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Readers' rating
By Phil McNamara
First Drives
17 October 2008 14:53
Renault split opinion with the outgoing Megane 2. You know, that shakey-ass marketing. The distinctive, bustleback styling. A classic Marmite car, in fact. The sad thing is, the marketing suits have deemed such avantgarde design as verboten in the new, let's-appeal-to-everyone age. Hence the new, less risky Megane 3. Now we've driven it, we can finally announce if it's boring or brilliant.
It's hard not to approach the new Megane with some doubt. It is very Euro-clone sensible, though we can't deny it looks more grown-up. The bonnet is elegantly sculpted and we admire the way the rear lamps flow into the haunches. But do we love it? Get real. The five-door's design is bland and – from some angles – bloated. It even reminds me of the old Nissan Almera. So much for Renault's daring period of design expression.
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Renault Megane 1.5dCi (2008) CAR review
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Batty says
RE: Renault Megane 1.5dCi (104bhp) CAR review
No wonder you're the editor Phil. How you managed to write so much about something so forgettable is admirable. How dull, what a shame after such a fantastically exciting style of the last Megane.
27 October 2008 05:11
jammy_rex says
Yes, this car is very bland. Also, I do not believe they will resolve their quality problems overnight either, despite perceived quality seemingly being better... Also, I would like to comment on the gearchange quality. Too often manufacturers get away with producing cars with awful gearboxes. The old Megane's was a joke (like most French cars to be honest), even just sitting in an R26 Megane and moving the gearstick through the gears resulted in outright laughter; the throw was massive and felt as precise as stirring custard - and that was from the hot model of the range! Compared to a Civic Type R for example, there was just no comparison - the gearchange is such a fundamental, important and tactile part of the driving experience but straight away the car failed at the first hurdle. Again, getting behind the wheel of a new Laguna I had the same feelings, and no matter how competent the rest of the car maybe, the manual gearbox was a source of hilarity... Come on, how hard can it be to produce a decent manual gearbox in this day and age?!
26 October 2008 12:41
JohnnyBimmer says
It's all looking a bit Korean/Malaysian round here. There's too many unneccessary (pointless) lines making for confusion and blandness (ie. has no identity). If it wasn't for the Renault badge who the hell would know what this is?!!
25 October 2008 17:41
jeremy99 says
"As a result, the new model is completely anonymous, like the currrent Laguna, and doesn't draw on anything that could be part of a distinctive Renault heritage." This could basically be said of any Renault since the 9/11 with the possible exceptions of the early Megane, Clio and Espace. I think Renault now hope that with a good engine and a good finance deal it can sell enough cars. Renault used to have a unique approach to suspension and powertrain (although vague gear changes were common)but I persume that they can no longer justify those costs. Ford seem to have taken over the lead on the chassis side but as that does not appear to translate into huge sales success maybe Renault are right not to try harder.
21 October 2008 17:25
mini1 says
I agree - most Audis and BMWs look a lot blander than the Megane!
17 October 2008 22:00
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