RE: Spotted: Renaultsport Megane R26.R

[Face for Radio]

Derek Chevalier said:

Different league

How do you come to that conclusion?

[Derek Chevalier]

Face for Radio said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Different league

How do you come to that conclusion?

Because I have been in both.

[Face for Radio]

Derek Chevalier said:

Because I have been in both.

So you've passengered in both or driven both?

[Derek Chevalier]

TameRacingDriver said:

£15K gets you into much more focused machines if thats what you want.

Such as?

[Derek Chevalier]

Face for Radio said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Because I have been in both.

So you've passengered in both or driven both?

Own Renault, had several laps round ring in DC2.
And also for comparison, driven Mugen Civic, own NSX, and had several laps round ring in S2000.

In the hands of an average driver, the above cars wouldn't see which way the Renault went round a typical circuit over a few laps, in my experience.

[Face for Radio]

Derek Chevalier said:

Own Renault, had several laps round ring in DC2.
And also for comparison, driven Mugen Civic, own NSX, and had several laps round ring in S2000.

In the hands of an average driver, the above cars wouldn't see which way the Renault went round a typical circuit over a few laps, in my experience.

So what you're saying is that the Renault is faster than the DC2. Fair enough, if that's your opinion.

However I'd be willing to bet strong money that the DC2 is a finer car to drive?

[kambites]

Face for Radio said:

However I'd be willing to bet strong money that the DC2 is a finer car to drive?

I'm not at all convinced of that. I haven't driven an R26.R but I'd be extremely disappointed if it didn't eclipse the DC2 from everything I've read about it.

Of course the engine doesn't match the Honda lump, but few four-pots do.

[Derek Chevalier]

kambites said:

Face for Radio said:

However I'd be willing to bet strong money that the DC2 is a finer car to drive?

I'm not at all convinced of that. I haven't driven an R26.R but I'd be extremely disappointed if it didn't eclipse the DC2 from everything I've read about it.

Of course the engine doesn't match the Honda lump, but few four-pots do.

Gearshift will no doubt be better on DC2 as well.

When comparing the engines (Mugen Civic vs R26.R), I would probably take the Honda for a back road blast, but the tRenault's urbo torque makes it so much easier on track (as a casual track day goer that doesn't intimately know circuits) as you don't have to keep engine on the boil as much.

[MarkRSi]

On the subject of what the japanese can throw at it, here's Honda's latest and greatest against the R26R

http://youtu.be/BZBBf6S9gpY?t=1m7s


That FD2 sounds lovely

[artdealer]

MarkRSi said:

On the subject of what the japanese can throw at it, here's Honda's latest and greatest against the R26R

http://youtu.be/BZBBf6S9gpY?t=1m7s


That FD2 sounds lovely

These Japanese battles are the best. I had a modified FD2 and have to say it was very quick, but on VTEC it sounded like someone threw a grenade in the cabin. I'd like to see this battle between a R26.R Ti and a JDM Mugen FD2 RR.

[Derek Chevalier]

artdealer said:

MarkRSi said:

On the subject of what the japanese can throw at it, here's Honda's latest and greatest against the R26R

http://youtu.be/BZBBf6S9gpY?t=1m7s


That FD2 sounds lovely

These Japanese battles are the best. I had a modified FD2 and have to say it was very quick, but on VTEC it sounded like someone threw a grenade in the cabin. I'd like to see this battle between a R26.R Ti and a JDM Mugen FD2 RR.

This one?

http://www.fastestlaps.com/cars/mugen_honda_civic_...

[artdealer]

Derek Chevalier said:

This one?

http://www.fastestlaps.com/cars/mugen_honda_civic_...

Yep. Mugen FD2 Type-RR. There's one, maybe two in the UK. When they came up on the Japanese Auction site they sold for huge money at the same time as Yen vs GBP going awry. Which reminds me, I'm surprised more R26.R haven't gone to Japan given the good exchange rate for them to import them.

[Derek Chevalier]

artdealer said:

Derek Chevalier said:

This one?

http://www.fastestlaps.com/cars/mugen_honda_civic_...

Yep. Mugen FD2 Type-RR. There's one, maybe two in the UK. When they came up on the Japanese Auction site they sold for huge money at the same time as Yen vs GBP going awry. Which reminds me, I'm surprised more R26.R haven't gone to Japan given the good exchange rate for them to import them.

re laptimes, the Renault was around 1.5 seconds quicker round Bedford - I'm not sure if they did that time on the 888s.

As for exporting the Renault, would the Japanese trust perceived French reliability?

[superman84]

Derek Chevalier said:

Such as?

£15k would get a lot quicker machinery. Personally I went for an Evo 9 FQ360, easily tuneable to 400bhp, superior traction, far more practical and on comparable tyres the same driver would easily dispatch the megane in the dry let alone the wet.

[Inverted]

I owned one from 2k miles to just under 10k. Made around 3 grand on it when I sold. I think I just got really lucky with the timings tbh. I would love another one it was the perfect tool for ring/spa trips. Didn't matter if it rained, even on r888's it still had amazing grip. I miss it more than the exige s I had before it.

[artdealer]

Derek Chevalier said:

re laptimes, the Renault was around 1.5 seconds quicker round Bedford - I'm not sure if they did that time on the 888s.

As for exporting the Renault, would the Japanese trust perceived French reliability?

They like their hot hatchbacks, there's a few Clio 182 Trophys out there.

[Derek Chevalier]

superman84 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Such as?

£15k would get a lot quicker machinery. Personally I went for an Evo 9 FQ360, easily tuneable to 400bhp, superior traction, far more practical and on comparable tyres the same driver would easily dispatch the megane in the dry let alone the wet.

It is funny you mention the EVO, as I was at an MLR Castle Combe track day in summer 2010 - and there were lots of tuned examples there. For some reason I was a lot quicker than the vast majority,and I am a very average driver. Note that I am not saying this to antagonise, just an observation. Maybe the drivers were taking it easy and/or on road tyres.

[superman84]

Derek Chevalier said:

superman84 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Such as?

£15k would get a lot quicker machinery. Personally I went for an Evo 9 FQ360, easily tuneable to 400bhp, superior traction, far more practical and on comparable tyres the same driver would easily dispatch the megane in the dry let alone the wet.

It is funny you mention the EVO, as I was at an MLR Castle Combe track day in summer 2010 - and there were lots of tuned examples there. For some reason I was a lot quicker than the vast majority,and I am a very average driver. Note that I am not saying this to antagonise, just an observation. Maybe the drivers were taking it easy and/or on road tyres.

Well all the track times I have seen are much better for the 9 fq340/360 evos and they're never on semi slicks. Not to say the megane is slow but given that its a stripped out on special tyres is not that quick for £15k and sacrificing practicality (and rwd/awd for fwd). Maybe I need to drive one though.

Edited by superman84 on Saturday 27th October 17:47

[Derek Chevalier]

superman84 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

superman84 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Such as?

£15k would get a lot quicker machinery. Personally I went for an Evo 9 FQ360, easily tuneable to 400bhp, superior traction, far more practical and on comparable tyres the same driver would easily dispatch the megane in the dry let alone the wet.

It is funny you mention the EVO, as I was at an MLR Castle Combe track day in summer 2010 - and there were lots of tuned examples there. For some reason I was a lot quicker than the vast majority,and I am a very average driver. Note that I am not saying this to antagonise, just an observation. Maybe the drivers were taking it easy and/or on road tyres.

Well all the track times I have seen are much better for the 9 fq340/360 evos and they're never on semi slicks. Not to say the megane is slow but given that its a stripped out on special tyres is not that quick for £15k and sacrificing practicality (and rwd/awd for fwd). Maybe I need to drive one though.

Edited by superman84 on Saturday 27th October 17:47

I would expect in the hands of a pro setting a fast lap, the Mitsubishis would be a fair bit quicker. In the hands of average Joe over 10 laps, would be interesting to see how much of a difference there was.

[Darren61]

superman84 said:

£15k would get a lot quicker machinery. Personally I went for an Evo 9 FQ360, easily tuneable to 400bhp, superior traction, far more practical and on comparable tyres the same driver would easily dispatch the megane in the dry let alone the wet.

Can you comment on running costs...?

Tax
Insurance
M.O.T
Servicing
Tyres

A comparison would see the Megane in a favourable position, and yes that is taken into consideration by 'those purchasing the .R' because generally speaking R26/.R drivers are sub 25 years old (from my experience)