Renault Megane Coupé: month four

Model: Renault Megane Coupé Dynamique TomTom 1.5 dCi 110 EDC

On fleet since: March 2010
Mileage: 7,100 miles
Official combined mpg: 64.2 mpg
Our average economy: 54.6 mpg
Performance: 0-62mph 10.9secs/118mph
Power/Torque: 110hp@4,000rpm/177lb ft@2,000rpm
Insurance group: 18E
Options fitted: i.d. metallic paint (£495), 17-inch alloys (no cost option - 16in std), dual-zone climate control (£410), fixed sunroof (£420), rear parking sensors (£310), emergency spare wheel (£75).
Price as tested: £22,030

Pros: Smooth systems, girlfriend-pleasing drive
Cons: Tauter-than-standard ride, rear visibility

Gallery: Renault Megane Coupé
Read another long-term car review

Where have we been in the Renault Megane Coupé?

We went to MG Motor in the Megane, to pick up our road-test MG6 Magnette. It was thus parked up there for a week, where it fell foul of the Longbridge birds. Over 7 days, they did the inevitable.

Cue one fervid car clean when we got it back. Trying out, in the process, Auto Glym's new Aqua Wax. This is a spray-on wax product: clean the car, rinse it off, then apply the polish. Rub it in, then dust it off with another micro fibre cloth, and you're done.

I'll admit, I was cynical. But the results were eye-opening. It produced a deep shine and the much-liked 'smooth-touch' surface finish you get from a proper car wax - only this took 12 minutes rather than upwards of an hour. It even saved us from having to dry the car - result.

At £14, it's not cheap, but it works. It also helped shift every trace of a week under the trees of Longbridge, leaving it ready for a fresh week of regular action: up and down the M1, in and out of town centres. The Megane now knows it all like the back of its, err, 17-inch tyres.

What do we like about the Renault Megane Coupé?

A week in the MG made us more appreciative of the Megane's details. The MG is, fundamentally, a decent car, but the firm hasn't quite cracked the detail engineering that companies such as Renault have had time to master.

Take the auto wipers. On the MG, if engaged, they run a single sweep of the screen each time you start up - whether it's raining or not. In the summery weather we're enjoying at the moment, this equals a dust-scraping sweep: for someone as obsessed as cleaning cars as I, this is painful.

Not so in the Megane, Auto wipers are always engaged but will only sweep when they are meant to. Sounds like a tiny detail? It is, until you live with a car everyday - then it becomes even more glaring than a tough ride quality or dodgy steering feel.

There are few of these stubborn niggles with the Megane. It is a very cohesive car, that's simple to use and easy to live with. Even my girlfriend has fallen for it: the light steering, strong torque and fluid gearbox tick all the boxes with her - so much so, she's hoping it's a longer-than-normal-termer...

What don't we like about the Renault Megane Coupé?

Two days in the new BMW 1 Series hatch saw many comment on its taut ride quality during the Berlin event. Firmer than most family hatchbacks was my verdict in the MSN Cars first drive - but not firmer than the Megane Coupé. Yes, our sporty Megane has a sporty ride to match.

Extended spells away reminds me that it is indeed rather pattery, particularly in town. It's not uncomfortable - beautifully judged damping sees to that (and, after a few miles' reacclimatisation, help me overlook it again) - but it certainly responds to inner-city ripples with more chatter than many other cars in this class.

Personally, I think it suits the character of the car well, and have no issues with it. Passengers, however, can be caught out on occasion as it sharply response to a pothole or speed bump.

My girlfriend's time behind the wheel has also reinforced the poor rear visibility of the Megane Coupé. When reversing, it's exceedingly tricky to see out the back - that shapely, angular C-pillar line doesn't come for free, you know. The tiny windows and high rear create a lovely effect, but severely affect what you can see out of them.

What next for the Renault Megane Coupé?
I've got a couple of new family hatch rivals coming up over the next month, which l'll be comparing to Renault's stalwart. There are also a few more long-distance runs, which hopefully will give me time to assess any economy improvements.

What, too, are the differences between a Renault Megane hatch and Coupé? I'll be finding out next month - come back, to discover exactly how justified the 'coupé' tag is...

Report 1: Renault Megane Coupe: arrival
Report 2: Renault Megane Coupe: month two
Report 3: Renault Megane Coupe: month three
Report 4: Renault Megane Coupe: month four (this report)
Report 5: Renault Megane Coupe: month five
Report 6: Renault Mégane Coupe: month six
Report 7: Renault Mégane Coupe: month seven

Gallery: Renault Megane Coupé
Review: Renault Megane
Review: Renault Megane CC
Videos of the Renault Megane
Buy a used Renault Megane Coupé on Auto Trader

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