The car: MEGANE COUPE 1999 1.6 16V Sports Alize phase 2
I have had the car for 4-5 years now and guess I can judge how well the Megane Coupe has faired for me. Many reviews here don't seem to distinguise whether it is the phase 1 or phase 2 models. Phase 1 models are usually 8V whereas ... Read review
Convertible, Coupe - Front (FWD) - 4 Speed Automatic, 6 Speed Manual - 1998 cc - Max Speed: 127 mph - 136 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Dynamique, Privilege
Advantages: Looks, handling, individuality Disadvantages: space (but you are buying a coupe!)
The car: MEGANE COUPE 1999 1.6 16V Sports Alize phase 2
I have had the car for 4-5 years now and guess I can judge how well the Megane Coupe has faired for me. Many reviews here don't seem to distinguise whether it is the phase 1 or phase 2 models. Phase 1 models are usually 8V whereas the phase 2 models are 16V and have a slightly different front and back styling.
The picture shown above is of a phase 2 car and is the hatchback ... ...my car which is the phase 2 Coupe model. In the review I'll talk about ownership and possible problems...including those which I have had :-)
THE LOOKS
=========
I have owned the car for about 5 years now and still find driving it a joy, the individuallity, the styling and those double optic headlamps really do something for me! I have not seen a car, since the 5 years that I have own the coupe, that has better styling ... more
The car: MEGANE COUPE 1999 1.6 16V Sports Alize phase 2
I have had the car for 4-5 years now and guess I can judge how well the Megane Coupe has faired for me. Many reviews here don't seem to distinguise whether it is the phase 1 or phase 2 models. Phase 1 models are usually 8V whereas the phase 2 models are 16V and have a slightly different front and back styling. The picture shown above is of a phase 2 car and is the hatchback version NOT the coupe!
Here I review my car which is the phase 2 Coupe model. In the review I'll talk about ownership and possible problems...including those which I have had :-)
THE LOOKS ========= I have owned the car for about 5 years now and still find driving it a joy, the individuallity, the styling and those double optic headlamps really do something for me! I have not seen a car, since the 5 years that I have own the coupe, that has better styling than the coupe....except the recently launched RX-8 :), suffice it to say that 5 years on the coupe still has an edge to it's styling....although I can't say the same for the recently launched megane 2....oww it's ugly! Build quality inside is ok, although for a coupe model I would have expected the interior to be somewhat more, sporty? Instead the dash etc is exactly the same as the 5 door model except for the white sporty dials.
THE HANDLING ============ I believe that the car has been underrated in many of the car magazines. Many compare the coupe to the likes of the Vauxhall Tigra and the Ford Puma. It is no wonder that the coupe fairs less favourably! Just look at the space in the other two....it's even less than the Coupe! It must not be forgotten that the Coupe should technically be compared to a bigger class of car, like the Golf and the Astra. The Tigra and the Puma both have a chassis which is smaller than that of the Megane Coupe. The Tigra is based on the Vauxhall Corsa and the Puma is based on the Fiesta, it’s no wonder that with these smaller chassis that you can hurl the Tigra and the Puma around corners much better than the Coupe! Having driven all 3 of the above cars I can clearly say that the coupe is the best all rounder for enjoyment, comfort and cruising ability. The Tigra is indeed much moiré responsive but also quite jittery and the Puma is indeed a smooth ride…but still the coupe hold a certain awe in it’s character that, I find, is not matched by it’s rivals. The coupe is indeed a smooth ride, but throw it quickly into a few sharp bends at it handles them with ease…..although go too far and a sense of understeer is well communicated through the steering wheel. With ABS as standard and big 285mm vented disk brakes at the front the car stops well. For those wanting even better handling by lowering the vehicle, bear in mind that the rears are Torsion bars and so need more effort to lower. Around town the car is very easy to drive the power steering feels good and gives good feedback, the clutch is heavier compared to the likes of the Tigra, but is nothing out of the ordinary for a medium class car. The gearbox however is a let down in terms of the cars sporty character…the stock gearchange is long and vague and just does not inspire a sporty drive. The car is also very quiet around town with very little engine or tyre noise.
THE POWER ========== Out on the open road the 110Bhp engine real feels fast power is very accessible through the rev range and has surprisingly a lot of pull from 70mph and up….if you have to suddenly overtake! The engine does create slightly more noise at motorway speeds, but I guess it is to be expected in a Coupe. With a 0-60 in around 9.5s and a top speed of 123mph, the car is very driveable.
COST OF OWNERSHIP ================== The Coupe is a group 9/10 car and as such I have been paying around £450 a year, I am 26 with 5years ncb, no accidents, live in the North east and park the car on the drive. It is surprising what a little shopping can do, I was quoted a most ridiculous price of £1200 from one insurance company….my advice SHOP AROUND! Surprisingly the coupe is also very frugal with a combined mpg of around 42mpg it can be fairly economical to run. In real life I have had about 40mpg on the trip computer.
THE EXTRAS =========== As standard the car comes with a surprising amount of toys, pretty much everything is electric, the sunroof (tilt and slide), heated electric wing mirrors, windows, including rear elec windows. Together with a trip computer, which shows gas mileage, distance travelled, average speed, mpg etc. you do get your moneys worth. The sports Alize model also came with air conditioning…and boy was I glad I paid a bit extra for that come the summer months! The aircon also acts as an excellent de-mister in the colder months!
THE PROBLEMS ============= All does not end like a dream however. The major gripe I have is with dealers, find a good dealer and you will be looking at years of good service….an incompetent dealer will ruin the whole experience with endless trips backwards and forwards. Here are a list of problems I have had
1) Wheel bearings – 3 went at about 50K miles it seems that these do tend to go early with the coupes. I got my front bearings changed for £70 and rear ones changed for £50, for dealers expect to pay around 2.5 times as much.
2) TDC sensor fault at 45K miles– there was a recall for this, it was replaced for £20
3) Rear number plate lighting fault 52K – this was caused by bad routing of the cable on the left hand side hinge, this caused the plastic on the hinge to rub through the earth wire and cause strange problems with the number plate. DEALER SOLUTION was to replace the wiring loom at the rear…cost £240…..MY SOLUTION connect up the wire again by crimping it together…cost 15p….DON’T always replace what can be easily fixed!
4) Air recirculation flap 23K miles– somehow this dislodged itself from the motor and has not been able to retain it’s position since. There was a change in design in the year 2000. DEALER FIX : change out the airbox….a LOT of work! Cost £450. MY SOLUTION: I just held the flap in the constantly open position with some wire, I never use recirc mode anyway cost 5p.
5) Head Gasket 65K miles – This was odd this one. I took the car into service and then 3 weeks later I have a blown head gasket, I later find that the oil had been overfilled at service…I still don’t know whether this caused the problem or not….but as I had taken out aftermarket warranty cover this was covered so I didn’t take it further. This re-iterates my point about finding a good dealer OR a local specialist. DEALER COST: £750 MY COST:£100 due to changing timing belt at same time.
MY FURTHER ADVICE =================== As you can see from the above things do go wrong……it is a car after all! It I had taken the dealer solution to all problems I would have been severely out of pocket, it pays to get a second opinion on repairs. Dealers these days tend to replace and not repair, find a local garage and they could probably very easily repair the damage for a fraction of the cost.
Other things to look out for on the coupe are: 1) Ball joint and CV gaitors: these tend to go prematurely on the coupe 2) Ignition coils: it has also been shown that some of the new engine exhibit problems with the ignition coils causing the car to judder and run on 3 cylinders - a recall was issued for this also.
Advantages: Good looking, economical and fun, just like me! Disadvantages: Cramped, plasticy interior, bit sluggish
...girlfriend and I purchased a Renault Megane 1.6e Coupe several years ago, and I must admit to hogging it most of the time. Our other car (a Saab) is as economical as wacking up the central heating then leaving all the windows open.
** ON THE OUTSIDE **
Well, it looks the part, although it doesn't have the front fog lights that the 2.0 model benefits from. It's as curvy as Vanessa Feltz standing in front of one of those wobbly mirrors you get at ... ...The fifteen inch standard Renault alloy wheels really do make the car, and (if you're that way inclined) there are a number of after-market add-ons such as an Evo style rear spoiler, lowering springs and various body kits, but I think it looks just dandy the way it is.
** ON THE INSIDE **
Being a tallish chap (six foot one and a quarter inches) you're really not too sure if you'll fit in there okay. But you do, so long as the driver's seat is as ...
blueduck 23.04.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Renault Megane 1.6 Coupe
Advantages: purchase price, drivability, looks Disadvantages: too soon to tell
...onto the Coupe.
Looks
Well Renault did a good thing basing the car on the Megane platform but putting the effort into making it a coupe rather a 3 door hatch (unlike Citreon Xara Coupe).
Upto the A pillar it's a megane, after that it's a good looking coupe - remenisant of the Mazda MX3.
Even the Yellow color works well on this car. Mine is Green, but you cannot choose when you buy second hand unless you shop around.
Inside
A few other reviews ... ...a bit grey inside - Renault must have saved a fortune buying a job lot of the same plastic and then fitted it to every Megan in the range. Basically I'm trying to say the the coupe doesn't look any different to any other Megan, but if it keeps cost's down and makes the car affordable - who am I to complain.
Safety
Still inside - it has airbags all round and Renault are renoundfor building safe cars. This is one area I wont want to gain practical ...
moley1a 14.11.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Renault Megane 1.6 Coupe
Advantages: Great engine, good looks, high spec, reliable Disadvantages: lacklustre handling, harsh ride, bland interior
I bought my W-reg Renault Megane Coupe 1.6 Sport Alize January 2007. I paid nearly £3000 for this car including the value of my old Citroen AX which I part-exchanged in as part of the deal. I had been looking for this model for some time and was relieved to finally purchase one from a local garage. I bought it with 86000 miles on the clock. It now has 99000.
STYLING - Initially one the main reasons I started looking for the coupe variant of the ... ...its age now compared to newer models on the market, the car is still an attractive shape. My model is bright red with the standard 15" alloy wheels and overall the car looks sporty and squat. Inside unfortunately the styling flair is not continued inside, and the fact that this car is based on the megane hatch becomes apparent. Dull grey plastic is abundant and the interior layout and detailing doesnt really match the sporty exterior. The plastics ...
howardthemighty 18.02.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Renault Megane 1.6 Coupe
Advantages: Looks fantastic and great to drive. Disadvantages: Limited space in the back.
The Car
It's a black renault megane coupe dynamique+ 1.6 51reg. I used to have a Renault Clio 1.4RT which I loved, but the coupe was the only car that I would exchange it for (it had to be black).
Exterior
It looks fantastic, sleek and sexy - the dynamique+ model has a sunroof fitted as standard as well as having air conditioning. It has front fog lights which add to the classy look the car has. It's black which does show up the dirt but it's ... ...and actually want to keep it clean and shiny!
Interior
There is plenty of room in the front with the seats being able to go up and down as well as back and forth (for us shorties) but is very limited in the back - I wouldn't want to travel a long way in the back! The dash is smart looking with its white dials which give it a sporty look. The half leather half bucket seats are also comfy and quite easy to keep clean. It comes with a 6 CD changer ...
CoupeQueen 09.07.2007 (10.07.2007)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Renault Megane 1.6 Coupe
Advantages: Reliability, looks, features, ride Disadvantages: Space
Overall this is a great car. I drive 100 miles a day to and from work and this little car has not failed me so far. I own an X registration model (2000) and have done nearly 18k miles in it.
I have only had minor problems with the car to date including a rear brake light bulb failure, dipped halogen headlight bulb failure, front washer jet failure and a puncture.
DEALER
--------------
I bought this car from the dealer and they were surprisingly ... ...petrol and £500+ of the sale price. In the end though I didn't quite get the £10 worth of petrol. The tank only had about £4 worth in it but I just couldn't be bothered to complain. I also had to come back for the car mats. My advice is not to ask for extras as you may not get them but concentrate on getting a good sale price. The dealer also didn't point out some accident damage (ie a dented radiator) which I only discovered a week or two later. ...
Big_Al35 11.10.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Renault Megane 1.6 Coupe
Value for Money
Road Handling
Comfort
Features
Fuel consumption
Looks
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Renault Megane 1.6 Coupe"
Advantages: DROP ROOF , LOOKS AND LOWISH RUNNING COSTS Disadvantages: ITS A RENAULT BADGE, REAR PASSENGER SPACE
I wanted a good looking convertible but the wife hates rag-tops. So with my Mercedes valued at around 3,500- 4k and another grand in hand I found a diesel 6 speed , Privelidge spec ,November 2005 (55 plate here in England) and raced along with the deal. Its a high miler at 90k but with full Renault history i was not too concerned. After all its about £1,500 less than any other deisel version I had seen.
I had read awful owner reviews with moans about leaking seals around the roof and the car being slow / sluggish but this has not put me off getting one. I will be the first too admit it does not drive as solid as my c220 Mercedes did but the Merc did not have keyless entry, folding glass roof into the boot , push button start / stop and the heater on the Renault works alot faster on these cold mornings.
So far the Megane has put ...
Advantages: Great for pose value, comfy and fun Disadvantages: Huge doors! Inconvenient boot when roof down
parks, you can hardly get in or out of the car. (A big warning here for anyone else is never to park next to the meganecoupe-cabriolet as you will get dents in your doors - sorry) As the doors are also really heavy, if you park on any kind of slope, then whichever door is facing downhill really swings open and you have to hang on to the door whilst trying to climb out of the car so that you don't cause anyone any damage - even to the point sometimes where you think that the door will just fly off!
Gimmicks wise the car is standard Renault. Automatic headlights (great til you get in another car and forget that the car doesn't turn it's own lights on), racing car filler cap, clever sensor windscreen wipers and so on.
It's a lovely car and we really enjoy driving it. Having had a convertible car now, I don't know whether we would ever ...
