[Ythsie]

Well....it was bound to happen....two and a half months of blissful ownership....and I've found something that has really irritated me!!
Someone mentioned this a while back, when washing their car..stones on the sills...That wouldn't be bad, but worse than that, the mud, grit and stones all sit in the plastic trim on the bottom of the doors!!!..it's a nightmare!! I like to look after my car so I was giving it a clean up before I have mud flaps fitted tomorrow..and was shocked!! Surely a design fault!!! There should be some kind of rubber seal on the front edge..rather than this pathetic thing that starts from below the speaker on the door?
My first real moan about the car....and that is totally not like me!!
Your opinions on this design fault?

 

[Tyrfelin]

Think how clean the roads will get if we Captur owners collect all this loose grit!

 

[Ythsie]

Haha!!

...Trust you to see the funny side!!
The problem becomes a rust trap!! Not good!!

 

[TC Eddy]

Errmmm just wash it every day like I do.........no stone build up then!!

.......not noticed this myself yet but will now watch to see if it happens on mine!

 

[Tyrfelin]

Just pick it up and shake it upside down once a week! Ha......

 

[Ythsie]

Tc have a look at the bottom of your front doors...there is a rubber seal that after a week gets all the kick up from your front wheels...see what you think mate!

 

[ibster]

Im very much like yourselves as in I love a sparkling car. This issue is really annoying too. Let us know how the mudflaps change the buildup !!

 

[Tyrfelin]

Bucketing down all day today - self washing!

 

[TC Eddy]

A selfwashing Captur.......yes please!!

 

[Ythsie]

It has helped with front mudflaps...but can't get rear ones fitted!!

 

[Tyrfelin]

A selfwashing Captur.......yes please!!

Just move to Wales!!!!

 

[ibster]

It has helped with front mudflaps...but can't get rear ones fitted!!

May I ask what the problem is ?

 

[Mall57]

Daft question but where did you get your mudflaps from.

 

[Tyrfelin]

The rear wheel arches are designed to throw the water away from the rear screen!

 

[thepittstop]

It's another item that I find irritating & indicative of cutting edge design sometimes forgetting the basics but I initially decided not to comment on it on this forum as I'm sure some senior members seem to think that all I ever do is moan about the car.

That said every moan I've had so far has been echoed by others so perhaps I'm just being realistic rather than a grumpy old man.

Over the years we've had many cars from new; self owned & company cars; & so far very very few reasons for dissatisfaction with just two exceptions:

1: An Austin Maestro which was not given a proper Pre Delivery Inspection but once sorted; after a big row with the dealer; gave excellent service.

2: A 2004 MGTF when I was on first name terms with the TF specialist at the dealership who pulled out all the stops to get it right so I could really enjoy the car which I kept for 6 years.

The Capture; although being a great concept & much loved by it's owner, my wife; has had my early good impressions undermined by silly niggles such as: trapped muck in doors; accelerator pedal lag, twittering drive belt; media nav problems, & paint problems. Got it in Nov & already I'm, yet again, on first name terms with the service receptionist. I've played down the problems at home so as not to spoil my wife's enjoyment of the car & I hope that, as with the two cars above, that all will be resolved in due course.

Edited by: thepittstop

 

[Ythsie]

Ibster, the problem is that I ordered mudflaps with the car, so I received Renault mudflaps as advertised in the Polish Accessory brochure...very similar one in France etc..

When the car came, I was persuaded by the dealer that the flaps would not be necessary and 'would not look right and spoil the look of the car'(?)..this surprised me as they were offered as an OFFICIAL ACCESSORY!

They were not fitted as the dealer explained that there was a 'flair' design of the rear arches that would keep the rear screen 'free from dirt'...

After two and a half months of motoring, I can confirm that the 'flair' does NOT work or works very poorly!!

I had front mudflaps fitted and it has helped to prevent a build up of mud and stones towards the front of the driver and passenger doors, where there is NO SEAL TO PREVENT THAT HAPPENING.

The rear mudflaps provided cannot be fitted as there 'isn't a way to attach them'(?)

This was stated by a non-dealer, when I had my winter tyres fitted and later by the dealership itself.. They claim a 'form of spat' is needed and that the standard Renault mudflap sold by them is unsuutable!!

Pretty unbelievable...but there you have it! The rear screen and back of the car get covered in grit and sand and 'washing it' leaves the car clean until you're on the road again!!

The build up of grit, mud, salt etc is nicely held in place by the car's bumper and rear wheel panels and arches!

Mall57, do invest in standard Renault mudflaps for the front but wait to see if they decide to design a rear mudflap for the Captur...ASK the dealer to give you an answer or Renault itself!

Thepittstop, any new car has its faults or niggles...but I agree with you, some basic 'design faults' should be picked up by Renault when developing or producing this car!

Saying all this, I love this car, but I worry about its longevity against rust etc ...





Edited by: Ythsie

 

[Frosty]

I've had lots of cars over the years and some have been a lot easier to clean than others, but I just adopt a new strategy when I encounter problem area's (I always wash by hand). However with the need to blast and clean the inside of the rear arches, and the sill/door area issue I think it takes longer to clean than most ofmy previous cars.

Still love it though

 

[thepittstop]

Ythsie. You say that all new cars have their faults & niggles.

I seem to have had good fortune over the years; with the exceptions of the two cars mentioned in my earlier post; which has perhaps made me expect very high standards.

All our other brand new cars owned from new over the years have been hassle free: Austin Metro, Renault Clio, Fiat Punto, Rover 200 Vi, Ford Sierra, Vauxhall Calibra, Mercedes SLK, BMW 320d, Peugeot 206, & Suzuki SX4. (Just as well as some of my old sports cars needed lots of attention & kept me well occupied on the mechanical front. But that's my hobby so I don't mind.)

The Suzuki; which we traded in for the Captur; did "exactly what it said on the tin" first time every time so; although the Captur is streets ahead on equipment & refinement; it has a tough act to follow on the reliability stakes.

That said the dealer is very helpful & I look forward to the resolution on our other difficulties, mentioned in other threads, fairly soon.

Edited by: thepittstop

 

[Tyrfelin]

I've owned some terrible British built cars - loved my French ones!!!! Tres bon!

 

[Tyrfelin]

We chose Renault because we have loved the service we have had from the dealership and the quality of the cars themselves!!!!Edited by: Tyrfelin