USED Renault Laguna Hatchback (00 - 08)

My car

Good drive with responsive diesel engine and quick gear change.

Good fuel economy, doing as much as 60mpg on the motorway, and about 40 around town.

Had problems with the card - key starting system when the lock button stopped working. This costs about £100 to replace and can only be provided by a Renault dealer.

All turbo and intercooler problems can be avoided if you do not neglect the car. A service every 18,000 miles is ridiculous. Every 6000 miles ensures no problems, regardless of what the manufacturer recommends.

Back seats are not the roomiest but all round very comfortable.

My car

For the cost of buying this car, and what you get for your money, it is very disappointing.

The drive of the car is just about acceptable, the clutch feels like a springboard and the gear change is notchy and flimsy.

I do not rate the customer service from Renault highly either.

In all, this is a very poor car from one of the leading manufacturers of motor cars.

My car

I have owned this car since new (Sept '01) and have covered 74,500 miles. Apart from a replacement driver's window regulator and an engine management sensor, I have had no problems.

It is very comfortable car. The fuel economy is good (35-42mpg from a petrol engine). I have it serviced evry 18,000 miles by an independent garage. Renault dealers are terrible. I had them fit a Renault-approved towbar, which they did very slowly, then failed its MoT as they said it obscured the numberplate. Avoid the Renault dealers for any work needed!

Paintwork is a bit delicate and scratchess easily.

I would definitely recommend the Laguna. It's a good size, economical, comfortable and quick for a 1.8.

My car

This was my company car in 2003 and I had it for 4 years, I found it refined, well equipped and extremely comfortable. I had absolutely no problems whatsoever with it but as it turned out this was fortunate because 2 other people in my company, had Lagunas and had a lot of trouble with them.

2 Gripes .... 1) the performance of the diesel seemed to lose it's edge after 3 years. 2) I found Renault in Preston absolutely appalling, poor customer care, Thankfully I found Renault in Liverpool much better !

I would not buy another new one because they are looking old fashioned, even the oncoming model also does.

I would suggest a Laguna would be a great 2nd Hand buy, but it would be worth paying to get the car RAC inspected before taking the plunge. All being well 2nd Hand they are a lot of car for very little money.