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NEWS
Five-year warranty for Renault Sport range
Hot-shoe models now offer buyers the same "peace of mind" as the bread-and-butter modelsRenault Australia has done the unthinkable by offering a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for its sport models – cars bought for their performance and 'right-brain' appeal rather than their inherent practicality.
Clearly however, such an extended warranty from the factory will set apart Renault Sport and GT models, including the likes of the Megane GT220 just updated, from almost any price-competitive rival you care to name – with the debatable exception of the Kia pro_cee'd GT.
Even then, the Kia only matches the Renault warranty, it doesn't surpass it.
The new warranty coverage takes effect for all Renault Sport and GT vehicles purchased after July 1 this year. Previously the Megane RS and Clio RS had been limited to three years/unlimited kilometres – in line with the warranty periods offered by other manufacturers for their rivals to the Renault Sport models.
It's an aggressive move from Renault, in a market niche known for overly enthusiastic owners taxing the durability of their cars to the absolute limit – and beyond. But the French brand in Australia is certain that the longer warranty for the Sport models won't bring them undone.
"We are incredibly confident in the exceptional quality of all of our products, including our Renault Sport and GT vehicles, and this change in warranty enables us to demonstrate that confidence to all Australian consumers," said Justin Hocevar, MD at Renault Australia.
"This new five-year new-vehicle warranty on the Australian range of Renault Sport vehicles is a permanent change, not a short-term gimmick. This has two important outcomes: it means our enthusiast customers can now enjoy even greater peace of mind, and it also means the complete range of Renault passenger vehicles is now covered by one of the industry's best-supported new-vehicle warranty packages.
"In the past 6 years we have seen a 68 per cent reduction in the warranty costs per vehicle, which are now some of the lowest in the industry.
"We are confident this self-assured move by Renault Australia will be well received by performance car buyers across Australia."
Hocevar and his management team are committed to repositioning the Renault brand in Australia as a sensible purchasing decision. The application of the five-year warranty across the board is one example of that. But the company's capped price servicing program also contributes, as is the case for parts cost and fulfilment.
According to the local Renault boss, capped price servicing at $299 for the Megane will cost the owner $897 over three years – given the one-year service intervals for the updated small car. That essentially places the Megane hatch between Toyota's Corolla and the Mazda3 for servicing costs, Hocevar claims. Volkswagen's Golf is more expensive than all three.
"That perception that it is expensive to service a Renault is actually false," Hocevar stated during a media presentation for the updated Megane. "This is a lingering misconception – and it simply isn't the case anymore."
Parts are also perceived to be more expensive for Renault models, but the importer has addressed that too. Hocevar revealed that analysis by Renault has found that a basket of 40 common spares costs more for the Megane hatch than for the Ford Focus, but was cheaper than for the Hyundai i30.
"Renault's parts are very competitively priced," Hocevar observed. "We are constantly reviewing our parts pricing to ensure that we have positioned ourselves correctly against the competition. And we are very proud of where we're sitting, with our models."
That other bugbear of owning an imported car – and particularly one from Europe – is the time it takes to receive a spare part to fix a car. Renault claims to have that in hand, with "a 96 per cent fulfilment rate," achieved by supplying the brand's parts inventory through allied company Nissan.
"As part of our strategy to grow the Renault business in Australia, we've really focused on those elements that create a sustainable business model, which all add up to a holistic ownership experience – and ultimately help to build loyalty to the Renault brand.
"All the previous stigmas of the Renault brand are now something ... in the past – and we will continue to work actively to communicate with prospects and customers alike, to educate them on the substance behind the brand."
RedBook Warranty provides peace of mind when the factory warranty expires.
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Written byKen Gratton
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