OK.. I've officially bought a lemon or "Friday Afternoon car"

[Scottydog]

I'm absolutely fuming right now.

I bought my clio almost exactly 1 year ago, it was under 6 months old with no miles on the clock! I thought great, bargain, sorted.

Ever since it has been nothing but trouble with embarrasing visits to Renault (I know it's not my fault therefore shouldn't be embarrased but the thoughts "Oh god it's him again" must be running through their heads)

It started off with an irratic idle, which was water getting into the engine apparently and making coil #4 wet.

Then it was squealing brakes, which STILL, despite a number of visits, is not sorted and is actually driving me crazy. They replaced the front pads with a new design to stop them rattling, too.

Then it was interior fan making stupid noises which was sorted but I was never quite clear what caused it, something to do with the filters iirc.

Then I had the water pump replaced due to an oil leak from the upper engine causing it ti squeal, which entailed replacing the belts including the cam.

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=400214

Then it was the wheels rusting which was sorted with a refurb under warranty.

And most recently it has been spluttering, juddering, sounding like a diesel, lack of power (my drive is a slope and it's a right b*****d to get the car off at the moment, just not right at all). This was "sorted" last week: Water getting into the engine again, coil replaced too. It was fine for about 10 miles but now it is doing exactly the same thing again!!!

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I cannot put up with this anymore! :banghead:

Zeit zu gehen Deutscher.

\rant

 

[littleC18]

If it keeps doing it, it might not be coils! check spark plugs! one may be faulty.
had this happen with my dads scenic. had coils replaced four times because it was apprently a 'common problem' got so annoyed i actually went and changed the spark plugs for him. been fine ever since and that was about 3 years ago now.

 

[Scottydog]

If it keeps doing it, it might not be coils! check spark plugs! one may be faulty.
had this happen with my dads scenic. had coils replaced four times because it was apprently a 'common problem' got so annoyed i actually went and changed the spark plugs for him. been fine ever since and that was about 3 years ago now.

Might give that a go! My Dads got the tool coz my mum has a Scenic too with the same engine series.

Which plugs to go for?

EDIT: Or should I get Renault to do this under warranty?

 

[littleC18]

could get renault to do it under warranty but tbh they will probably say they have when they havent. and...depending on how trust worthy they are, they probably will just go like 'no sir, im afraid we know best and you do not because everyone else apart from us knows nothing about cars!' lol

NGK plugs are good. champion. ask some other people on here as im not too 'up' on the latest spark plugs. they wont be making much of a diference to performance on a 1.4 anyway so just stick with NGK or something and iirc NGK do iridium plugs aswell which are really good. used to use them in my motocross bikes and you could definatly feel a gain in low end rev ranges but tbf they were two stroke engines. but not too sure. ask around on the fourm. people are always happy to help!

 

[Poopensharten]

If you had it since new you could have handed it back to Renault within 6 months if it was non-satisfactory and not fit for purpose which seems the case here...!

 

[Willliams]

If the dealer you bought the car from isn't playing ball, but it seems they've been quite helpful, get onto RUK.. perhaps do this either way. Give them a full run down of what has gone wrong/replaced.. how much you like the car but getting very frustrated and so disappointed with this particular one. You'd have to fight for it.. but push for a replacement car.. of equal age spec etc, or pay extra for an upgrade.

I personally wouldn't be doing any work to the car myself, as this could hamper any warranty claim you might have.

 

[.Ben.]

I'd say stick to the stock plugs. Get the issue sorted before swapping bits out!

 

[littleC18]

but they're not sorting the issue. hence why he needs to start taking things into his own hands as renault are being sh*t.
if it is plugs. which there is a good chance it is. then the problem isnt going to get sorted untill they get replaced. is it? duh

 

[Beef-Mc]

Get a mate to steal it and burn it out, claim on the insurance.

 

[littleC18]

not worth it on a new car.
fair enough if its on an old car thats insured for more than its worth

 

[JCC]

not worth it on a new car.
fair enough if its on an old car thats insured for more than its worth

How does that work?:S

 

[littleC18]

well. when you insure your car fully comp. they will ask you how much you car is worth etc and if you insure it for say £2500 when you car is really only worth £1000 after they have done all their shizzle working out market value and coming to a price between market value and your insured price. in this case. could be say... £1750. thats £750 more than what you would have got if you had sold it priavtely. so there isnt much point in claiming on insurance. on a new car. as you'll loose all your ncb. you would exactly have any cash in hand. alot of hassle. alot of paper work. investigations have to be done by police and insurance companies. you'll be without a car and then it might all fall through and your insurance company might find out it was your mate that did it and it was set up. you mate would then get chucked in prison for twocing and you wont have any money or a car...well, you will. but it'll be burnt out behind the local corner shop.

totally NOT worth it.
Point made.

 

[Keano]

^ ha

 

[Willliams]

but they're not sorting the issue. hence why he needs to start taking things into his own hands as renault are being sh*t.
if it is plugs. which there is a good chance it is. then the problem isnt going to get sorted untill they get replaced. is it? duh

No points for being a 'Have a go hero'.. I'd imagine "Renault", know nothing or very little of the on going problems scottydog's having with his car. The Renault DEALER however, seem to be trying to fix it, all-be-it unsucsessfully.

Hence why taking the matter further with RUK would be the next step.

 

[littleC18]

yes, maybe that should be the next step. although i still think he should try for plugs.
plus i wasnt digging at you.
nero just seemed to miss my point completley!

 

[Sash]

put a marker on the plugs so you will know if they've changed them.

 

[SC03OTT]

well. when you insure your car fully comp. they will ask you how much you car is worth etc and if you insure it for say £2500 when you car is really only worth £1000 after they have done all their shizzle working out market value and coming to a price between market value and your insured price. in this case. could be say... £1750. thats £750 more than what you would have got if you had sold it priavtely. so there isnt much point in claiming on insurance. on a new car. as you'll loose all your ncb. you would exactly have any cash in hand. alot of hassle. alot of paper work. investigations have to be done by police and insurance companies. you'll be without a car and then it might all fall through and your insurance company might find out it was your mate that did it and it was set up. you mate would then get chucked in prison for twocing and you wont have any money or a car...well, you will. but it'll be burnt out behind the local corner shop.

totally NOT worth it.
Point made.

Is that a serious post?

 

[Scottydog]

Cheers for the comments so far guys, very helpful.

I forgot to mention the fact that "Renault" do know about my car as I have written to them and they have been in touch with me. TBH they weren't up for replacing my car with a like-for-like replacement which I think should have happened. All they did was get in touch with my local dealer and had a bit of a go which doesn't seem to have made much difference.

To be fair though my local dealer is very good overall, they got me a good price for my 1st service, lent me a brand new megane coupe as a courtesy car for a couple of days, got some of the problems sorted like the water pump, the wheel and the brakes rattling, Never grumble about anything and do their best to get things sorted. I think they are as puzzled as I am as to why the car keeps f**king up!

I really can't blame the dealer, it's just a dodgey car overall I think .

What i'm thinking now is, take it to the Dealer I bought it from (Basildon Toomeys) and see what they have to say?

 

[shadowsun]

Heard of this guy that came into my shop (somehow we got talking about cars) and he had a Fiesta from new that kept going wrong so he wrote off to Ford - they ended up giving him a brand new car and taking the dodgy one back.

Worth a go?

 

[-J-]

If renault wont play ball then try these guys, I deal with them day in day out and they are very helpfull to the consumer - http://newcars.motorindustrycodes.co.uk/

Also Try writing to RUK addressing the letter to the following people -

Roland Bouchara - MD
Mick Moore - Customer Services MD
Peter Tilbury - Senior Customer Relations Manager
Lesliey Taylor - Senior Customer Relations Manager

 

[Scottydog]

If renault wont play ball then try these guys, I deal with them day in day out and they are very helpfull to the consumer - http://newcars.motorindustrycodes.co.uk/

Also Try writing to RUK addressing the letter to the following people -

Roland Bouchara - MD
Mick Moore - Customer Services MD
Peter Tilbury - Senior Customer Relations Manager
Lesliey Taylor - Senior Customer Relations Manager

Cheers!!

What should I emphasise on when writing to RUK?

Also I didn't buy the car from new, technically i'm the second owner even though the first was a Renault Dealer.

 

[Revels]

Don't shout and scream. Praise Renault to start with. You've always liked the brand, your mother/brother/nextdoor neighbours cat has always had Renaults that you used to clean or something like that. How you didn't expect such bad quality from a big company like Renault, its ruined your dream of having a V6/197.

Then list every fault. With dates. What happened, when you took it to the dealer, what they did. Bullet point them so its easy for them to see all the faults.

If you write it properly you'll get a decent outcome. PM Needster if you need anyhelp, she wrote to RUK recently and they're bending over backwards to help her with her R27.

She didn't buy it new either but that doesn't matter. You're covered under warranty and the fact Renault was the first owner means they can't blame themselves and if they do, they'll need to fix it.

 

[Scottydog]

Don't shout and scream. Praise Renault to start with. You've always liked the brand, your mother/brother/nextdoor neighbours cat has always had Renaults that you used to clean or something like that. How you didn't expect such bad quality from a big company like Renault, its ruined your dream of having a V6/197.

Then list every fault. With dates. What happened, when you took it to the dealer, what they did. Bullet point them so its easy for them to see all the faults.

If you write it properly you'll get a decent outcome. PM Needster if you need anyhelp, she wrote to RUK recently and they're bending over backwards to help her with her R27.

She didn't buy it new either but that doesn't matter. You're covered under warranty and the fact Renault was the first owner means they can't blame themselves and if they do, they'll need to fix it.

Cheers Revels,

I'll sort something out tonight..

I've just got to get all the dates together first which could be tricky, What was wrong with Needsters clio?

 

[Needster]

Don't ask!!! I'll do a write up when mine is fixed fella. If you need any help let me know details and I'll do what I can.

 

[daydotz]

shame hope you get it sorted

 

[JCC]

well. when you insure your car fully comp. they will ask you how much you car is worth etc and if you insure it for say £2500 when you car is really only worth £1000 after they have done all their shizzle working out market value and coming to a price between market value and your insured price. in this case. could be say... £1750. thats £750 more than what you would have got if you had sold it priavtely. so there isnt much point in claiming on insurance. on a new car. as you'll loose all your ncb. you would exactly have any cash in hand. alot of hassle. alot of paper work. investigations have to be done by police and insurance companies. you'll be without a car and then it might all fall through and your insurance company might find out it was your mate that did it and it was set up. you mate would then get chucked in prison for twocing and you wont have any money or a car...well, you will. but it'll be burnt out behind the local corner shop.

totally NOT worth it.
Point made.

What planet are you on?

 

[Needster]

Not this one.

 

[Timmay]

lol!

shame bout the car mate - hopefully renault UK will do something for you

 

[Dean0o0o.]

i had countless problems with mine from new... lights cutting out whilst driving... leak from gear box... warning lights coming on... trust me my list is as long as yours lol. What i done was contacted RUK every time something went wrong so theey can add it to their database... all together they compensated me a free srvice and 2 lots of £100 cheques, because of the inconvenience of travel / w & t / petrol. I also asked for gurantees on a new car (clio 200) that i wouldnt recieve anywhere near this amount of problems again and i received £500 off my next Renault.

So like people have mentioned... list them your problems let them know you love Renaults and you dont want to get rid. Then tell them about the trouble you go through getting it repaired countless times.

Hope this helps mate

Oh and BTW i tried going down the legal route... and apparently if the Renault dealer are doing the work each time you visit... you dont have a leg to stand on.