No Budget Reviews: 1996 Renault Mégane 1.4e RN Paris - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

-One 1996 Renault Mégane 1.4e RN Paris
-One Mobile Phone
-No Fancy Outfits
-No Obscure In-Jokes
-No DSLRs
-No Shotgun Microphones
-No Fluid Head Tripods
-No Idea about Exposure
-No Budget Whatsoever
It is time for the newest instalment in that beloved cinematic automotive KZbin experience where we film practical cars that can be bought for less than £1,000 in a manner befitting of their inexpensive value! This may go horribly wrong...
This time we examine a 1996 Renault Mégane 1.4e RN Paris and discover strange paint fading, uneven seat wear, a surprising amount of rear room, an unco-operative stereo, a perishing rubber steering wheel, one mismatching hubcap and really little anything of any consequence at all.... Nothing untoward, then!
As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.
Website: www.lloydvehicleconsulting.co.uk
Facebook: / lloydvehicleconsulting

[@adamtoms2726]

I can't recall the last time I saw a Mk1 Megane Pre facelift in the flesh, they were everywhere at one point but the rot does seem to creep in around those arches. I blame the scrappage scheme for killing a lot of these off prematurely in my opinion. Seven years ago I picked up a up a 2000 Renault Megane 1.6 16v RT facelift in Silver for £175, it was wonderfully reliable had been welded up in the common areas it had a 154,000 clock. I knew it wouldn't pass another MOT but clocked up 12,000 miles in it 10 months without it missing a beat. It was cheap motoring and wonderfully comfortable. So glad to see no budget reviews back again. Keep up the good work Joseph.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It is really strange just how reliable these cars are, since their reputation in the day wasn't very good. Turns out that things like a Mark IV Golf could actually be worse than one of these Méganes! Yes, we will see the wheel arch rust problem once again in a future review... Most other family cars of the era had exactly the same issue, though. You are right that the pre-facelift ones are very rare now! Remarkably squishy and comfortable in terms of suspension and seating.

[@naruto21048]

Thank for the video. This is the exact car my grandad had when I was a little kid. This brings great memories I had with him till 2003. Then my mum had that car till 2012. Now I'm 23 and I literally came across this video.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed for watching! I actually have also filmed a Mark I Mégane Classic and a Mark I Mégane Coupé on the No Budget Reviews series, which was also fun. Very basic car in this trim, but sort of wonderful at the same time. Glad that this brought back some memories for you!

[@MattysCars]

These were quite good back in the day. Definetly more robust than the Megane that came after it

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I would agree with that! The interior is a bit tacky, similar to a Mark II Clio, but the mechanicals are surprisingly robust if serviced properly, and it was easy to drive.

[@markonmotoring]

I had a 52 plate early mk 2 and all the toys on it broke.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@markonmotoring , yes, not a fan of the Mark II, a failed attempt at pushing too much technology and individual styling which ended up being a worse car than the Mark I!

[@MattysCars]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I do like the styling of the Megane that replaced it though!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@MattysCars , they certainly stood out, not really my taste, though...

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great wee example of a Megane , I really did like this when it came out, uncle had one of the first scenics when it came out and it was a great car for him. Love a poverty spec model with no mod cons.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Glad you enjoyed it, sir! The Scénic was indeed a very popular car in its day, Mr Coleman and I discussed these Méganes the other day and they are actually remarkably reliable for their age. I would much prefer a luxury one, but that is where Ian Seabrook and I certainly differ in opinion!

[@David_H-73]

There is something refreshing simple about a base model, even though I would not particularly want one myself .

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's right, sir, I would like an RXE myself, but I know that these base models have their fans on this channel!

[@davebassman5339]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting - I like a base model - less to break....

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@davebassman5339 , I think a lot of my channel viewers feel that way!

[@jsaxby6561]

Been looking forward to this, it just seems like a nice piece of design

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well sir, it's for sale it you want it!

[@jsaxby6561]

I'm only 16 I'm afraid 😩

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@jsaxby6561 , never to early to start learning, sir!

[@calumbaxter9946]

Brings back fond memories of my first brand new company car which was a 1996 Megane 1.6RT automatic in Iceberg silver, P613 GME. Had no problems with it at all and did 53K in 3 years. Interestingly I really wanted a Rover 200 series which had just been released and had a fabulous rev happy engine but Rover would not discount the car and I could not buy one in my grade banding of £11750. For that I got the Renault with a sunroof, automatic gearbox and metallic paint; good value I thought.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you for watching, sir! I would have preferred to drive a higher specification version than this, but it in remarkably good condition and has had so few owners that I couldn't turn it down. Mr Coleman and I were discussing these cars last night, and they are honestly pretty reliable! It is so strange with the Rover that they made the decision to put the price up so much higher than other cars in their class and then towards the end of R3 production they had to reduce their prices due to flagging sales. Of course, the 25 was far better priced from the start!

[@sharonec5419]

The bad pricing g of Rover cars led to there eventual downfall. They had no one to blame but themselves Sad really. I read recently that Rover had great sales around 1996 to 1998 but then then started to lose sales to newer and better, cheaper cars like the Mègane and others.

[@stevestaff7425]

Another excellent review . That Renault really is basic transport in truest sense of the word

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Glad you enjoyed it, Steve! It's a bit too spartan for my tastes, but I know some channel viewers absolutely love cars like this.

[@stevestaff7425]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting There is definitely a certain charm to cars like this

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@stevestaff7425 , that is why we like No Budget Reviews so much, sir!

[@alaricbragg7843]

Thanks for this video. This car does indeed look like a rounded 19! Wheels look a little tiny like a Polo from the same period! 11inch wheels? Love the simplicity of the old French cars!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir, I think it has 13 or 14 inch wheels. It is a very basic car, but some people quite like that. Many shared components with the 19, as you say.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting If Tin Tin was made in the 1990s, he would drive this!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , some of the Méganes were even made in Belgium.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting South Americans, particularly the Argentinians, LOVE Renault, even to this day!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , you are absolutely right about that, sir...

[@FuelPower]

This all seems incredibly familiar to me. Have to admit, i'm a little jealous of the condition of those arches 😬 wish mine looked as good as those (one day soon 🤞). Interesting that this one has the horn buttons on the steering wheel while my 99 one has it on the end of the indicator stalk.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That is interesting, Mr Bill! They must have made a few running changes to the Mégane before the facelift came out in April 1999. The arches are pretty good on this one, although it has had the boot floor and sills done at some point. It is for sale, of course. Strange about the horn placement!

[@PlanetautoUK]

Always been a fan of Renault, I loved my Clio RN, I also remember a rather fancy yellow sporty one of these back in the late 90s. Sad to see a saggy interior, thank you Joseph *B

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the Mégane Coupés and Cabriolets were often yellow back in the day. The interior is sun damaged, we think, which is a bit of a shame. Should be driving another one of these quite soon....

[@PlanetautoUK]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting ah yes, quite the looker, that’s sounds good though

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@PlanetautoUK , you know what is coming up next, I think!

[@mattw8332]

Parents had a 1997 Megane Scenic 1.6e RT and a phase 2 Scenic Sport. I hold these mark 1s in high regard. So comfy and a decent drive.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Very comfortable indeed, sir! I would have preferred a 1.6e RT myself, but I thought that this may be popular with a certain section of the viewership being an absolute base model....

[@sharonec5419]

My parents had a 1.6litre RT spec 1997 blue Mègane Classic from new. Loved the dash such a great design for its time when you consider the rubbish thst was in a Peugeot 306 or a Ford Escourt or even a VW golf of the time the Mègane was so far ahead of them it made them all loom ancient and the Mègane dash was soft touch too. One of the first cars in its class to have that. This Mègane is in great condition for its age. I would buy it if it would ship to Ireland lol. Some hope and then stupid taxs here :(

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It was a bit ropey, to be honest. The owner paid less than £500 for it. Thank you for watching!

[@sharonec5419]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Your welcome.

[@markonmotoring]

Takes me back to being an excited teenager when my dad bought his brand new 96 N reg 1.6e coupe in most basic spec. The interiors of these do wear well. On my 97 P reg 1.6e Fidji Coupe the door cards have gone a little baggy but otherwise the interior is in great shape

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, baggy door cards are not unique to a Mark I Mégane, my Rover 45 V6 has them too! The steering wheel in Jude's car wasn't in great shape, and the Mark II Clio I drove in 2012 also had the same problem. The stitching coming undone on the seats is a bit unusual, may just be this car. We have another Mark I Mégane coming up on No Budget Reviews soon so I will get to drive one properly this time!

[@markonmotoring]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I've seen the Classic on the owners channel. Strangely most of the KZbin video on the MK1 Mégane's are eastern European or South American. So far I think.yours and his are the only UK videos I've seen.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@markonmotoring , yes, the saloon shape is much more popular in Eastern Europe and South America than in Western Europe, so they didn't sell a huge number of Classics over here. I thought you may have already seen Mr Bill's car!

[@alaricbragg7843]

Could the dashboard fit your documents? Not sure if I missed.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I may have forgotten to bring them, sir, it's a long time ago since I made this video now...

[@rushy0157]

Nice vehicle, I prefer the face-lift version but still a nice example!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you! Yes, it's in remarkable condition concerning the specification and the age. I haven't decided whether I prefer this or the facelifted ones, funnily enough.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Renault has certainly lost their way these days. All I see are those dressed Nissan crossover SUV things and the odd Cilo. I wish we got the Renault Talisman in the UK, that looked fantastic.

[@willswheels283]

Manufacturers these days are responding to the “trend” in what people actually buy which are crossovers and SUV’s, manufacturers can’t afford to build cars that very few people want to buy. This probably explains the “explosion” in Crossover’s SUV’s, MPV’s and mini MPV’s on the roads today, more people love them than dislike them.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, absolutely right, people seem to want crossovers these days, and so manufacturers keep building them. Cars like the Aston Martin DBX, Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga are not ones I like, but they make money for their makers to be able to keep building less-profitable sports cars, so we have to accept them really. I certainly think this era of Renault was a good time for them, even if they weren't always building the most interesting cars.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting It will all implode one day MR Lloyd, like how Mercedes-Benz once a prestigious ultra luxurious brand, has severely diluted their reputation and image, trying to cater for every segment of society.

[@willswheels283]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. I agree to an extent regarding the “Dilution of a once prestigious brand” but the car making industry is indeed a cut throat one, it’s big business, it’s about selling and making a profit and hopefully outselling your competitors. So Mercedes although trying to stick to what their known for which is executive saloons and estates also realise that their fellow German competitors are doing well building executive saloons and estates and fans of those marquee like them so they sell well. So in response Mercedes build what people seem to like which are SUV’s and crossovers, besides the executive saloons to ensure the company stays profitable.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

​@@paulie-Gualtieri. , it's not just Mercedes, sir! BMW, Audi, and to a certain extent Volkswagen, have done exactly the same thing. Last year, BMW was the number two best selling brand in the country! I had a good rant about it last month when talking about the Best Selling Cars of January 2021...

[@liammcconkey9705]

Only stumbled across this, I am the proud owner of this wagon now

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

What a wonderful car! I hope that she is serving you well.

[@willswheels283]

This generation of Megane, Scenic, Clio, Laguna, were built in Renaults better quality days, and more robust. These Meganes were simpler to service and repair by the look of that Engine Bay Area, which is not the case in their later cars, they’ve purposely I’m sure made it really difficult for owners to service their own cars. My only criticism about this generation of Megane is that it’s srikes me as a bit “boring” and “bland” with that grey tacky plastic interior. But that car does look tidy for its year, great vid once again Mr Lloyd!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, in this specification in particular, the Mégane doesn't look particularly exciting, but it is still quite a good option as a starter classic, especially at this sort of money. The servicing looks ridiculously easy, and the engine is well proven. The steering wheel was starting to disintegrate, which seems to be common on Renaults of this era, but for its age, the car is actually in really good condition.

[@alaricbragg7843]

PS I saw ANOTHER 2000s Leguna - a lift back - in a well to do area of Palmerston North today!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well done, sir! Have scarcely seen one since I filmed the Laguna II back in January, I think.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thanks! Very well maintained by the look of it too!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , they would need to maintain it well, sir...

[@seancooke4127]

Hubnut spec especially the various shades of red. A very good car. I did drive a facelift base model for work with 4 passengers and it was well up to the job. The firm standardised on compression ignition so enough said. A very underrated car like the Vauxhall Vectra C. My Audi is letting in water at the moment so I have been driving my Brother's 2008 Vectra C, until we locate the leak. I adore the Vectra, it is comfortable, quiet, roomy and practical with a toasty heater. Check your email for a photo. The Megane and the Vectra are both unloved for no good reason. Base models are good on both and start adding toys as you go up the range, you find very well built and equipped packages. No Budget. Win Win I say.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir! We do like the Vectra C on this channel, as you know. They are available for very little money too! I think Ian Seabrook would very much like this car, especially how basic and softly sprung it is. Thank you for avoiding the forbidden fuel once again, Mr Cooke!

[@seancooke4127]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting VERBOTEN!!!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke4127 , indeed, sir!

[@gosportjamie]

You're right about the damage to the front passenger seat, that's classic sun damage on the special edition models. Fortunately, the quality of the seat cloth was better on the standard models and a lot better on the facelift cars... These would have originally had Paris stickers on both front doors just above the engine size and trim badges in the rubbing strips, and also one on the tailgate. The stickers, however, weren't good quality and rarely survived the first encounter with a pressure washer. In fact, the stickers didn't always survive the trip through the import centre at Southampton docks where the cars would arrive on the big vehicle carriers and be washed to get rid of the shipping wax before going through the preparation line where they'd get the windows acid etched with the security code and have any stickers applied, before being washed again to get rid of any residual acid and, often, the freshly applied stickers. Oddly, Renault didn't use the same designations for special editions in all markets, so a Paris in the UK might be, say, a Bordeaux in France and something different again in each European market. So the stickers would be locally sourced and often weren't of the sort of quality you might expect on factory installed parts. Even FIAT did this better, where the special edition cars would come from the factory with an OE sticker pack, even if the stickers weren't actually on the vehicles... My abiding memory of the original Megane was that the non-adjustable steering wheel was far too low for me, an issue I also had with Vauxhalls of the period, which made driving them extremely uncomfortable after a few minutes. The lack of air conditioning which was only ever an option on the early cars in the UK was also an issue as they would turn into an oven in even moderately sunny conditions as being stuck for hours in gridlocked traffic in central London in an RN diesel proved. I understand that car went to the big Renault dealer in central London to be valeted before the magazine was able to test it...

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, it's a bit like the Renault 5 Campus Prima that I filmed, that had the Prima stickers missing on the doors too. The fabric in Jude's Mégane seemed quite hard wearing, it just seemed to come apart at the seams... I thought Renaults were imported to Portsmouth, as that is where the majority of their press and fleet cars are registered, but I could be wrong! Looks as if you know a lot more about this than I do. The next pre-facelift Mégane I film will be a bit better equipped, and it does have air conditioning, which was an option! I have a French degree and French family, so spent a fair bit of time in France in the 1990s and first part of the 2000s, so saw lots and lots of interesting special edition Renaults, completely different from the ones we got, as you say.

[@gosportjamie]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes, the fabric was tough enough, it just had the undesirable, for car upholstery, quality of shrinking when subjected to UV exposure, like vinyl and leather can if not cared for adequately, which is why the seams pull apart. Clearly someone in quality assurance failed to test it properly, perhaps because that testing programme was scheduled for a Friday afternoon and they had somewhere better to be, perhaps with a mistress... Certainly Renaults were coming into Southampton in the era of this car, I worked for the importer during this time, delivering company cars and also some of the press fleet vehicles. Some of the south Hampshire plate area codes were issued in both Southampton and Portsmouth, while others were specific to one or other area. On most of the websites for the registration area markers it will be listed as for Portsmouth and Southampton simply because Portsmouth comes before Southampton alphabetically and not because it was more likely to have been issued in one place than the other... I was always rather fond of the Clan special edition Renaults sold in France, it just seems rather random with Clan having been a popular pipe tobacco in the UK...

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

When I was younger, my parents used to get their cars new or nearly new from local dealerships in the Winchester or Southampton areas. I have just looked up the suffixes of two number plates, one was an RV, from a dealership in Totton, and the other from a dealership in Winchester, a BP suffix. One of the lists online (there are several sources) says that they are both specifically Portsmouth plates, rather than Portsmouth or Southampton. If the RV plate was from a Totton dealership, though, your theory that it really didn't matter, and that it really could be either makes sense. Winchester, for example, never had specific local plates, they were normally either Portsmouth or Southampton when I was growing up. (Before Southampton and Portsmouth became their own unitary authorities, some of these were listed as Hampshire). This would explain why when looking up Renault fleet plates (or any local plates back in the day, even in the physical books I used to own), they would often state Portsmouth, and indeed from September 2001, there are no more Southampton plates, the whole area is now Portsmouth.

[@alansimpson835]

Oh this takes me back. I remember going on a late night Tesco cruise to Cheshunt with my friend in his mum's 1.6RT after he passed his test. I remember the huge gearknob and that long throw gearbox. In surprisingly good shape for its years too

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Cheshunt, sir? What a glamorous place to travel in a Renault Mégane. Yes, very similar to a Vauxhall gearbox of the same era in terms of the feel and throw. It's not in bad condition for almost 25 years old, is it?

[@davebassman5339]

I love this era of Renault before they ruined everything with gadgets like ignition cards instead of keys etc. Still lots of these about here in France.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, it's the sort of car I would expect to see around there! When I lived in France from 2003-4, it was all about the 19s and the occasional 11... Think that we may have a Mëgane Classic coming up soon too.

[@depechem0demusic]

One car brand I’ve never owned although I have had a Peugeot

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I haven't had a Renault, despite several family members who don't consider anything else when looking for a new car!

[@depechem0demusic]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes the lady wife almost bought a Clio-but was able to get a much newer MG3 for less money-she still loves her MG

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@depechem0demusic , well sir, we know how good MG3s are, don't we?

[@TheGreatestPlayerInTheWorld]

Never been a fan of Renault 👎🏽as had bad experience with them especially clios from the early 2000’s and early 90’s good review though as always 👍🏾

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I drove a Mark II Clio in 2012 for a couple of weeks, and it was really, really bad. Thankfully, this Mégane was a lot better!

[@trabali5168]

nah, prefer Mr bill/wulls wheells megane classic!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Was it a wasted trip then, sir?

[@trabali5168]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting no, because i like watching poverty spec stuff, just prefer the saloon version (used to have the chamade) and the colour of bills!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Just checking, sir, it does take a while to put these together, you know... Mr Bill's car should be coming up on the channel soon.

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

Strange but Renault is a brand that’s more expensive more known.. and building cars way longer in that time so more experience . Than Hyundai. But still i do like Hyundai more from that time than this. Talking about the excel/accent and elantra/lantra. On the other side.. renault had Laguna

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I am hoping that we will get more Hyundais on the channel. May have another one coming up soon, we will see what happens!

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting if that will be the excel/accent i will be screaming like a happy little girl

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@jdnrotterdam2150 , I can't promise anything, sir...

[@tz6414]

Oh the remorseless dullness of 1.4 8v French cars.. Thankfully things moved on.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Not my favourite engine for the Mégane, I must admit, but we should have another more powerful Mark I Mégane appearing on the channel soon.