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Renault Laguna 2 - Are They That Bad?

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bad laguna
37K views 167 replies 43 participants last post by  Tournon 
#1 ·
Hi all

Just joined this forum - apologies if I've posted in the wrong place but I can't quite work out the structure of the forum :d

Anyway, I'm going down to the auctions this week to buy a new car, and am considering a Laguna II. However, I've just read the guide on the Parkers website and it makes out that the car is one to avoid at all costs due to component / electronic failure, unreliability etc.

As an experienced Internet user I know that you only tend to hear about the bad things, so I thought I'd find a forum and ask the people who really know about these things.

So - Laguna II. Good buy, or worth avoiding?

Thank you very much :)
 
#2 ·
welcome to the Forum!!

From my point of view the Laguna II is no VW Golf, but they are not expensive to buy, are not massively expensive to run and like all French cars are very comfy and come with a few toys. History is the key.

Like us, all makes and models have their good points and their bad points. Buy what YOU fancy. :)
 
#3 ·
Thanks for replying so quickly, nobby :)

So to quote Parkers:

"There have been reports of onboard engine electronics failures, corroded brake discs, fuel leaks, unexplained acceleration surges and erratic losses of power, keyless entry card errors, faulty tyre pressure sensors, air conditioning faults and defective trip computers. Reliability is not this cars strong point"

Is it *really* that bad?

I'm concerned because I don't really have an awful lot of money at the moment so need the car to be reliable and not something that will be a bottomless pit!

Other cars on the shortlist are the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra. Of the three I much prefer the look of the Laguna but I'm worried about buying a lemon...
 
#5 ·
History, History, History!

They're not that bad. If you are going to an auction I would recommend staying clear of private sales and stick to lease company disposals. These cars are generally three years old and come with a fully stamped book.
I have had my Lag for nearly 2 and a half years and its been great. Am having a few problems at the moment with niggly little things but It's done nearly 100k and is entitled to feel poorly every now and then!!:d
 
#6 ·
I was concerned when I bought my Laguna with all the reports I had read, but need not have been.

My heart over ruled, and glad it did. What a fantastic car! Bought mine with 105500miles, and now at 141000 3 years later. Have only had to replace consumable items, being tyres, timing belt. Still has the same brake pads/discs on, since 90000miles.

Agree that the auction could be risky, but can get a good deal also.
 
#7 ·
I work at the car auctions so i'm able to offer some advice here. Buy a catalogue prior to the sale and put a line through any car in the general sale, these are private sellers and are likely to have faults and problems.
As has already been mentioned look out for fleet disposals and main dealer part ex's, most will have lots of stamps in the book and been well looked after servicing wise. Find out when the timing belt change is done and compare to the mileage. If the belt is due a change at 60k and the car has 57k then its probably been disposed of prior to the expensive service. If it has 73k its probably been done as part of the schedule.

Its worth going to the auction first time and just observe/get a taste of how they work. If traders are not bidding on a car there's a reason so leave it. Take into account auction costs as well, a £3000 car will cost about £230 extra in indemnities and admin fees. And the golden rule, stick to your budget and don't get bid happy.
 
#10 ·
This is just my personal opinion,but if you really want a cheap car that is reasonably reliable then the Lag 1 would be a much better bet.

If you must have a Lag 2,then avoid early dCi's as they are particularly troublesome.The 1.8 petrol is Ok-ish,if a little sluggish,the 2litre IDE is best avoided,and the 3 litre V6 is a corking engine but expensive to run.

As I said,it's just my personal opinion,but I've got to be honest,Lag 2's are cheap for a reason........:eek:
 
#11 ·
the thing is your going to hear just the negative things about any car on a car forum, your rarely going to hear I have a laguna with 200.000 miles on the clock and its trouble free,

But my father has a IDE Laguna 2 and it never gives him any problems, occasionally get the odd glitch with the electrics which always seems to sort itself out, but apart from that its only the electric window on his that has packed up but it is only a 50 quid fix,
I have a Laguna 1 which is completely trouble free so if your worried I would say buy a late low mileage Laguna 1 as they have quite a few toys and your going to get a better condition car for your money as they are now two a penny. I would prefer that than say a higher mileage less looked after newer car which could give you trouble
ps dont know if its true but I was told to steer clear from diesel lagunas as they are not the most reliable diesel on the market
 
#12 ·
Mine laguna has been perfect for 7000 i've done with it. It relatively new 2005 20000 miles so it's not representative. But my father in law has 1.9 dci 100000 on counter his for the last 35000. He is quite happy, only problem he had is gearbox bearings went two months ago.

I bought mine because I liked the new design, and the engine 2.0 t 205, and because I like Renaults generaly. Also no other similar car with 2.0 engine and similar output. I converted mine to LPG and at todays petrol and diesel prices it costs me less to drive 200 bhp car than a DCi of my father in law. And thers a thougt for You. Maybe You should go for a 2.0 16V petrol one, and save same more money.

P.S. Don't consider 2.0 IDE in any case, direct injection engin, cannot be converted to LPG :d, and many problems with it.
 
#13 ·
Hi there mate!

I have a 52plate laguna 1.9dci and its done 103 thousand miles runs a dream no problems you must remember that service history is CRITICAL

cambelts need to be replaced before 72 thousand miles and oil changes are very importaint

sometimes people get problems from with the electric card reader but i fixed a mates just by putting a vacum hose into the card reader and cleaning out the old dirt inside it

Honestly Ive had lots of different cars and renault laguna's are okay mate

But most importaintly buy what you like best,
You might be better buying out of local autotrader or buying a 3 year old ex lease hire car as said above

All the best Mickyboy10001http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/images/smilies/tongue.gif
:p
 
#15 ·
Hey guys, I have an update for you :d

I am now an owner of an 02-plate Laguna Expression 1.8 16v, in a silvery colour!

It seems to go straight forward and side to side OK, which is a good start...

A couple of questions though, if I may

- Air con isn't blowing cold. I've bought some regassing stuff so I'm going to have a go at that tonight but I wondered if it's common for this to happen?

- Temperature gauge in the centre console is all over the place! At one point today it was -36C apparently. Bloody freezing at the moment isn't it :d I guess it's just a sensor that needs changing - does anybody know the cost of the part and how hard it is to change?

- The passenger-side front door appears to have been changed at some point, as the rubbing strip says 1.9tdci (bit of a giveaway). The colourmatch seems to be OK, so can I just get a new strip to replace with the correct details?

Thanks for the interest guys :)
 
#17 ·
Alexs the temp is the outside temp sensor,it'slocatedin r.hand exterior mirror, don't think it's too big a job,i bought a haynes manuel when i had my laguna a very useful book.there maybe threads on the forum telling you how to do it yourself just search and you may find out.
 
#19 ·
Bit late for that now :d

Can anybody give me a guide on how to regas it please - I've got the gas and the little tube thing, and I think I've found where I need to plug it onto, but try as I might I can't get the nozzle to fit the socket! (If that makes sense)
 
#25 · (Edited)
The lagII AC port is unusual - they stuck a high pressure port on the low port where you'd normally plug the diy gas in. To get the diy gas to fit you need an adaptor from ebay but that costs 20 notes!!!

Had mine done at kwik fit, £35 and an improvement or your money back,

Cheers!

:d

ps. I bought a 5 yr old ex lease diesel - while the servicing was good and the mileage was reasonable, there were a couple of things I would have looked out for it I knew better but there weren't alot of this model to choose from :)
 
#26 ·
Big problem with my Laguna II

Mine is a 2004 Laguna II 1.9 DCi Extreme.
It's been great for the last 70,000 miles but in the last few weeks has developed a really nasty fault .......
When driving (sometimes after a few minutes, sometimes after 200 miles !) it suddenly loses all power (as if the ignition was turned off. Sometimes the glow-plug warning light comes on, sometimes the engine management light somes on, sometimes both, and usually the engine management light stays on. Once this has happened, it has the performance of a milk float - not a good situation.
I can usually clear it by stopping, removing the key card, turning on the air-con, starting, turning off the air-con, stopping, removing the key-card then re-starting - then it's fixed - until the next time.

It's driving me mad !
 
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