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sollerboy

Guest
Hi,
I currently drive a 57 Renault Megane 1.4 which at 13k took a dump and needed a new gearbox & clutch, whilst in for repair Renault proceeded to crash it. This was back in March but i'm not happy with it.

I'm looking to buy an ibiza and have finally found a suitable diesel 57 with 20k miles 1.4TDI.
Does this come recommended? It will cost me a fair bit as the PX value for the renault is pants, I need something reliable, nippy and cheap on the fuel as currently I pay £60 a week on petrol for driving 250 miles.

I'm hopefully going to purchase the car tomorrow so need some advice as to what to look for in a good (or bad) car, whether it is recommended, fuel usage etc, any advice is appreciated. thanks.
:)
 
should be better than the renault. The ibiza is quite a solid little car, it has it's common faults, but all of them are little niggles like the rear washer pipe detaching. The main thing that will go wrong at some point is the rear wishbone bushes. Can be about £200-300 to repair with the upgraded bushes from the cupra model, once this is done it won't need doing again. As for mileage, yes the 1.4tdi should be good, but for a better mix of performance and economy, i would look at a 1.9tdi model which comes in 100, 130 and 160bhp, the latter being not as economical as the first two. You say the car is a 57 plate, this means that the cambelt will be due in september (upto march) as it required to be replaced every 60k/4 years.
 
Hi,
I currently drive a 57 Renault Megane 1.4 which at 13k took a dump and needed a new gearbox & clutch, whilst in for repair Renault proceeded to crash it. This was back in March but i'm not happy with it.

I'm looking to buy an ibiza and have finally found a suitable diesel 57 with 20k miles 1.4TDI.
Does this come recommended? It will cost me a fair bit as the PX value for the renault is pants, I need something reliable, nippy and cheap on the fuel as currently I pay £60 a week on petrol for driving 250 miles.

I'm hopefully going to purchase the car tomorrow so need some advice as to what to look for in a good (or bad) car, whether it is recommended, fuel usage etc, any advice is appreciated. thanks.
:)

On the whole I've found my 1.9Tdi to be a great car so far. I don't have any experience with the 1.4tdi engine but I do know that they're quite sought after. Assuming your Megane was a petrol, you will see a huge improvement in MPG with the diesel but then you'd get that with any modern diesel engine.
The Ibiza has a few common faults but nothing major I don't think. There is a thread on common faults somewhere if you do a search for it, it might give you a few things to look out for when you go see it again.
 
Thanks for the replies. Yeah my Renault is a petrol. I would like the 1.9 but insurance is an issue as i'm 19. it is £1600 for the megane as it is. Thanks for all the information though, it sounds like a good car, my grandad (in spain) has the same model but a petrol and has been very economical and reliable so I think I should be good.
 
should be better than the renault. The ibiza is quite a solid little car, it has it's common faults, but all of them are little niggles like the rear washer pipe detaching. The main thing that will go wrong at some point is the rear wishbone bushes. Can be about £200-300 to repair with the upgraded bushes from the cupra model, once this is done it won't need doing again. As for mileage, yes the 1.4tdi should be good, but for a better mix of performance and economy, i would look at a 1.9tdi model which comes in 100, 130 and 160bhp, the latter being not as economical as the first two. You say the car is a 57 plate, this means that the cambelt will be due in september (upto march) as it required to be replaced every 60k/4 years.

What is the price on a cam belt? It was registered in Dec so I
assume it will need doing then, also at what stage will the bushes need doing??

many Thanks.
 
What is the price on a cam belt? It was registered in Dec so I
assume it will need doing then, also at what stage will the bushes need doing??

many Thanks.

I think about £300-400 for cambelt and the service, although don't quote me. You will be able to tell when the wishbone bushes need replaced when the front of the car creaks going over bumps.
 
If you can push it out for a 1.9 then do so, it's a much better engine.

Renault are garbage, if it wasn't for there Renaultsport car's then there would be 0 reason to buy one.
 
If you can push it out for a 1.9 then do so, it's a much better engine.

Renault are garbage, if it wasn't for there Renaultsport car's then there would be 0 reason to buy one.

Agreed. I've just turned 19 and have a 1.9tdi 130bhp FR and the insurance was £950.

Lol, this is very true, i've never driven a renault that i think is even remotely good to drive!
 
Just reading thread again... renault crashed it while fixing there own shitty car?? Are you not happy with the car, or is it just the quality of the repair?
 
Agreed. I've just turned 19 and have a 1.9tdi 130bhp FR and the insurance was £950.

Lol, this is very true, i've never driven a renault that i think is even remotely good to drive!

Then your missing out. 5 turbos, 11 turbos, Clio 16v, Clio Williams , 172, 182, RS meganes. All awesome cars to drive, in there own way.

In saying that, I traded my 172 in after 8 weeks. It was awesome to drive but I got fed up stopping to pick up bits that fell off. It was literally that bad.
 
i cant fault the ibiza on much as a car, id recomend one to anybody. my mum has an 03 plate polo 1.4tdi which is built on the same chassis as the ibiza & has the same engine as what youre on about. she says its great on fuel & ive had a go in it & think its got quite a bit of get up & go for a 3pot diesel engine. id definately recomend getting one.
 
Then your missing out. 5 turbos, 11 turbos, Clio 16v, Clio Williams , 172, 182, RS meganes. All awesome cars to drive, in there own way.

In saying that, I traded my 172 in after 8 weeks. It was awesome to drive but I got fed up stopping to pick up bits that fell off. It was literally that bad.

Only drove standard models, clios, meganes - all total ****. Renault's really are poorly built imo, we have a megane at work and the noises that thing makes really makes you wonder how it still drives lol.
 
Then your missing out. 5 turbos, 11 turbos, Clio 16v, Clio Williams , 172, 182, RS meganes. All awesome cars to drive, in there own way.

In saying that, I traded my 172 in after 8 weeks. It was awesome to drive but I got fed up stopping to pick up bits that fell off. It was literally that bad.

Twingo RS is supposed to be good too. 200 seems to get it's balls licked too, but the 197 got slated... i dunno.

Only good Renault is a hot Renault :happy:
 
french cars are poorly built with cheap materials in my opinion. they feel flimsy. my mates got a saxo vts which is the range topper & the seats feel like deck chairs, all the switches, door handles etc feel flimsy like theyre going to break off if your not gentle & so on. i hate french cars BUT, & this is a big but, i do have a soft spot for the renault 19 16v. just love the sound of them & think they look great. wouldnt have something just cos it looks nice though.
 
Only drove standard models, clios, meganes - all total ****. Renault's really are poorly built imo, we have a megane at work and the noises that thing makes really makes you wonder how it still drives lol.

I agree on build quality and reliability issues. But for fun to drive, the French have it right.
 
There has to be some middle ground..

Megane Renaultsport £1000 quid cambelt change... and you may have seen on 5th gear that to replacing the headlight bulb requires most of the car to be dismantled :lol:
 
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