RE: PH Fleet: Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup

RE: PH Fleet: Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup

Tuesday 8th January 2013

PH Fleet: Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup

The Megane impresses, even from the passenger seat



A fleeting drive in the Megane is a bittersweet event. Not least because I wonder how much future there is for mainstream firms like Renault to build such uncompromisingly focused cars like this. When even the 911 GT3 - threatened with PDK only and a non-Mezger engine - looks like it may be toned down a tad next time around, you've got to wonder whether the business case for such driver oriented cars really has gone for good.

A greasy Blyton first track outing for Megane
A greasy Blyton first track outing for Megane
Enough moping; let's enjoy what we've got. I may have told a slight white lie when I said the Caterham was the first car I'd driven in months. Actually it was the Megane, but as I powered up Blyton's first straight it felt like only yesterday since I'd last been behind the wheel.

Familiar with the Clio 197 and 200, I'd always felt that the previous generation Renaultsport Megane was a very different car. Brilliant in its own right, especially the diffed R26 and .R. But where the Clio is all on its toes, pointy and super alert the Meganes always felt a little more grip-focused. Massively capable and very, very fast, but more planted and less adjustable. I remember thinking as much when I first drove the 250 version, but immediately this generation Megane has more of the Clio about it. It's got that same sense of agility, underpinned with a lot more pace and traction thanks, respectively, to the turbo and diff.

Pointy like a Clio but much faster - we like!
Pointy like a Clio but much faster - we like!
The old Meganes had a very flat engine note too, making it easy to run into the rev limiter and its characteristic chuffing stutter. There's some induction trickery going on with this car making it sound more normally aspirated, at least to the driver. In the back seat it's got that same Vader's fart blast from the exhaust, as a camera mounted to the rear screen at Blyton reveals.

Bar, initially at least, slightly less bite than I'd have hoped for from the brake pedal, the Megane felt fast and alert round Blyton's greasy tarmac too. Massive traction, an easily adjustable attitude and beautifully harmonised controls made it an absolute joy. I stuck with the progressive throttle setting in the Renaultsport Monitor and for a turbo car it's beautifully crisp, eagerly responding to blipped downshifts like a normally-aspirated Clio but without any of the low-rev lethargy.

Dan gets first track shakedown in the Cup
Dan gets first track shakedown in the Cup
Sadly, for the rest of my time with it I was in the passenger seat, co-driving for my brother on the run up north for Christmas. This was interesting, and a chance to concentrate more on the talents of the Cup chassis. Make no mistake, it is effing stiffly sprung. But it's also brilliantly well damped.

The way the Megane deals with rapid-fire bumps is the really impressive thing. It never wallows or writhes. Sharp transverse bumps thump through the dampers but they all work as a quartet so the car never porpoises. And it settles instantly, meaning even at maximum attack on knackered moorland roads the harshest of mid-corner bump refuses to unsettle it. Couple that with immense wet-weather traction and you have a car that can rip apart a winter B-road so effectively you wonder what could keep up. No wonder Subaru couldn't shift any Imprezas.

It's all about the front axle, mind, to the extent you sometimes wonder if the back wheels are simply there to prop the rear end up off the floor. No matter. Anyone who writes off 'wrong-wheel drive' needs a blast with the Megane.

Megane absolutely in its element here
Megane absolutely in its element here
There are practical issues. It doesn't feel much bigger inside than a Clio. I guess it is officially a 'coupe' and you buy accordingly. But don't be fooled into thinking it's a Golf GTI/Focus ST style all rounder. The rear is tight and claustrophobic, and you can't get your feet under the Recaros. The boot is small, too, and has a high sill and an oddly-shaped aperture. It is, thanks to chafing from the seatbelts, literally a pain in the neck at times too.

Basically, if you're trying to sneak a Cup onto the family fleet as a do-it-all runaround you'll be rumbled in an instant. It's a selfish car, all about the driver. But that's fine. There aren't many like it left, in any market sector.



FACT SHEET
Car:
Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup
Run by: Alex (and Dan when circumstances allow)
On fleet since: December 2012
Mileage: 2,230
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: First track shakedown complete, winter driving credentials tested

Previous reports:
New arrival! Megane 265 Cup joins the fleet...

 

 

Author
Discussion

UltimaCH

Original Poster:

3,155 posts

188 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Weird exhaust sound like "Blowing in the Wind". Oh and bouncing off the limiter is not very friendly for the engine IMO

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
I love these and one is definitely on my radar in the future.

garypotter

1,483 posts

149 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Renault Megane, Just does not do it for me at all, it could have 200 more hp but no, not for me

SarGara

365 posts

175 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Great write up, i look forward to the next article as well. driving

loose cannon

6,029 posts

240 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
glad your enjoying it, such a great car and love the way it upsets so many people that just cant take the fact its a renault and a big performer biglaugh

Whiteley

13 posts

194 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Good write up. The 250/265 is a hugely capable car but I'd struggle to justify nearly £30k on one. 2nd hand prices are strong too. A much wiser choice for me is the older R26; just as capable, more of a standard hatch shape body so more practical, and £8k buys a good 07/08 car. I'm on my 2nd (admittedly looking to sell it soon!).

Here's another clip from Blyton, rear bumper mounted on my R26 so more of the same noise as the PH 265 clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfQNDUC63cM


loose cannon

6,029 posts

240 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
R26 is a great car 2 had one previously
The 250/265 has better paintwork
And is screwed together better,
As for pricing its no more expensive than its rivals just a case of pricing moving on since 5 years ago
50,000 miles in nearly 3 years I bet the value on my car is holding onto shoe strings lol

Hoygo

725 posts

160 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Nice write up Dan,great car. I consider the Megane 250/265 a Coupe as its body styling suggests,but not in the traditional way,more a coupe like the Scirocco that can't be called 100% a hatchback.

I think 3 people can sit in the back right? Its just the headroom thats the problem.

ge0rge

3,053 posts

204 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Sounds awesome smile !

framerateuk

2,730 posts

183 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Hoygo said:
Nice write up Dan,great car. I consider the Megane 250/265 a Coupe as its body styling suggests,but not in the traditional way,more a coupe like the Scirocco that can't be called 100% a hatchback.

I think 3 people can sit in the back right? Its just the headroom thats the problem.
3 people in the back yeah.

People have commented that it's actually quite comfortable, but it's always looked a bit cramped in there to me. You can't get your feet under the Recaros, but thanks to how thin they are, they do give you knees more room.

I actually think the boot is quite spacious. I used to carry all amps and guitar gear in there with no problems. You won't fit a large box like a TV in there though as it tapers back too much.

cidered77

1,614 posts

196 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
loose cannon said:
glad your enjoying it, such a great car and love the way it upsets so many people that just cant take the fact its a renault and a big performer biglaugh
i can think of few worse reasons to buy a car than "i dont like the name/brand". cars should be judged on their capability only, and this one has it in spades.

upgrading from an R26 this year, and this is most definitely on the contenders list despite nearly double the budget from when i bought the last Megane in 2008

Roma101

835 posts

146 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Two comments on the article:

1. put it in Extreme, you big sissy smile
2. small boot!? Maybe compared to a 4x4 or a 7 series! I thought it was large and managed to fit in an amazing amount of stuff. Much bigger than a Clio boot.

Edited by Roma101 on Tuesday 8th January 13:20

deadmau5

3,197 posts

179 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
ge0rge said:
Sounds awesome smile !
I disagree. Sounds like a hair dryer.

deadmau5

3,197 posts

179 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Roma101 said:
Two comments on the article:

1. put it in Extreme, you big sissy smile
2. small boot!? Maybe compared to a 4x4 or a 7 series! I thought it was large and managed to fit in an amazing amount of stuff. Much bigger than a Clio boot.

Edited by Roma101 on Tuesday 8th January 13:20
Have you seen a 7 series boot? They're actually not very big at all.

dukebox9reg

1,570 posts

147 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Roma101 said:
Two comments on the article:

1. put it in Extreme, you big sissy smile
2. small boot!? Maybe compared to a 4x4 or a 7 series! I thought it was large and managed to fit in an amazing amount of stuff. Much bigger than a Clio boot.

Edited by Roma101 on Tuesday 8th January 13:20
Agree how is a 344 litre boot that small for a medium hatch/coupe? Mk2 leon only has 340ltrs

Bezza1969

777 posts

147 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
People get all sniffy about Renaultsports, but they do the job. A real giant killer of a car, the original 250 lapped the millbrook alpine circuit quicker than the M3 competition despite giving away 164 BHP. (autocar 2010).

Darren61

82 posts

155 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Bezza1969 said:
People get all sniffy about Renaultsports, but they do the job. A real giant killer of a car, the original 250 lapped the millbrook alpine circuit quicker than the M3 competition despite giving away 164 BHP. (autocar 2010).
best quote yet. amen.

There's no such thing as Right Wheel Drive

Regiment

2,799 posts

158 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Roma101 said:
Two comments on the article:

1. put it in Extreme, you big sissy smile
2. small boot!? Maybe compared to a 4x4 or a 7 series! I thought it was large and managed to fit in an amazing amount of stuff. Much bigger than a Clio boot.

Edited by Roma101 on Tuesday 8th January 13:20
Agreed 100%, the car is a very good car to live with and the boot is plenty big enough for a weekly shop so not sure where the small boot comment came from. Not speccing the Recaros and sticking with the normal seats offers a far more comfortable seating position and a lot more space as well I found.

jonm01

817 posts

236 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
More comfortable than the MINI JCW and Cooper S I previously owned, and I have the Cup chassis and 19" wheels. Also, less rattles.

Really can't fault it.

Roma101

835 posts

146 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
deadmau5 said:
Roma101 said:
Two comments on the article:

1. put it in Extreme, you big sissy smile
2. small boot!? Maybe compared to a 4x4 or a 7 series! I thought it was large and managed to fit in an amazing amount of stuff. Much bigger than a Clio boot.

Edited by Roma101 on Tuesday 8th January 13:20
Have you seen a 7 series boot? They're actually not very big at all.
Apologies, I must admit to not doing any research. I automatically assumed that a large barge would have large boot. I think I got my point across though.