RE: PH Fleet: Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup

[blearyeyedboy]

MarkRSi said:

I'd like the know this too, although given how lairy 150lbft and 200bhp can be in a FWD Civic in the wet, I can't imagine 250+ bhp + lbft coping much better without an LSD...

It's not so much the LSD. My thinking is:

softer suspension (to a point)--> car doesn't bounce off every bump --> wheels spend more time in contact with road--> handles better

... maybe? But as you say, the LSD would be quite a game changer (as previously discussed on other threads!).

[anonymous-user]

Love these cars and tempted by an earlier 250 Cup. I bet they're a great drive and perfect for British roads.

[ant leigh]

blearyeyedboy said:

Loods great in red.

My next question might get me a bit of abuse from the PH massive: If I'm thinking about the Megane and I'm never going to track it, is there anything to be said for the non-Cup? Comfort aside, does a non-LSD Megane with softer suspension settings work better on poorly surfaced B Roads? I'm thinking of some of the roads I use to see extended family members in West Cork, which are generally a bit worse than in most of the UK.

Does anyone have direct experience of this? I know the standard PH answer is to approve of the harder-core version but I wondered if anyone had driven both and might care to comment?

Test drove both.
The Sport suspension was excellent and the ride was more comfortable.
However the benefits of the LSD were noticeable and overall persuaded me to go for the cup option.

After 10,000 or so miles the firm suspension has not been a comfort problem for me but I do consciously avoid potholes as they can be unpleasant so on mostly poorer roads I would probably be inclined to go for the sport suspension...... maybe

[roystinho]

As a bit of a Renaultsport fanboy, if you weren't in the market for the hardcore cup/cup chassis versions then I'd look elsewhere. They get such glowing reviews because of how they drive, take 2 key factors out and you might as well get a golf gti or scirocco imo.

Plus you'll find it a lot harder moving it on as most punters want the cup chassis on Renaultsports

[blearyeyedboy]

Thanks ant leigh.

roystinho said:

They get such glowing reviews because of how they drive, take 2 key factors out and you might as well get a golf gti or scirocco imo.

Plus you'll find it a lot harder moving it on as most punters want the cup chassis on Renaultsports

You see, if I go for something along those lines then I'm after a fun-to-drive car. I'm just wondering which is a better badly-surfaced B-road weapon. Comfort would not be irrelevant but would be secondary. I suspect it's still the Cup that would work better... You're right about selling them on though.

[roystinho]

blearyeyedboy said:

You see, if I go for something along those lines then I'm after a fun-to-drive car. I'm just wondering which is a better badly-surfaced B-road weapon. Comfort would not be irrelevant but would be secondary. I suspect it's still the Cup that would work better... You're right about selling them on though.

It would still be the cup, yes it's firm, but the damping is superb, and with the proper LSD... Not much would keep up with one on a greasy rutted B road

[blearyeyedboy]

Thanks Roy, that's helpful.

[Butter Face]

I concur with Roy, a cup-equipped Megabe is sublime. It's really nowhere near as compromised as people make out.

[ant leigh]

I haven't once regretted getting the cup suspension.
It is firm, but not as bad as some seem to make out.

And I slipped two discs a few years ago. If my back can take it it shouldnt be a problem for most people.

[Dblue]

framerateuk said:

TameRacingDriver said:

They probably do drive very well...

But they look hideous. Inside and out.

Its a Renault so buy new, keep it until the warranty runs out, then run away as fast as you can.

Each to their own, I love the way it looks and the inside looks great as far as I'm concerned - especially if you spec the leather seats.

Agree on this. I have had nothing but positive, in fact fawning appreciation for mine. And I have to say when its all cleaned up it looks fantastic. Lovely Liquid yellow paint helps a lot mind but they really do get great reaction.
Inside its fine, not Audi like perhaps but well enough bolted together and the Recaros look and feel great.Stereo is truly appalling though.
BUT the chassis is just amazing. The damping comes into its own when it gets quicker and bumpier, the grip is unreal and it resists torque steer almost completely.
Renaultsport make magic

[Mastodon2]

I love these Meganes, I liked the last generation too, I just wish that they sounded a bit more interesting, even on the most hardcore versions you can spec they don't sound that great. A bit of soundtrack to match the drive would be nice, and it can be done.

[Dblue]

Mastodon2 said:

I love these Meganes, I liked the last generation too, I just wish that they sounded a bit more interesting, even on the most hardcore versions you can spec they don't sound that great. A bit of soundtrack to match the drive would be nice, and it can be done.

I am with you on this but I'm not sure it can be done tbh. At heart an in-line 4 is not a great place to start and bolting a turbo on, well thats torn it.

I cant think of a single installation of this spec that sounds good to be honest.

[pmr01]

i had one of the last generation 225 cups and loved it to bits. People are talking about the reliability not being that good and I have a couple of points that realy stuck with me. I drive app 5 miles of twisting, testing, quiet b-roads before I get onto something approaching main roads when on the way to work. I had a civic type-r and a cooper s before the renault...all bought from new.

i admit, the interior rattled, squeaked, occasional electrical happening etc in the reno. it kinda did from day one. But where the mini and the civic both felt slightly tired - not as controlled, a bit flabby - after 2 years, the renault felt as sweet over that road as the day i bought it. Not exactly a scientific test but an intangible feeling that the money was spent in the right place for a sporting car.

I would love an R26r more than most other things on the road and will always kick myself for not buying one that Arnold Clark had for sale at Grangemouth for £18995 on da road. split new !!!!...well pi55ed off at myself.

[W124]

Big fan of these cars. I had a somewhat 'spirited' drive in the yellow Renault 250 press car a while back. That was knocking out at least 20/30BPH more than the 250 they somewhat laughably tried to maintain it had. Absolute joy to hammer. The state of the 265 demo at the end of the day at Millbrook this year was funny. No car was driven harder. I was trying to make progress in a new 911 (I'm not really that good a driver) and could barely shake a well driven 265 - "those things are bloody fast' said the Porsche bloke with grudging respect. The Megane has depth - it seems a bit cold to start with but then you realise the limits are just so very, very high. And it flies. And the braking balance is on another planet. The 135 is clearly (well, not driven one so don't really know) more sideways but, faster? With a st driver like myself at the wheel I'm not so sure...

[roystinho]

Not that a 4 pot turbo ever sounds brilliant, but I think the 265 makes a decent one. Was testing one out with a friend last month and we agreed that it was a good effort. Though I was chasing him in a V6 which put the megane's noise, at least, in its place

[Dan Trent]

blearyeyedboy said:

You see, if I go for something along those lines then I'm after a fun-to-drive car. I'm just wondering which is a better badly-surfaced B-road weapon. Comfort would not be irrelevant but would be secondary. I suspect it's still the Cup that would work better... You're right about selling them on though.

Keep us posted on what you decide - it's an interesting debate though, as others have pointed out, I think you'd suffer when trying to move it on.

Taking the edge off but going for the Cup chassis was my thinking with going for the 18s, apart from preferring the look to the 19s. Renault has offered to lend us a set of 19s at some point in the loan too so we'll run it for a bit on those and report back on what we find. Not quite so simple to switch the suspension and diff but if it becomes a big talking point and they have one on fleet we could get a non-Cup one in to compare too.

As others have said, it's the quality of the chassis and damping that makes the difference, not the simplistic stuff like 'hard' or 'compliant'. I think the Recaros make a massive difference here too, having run them on a previous 197 Cup long-termer. The combination of being gripped really tight by the seat and the response from the chassis is what makes it and it was never a drag when driving it, even on a tedious M25 commute. And then I had a ride in the passenger seat and got the other side of the coin!

Anyway, as I said in the piece the endless permutations of what you can have are one of the great things about these cars. There's no right or wrong, just what's best for your needs. And it sounds like you've got a pretty good idea of that, much as I did with this one! Looking forward to it though - to be continued!

Cheers,

Dan

[roystinho]

W124 said:

Big fan of these cars. I had a somewhat 'spirited' drive in the yellow Renault 250 press car a while back. That was knocking out at least 20/30BPH more than the 250 they somewhat laughably tried to maintain it had. Absolute joy to hammer. The state of the 265 demo at the end of the day at Millbrook this year was funny. No car was driven harder. I was trying to make progress in a new 911 (I'm not really that good a driver) and could barely shake a well driven 265 - "those things are bloody fast' said the Porsche bloke with grudging respect. The Megane has depth - it seems a bit cold to start with but then you realise the limits are just so very, very high. And it flies. And the braking balance is on another planet. The 135 is clearly (well, not driven one so don't really know) more sideways but, faster? With a st driver like myself at the wheel I'm not so sure...

The 265 will flatter the average driver (I include myself in this category), they're so easy to drive fast. Therein lies the reason (or one of the reasons) I don't have one though, I like a bit of a challenge when I go out for a drive/hoon/fun. The Clio is much more rewarding in my eyes, slower yes, but in terms of effort in and smiles etc... If I could afford one of each like a friend has though, that would be pretty good

[Porsche997C4S]

Bad colour to chose.. and big wheels needed

[W124]

True, Roystinho

I adore the Clio as well. Love Renaultsport stuff - I think what makes the Megane RS so good (For me) is the way it behaves under braking. You sort of take it for granted but it's amazing really. I was lucky enough to drive one back to back with a Golf R, Scirroco R and Civic Mugen at Millbrook some years back on an otherwise tiresome SMMT day. But the Megane was on a different planet in term is drivability under (really) heavy braking. Not far off Porsche clarity I dare say. It was only in direct comparison with other cars (much, much more expensive exotic numbers as well) that I realised how much confidence I had in the car.

I think it bodes really well for the new Clio RS. Ok - perhaps not so much initial fun. But I can see that car being huge fun by virtue of being indisputably superior.

18's all the way for me. Get knocked about all over the place on anything bigger these days... I'd have gone for yellow though - French hot hatch equals yellow to me.

[Mastodon2]

Dblue said:

I am with you on this but I'm not sure it can be done tbh. At heart an in-line 4 is not a great place to start and bolting a turbo on, well thats torn it.

I cant think of a single installation of this spec that sounds good to be honest.

There are plenty of good sounding turbo 4s, but none as standard, an Evo with a straight through, Astra VXR with a Remus etc, all have a bit of smile inducting pop and bang, with a rorty tone. You'll never get the smoothness of an inline 6 or the complexity of the V8, but with enough de-restriction they can sound pleasantly riotous. Subtle they ain't though!