Second-hand Sense: The Renault Megane was a very clever car for its time. It was clever because it yielded three very smart looking cars from the same platform - the saloon, the coupé and the mini MPV, the Scenic - but it was also clever for the fact that it provided buyers with an almost perfect range of options in terms of lifestyle choices.
In fact, it was so clever that it took virtually every other manufacturer by surprise (look at how long it has taken Mercedes to come out with a medium-sized MPV !). Designers who had been mesmerised by what was being turned out as concept cars at the Tokyo motor show forgot to look in their European back-garden for what was actually happening there.
We have dealt with the saloon and the Scenic previously, but the more recent convertible has been never far from our minds. This medium-sized car has the benefit of a unique electric glass roof that allows you to enjoy all the benefits of convertible driving when the time is right. It is a well-styled car, as all the Megane models tend to be, and has the kind of road presence a car like this needs to succeed. Low, but not too low, it has a definite profile. In fact, many people do not recognise it as a Renault at all, and the car is all the better for that. The large glass area, however, is not to everyone's liking.
Inside it is smart and functional, but don't expect to get anyone into the back seats in comfort. Even with an average-sized driver the rear is extremely limited, but for those up front there is plenty of comfort, proving that it really is a car designed for city use by couples and singletons. There are nice touches such as the handbrake, which has a square handle that is cutting edge but which is quite impractical when it comes to manoeuvring around the gears. Dials are bright - although some are very small - and switchgear is practical.
Some experts argue the car suffers badly in terms of handling and performance, because of the all-glass roof and this is a point to bear in mind. With a 1.6 litre petrol engine, however, this is not a sports car. Rather it is simply one to give others the impression it is.
The Megane coupé has not been specifically crash tested but the Megane saloon has done really well in the test, so you can rest assured in terms of safety. Scoring five out of a possible five stars in 2003, testers said the car had a body that was "extremely stable with no points being lost for side impact and only two points lost on frontal impact". The car has multiple airbags, which is a big plus.
Cars in the the Megane range (although not all of them) have been recalled for several problems, ranging from throttle problems to difficulties with brake master cylinders, so it is important to check that any car you look at might have been subject to a recall, and that the work was done through a Renault dealer.
This convertible is a recent addition, so a 2004 model with low mileage will cost you about €25,000.
FOR: Good looks and a cabriolet that will keep you warm in the winter.
AGAINST: Expensive and limited rear space.