RE: PH Carpool: Renaultsport Megane R26.R
Discussion
A couple of months ago I posted a thread about the prejudice of some people on this forum that will immediately say that ANY FWD car is crap and RWD is ALWAYS better.
Most of the people iw as referring to seem to be in this thread.
Whilst many people 'prefer' RWD (and, purely IMO, they only think they do because it's the purists choice, regardless of what they can feel and delusional desires for oversteer and drifting) when it comes down to pure lap times a well sorted FWD car can certainly be a match for a lot of RWD cars, as those lap times have proved.
Most of the people iw as referring to seem to be in this thread.
Whilst many people 'prefer' RWD (and, purely IMO, they only think they do because it's the purists choice, regardless of what they can feel and delusional desires for oversteer and drifting) when it comes down to pure lap times a well sorted FWD car can certainly be a match for a lot of RWD cars, as those lap times have proved.
A great FWD chassis is a thing of beauty. I have heard it say, Mark Hailes if I remember rightly, that south of 250hp FWD will be quicker in the real world. But it is not all about speed, it is about feel, or to quote Captain Trent, flow. The R26.R has had so much praise heaped upon it since it first appeared that to ignore it based on which wheels are driven is to miss a great car. Superb write up!
I purchased the regular R26 last summer and have to say its one of the best cars I've owned. There are so many things to love about it. The recaro buckets, brembo four pots, LSD, renaultsport F1 stickers over the whole thing and of course the definitive liquid yellow paintwork. Combine that with very minimal running costs, a car that will happily pop round town and run errands aswell as roll out the paddock and start taking away some RWD pride.
As mentioned, the engine 230bhp (enough for most applications) and the chassis and LSD together make it a truly fantastic car. I have been seriously considering an R26.r as my next car or the new Trophy. It's that special feeling a car gives you and the .r I'm sure would just make you smile everything you start the engine.
And for those idiotic comments about FWD, please go and test drive one... And don't come back to PH.
As mentioned, the engine 230bhp (enough for most applications) and the chassis and LSD together make it a truly fantastic car. I have been seriously considering an R26.r as my next car or the new Trophy. It's that special feeling a car gives you and the .r I'm sure would just make you smile everything you start the engine.
And for those idiotic comments about FWD, please go and test drive one... And don't come back to PH.
Contigo said:
Derek Chevalier said:
Gary C said:
Plenty of RWD cars would leave this car on a track too.
Which affordable RWD cars, driven by average drivers, did you have in mind?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGfKhQQlduw
Now if we look at the list of production cars ring times we can see that there are a bucketload of Porsche's (Boxters, 911's etc) and the odd GT-R but other than that there are not pelntiful RWD cars as you state that could even get round the ring anywhere close to the R26.R
8:17 Porsche Boxster S Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (12/2009?)[68]
8:18 Lexus IS-F fastestlaps.com (2007)
8:20 2010 Camaro SS NA Edmunds[69]
8:22 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Motoharu Kurosawa Best Motoring Video Special DVD
8:22 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG (W203) Sport Auto (7/2004)
8:22 BMW M3 E46 Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (12/2000)
8:22 BMW M Coupe E36/8 Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (10/1998)
8:22.85 Chevrolet Cobalt SS/TC (2007) Motor Trend (10/2007)
8:24 Cosworth Type 25 STI spec C (2010) Mark Chandler Sport Auto (2010), Sport tires
8:25 Lotus Exige S Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (06/2008)[70]
8:25 Jaguar XKR Horst von Saurma Sport Auto
8:25 Audi RS4 Sean Moore
8:25 Porsche Cayman S Horst von Saurma Sport Auto
8:24 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (11/1999), Sport tires[citation needed]
8:25 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (11/2002), Sport tires[citation needed]
8:26 Audi S5 Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (01/2008)[71]
MrQuick said:
Oh so very awesome, I wish we got 'em here.
I just don't get how the new Megane is faster around the ring than this, I mean this has carbon bits, is stripped, has a cage and a Ti exhaust and then on top of that it runs on R888s.
This was a quote from the test driver, reading between the lines I think he was pretty much saying the tyres made up most of the difference:I just don't get how the new Megane is faster around the ring than this, I mean this has carbon bits, is stripped, has a cage and a Ti exhaust and then on top of that it runs on R888s.
Laurent Hurgon (development driver, Renault Sport):
"The Nordschleife is a legendary course. Its length and layout, which is very different to that of a conventional circuit, make it a unique and technically demanding challenge. Its difficulties are extremely varied, ranging from fast and even very fast in places to much twistier and slower portions. Turns like 'Karusell' and 'Pflanzgarten', for example, make huge demands of the car and driver alike, yet Mégane Renaultsport Trophy is very much in its element here and feels particularly reassuring despite the uncompromising nature of the terrain. The limited slip differential allowed me to accelerate hard out of the countless turns without understeer. The carefully-tuned Cup chassis, the dampers, the fade-resistant brakes, the Recaro seats, the power of the 265hp engine, the ready availability of torque between 2,500 and 5,000rpm and the car’s Bridgestone RE 050A (235/35 R19) tyres allowed me to make the most of the car’s enormous potential, especially into and out of the corners. It is this package which enabled me to post such a quick time round this circuit which you must always approach with a certain degree of humility."
DanDC5 said:
Ignoring the sarcasm of the other comment, I reckon you could buy a normal R26 and modify it to be just as good for less than the price of an R.
jesus, you guys need to lighten up. surely you realise that comment was tongue in cheek? and i still think its a valid comment. why not buy a standard one and use the spare cash to fettle it? i'm sure you could get to the same spec, and tailor it to suit for lessFantastic cars. I was very close to getting an R26.R but ended up going for the newer RS250 instead.
As many others have said, don't underestimate FWD cars or RenaultSport.
It also gives me a huge problem in regards to my next car. I planned on getting a RWD track car, but in that price range, there isn't much that'll compare to the 250. Especially considering that many of the trackdays I've been on have ended up soaking wet and the RS just takes it in it's stride. It may be a heavyish road car, but it gives you so much feedback on a track!
As many others have said, don't underestimate FWD cars or RenaultSport.
It also gives me a huge problem in regards to my next car. I planned on getting a RWD track car, but in that price range, there isn't much that'll compare to the 250. Especially considering that many of the trackdays I've been on have ended up soaking wet and the RS just takes it in it's stride. It may be a heavyish road car, but it gives you so much feedback on a track!
dot1989 said:
I purchased the regular R26 last summer and have to say its one of the best cars I've owned. There are so many things to love about it. The recaro buckets, brembo four pots, LSD, renaultsport F1 stickers over the whole thing and of course the definitive liquid yellow paintwork. Combine that with very minimal running costs, a car that will happily pop round town and run errands aswell as roll out the paddock and start taking away some RWD pride.
As mentioned, the engine 230bhp (enough for most applications) and the chassis and LSD together make it a truly fantastic car. I have been seriously considering an R26.r as my next car or the new Trophy. It's that special feeling a car gives you and the .r I'm sure would just make you smile everything you start the engine.
And for those idiotic comments about FWD, please go and test drive one... And don't come back to PH.
Me too As mentioned, the engine 230bhp (enough for most applications) and the chassis and LSD together make it a truly fantastic car. I have been seriously considering an R26.r as my next car or the new Trophy. It's that special feeling a car gives you and the .r I'm sure would just make you smile everything you start the engine.
And for those idiotic comments about FWD, please go and test drive one... And don't come back to PH.
love it. Normal r26 is a great drivers car too, and yellow makes you faster 
Gary C said:
Chicane-UK said:
And it'll show a clean pair of heels to plenty more supposedly exciting RWD stuff, on a track. So what's the problem?
Its not all about who's fastest, more about personal preference. Plenty of RWD cars would leave this car on a track too.I quite like the idea of the R26.R but I also prefer RWD (with a manual gearbox too).
Edited by TheOrangePeril on Monday 14th May 16:02
TheOrangePeril said:
Gary C said:
Chicane-UK said:
And it'll show a clean pair of heels to plenty more supposedly exciting RWD stuff, on a track. So what's the problem?
Its not all about who's fastest, more about personal preference. Plenty of RWD cars would leave this car on a track too.I quite like the idea of the R26.R but I also prefer RWD (with a manual gearbox too).
TheOrangePeril said:
+1 I couldn't care how clean my heels are when I've got a big dopey grin splatted across my face. I've driven a lot of fast and fun FWD cars, but there really is no contest in the thrill factor of RWD. It's just a more involving way to interact with the laws of physics. The harder you push, the more laterally (literally) you have to drive. There are simply a more interesting set of forces at play on your vehicle. It's not a sensation that can be effably described, RWD is just enjoyable in the same way that playing with a marble run was enjoyable as a kid.
true, but you'll probably be pulling a different face when it rains Edited by TheOrangePeril on Monday 14th May 16:02
fozluvscars said:
DanDC5 said:
Ignoring the sarcasm of the other comment, I reckon you could buy a normal R26 and modify it to be just as good for less than the price of an R.
jesus, you guys need to lighten up. surely you realise that comment was tongue in cheek? and i still think its a valid comment. why not buy a standard one and use the spare cash to fettle it? i'm sure you could get to the same spec, and tailor it to suit for lessGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff