I have had three cars now from Sunwin Renault in Derby, the first arrived on time, looked excellent inside and out and I was happy with the service.
The second arrived late with a large dent in the roof; this was repaired (poorly) by a contracted body shop and spent the next two months ... Read review
Advantages: Large Showroom Disadvantages: Managers are liars and threaten you, Valeters are incompetent, after sales are non-existent
...three cars now from Sunwin Renault in Derby, the first arrived on time, looked excellent inside and out and I was happy with the service.
The second arrived late with a large dent in the roof; this was repaired (poorly) by a contracted body shop and spent the next two months in and out of the body shop. Every time it came back the body shop had scratched another panel, not matched the colour or had blistered the paintwork in polishing. ... ...
I promptly called Renault UK to try to resolve this matter, who initially directed me back to the Dealer. I returned to the dealer on Friday (19th September) to talk to my salesperson, he immediately summoned two sales managers from the showroom to inspect my car. The first thing they said was that there was nothing wrong, after pointing out the problem they came up with a myriad of excuses including:
I have had three cars now from Sunwin Renault in Derby, the first arrived on time, looked excellent inside and out and I was happy with the service.
The second arrived late with a large dent in the roof; this was repaired (poorly) by a contracted body shop and spent the next two months in and out of the body shop. Every time it came back the body shop had scratched another panel, not matched the colour or had blistered the paintwork in polishing. Eventually everything came back to my satisfaction and I was assured that the dealership would no longer be using that body shop, so I was happy with the outcome.
I picked up my latest car last Thursday (18th September), the car arrived 3 weeks early so I went to see it at the dealer before my pickup date, everything looked immaculate. When I went to pick it up I didn't sign for the paintwork as it was overcast and I couldn't inspect it fully. Upon getting the vehicle home the sun had come out and the first thing I could see was that the entire vehicle was covered in scratches and swirl marks! I promptly called the dealer to explain the problem, who took me to their valeting department.
This seemed to be the source of the problem, previously Sunwin had used private contractors just down the road to prepare their new cars, and they were now using an in-house service in a small corner of their property. The valeting manager had a look at the car, picked up a dirty rag from the floor and started to apply liquid wax to the roof and spoiler; this explained why the car was covered in scratches.
I promptly called Renault UK to try to resolve this matter, who initially directed me back to the Dealer. I returned to the dealer on Friday (19th September) to talk to my salesperson, he immediately summoned two sales managers from the showroom to inspect my car. The first thing they said was that there was nothing wrong, after pointing out the problem they came up with a myriad of excuses including:
The marks are just the colour of the car (I've already had a racing blue car from them so I knew this was a lie). All new cars have these marks on them (I've had two cars from them before and none of the others on display showed these marks). It is not that bad and cannot be noticed (As soon as a bright light hits the car it looks like the whole thing is covered in spider webs).
I explained that the marks had been caused by careless valeters, who were using dirty cleaning equipment, to which the sales manager insisted that they only use brand new cloths on new cars (Which was not the case, as I had been there the previous afternoon and seen how dirty the equipment was). When I refused to accept their answers, saying that I feel like I am being fobbed off, the sales manager said that he could have it valeted again, but it would have to wait and in a threatening tone suggested that "It will come back looking much worse".
I was not happy with the outcome, so again got in contact with Renault UK, who sent me to Gordon Lamb in Chesterfield to have the paintwork inspected. Their valeting manager and warranty manager came to inspect the vehicle; both were speechless at the incompetence of Sunwin and couldn't believe that a (brand new) vehicle had been sold to me in this condition.
It is now booked in to Gordon Lamb for a full paintwork correction, with an identical model courtesy car paid for by Renault UK.
My advice: Avoid Sunwin dealerships at all costs, they may look good having large, flashy showrooms but for the sake of a few pence for new cleaning equipment they have ruined my brand new RenaultSport.
I applaud Renault for their customer service - they phoned me back exactly when they said they were going to and found me another independent dealer to look at and fix the problems. Hopefully Gordon Lamb will correct the damage and I can start to enjoy owning my new car, rather than worrying how much money I have lost due to damaged paint.
Advantages: Um...it's close to home Disadvantages: Unreliable & unhelpful
...that I am the only Renault owner who has ordered a new key in the last 6 months!
Anyway, they said they would order me another one and call me AS SOON as it arrived.
That was 29th September 2004, up until 22nd November I had still not heard anything, so I decided I would go and pay them a visit and give them a gentle little reminder that I exist.
I went in and made a polite enquiry as to whether my new (number 3) key had arrived yet as I had been ... ...and ahhing, they emerged out of the office clutching an order slip (which looked suspiciously like it had just been hurridly filled in) and said that it had never been ordered, but they would do it immediatly and call me first thing in the morning to confirm that it had all been done.
I was, as you'd expect, a little on the furious side, but I bottled my anger (not wanting to make things worse) and said that I would await their call.....I'm still ...
Pookie81 26.11.2004 (18.02.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Renault
Advantages: comfortable drivers seat Disadvantages: its an off the road Renault literally !!!! no engine
...bought a 'quality' used Renault Laguna from a Renault dealer with a 12 month Renault warranty, I was a bit surprised when after 1o months of use the engine seized, no problem I thought it'll be sorted out as its still with a warranty..
How wrong I was, despite the fact that I have looked after the car, depite the fact it was checked before I went on the journey despite the fact the I was driving in a proper manner and despite the fact that I am ... ...by a disabled person, predictably Renault didn't want to know
They tried to fob me off with lame excuses like ... the dealer was a Franchise garage, well the car was second hand, er we don't issue the warranties its a private company..well hang on Renault...... I bought the car froma reputable Renault Dealer, it was a supposedly quality used Renault, with a 12 month Renault used car warranty.. if Renault wish to distance themselves from this dealer ...
Dalesman 17.08.2000 (15.07.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Renault
Advantages: Friendly, kept me up-to date, reliable Disadvantages: They did only give me a Clio as courtesy car!
Renault Swindon have been very helpful to me even though they haven't gained at all through it.
I imported a 2 litre Megane Coupé and was veey happy with it for 8 months. Then the engine management light kept coming on when in traffic and the ride became a bit jerky. Having bought the car from the continent it came with a 1 year pan-European warranty, but I'd heard of dealers trying to get out of this at times.
I took it to Renault in Swindon and ... ...they had my car in for inspection. They found out the problem but had to order the parts as 2litre Meganes are quite rare by all accounts. They then contacted me when the parts arrived and arranged another courtesy car for me. They then contacted me during the day to let me know that they'd found another problem and it would take another day to fix but that I could keep the courtesy car over night.
They then contacted me in the morning to let me ...
leonbass 19.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Renault
I've been a Renault driver for quite a while and have heard many bad things about the company. Sure for many years the build qulaity of the company's products was mediocre at best but as a driver of 2 first generation Clio's and a Megane Coupe, with a father who was had three Clio's (one new generation) and various family members who owned Espace's, 21's, 25's and Laguna's, we have all seen a gradual improvement in build quality as each new model ... ...part failures. I know of a Clio owner who's clutch failed dramtically after just 25,000 miles but outside the 12 month warranty period. The Renault dealer approached Renault UK who agreed to a free of charge replacement despite being out of warranty. A company that really does try to please. ...
markb 03.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Renault
Advantages: Patient, informative and helpful. Child friendly dealership. Disadvantages: Very short test drive
...have just purchased a new Renault Clio Campus Sport from WA Lewis, Telford. Address:
Stafford Park 1
Telford, TF3 3BD
Phone:
01952 292950
The salesperson was very helpful, and informative. There was no hard sell and he took the time to listen to my needs. Originally I was set to buy a Clio that was in the showroom, then the salesman, who obviously took pity on me searched the Renault database and 'found' me a cheaper model.
This cheaper model ... ...the same dealer.
Our Renault Laguna 1.9dCi has recently experienced some major, and expensive £2200! (Help) probloems. WA Lewis have been exceptional in their customer care. Without going in to all the details, the gearbox has failed on our car, and WA Lewis have negotiated with Renault UK to bring the price of the repair down. Their customer service has been fantastic on the service and repair side as well as the dealership.
Overall I really feel ...
ciaomeister1 07.02.2006 (15.02.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Renault
Advantages: Economic, well equipped, good handling, spacious, comfortable, reliable, good value Disadvantages: Very sharp brakes, turbo lag
with submarining airbags in the bottom of the seats instead of the double pre-tensioners to stop the occupant sliding forward.
The Megane's programmed deformation bodywork structure (the term used by the salesperson) minimises risk for the occupants in the passenger compartment. I saw Top Gear doing a test crash of a Megane at 30 mph into another car. The result was as boasted by Renault, no damage to the driver at all. The Megane is one of the few cars to boast all 5 stars in the Euro-NCAP crash tests.
Security:
The Megane comes with a Thatcham 2 immobiliser and a Thatcham 1 alarm as standard. It also has RAID, which stops someone from opening the doors from the outside once the car is in motion. The keyless card system also has security features built into it, and without it, any thief would find it very difficult to steal this car ...
Advantages: Stylish, well equipped, technology laden car Disadvantages: Not the most practical of estates and the engine is a little fussy
Yes, it's time for my second op on the trials and tribulations of our new cars.
Just to recap, we need a new car and we've limited it to 3 cars - the VW Passat, Renault Laguna and Saab 9-3. You may have read my Saab 9-3 op - and if not, why not? -, so now it's time for round two and it's time for a Parisian challenger in the face of the popular Renault Laguna and here is my op on it...
THE CURRENT FACE OF RENAULT
Well, Renault are probably set to go down as having one of the most bizarre ranges of cars in the world, by 2003 with an onslaught of stunning - or weird - new cars. The first of these cars comes in the Laguna, which stole the headlines with it's adventurous looks in 2000, but more on that later. Next up came the absolutely wacky Avantime 'Coupe - MPV' concept car that hit production. In the next couple of months ...
Advantages: A geat family car for those who dont want a people carrier Disadvantages: Car key is a card pricy to replace
I brought a Renault Laguna 1.9TD Sport Tourer In April of this year. I paid £2300 for an 03reg. You get a high quality car for a relativly small amount of money.
The Sport Tourer comes with part leather interior, three 3 point seatbelts which is a must for anybody with children, a cd player, air con, Abs, 6 speed gears, heated front and rear windscreens and lots more.
I have three young children and didn't want to purchase a people carrier instead I opted for this estate and so far have been extremely pleased with my purchase.It has a fantastically large boot which fits my double buggy in with ease and still has enough room for shopping.
As far as safety ratings go this is by far one of the best it has several airbags and you are able to turn the passenger airbag off at a switch if you need to place a rear facing child seat in ...
