There's an old cautionary tale that says, “If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.”
That doesn't apply to Renault's Mégane 1.6 Dynamique Limited Edition, but it may apply to the very tempting finance package that comes along with it.
The Mégane LTD is available at the same price as the standard 1.6 Dynamique version, but customers also have the choice of a zero-deposit, 72-month finance deal with a 30 percent residual and a R3199 monthly instalment.
But be aware, Renault lovers, you're not buying the car for thirty-two hundred a month, you're leasing it - and at the end of the day, after you've already paid Renault R230 000 for a car that cost R229 900 in the first place, you'll have to give them another R68 970 in a lump sum if you want to keep it.
And it may not even be worth that much.
According to the infamous Blue Book, a previous-generation Renault Mégane 1.6 Dynamique that cost R188 000 six years ago now has a trade-in value of R61 600 - that's 32.77 percent of its original cost.
If this Mégane 1.6 Dynamique LTD depreciates at the same rate (there’s no way of telling for sure at this stage), and yours has higher-than-average mileage on it or the condition is not so great, you could wind up having to pay Renault to take it away.
If you can possibly afford the monthly instalments, insist on a package whereby you own the car outright at the end of the term - that way you can run it debt-free for a few more years or trade it in as the deposit on your next car.
BUT WHAT TO YOU GET FOR YOUR R230 000 ANYWAY?
The Mégane 1.6 Dynamique Limited Edition will be available - in limited numbers - in both three door coupé and five-door hatch derivatives, from April to June 2012, or while stocks last.
It comes with special “LTD” badging on the door pillars and eye-catching roof decals and extensive colour coding throughout, and runs on 16” alloys.
As per the standard Dynamique, the Mégane LTD Edition has a Carminat TomTom navigation system with built-in colour liquid crystal display, integrated with an Arkamys 3D Sound system that includes a 60-watt MP3-compatible sound system, Bluetooth connectivity and Renault's multifunction tunePoint interface for external audio devices.
Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers are standard, as are electric windows, keyless entry and starting, remote central locking, cruise control with speed limiter and dual-zone climate control.
Safety kit includes dual front, side and curtain airbags, and ABS with electronic brake assist and brake-force distribution.
And, of course, motivation is courtesy of Renault's 83kW/151Nm, 1.6-litre 16-valve, driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, for which the maker quotes fuel consumption of 6.9 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 163g/km.
BOTTOM LINE
Mégane 1.6 Dynamique LTD Edition Hatch- R229 900
Term:72 months
Deposit:0 %
Interest rate:7.88 %
Monthly instalment: R3199
Residual:30 % = R68 970
Mégane 1.6 Dynamique LTD Edition Coupé- R239 900
Term:72 months
Deposit:0 %
Interest rate:6.27 %
Monthly instalment: R3199
Residual:30 % = R71 970
The package includes a five-year or 150 000km mechanical warranty and a five-year or 100 000km service plan, with servicing every 15 000km.