Renault heads new-car finance fight with zero per cent offer | CarAdvice

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Renault heads new-car finance fight with zero per cent offer

By Tim Beissmann
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Renault has landed the latest blow in the finance battle between Australia’s automotive brands, offering customers zero per cent finance on four of its passenger vehicles between August 8 and September 30.

The zero per cent finance offer applies to Renault Megane hatch, Fluence, Latitude and Koleos models, with no interest charged on the vehicles’ finance for three years.

The finance deal is the latest addition to Renault Australia’s high-value aftersales offering on its passenger cars, which also includes a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and $199 capped-price servicing for the first three years of ownership.

Renault’s announcement comes just hours after Holden confirmed its lowest-ever finance rate, offering customers 0.5 per cent finance on all vehicles excluding Colorado 4×2, Cruze CD and Cruze Equipe.

Holden’s one-week finance offer starts on Thursday (August 9) and runs until the close of business on August 15, and like Renault’s offer, covers finance for the first three years.

Holden also announced a capped-price servicing program across its range in April, with maximum service prices ranging from $185 to $375.

Holden’s finance offer runs exactly one month after Nissan hit the market with a similar one-week, one per cent deal. The offer helped Nissan reach record July sales, with 6155 deliveries across the country boosting its sales by 17.5 per cent compared with the same month in 2011.

Holden will be hoping the offer can give its sales a short-term shot in the arm. The local manufacturer’s sales were down 17.4 per cent last month, and trail 2011’s tally by 11.3 per cent year-to-date. Cruze sales plummeted 40 per cent to 1875 units in July, while the Commodore was down 32.4 per cent to 2399 units.

Renault is enjoying a positive year in 2012, with sales up 16.5 per cent in July and an impressive 30.0 per cent year-to-date.


 
  • Daniel

    Good for them, I can understand it with things like home loans etc., but I don’t really see why we should have to pay interest when we’re going to buying a car that we otherwise probably couldn’t have anyway. With the servicing plan, that makes owning a Renault really good value. To me, it would certainly be a better option than the Cruze. It’s a shame Renaults aren’t a bit more desirable though.

  • Whitbomb07

    Just announce the RS265 and get it here already!

    It was good enough for Ford to announce the Focus ST before it got here, get everyone interested, meanwhile Renault is being coy, hiding in the shadows, if they want to move more vehicles (ie make more profit) they need to be more proactive in getting the product out there and known!

    Regards

    Whitbomb07

    • Phil

      This offer probably doesn’t cover RenaultSport models. No mention of Clio being covered by this offer. Also their 5 year warranty does not apply to Renaultsport Meganes or Clios either.

      • Sour Japes

        That’s because ppl flog them then they break.

        • TG

          Even if they don’t get flogged they still break.

          • Crownleyian

            Say’s who? Your inner ignorance?

            Mine hasn’t broken yet…

          • Learn the truth, stop the BS

             TG & Sour Japes; you are both morons. I have owned 6 new Renaults in the last 8 years including 4 Renaultsports and had NO problems. How about you get in the real world and actually make comments based on FACTUAL Ownership experiences and not the usual hearsay & “follow me” diatribe! GOOD ON Renault for this offer and there line up of cars which offer great value in the current Australian new car market.

          • Conrad

            I would question any cars reliability from someone who has purchased 6 of them brand new in 8 years? Something doesn’t smell right with that. Fact is Renaults are not reliable cars at all, that is why for such a tiny volume seller in Australia there are so many of them for sale online. So many people getting rid of them so quickly = a rubbish built car which they are I must say. French cars are not known for their build quality, reliability or longevity. Never have been never will be.

          • tiddy

            Gee, thats another well informed comment 

          • Conrad

            True!

        • Conrad

          So you build a performance car that can’t be flogged? Are you kidding me! If they were proud and confident about their vehicles they would offer the 5 year warranty on all their Renaultsport cars, just like Mitsi does on its EVO’s. Also for Renault the financing cost to them would be exactly the same whether it’s for a standard car or Renaultsport. So why rip of their customers wanting to buy a Renaultsport? The Renaultsports are already well overpriced compared to Europe.

  • Simon

    With effectively zero percent of the new car market in this country this is hardly going to worry the big players. Anybody who know anything about market strategy knows that as soon as they stop this discount finance offer their market share will return to the same as it was before the offer anyway.

  • MisterZed

    That truck at the top looks like a Ssangyong!

  • Laurie

    There has to be a catch maybe it reverts back to +18% if you miss your first payment!

    • TG

      The catch is pay RRP and full dealer delivery, no discounting.

      • Modern Man

        To TG

        NO catch no smoke no mirrors.

        Shop around, look online and even buy a demo. it is a REAL offer.

      • tiddy

        Mate your are full of informed comments, why dont you actually research stuff before you open your mouth & make a fool of yourself

  • Andre

    At last an interest rate that truly represents a vehicles resale value after 2 years of ownership.

  • the_truth

    After working in the auto-finance industry I can tell you that you will get a better price on the car if you dont take up the no finance offer. Every vehicle that gets financed at this rate will require the dealer to pay a kickback to the insurance comapny which is factored into the sale price of the car. It can be as much as 4 or 5 grand. If you go in and ask the price and then tell them you don’t want the 0% finance and you just want to buy it outright and ask for the new price it will be at least 2 grand less.

    • the_truth_is_wrong

      For someone who worked in the auto finance industry I thought you would be better informed. For most offers you are indeed correct, however, this particular offer is fully factory backed, which means the dealer in question would retain his or her full margin and thus, retains the right to discount as much or little as they please. So, in this instance, you are in fact wrong and the price is the same regardless whether you take the offer or not, so you are better taking the offer (as it costs nothing to do so) and investing cash you would have paid in a term deposit and earning interest on it insteading of paying interest on a car loan.

      Indeed it seems this is a very good offer. Hopefully Renault bring it back soon..

  • Prat

    I bought a Renault Koleos at 0%. Great car, drive very good. no catches. I am actually saving even more by putting the same cash in my mortagage. The vehicle has 5 yrs unlimited Km warranty. Capped price serving, top safety rating, once a year service. What more value can i ask for. It looks good, interiors are spacious. I like it and enjoy driving everyday. Don’t care what others have a say about it. dont go by the herd mentality.