Tuesday 12th March 2013

Renault Megane 265 Cup: PH Fleet

A few out-of-town excursions mean Scrof's warmed to the Megane somewhat

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Last month, you caught me in a somewhat grouchy mood. It was the result of having to get to grips with the Megane’s myriad little niggles on my daily commute. And while the niggles haven’t really gone away, I was aware that I hadn’t really given the Megane much chance to shine away from the congested arteries that make up my usual drive into work.

Megane gets a fancy new barnet...

So I made a point of taking it out for a blast on more than one occasion this month. And the good news is that it’s gone up in my estimation as a result. What’s more surprising, though, is the manner in which it did so.

It was an early Sunday morning, and I was on the way up to Sunday Service at Silverstone. I had Joe Satriani on the stereo, and it was a blissfully deserted motorway cruise up as the sun rose. And you know what? The Megane was, suddenly, great company.

What really made it was the engine. It’s a cracker, this 2.0-litre turbo. There’s a solid wodge of torque right there whenever you squeeze the throttle, and the way the Megane accrues speed almost without trying, accompanied by all sorts of whooshes and pops, is phenomenal. Addictive, too.

...before meeting up with an old friend

Turning off the motorway, a brief spurt in the twisties confirmed that the chassis is just as good. That engine can be put to good use hauling you out of corners at faintly unbelievable speeds thanks to the diff. Yes, the power does sometimes overwhelm the front wheels, causing scrabbling, tugging, and a bit of nose drift, but you can’t buy a front-driver with this much power and not expect a little bit of that. In any case, it’s just the Megane’s way of warning you you’re being too heavy-footed; ease off, and it comes neatly back into line without any unnecessary drama. And it’s shockingly, unremittingly, devastatingly quick. Into each bend, along each straight, the speeds just gets higher and higher, and before you know it you’re having to back off not because the car can’t handle it, but because your senses can’t keep up.

So I arrived at Silverstone in a positive frame of mind, positively bubbling with praise for the Megane. It is a fantastic driver’s car, and I really do think that in those terms it’s probably the best of the current hot hatch crop. If pure, unmitigated kicks are paramount, and a hatchback is a must, I’d recommend it highly. And what’s more, with that engine, the standard cruise control and a ride that’s surprisingly compliant, it’s actually an unexpectedly enjoyable way to cover long distances, too. I certainly didn’t expect that when we took delivery of a Cup-chassis’d Renault.

Still looks good in this colour combo though

But I’m still not entirely sold on it. I’ve long held the belief that a hot hatch should be a good all-rounder, and the more the niggles I mentioned last month infuriate, the more I feel it falls short in areas other than driver enjoyment. It’s not just me, either: Mr Garlick of this parish took the car for a few days recently and returned complaining of some of the same issues, notably the heater’s reluctance to warm up properly and the driving position, which feels nigh-on impossible to get right. That point was proven when I got back into the car to drive it after him, and found it took around two days of fiddling before I was able to find a position I felt comfortable enough in. And I’m still finding the stop-start occasionally gets confused and fails to restart the car. And yes, I’ve tried turning it off; it just turns itself back on again when the engine is next started.

On the whole, though, my feelings on the Megane have undoubtedly taken a turn for the positive this month. I feel happier to call it one of the best – if not, the best – front-driver around today in the curves, and it’s surprisingly good for the long haul too. If that’s all that matters to you, and you’re prepared to live with some inherent awkwardness, you won’t find anything better. But that inherent awkwardness is still a sticking point for me – one which means I’m still struggling to love it 100 per cent of the time.

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FACT SHEET
Car: Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup
Run by: Alex (and Dan when circumstances allow)
On fleet since: December 2012
Mileage: 6,042
List price new: £28,115 (Basic list of £24,840 plus £350 for Renaultsport Monitor, £1,300 for Recaro seat upgrade, £750 for bi-xenon lights, £250 for hands free card with push-button start, £75 for spare wheel, £250 for tyre pressure monitor, £300 for Arkamys Bluetooth/USB ICE system)
Last month at a glance: Scrof finally finds some love for the Megane. It's not unconditional just yet, though.

Previous reports:
Scrof finds living with the Megane day-to-day isn't as enjoyable as driving it fast
The Megane impresses, even from the passenger seat
New arrival! Megane 265 Cup joins the fleet...

[Ali_T]

I would give serious consideration to one of these but the sticking point is the Renault dealer network. North of the border, it's all Arnold Shark and Evans Hellshaw and I wouldn't risk spending money with either. Renault need to give the network a serious overhaul if they want to be taken seriously.

[dandarez]

I recall in your earlier report about the heater not warming up properly... a modern car no real warmth (in this weather!), sod that. Had enough of that in the 70s.

My MINI JCW dash-level vents are burning my face within 3 miles!!! As for having 'stop-start', on a performance car? MINIs have stop-start, but do away with it on the JCW, and for good reason. Fancy being at the front of the lights... and then getting left there.

'All' cars have their foibles but it shouldn't have the above ones!

[Ex Boy Racer]

I think this shows the reality of car ownership rather than what the journos say in their tests. Of course it's relatively easy to make a car a real racer if you sacrifice real world requirements - tuners and rodders have been doing that for years. The clever thing is to get it to do most of the things right most of the time.

Not my sort of car; too one-dimensional

[MagicalTrevor]

I have no doubt that this has been mentioned before in response to this car, but I think I'd be saving the extra couple of grand to buy a M135i over this... and I'm a RenaultSport fan!

[A Scotsman]

Ali_T said:

I would give serious consideration to one of these but the sticking point is the Renault dealer network. North of the border, it's all Arnold Shark and Evans Hellshaw and I wouldn't risk spending money with either. Renault need to give the network a serious overhaul if they want to be taken seriously.

A bit far from you perhaps but I used Ness Motors in Inverness to do the belts on my 182 and their service was first class. I also like their attitude.

[mattyc69]

Nice car st interior. I have said it before but let's face it they are not cheap and that interior is like something out of a 8 grand Korean car. You don't feel special sitting inside one and you need that on a performance motor!

[Dr Z]

Likes Satch, appreciates a good 4-pot turbo. Ah! A man after my own heart.

This complaints about the driving position, is it the same with all french cars? Do they develop their car with a hypothetical human that never exists in the real world?

[MarkRSi]

Ali_T said:

I would give serious consideration to one of these but the sticking point is the Renault dealer network. North of the border, it's all Arnold Shark and Evans Hellshaw and I wouldn't risk spending money with either. Renault need to give the network a serious overhaul if they want to be taken seriously.

Very true, there's not even a Renault garage in Aberdeen now, which I'd be trying to rectify very quickly if I was in charge of Renault UK.

However I've had an excellent response from Ness Motors in Inverness (I believe there's one in Perth?).

Edited by MarkRSi on Saturday 26th April 22:27

[framerateuk]

Dr Z said:

Likes Satch, appreciates a good 4-pot turbo. Ah! A man after my own heart.

I was thinking this too
Satriani and Megane Cup sums up a lot of my driving!

I actually agree about the seating position, it's fine now, but after the mrs drove it a few months back it took days to get it back to normal.

The heater is also a pain. It gets up to temp fine, but when it's set to "Hi" it's fine, but at one setting lower (27.5 degrees) it's a LOT colder, which is annoying when you've got a searing inferno pushing air in your face but you'd just like to get the car up to temp.

Still.... there isn't another car on the road I'd rather have for my daily driving.

[astra la vista]

"£75 for spare wheel"

the spare wheel is an optional extra?

if that's true i wouldn't buy a renault on principle.

[Glosphil]

astra la vista said:

"£75 for spare wheel"

the spare wheel is an optional extra?

if that's true i wouldn't buy a renault on principle.

Or a Honda Civic and many other cars.

[enroz]

Never had the option with my old Clio 182 Cup, just a couple of cans of get you home spray, and a pat on the back for good luck.

[Ali_T]

A Scotsman said:

A bit far from you perhaps but I used Ness Motors in Inverness to do the belts on my 182 and their service was first class. I also like their attitude.

Bit far from Edinburgh to drop off in the morning and pick up after work!

MarkRSi said:

Very true, there's not even a Renault garage in Aberdeen now, which I'd be trying to rectify very quickly if I was in charge of Renault UK.
.

Don't complain, you at least get the only VXR8/Camaro dealers in the whole of Scotland. I guess because you have all the oil!

[burger81]

Quite interesting seeing the new and old megane's next to each other. From seeing them seperately i would have said the coupe would be lower and sleeker than the previous hatch (is it classed as a coupe!?), i can't believe its size! Looks big and bulky and almost awkward, which i have never thought before. I know cars are getting bigger but i was genuinely surprised by that.

[astra la vista]

Glosphil said:

astra la vista said:

"£75 for spare wheel"

the spare wheel is an optional extra?

if that's true i wouldn't buy a renault on principle.

Or a Honda Civic and many other cars.

crikey. that's ridiculous. not even a space saver for free?

as you can probably tell i only buy 2nd hand cars and use company cars.

[Baryonyx]

burger81 said:

Quite interesting seeing the new and old megane's next to each other.

Indeed. I thought thought the old Megane 225's were really cool cars. I was quite disappointed my dad didn't get one when he was looking for a Megane. That said, despite their obvious performance, you never really hear them being lauded like the Clios of the same era. Anyone know why?

[Gorbyrev]

Dr Z said:

Likes Satch, appreciates a good 4-pot turbo. Ah! A man after my own heart.

Couldn't agree more. Great write up. Which Satch album out of interest?

[LewisR]

I would give serious consideration to one of these but I can't stand them, so I won't.

[roystinho]

Baryonyx said:

Indeed. I thought thought the old Megane 225's were really cool cars. I was quite disappointed my dad didn't get one when he was looking for a Megane. That said, despite their obvious performance, you never really hear them being lauded like the Clios of the same era. Anyone know why?

I think when the 225 megane came out it was a bit soft, and the Clio of the time was the Trophy so...

However, the R26 and the R26.R were highly praised. I'd have either of those cars. Incidentally I sold my 225 for a Clio Trophy

[Scrof]

Gorbyrev said:

Couldn't agree more. Great write up. Which Satch album out of interest?

Thanks! Crystal Planet - my first, I have to admit, but I've got Super Colossal on order. Any other recommendations?

Re. Old Megane vs new - I feel that the new one is a car which disguises its bulk well in pictures. It's only when you're with one in the flesh that you realise it's a pretty vast thing! Huge blind spots, too, which make surprisingly tricky to reverse park - the rear end always seems to be further back than you think.