Renault

The r/BuyItForLife community holds largely negative views of Renault as a brand, frequently citing poor serviceability, unreliable components, and a role in degrading Nissan's quality through their alliance. A minority of commenters note that older Renault models, budget-oriented lines like Dacia, and specific diesel engines have had reasonable longevity, but these are exceptions rather than the rule.

Community consensus strongly favors Japanese brands over Renault for longevity and repairability, with Renault frequently cited as poorly serviceable, quality-compromised, and a cautionary example rather than a buy-it-for-life choice.

Some community members acknowledge that older Renault models offered good value, and certain specific vehicles have accumulated high mileage without major issues. French engineering is occasionally praised for structural ingenuity despite budget constraints.

• Renault Laguna reportedly reached 350k km with only routine wear
• French engineering praised for structural cleverness at low price points
• Older models like the Renault 5 seen as fun and competitively priced
• RenaultSport Clio praised for character and driving engagement
• Dacia sub-brand offers no-frills, repairable, affordable vehicles
• Rust resistance noted as relatively good compared to some Asian brands

The dominant community sentiment is that Renault cars are poorly designed for serviceability, use low-quality materials, and have contributed to the decline of Nissan's reliability through their corporate alliance. Multiple commenters describe frustrating ownership experiences.

• Oil filter placement designed so oil drips down your arm during removal
• Headlight bulb replacement requires removing front bumper entirely
• French cars broadly described as fiddly with frequent small failures
• Renault alliance widely blamed for Nissan's quality decline post-2000
• Considered inferior to Japanese brands for long-term reliability and repairability
• At least one commenter flatly states: 'Renault cars... never again'

One commenter described how servicing a Renault Clio felt like a punishment compared to a Toyota Yaris — on the Renault, removing the oil filter soaks your arm, while on the Toyota it's as straightforward as building with Legos.

Several commenters traced Nissan's modern quality decline directly to Renault's influence after their late-1990s alliance, with one noting that Nissan had to compromise quality to survive financially, and never fully recovered.

A commenter who owned both Renault and Toyota vehicles noted that on the Renault they had to remove the entire front bumper just to replace a light bulb, while the Toyota required no such ordeal.

One commenter shared that their Renault Laguna III diesel reached 350,000 km with only normal wear and tear — a rare positive data point standing out against the mostly critical discussion.