Tuesday 3rd July 2012

Spotted: Renault Megane R26R

Turbo power and odd looks of New Clio RS doesn't mean it won't be a stunner - the R26R is proof of that...

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It’s probably fair to say the Renaultsport Clio has not gone down well. Many a PHer is aghast at the prospect of a five-door RS Clio and there is much bemoaning of the inclusion of a turbocharged powerplant. It doesn’t look like a small, chic French beauty, either.

But when have these concerns ever stopped Renault making a world-beating hot hatch? OK, so this Spotted is a three-door (and a two-seater, moreover) but a Megane R26.R certainly strikes a big cross through the turbocharged and not-conventionally-attractive boxes.

Black-on-black subtle, but who sees the carbon?

While its claim to being the fastest front-wheel-drive car at the Nurburgring has been usurped by the newer 265 Trophy Megane, the R26.R remains an iconic performance car, and used values still reflect this. Shorn of 123kg and fitted as standard with polycarbonate windows, a roll cage and a carbon fibre bonnet, the R26.R was as uncompromising as the new Clio appears accommodating.

To launch such a focused machine was a hugely brave move by Renault, which ultimately didn’t pay off. Despite a hugely positive press reaction and sub-£25k price, the R26.Rs restrictive practicality combined with economic meltdown to apparently leave Dieppe with unsold units from a 450-car run.

The UK was allocated 230 of the 450, and howmanyleft.co.uk reveals that just 73 are on the road in the UK. The example we’ve picked out, interestingly the only R26 Ron PH forless than £15K, is fairly typical of the breed. It has had few owners who have used it sparingly but kept it well. It does lack the titanium exhaust but this is a very rare option as it cost more than £2,000 new. This car also makes do without a radio; the fact it was relegated to the options list really reflects the R26.Rs hardcore nature.

Moreover, this R26.R comes with four winter tyres to supplement the standard Toyo R888s so it can be used in all weather. This one also still has its original Nurburgring gift pass, and what better car to go chasing far more prestigious metal in?

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RENAULT MEGANE R26 R
Engine:1,998cc, inline four, turbo
Transmission:6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp):230@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft):229@5,000rpm
MPG:33.2
CO2:199g/km
First registered:2008
Recorded mileage:19,000
Price new: £24,040
Yours for: £13,995

Radio option went unticked on this car

Cage and buckets standard on R26Rs

[sanctum]

That interior isn't getting any better with age

[thewheelman]

If I was after a fast Renault with that kind of cash to spend, I think the Clio V6 would get my money.

[don logan]

thewheelman said:

If I was after a fast Renault with that kind of cash to spend, I think the Clio V6 would get my money.

Have you driven both yet?

[ewenm]

To me it feels just one step too far - the point of a hot hatch is combining everyday practicality with good performance. With the cage and only 2 seats this isn't really that practical any more. It't can't fulfill the dual roles of family hack during the week and b-road blast at weekends.

It would be interesting to know how many of the R26 (not-R) and other hot-but-practical special edition Meganes Renault sold in comparison.

[Penneth]

ewenm said:

To me it feels just one step too far - the point of a hot hatch is combining everyday practicality with good performance. With the cage and only 2 seats this isn't really that practical any more. It't can't fulfill the dual roles of family hack during the week and b-road blast at weekends.

It would be interesting to know how many of the R26 (not-R) and other hot-but-practical special edition Meganes Renault sold in comparison.

Have a look - http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/roadcars/heritage/De...

Only goes as far as the 225 F1 mind you.

[Arun_D]

Not sure why the article mentions air conditioning, they all came with it. Electronic climate control was the option, which also added electrically adjustable door mirrors. I do miss mine at times, black with red wheels.

Re: practicaltiy, yes I got a lot of that. But for someone without a garage for a Caterham or similar, it was a great option. Superb track car with bags of luggage space. Harnesses not so much of a pain as the windows and doors were very long, allowing a quick glance over the shoulder for blindspot checking.

Edited by Arun_D on Tuesday 3rd July 13:38

[thewheelman]

don logan said:

thewheelman said:

If I was after a fast Renault with that kind of cash to spend, I think the Clio V6 would get my money.

Have you driven both yet?

I've not driven either of them, I was always a fan of the old Renault 5 Turbo cars, the group B cars, I guess the Clio is the closest modern day alternative.

Although I have heard many good things about the R26R, & could well be the better drivers car. I just can't get on with the way the R26R looks.

[don logan]

Arun_D said:

Not sure why the article mentions air conditioning, they all came with it. Electronic climate control was the option, which also added electrically adjustable door mirrors. I do miss mine at times, black with red wheels.

Re: practicaltiy, yes I got a lot of that. But for someone without a garage for a Caterham or similar, it was a great option. Superb track car with bags of luggage space. Harnesses not so much of a pain as the windows and doors were very long, allowing a quick glance over the shoulder for blindspot checking.

Edited by Arun_D on Tuesday 3rd July 13:38

Infact the doors are SO long that it makes getting out of the car in a car park quite tricky! :-)

[ewenm]

Arun_D said:

Re: practicaltiy, yes I got a lot of that. But for someone without a garage for a Caterham or similar, it was a great option. Superb track car with bags of luggage space. Harnesses not so much of a pain as the windows and doors were very long, allowing a quick glance over the shoulder for blindspot checking.

If you only need two seats, I'm sure it's a great car. I was just suggesting that they limited their market and went up against more focused cars by making the R26R quite so extreme. If the sales figures in the article are correct, it appears they fell between those who wanted a hot hatch and those who wanted a sportscar and didn't sell (many) to either.

[Munich]

thewheelman said:

don logan said:

thewheelman said:

If I was after a fast Renault with that kind of cash to spend, I think the Clio V6 would get my money.

Have you driven both yet?

I've not driven either of them, I was always a fan of the old Renault 5 Turbo cars, the group B cars, I guess the Clio is the closest modern day alternative.

Although I have heard many good things about the R26R, & could well be the better drivers car. I just can't get on with the way the R26R looks.

and I love the fact that the engine is in the back and it's RHD. Although the R26.R might well be the better drivers car, the Clio V6 has a better "sense of occasion"....

[don logan]

thewheelman said:

don logan said:

thewheelman said:

If I was after a fast Renault with that kind of cash to spend, I think the Clio V6 would get my money.

Have you driven both yet?

I've not driven either of them, I was always a fan of the old Renault 5 Turbo cars, the group B cars, I guess the Clio is the closest modern day alternative.

Although I have heard many good things about the R26R, & could well be the better drivers car. I just can't get on with the way the R26R looks.

They are so different, I`ve done 11k miles in the R26.R and did 1k mixed miles in a Clio V6, the V6 is a really odd car, it behaves unlike almost any other car I`ve driven (a bit like an 80s 911) it`s quite fidgety on bad surfaces yet has quite slow steering when you are trying to keep it on the line you want, the other thing is that the power delivery is incredibly flat, not just because there is no turbo, it`s FLAT and a bit underwhelming, on top of that I honestly think my girlfriend`s 182 Cup would eat it for breakfast on a tight and twisty road or entry to a big roundabout!

Saying all of that, I REALLY want one!

The R26.R allows outrageous liberties on warm, dry tarmac and it`s unflappable in situations where you are changing direction over bumpy surfaces at speed, strangely it`s pretty good at sitting on the motorway for long periods too!

[Poopipe]

One of these is the third thing I would buy after receiving my lottery cheque and definitely the first car, I've been hankering after one for quite some time now..

[Hoygo]

14K ? Daaaamn , i thought these wont depreciate as fast,hold value pretty well in the first years.

Anyway, great car for anyone who wants a track ready fwd car,kudos to the owner for not fitting a radio in,pointless for the car.

[SirSamuelOfBuca]

only thing that would tempt me away from a fast ford really

[405dogvan]

Let's be honest, removing the back seats from a car for no better reason than 'to be hardcore' is a bit daft and it's bitten Renault on this one.

Most owners don't need the harnesses and all that space, just to hold the harnesses and cage, is silly.

I'm surprised to see one this cheap tho - that said, I think they'll get a lot cheaper before they become in any way collectable - I'd just take a stock Megane and the change tho...

[LaurasOtherHalf]

quite simply the best car i have ever owned. loved it
(if you don't go in for the whole french atch thing then take a look at my profile-i rate it higher than quite a lot of other nice metal)


so nice in fact that after taking this chap out in it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_N116VnQA0&fea...
he went halves with his mate & bought it off me!

still miss it though & i've got the money in the bank waiting for the perfect spec one to turn up, as soon as it does it's mine!

any owners who are looking to move on please give me a shout

[kambites]

I don't really see the point in a two-seater hatchback. I know it's very, very good for what it is, but can it really compete with the best sports cars in its price bracket as a drivers' car? I'd love to have a go in one, but I can't see it being the drivers' car that my Elise is, and it doesn't seem like it's that much more practical either.

[David87]

I liked mine. That said, my current Mk2 Focus RS is better and is vastly more practical.

[don logan]

kambites said:

I don't really see the point in a two-seater hatchback. I know it's very, very good for what it is, but can it really compete with the best sports cars in its price bracket as a drivers' car?

Drive one!

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/240343/top_...

[gionascm2]

nice car! i like it very much.