Comments on: Renault cuts back Aussie operation

By: Fred Head

Fred Head — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:17:11 +0000

Hmm..Renault owns 44.5% of Nissan. They dont just share the showroom. They share a CEO. Never the less, renault in Australia does have branding issues, they do have a very slow delivery rate for new models, and they will continue to do poorly unless they fix these.

Regards to VW, they are not cheaper, nor superior in my opinion. They do have a brand and hence the fan boy club that follows such. The GTI was a very good car (the new model isnt as good – too many compromises), but its certainly not the only good car in the segment.

Unless you have owned and peddled Renault Sport, I dont think you really can be in a good place to judge their cars, and as for reliability, every car I have ever owned has had problems – and that covers over 10 cars of various makes and brands. Some are worse than others sure, yet I do get sick of people using this as some sort of yard stick. If that was the only measure, Mercedes would be selling not one car since their reliability is woeful, yet their brand (and loyalty) is strong.

Id say it will be a damn shame if Renault no longer sells cars in Aus. They
make some very good cars in the RS range and Id hate to see them no longer available here.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:55:52 +0000

Just took a Clio for a test drive. wow. Magic machine. And, they’re takin’ $5000 off the price. Sounds great. But why? Can’t they sell them? Were they too expensive anyway? So what’s the risk of grabbing this beast? Will Renault really pull out of Aussie?… which would screw up the values, and the servicing. Would love the car, Just wanna know that they’ll look after it after I buy. Any ideas??!!!!

By: glenn

glenn — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:29:21 +0000

Hi JJ7 Renault 225 are great cars, this car handles like a go kart around corners and is quik off the mark.I only take it out when I go to the great ocean road, which is a bit busy, the best drives are on the alpine hwy in spring, you have a good chance of having very little traffic, so you can open her up and drive it how its meant tgo be driven, quick around corners, while in most cases staying within the speed limit.I have always loved renos, they made the best rally cars, long before they became popular here.I used to have a fuego for years,was a fun car to drive to.I personally haven’t had any problems with my renault, always been reliable.

By: JJ7

JJ7 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:46:03 +0000

Hi Glenn,

Good to see your rs225 is going well. I am seriously considering this. When and how mch was your drive away?
I was considering the new golf VI tsi 118kw but looked at some bad reviews of dsg gear box really put me off. Also considered the GTI mark V but its south african reliability questionable. Any major problems with the french renault so far? Have you owned renault previously? mch appreciated, await your reply JJ7

By: Steve-Poyza

Steve-Poyza — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:11:08 +0000

Woz, I was wondering what imported Renault you might own? I would love a Laguna Coupe. Are you listening Renault Australia?

By: Woz

Woz — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:32:33 +0000

Jimmy James has nit the nail square on the head! I’m a Brit now living in Sydney and have been gobsmacked at the prices of all Euro’s in Oz! Renaultsport Clio’s are very well priced in the UK and sell like hot cakes but, UK has a far more motorsport orientated market and will buy more sporty models of all cars than any other country in Europe. You only have to look at how many of a limited motorsport edition are allocated to UK.

Comments are also correct with refence to dealership hospitality. You are instantly looked down at if you walk in wearing a pair of jeans!

I will say that Renault Australia have always been fantastic in helping me with sourcing parts for my imported Renault.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:02:47 +0000

Renault make great cars, have had a history of making fast rally cars and fast four cylinder cars way before they became popular here, have been successful in formula one and are the Pioneers of the turbo and remote central looking. I have had renos and currently own a megane rs225, which is such a fast fun car to drive, will be looking to purchase the megane rs250 if it comes out to Australia. The frustrating thing with Reno is their lack of advertising here in Australia.
When Reno were winning formula one in recent years did you see them advertising? No, they just don’t seem to get it, that you need to advertise your product a lot more in a country that doesn’t look out side Fords or Holden’s.
The positives are that you won’t find every second car on the road to be the same as yours.

By: Eureka

Eureka — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:17:18 +0000

Renaults in Australia are way over-priced full-stop. The result is that no-one wants to buy them and no-one wants to sell them (where’s your nearest Renault dealership?).

Renault Australia should stop kidding themselves…your cars are better than locally built cars but not better than VWs…price your cars accordingly.

By: adam smith

adam smith — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:18:01 +0000

Alfa Romeo. Looking gorgeous, unashamedly Italian, off-skewered off-set number plate, brazen looks and couldn’t give two hoots for Nuremburg lap time conquests. While car journalists are out there measuring which car’s got the biggest willy, Alfa’s around the back, dragging on a ciggie and enticing everyone with its charm, looks and good manners.

follow the crowd consumers = showing everyone you have the right school uniform

Alfa = not giving a shi5 about the ‘right’ uniform; but having the right heart.

By: adam smith

adam smith — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:57:37 +0000

Although I agree with you Alex, I think Renault make far more sense in Australia then Fiat. Fiat are considered to be cheap in Europe and here are more expensive then Volkswagens and Peugeots. Also the lack of a proper autobox doesn’t help them either.

?????????????

what drugs are you guys on???

spec out a golf and see what it costs you?
fiat and alfa are beautifuly styled, and have heart and soul.
vw? boring. renault? laughable.
majority of australians buy toyotas. why? because they are as boring as watching ducks cross the road.

By: Steve-Poyza

Steve-Poyza — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:19:16 +0000

I like your idea JJ. I don’t think the Laguna is wrongly priced ever since the reduction. Top-spec petrol Renault Laguna is $46,490 which is just above the top-spec petrol Mazd6 at $45,440. They have similar specs too. Top-spec Honda Accord Euro is also $45,990. I would like to see how the Frenchie compares to the two Japs. I love Renault,but without the intoduction of the new Mégane happening soon, I fear they may wilt and die in Australia. They need new salespeople too…

They make good cars (read the comments from owners in the Laguna Privilege review), just that nobody trusts the brand and their new found quality products.

By: Jimmy James

Jimmy James — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:26:11 +0000

I’m a Renaultsport Clio owner (2002 model).

My car is now looking a bit sad and has done 115,000kms but GOD I LOVE IT. Driving it hard on a country road is mindblowing, even after 6.5 years of ownership. The engine and gearbox have been flawless. Minor electrical probs fixed under warranty. Otherwise NO issues with my car.

Supply & Demand’s post above hits the nail on the head! Need to leverage the motorsport links.

My two cents…

Renault works brilliantly in the UK. Why?

Because THEY USE THEIR RENAULTSPORT CARS AS IMAGE BUILDERS AND PROMOTE THE HELL OUT OF THEM. THEY ARE ALSO COMPETITIVELY PRICED. Not cheap, but not over the top.

I’ll be an old man before they release the Megane RS250 here. What a joke.

Dont get me started on the pricing of the Clio at the moment.

IMHO the plan to revive Renault in Australia should be:

1. draw on the heritage of the brand.
2. draw on the motorsport success and use Alonso videos/press ads wherever possible. The recent videos of him in the RS250 are good.
3. offer the full range of Renaultsport cars in Oz ASAP and price them fairly at DRIVEAWAY pricing – this means the RS Twingo ($23,990) RS200 Clio ($34,990 to 36,990) and the RS250 Megane ($39990 to $43,990). These will be your image leaders.
ENSURE TWO OF EACH RS MODEL ARE ON DISPLAY AT ALL DEALERS -ONE SET TAKING PRIDE OF PLACE IN THE SHOWROOM WINDOW and THE OTHER OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP ON STANDS. NO EXCEPTIONS! OH, and mix the colours up a bit..not all YELLOW!!!!
PROVIDE LONG TERM TEST VEHICLES TO ALL KEY OZ MOTORING MEDIA – KEY MAGS (AND CARADVICE OF COURSE)!!!!
OH, AND GIVE ONE TO THE TOP GEAR OZ CREW FOR CELEBRITY LAPS, OR SOME OTHER REGULAR FEATURE. (ASSUMING THAT SHOW SURVIVES!!!!)
4. secondary focus on unique, compact and efficient cars – basic clio 5 door in one spec with decent engine and equipment priced against VW Polo (low 20k), and one new megane in 5 door priced against Mazda 3 (sub 30k). DRIVEAWAY PRICING ON BOTH CARS.
5. eliminate mid-size car (laguna) – uncompetitive on all fronts so ditch it.
6. keep the Koleos as a key ‘family’ option in the range.
7. Send all dealers and sales staff to boot camp! Ensure they all live and breathe Renault and Renaultsport. They should be forced to read RS owner forums every night as homework.

Renault need to become VISIBLE in the market. Now!

By: Neo Utopia

Neo Utopia — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:06:52 +0000

The market is not large enough, particularly post late October 2008 and as the exchange rate changes, for more than two French car brands in Australia.

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:55:20 +0000

Renault in Oz needs to cut itself loose from the Nissan dealership. I have been to the local Renault dealership twice in the last 12 months and the salesmen couldn’t give a hoot. They are quite happy to steer you in the direction of a Nissan if it is going to benefit them. I recall Renault’s last marriage in Oz with Volvo – same thing. Renaults were always the second cousins in the Volvo showroom. This approach suggests a very tentative Renault presence in Oz and I feel that the punters must be reacting accordingly. Just recently, I rang the local Renault/Nissan dealer to find out whether the latest Laguna was in town for a viewing and test drive – “not available”, “will ring me”. They couldn’t even tell me whether the Laguna was even in town. RIP Renault in Australia (yet again).
PS – I’ve owned several Renaults, Peugeots and Citroens. The offerings by the PSA groups are much better than the Renault mob

By: niski

niski — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:44:37 +0000

just can’t understand why they’re so expensive here in oz, just because they’re euro?

By: pirakavezok

pirakavezok — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:39:10 +0000

Recently, I was in the market for an SUV and I was keen on the Koleos when I saw it in a dealer’s showroom. It seems like a fantastic SUV, simply put – very well made. No matter how persuaded I was, I turned away fearing a repeat of my previous Renault ownership experience.

By: pirakavezok

pirakavezok — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:32:45 +0000

Confused
A car can be well made, yet at the same time unreliable. Take for example a Renault that I bought new. The interior and exterior are made of good quality material. The body is solid (amply proven in one accident) and the door closes with a thud (albeit light one). The steering wheel and dashboard are made of good quality plastics. Even the seats are comfy-made with hard wearing fabric and with tasteful motif. Use the car for a couple of years, the steering pump starts to leak, the engine management unit starts being eratic etc. When you go to the work shop to replace the pump, they tell you need to replace the entire power steering assembly cos they don’t sell no pumps. You ask them to reprogram the engine management unit they say you need to replace entire CPU. After replacing the engine management unit, the problem reappears several months later. Then the radiator starts to leak and the driver’s power window drops down permanently. Eventually I gave up.
I mean-it looks and feels good and even handles well. Can I rely on it for fuss free motoring- NOPE.

By: Confused

Confused — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:21:16 +0000

Pirakavezok

So they are well-made but unreliable?

By: pirakavezok

pirakavezok — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:10:44 +0000

What’s so exciting about Renault in Australia? High prices, quirky design, poor reliability. The only upside is that it is well made. No surprises about their cutback.

By: JJJ

JJJ — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:48:49 +0000

Renault Australia’s marketing is flawed, the sales reps are rude, over prices cars, no brand recognition in Australia. What did Renault Oz expect?

They need to appeal more to the general and start selling base model cars at a greater volumn such as Clio’s, meganes with competitive price. Not bring the models out 2 years late….

As a previous Clio sport owner, I wouldn’t be going back to Renault! It’s clear the company is not ‘connected’ with the consumers.