker…. I think, besides resale is far better on trade ins….
Kim
2 Dec 08 at 5:47 pm
I need to replace my hand break as the lever is broken(plastic)but I was told it will cost me 1500.00 that is not on.Please help what to do
dorah bob-thonga
20 Feb 09 at 9:02 am
I have a Renault 2003 Scenic 19 cdi. (Bought new, now 80 000 km). I can not begin to tell you what sh*t a Renault is. The latest is that it develops a noise. Auto Extra told me that the v-belt tensioner , the water plump and the alternator were broken. Everything at the same time??? As normal they did not have the alternator (3 weeks to get France) but replaced the tensioner and the water pump. (I am paying for all this myself). Then 2 weeks later the noise return and air conditioning broke. I drove the car to AutoExtra for repair. It was fine at that stage except that the air conditioner did not work. They told me that beside the alternator, the v-belt do not stay on the pulleys long enough in order for them check the air conditioner, but it was fine when I took it in. Now the car does not run and we are stranded.rnrnRenault mechanics break cars and lose fittings. I have never once received the car back with the splash plates back correctly. They leave fasteners out. I had to replace all the plate myself since they have just dropped on the tar between Pta and Cape Town. They drilled holes in the front bumper because they were too lazy the refit the splash plates. After they replaced the cam belt the all the screw treads were ripped out of the cam belt cover. They even manage to “loose” some of the interior fittings. They break clips wherever they work. Even today the inside covers of the passenger foot well is lose after they replaced the pollen filter the first time. They did replace the bumper and the interior fitting but if you do not spot all the damage at collection they just laughed off. Then there were some emission controls exhaust valve that suddenly broke after a service. (My cost again) rnrnThe car’s price the 2003 were R192 000, today Renault themselves is only prepare to give me R50 000. That is the only reason why there is still Renault around. You can not get rid of the rubbish. rnrnKeeping this car running is costing me thousands, Money I do not have and have would have liked to use to pay for my kid’s education.rnrnI was used to Toyotas and VWs. They did not break at 80 000km. I thought cars start to need this type of repair only at around 230 000 km like my Camry and Hi Luxrnrn I wonder if these people how make these junk products like Renault realize the hardship and emotional distress the cause to the unsuspected victims. I am sure the Carlos Ghosn and Louis Schweitzer kids are happy and they think they are OK. We don’t.rn
Tobie
24 Feb 09 at 12:37 pm
I took my 2006 Modus in to replace the cambelt. They phoned me back to inform me that there were a couple of other problems, campshaft pulleys, crankshaft pulleys and timing belt tensioner all need to be replaced. All in all the job would cost me…wait for it… R11 000. This is rediculous. Anybody know where to find second hand parts? Can obviously not afford this.
Riaan
Riaan Nieuwoudt
3 Jun 09 at 2:20 pm
Well thanks for the advice abve, i have actually just gone to look at a Modus and the things about Renault have just put me off for good. I had the new Megane hatch in 2005 brand new off the floor, 3 months later there was rust on the mane frame under the boot lid….mmmhhh what do you think happened …yup NOTHING, they dusted and sprayed it just to have the paint bubble and lift 3 months later again, so after a year of fighting and them having my car for a total of 21 days and me having to find alternative transport, i rather got rid of it, sorry for the poor dude who got it second hand.
Pam Nelson
25 Oct 09 at 8:46 pm