RE: PH Carpool: Renaultsport Megane R26.R

[Gary C]

LewisR said:

A good design is about working with the laws of physics, not against them.
It doesn't upset me in the slightest. I'm still totally bemused why anyone would find a FWD even vaguely appealing as a drivers' car. As I said, I'd much rather have an MX5 than a faster FWD car.
I did have a Golf GTi Turbo as a hire car for a week a few months ago whilst my rear bumper was being un-dinged. It was impressively fast in a straight line but that was about it. Oh, the interior (apart from the seats) was far better than mine. Those wheels looked quite funky too.

FWD can be fun, drifting arse out in a properly setup FWD hatch is quite a skill and quite fun. I bet this R26.R is quite a hoot to drive.

As I said I prefer RWD, but I have had three AWD cars and a few FWD cars and I can see both sides.

[GroundEffect]

I had such a terrible time with my 172 Cup that I'll never buy another Renaultsport.

[GroundEffect]

LewisR said:

dot1989 said:

It's all about defying the laws of physics and being an underdog (FWD) - me, that can upset the establishment (RWD) - you

A good design is about working with the laws of physics, not against them.
It doesn't upset me in the slightest. I'm still totally bemused why anyone would find a FWD even vaguely appealing as a drivers' car. As I said, I'd much rather have an MX5 than a faster FWD car.
I did have a Golf GTi Turbo as a hire car for a week a few months ago whilst my rear bumper was being un-dinged. It was impressively fast in a straight line but that was about it. Oh, the interior (apart from the seats) was far better than mine. Those wheels looked quite funky too.

Erm...drive a Integra Type R DC2 and come back and say it's not a brilliant drivers' car.

[356Speedster]

LewisR said:

A good design is about working with the laws of physics, not against them.
It doesn't upset me in the slightest. I'm still totally bemused why anyone would find a FWD even vaguely appealing as a drivers' car. As I said, I'd much rather have an MX5 than a faster FWD car.
I did have a Golf GTi Turbo as a hire car for a week a few months ago whilst my rear bumper was being un-dinged. It was impressively fast in a straight line but that was about it. Oh, the interior (apart from the seats) was far better than mine. Those wheels looked quite funky too.

Have just had a bit of a catchup thru' the last few pages and I think you've raised some great points (definately no trolling IMO).

I'd say that a current Golf GTI is not a good example of a thrilling FWD car and I'd certainly have my wife's old MX5 back for a fun drive than have a Golf GTI (again).

That said, I think the subject is more complex, as I genuinely believe there is no such thing as a "correct drivetrain" and there really is no such thing as "wrong wheel drive". Instead, there are really only well / poorly executed chassis setups and degrees inbetween.

The MX5 is an example of a great beginers chassis and an introduction to RWD and fun cars, however, it is bested by modern well designed FWD cars like the R26R, R265, Focus RS. They each have their appeals and deep tallents, but what they all show is that the lines have blured: the drive train is not important in isolation, the execution, however, is everything.

[Alfa numeric]

LewisR said:

I'm still totally bemused why anyone would find a FWD even vaguely appealing as a drivers' car. As I said, I'd much rather have an MX5 than a faster FWD car.

Try one. The R26 is a great fun car, just in a different way to a RWD roadster. It is possible to hang the back out (around Bedford Autodrome in my case) and I'm told it'll hold some pretty interesting angles if you're minded.

[OldBob]

We hire an R26R locally for N'ring trips and believe they are fantastic cars for that track, punch well above their weight, the tyre's and lsd make it dig in and give it great traction when needed.
Nothing more satisfying than being in a well driven R26R and watching it humble many of the porkers and bimmers. The GT3's certainly don't like getting out of the way ;-) Now I'm not saying well driven pork or bm can't keep up/beat it, but it's sooo much closer than people would imagine, and much safer to drive than a really powerful rear beast, since it not only tops out at average driver capable speeds but is relatively forgiving too

Great car for that type of track / fun drive, bit too raw for everyday though...now a 265 cup....that's has to be a serious consideration

[Derek Chevalier]

LewisR said:

As I said, I'd much rather have an MX5 than a faster FWD car.

When you drove the R26.R and the MX5 back to back - did the Renault have any areas in which it was better?

[LewisR]

Derek Chevalier said:

LewisR said:

As I said, I'd much rather have an MX5 than a faster FWD car.

When you drove the R26.R and the MX5 back to back - did the Renault have any areas in which it was better?

Yes, it carried far more shopping. :-)

[LewisR]

... a loaded question if ever I saw one!

At no point did I ever say that I'd driven the Renault Cup thing but, as I said earlier, I had a GTi turbo ('11 plate) for a week which, I thought, was regarded as being the king of hot hatches and I wasn't that fussed about it. The Renault would have to be orders of magnitude better than the Golf to approach how much better I think a MX5 is to drive.

[356Speedster]

LewisR said:

... a loaded question if ever I saw one!

At no point did I ever say that I'd driven the Renault Cup thing but, as I said earlier, I had a GTi turbo ('11 plate) for a week which, I thought, was regarded as being the king of hot hatches and I wasn't that fussed about it. The Renault would have to be orders of magnitude better than the Golf to approach how much better I think a MX5 is to drive.

A Golf GTI is NOT the king of sorted hatches, far from it and yes, the R26R is leagues better... If that's the basis of your comparisson, you need a new yard stick, I'm afraid to say. I'd agree with you tho', an MX5 is a lot more fun than a Golf!!

[Darren61]

356Speedster said:

LewisR said:

A good design is about working with the laws of physics, not against them.
It doesn't upset me in the slightest. I'm still totally bemused why anyone would find a FWD even vaguely appealing as a drivers' car. As I said, I'd much rather have an MX5 than a faster FWD car.
I did have a Golf GTi Turbo as a hire car for a week a few months ago whilst my rear bumper was being un-dinged. It was impressively fast in a straight line but that was about it. Oh, the interior (apart from the seats) was far better than mine. Those wheels looked quite funky too.

Have just had a bit of a catchup thru' the last few pages and I think you've raised some great points (definately no trolling IMO).

I'd say that a current Golf GTI is not a good example of a thrilling FWD car and I'd certainly have my wife's old MX5 back for a fun drive than have a Golf GTI (again).

That said, I think the subject is more complex, as I genuinely believe there is no such thing as a "correct drivetrain" and there really is no such thing as "wrong wheel drive". Instead, there are really only well / poorly executed chassis setups and degrees inbetween.

The MX5 is an example of a great beginers chassis and an introduction to RWD and fun cars, however, it is bested by modern well designed FWD cars like the R26R, R265, Focus RS. They each have their appeals and deep tallents, but what they all show is that the lines have blured: the drive train is not important in isolation, the execution, however, is everything.

Thank you, finally someone on my wavelength. It is purely about how it's all 'comes together' as a set up, not just the driving wheels. The king of hot hatches is another can of worms. But... The Reanultsports are up there, maybe not the best in some people's view. But most definatley up there..

[300bhp/ton]

356Speedster said:

LewisR said:

... a loaded question if ever I saw one!

At no point did I ever say that I'd driven the Renault Cup thing but, as I said earlier, I had a GTi turbo ('11 plate) for a week which, I thought, was regarded as being the king of hot hatches and I wasn't that fussed about it. The Renault would have to be orders of magnitude better than the Golf to approach how much better I think a MX5 is to drive.

A Golf GTI is NOT the king of sorted hatches, far from it and yes, the R26R is leagues better... If that's the basis of your comparisson, you need a new yard stick, I'm afraid to say. I'd agree with you tho', an MX5 is a lot more fun than a Golf!!

Also while I'm also in the camp that there is no wrong wheel drive. I think it does come down to how you drive and you're driving preferences. I've driven some great FWD (although not the R26.r) and they are very capable. But for me I just prefer the feel and nature of a sort RWD machine, even if it's slower and arguably not as well setup.