Renault Laguna - opinions?

[MA_Moby]

I'm still trying to find something decent and family sized to replace my MX5 with. Having rejected the Seat Leon on the grounds that the interior was very lacklustre I've been considering the Laguna (pref a Diesal model).

My considerations are. Size enough for two people plus much luggage, and a couple of sprogs in a couple of years time. Mod cons - air con a must. Diesal to bring down running costs. Insurance group. Safety.

Performance used to be important. But less so now as the grey hairs grow and the priorities change. I'm currently one of those annoying people who sit in the slow lane in their sports car, carefully watching the revs to use a bit less petrol, as caravan towing cars and J reg Fiestas overtake me.

Does anyone have opinions or experiences of this car? What are Renault like to deal with?

Opinions - wild or reasoned - are very welcome.

[Lowe]

New or old?

Old need to be avoided really, absolutely aweful reliability. Newer ones aren't too bad, especially the diesel with the variable vain turbo. Plenty of torque, 'bout 120bhp if memory serves and 50mpg+. The estate version comes with a boot the size of Cornwall so you'll have no problem with luggage and sprogs

[Speed]

We own a Old type Renault Laguna and I have to agree on the reliablity front, although they are nice when they are running. At least for the money.

The newer ones are pretty good though. Very high safety rating, one of the highest in ENCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) 5 star. Info on ENCAP Test here.

Hope this helps!

[MA_Moby]

New or old?

Old need to be avoided really, absolutely aweful reliability. Newer ones aren't too bad, especially the diesel with the variable vain turbo. Plenty of torque, 'bout 120bhp if memory serves and 50mpg+. The estate version comes with a boot the size of Cornwall so you'll have no problem with luggage and sprogs

I'm currently thinking about a 2002 1.9TD - 42,000 miles and £7K

[Speed]

I'm currently thinking about a 2002 1.9TD - 42,000 miles and £7K

So new type then!

[Lowe]

The 1.9 has two flavours if memory serves. One's got the VVT turbo and has more poke - defo worth finding one of those

[MA_Moby]

Well, I went to express my interest in the Laguna, only to see the SOLD sticker get slapped onto it! I then underwent a painful hour (or at least it seemed that) of the young sales assistant try to sell me everything from a Clio 1.2 petrol to pre-registered Modus by the ton, to a Megane, to a Scenic, to a frickin Kangoo. Every so often he'd disappear into his boss's office 'to check the database' only to get an audible earful to 'go and sell something to the man, he's mad'. I would be mad to buy anything off this lot. At no point did they offer me a coffee, offer to let me sit in a car, pop the bonnet on any of the cars, or give me any literature. It's a miracle they sell anything! Pissed off I didn't get that Laguna though, as it was a bargain.

[5lab]

a mondeo (sic) is meant to be the best handling car of that class. personally, for that money i'd have a vectra hatch cos i love the looks.

have you considered a signum/val satis/aventime (or whatever those big things were called)? they are much more expensive origionally but shed value like nothing else, and are now worth pennies.. http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW...00529200974117

[Speed]

They sound to car sales, what pcworld are to computers, not a clue!

Yeah I agree, ..... Pc World *shudder*

[MA_Moby]

I swore never to go Ford again after lots of bad experiences with recalls and dealers, though the Focus and Mondeo are always tempting. The Vectra does seem to have an enormous boot, but the looks don't take me that much. I wonder if the signum/vel satis/ avantime will continue to shed the dosh once purchased though? I'm not sure if enough Vel Satis or Avantime's were sold for there to be many about though - Parkers doesn't list them. Signum prices are plummeting, but not quite down to my level yet.

God, I hate buying cars! Too many decisions to make and too much money to be lost!

[Fox]

I swore never to go Ford again after lots of bad experiences with recalls and dealers, though the Focus and Mondeo are always tempting. The Vectra does seem to have an enormous boot, but the looks don't take me that much. I wonder if the signum/vel satis/ avantime will continue to shed the dosh once purchased though? I'm not sure if enough Vel Satis or Avantime's were sold for there to be many about though - Parkers doesn't list them. Signum prices are plummeting, but not quite down to my level yet.

God, I hate buying cars! Too many decisions to make and too much money to be lost!

You should test drive a Mondeo TDCi 130. Best diesel in class, IMHO. For that money anyway.

[Vimeous]

Laguna -
Sister ran a company one for 60k+ miles. Loved the car (2.0l petrol estate), comfy, fast enough, safe and pretty reliable. Then she went for a service, the oil fell out at a junction a day later, and a new engine was required costing the warranty people £4k+.

If you're going comfy and not performance have a look at the current Primera. It, like the Laguna, was widely praised for its ride over handling prowess when it was released and suffers quite a residual hit so nearly-new should be a decent buy. They also do various practical shapes, spec's and should last for ages.

Both Mazda 6 and Toyota Avensis are modern, reliable, practical and good places to put your cash. According to last weeks Autocar they hold their value better than all but the current Accord in their sector. Might mean s-hand will be a touch expensive although the 6 starts quite a bit cheaper than the others.


If you think Vel Satis or even Avantime you'll get four big comfy seats, slightly uneven ride, pretty good space and I suspect (I've not been in either) a light & airy environment. Should be damn cheap too, so much so you might get them for peanuts AND still have some warranty left. Apparantly the Vel Satis has a choice of 2.2 or 3.0l oil-burners and so should be right up your street!

One last thing.
Big luxury cars depreciate heavily. Sadly diesels hold their value well but how about a BMW 730d? It's a well-reknown motor, decent drive train, comfy and should be pretty safe. All the big engined petrol versions sink like a stone in value but even the diesel shouldn't be too bad at 'A Stone + X'

[Rave]

Nah- there wasn't an E38 730d- and E65s are still not going under £20k let alone £10k. A few more years left to wait for a bargain BMW oil-burner I'm afraid.

Having said that a six year old 325d or 525d might tempt you.....

Edit: bloody confusing BMW series numbers

[Vimeous]

Well spotted! I had to double check as I'm sure there was an E39 but indeed you are right Rave.

However if you can cope with LHD here's the site for you! : http://dieselbmws.co.uk/7s.html

[MA_Moby]

Thanks Vimeous and everyone - loads of useful advice there for me to follow up. I've heard a few good things about the Primera, and I'll look into the Mazda 6 and Avensis options, as well as the BMW. Never been too fond of the second hand Beemer's drug dealer image though!

[eUphoria]

Moby - you're in exactly the same situation as me - im selling my MR2 and buying a diesel, probably for similar reasons - now i've started watching the rev counter on the motorway and grumbling about ecconomy etc i know that ive lost something somewhere, why did i buy the car again... Im looking at slightly smaller diesels though - 306/307 i reckon.

Bah, its a sorry sorry state of affairs.