Renault Problems

The offer you've had is a normal one offered by most car companies. They pay the cost of the parts and you cover the rest, but to my mind that's a bit of a cop-out. The part failed, and to fail in a matter of three years means it was defective and not up to the job. I agree that you could well have a claim under the statutory consumer laws, but it comes down to how much you want to pursue the matter.

They're usually calculated on the price of the car as purchased, so if you bought it having been converted then that is the price that would be used. If you bought it and had it registered before it was converted then you would pay the stamp duties on the price before conversion.

Renault Australia promises a proper solution. Spokeswoman Mel Cross replies: "Renault is rectifying the vehicle with new parts."

If you listen to Koleos owners you’ll hear that they’re generally happy with their cars and that little goes wrong with them. Those who complain at all mostly do so about servicing. If you buy one make sure it has been well looked after and properly serviced.

It is happening. Renault unveiled its Alaskan Concept vehicle last month and will follow up with a production version based on the Nissan Navara, but it's at least 18 months away.

There is no inconsistency. The clutch in a regular manual car is operated and controlled by the driver but the clutch pack in a double-clutch setup such as those used by Ford, Renault and Volkswagen is controlled by the car's computer. So any wear or damage in a double-clutch is a fault in the car and not down to the driver.

I have been in touch again with Renault. Spokeswoman Melissa Cross replies: "Our customer service team is currently in discussion with Mr Gibson about his vehicle, which he has back. To ensure he wasn't inconvenienced while his vehicle was at the dealership, Renault Australia provided a hire car at no cost. Our team will continue to liaise with Mr Gibson to ensure he is satisfied."

We're passing the message along to Matilda.

Buying on-line requires the same careful consideration as buying from anywhere else. You certainly don't buy sight unseen; always see the car for yourself. Be wary if the seller suggests meeting in a public place, or at night, or somewhere that might make you suspicious. It's always worth having someone else with you at the time. If you want something a little more exciting you could look at various European brands, Like VW, Renault, Skoda, but in saying that I need to add that the Asian brands like Honda will generally be cheaper to run and maintain than the Europeans.

We haven't had any specific complaints about the transmission in the Renault, but no dual-clutch auto should be above suspicion. Getrag supplies transmissions to many carmakers, Renault included. The troublesome Ford PowerShift transmission is also a Getrag product.