RE: Renaultsport Mégane R26.R

[FC3SCorey]

Love the interior. Roll cage from factory, racing harness and seats. Fantastic.

[bluediamond]

cracking write up david. top marks

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

How can anyone want to compare the Renault with a Mazda X5? Maybe I am in a different world. I thought we are petrolheads here and understand cars and their performance.

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

Can we please remember that the R26.R had the FWD record of 8mins 17sec on 22July 2008 at the 'Ring yet Kambiles says it has a, "flawed FF hatchback platform."

[MrGman]

I think whatever way you look at this car you've got to take your hat of to the boys at renault for making it

[hairykrishna]

Mrs Muttleysnoop said:

Can we please remember that the R26.R had the FWD record of 8mins 17sec on 22July 2008 at the 'Ring yet Kambiles says it has a, "flawed FF hatchback platform."

What's the RWD record again?

Your point about comparing it to a MX5 is fully valid though- the MX5 wouldn't see which way it went. As I said earlier though it is substantially more expensive. Kambites suggestion of an Elise was better. Elise is much slower around the ‘ring because of the power difference but I know which I’d rather have.

The ‘ring record is very impressive even accounting for it’s trackday tires. Does anyone know of anything else in its price range as quick around there?

[MrGman]

It amazes me that even on here a car is rated how good it is on how fast it is!!!

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

The RWD record is usually 7mins + so does the MX5 come close to that? I was taken on a sighting lap at the 'Ring last year in a Skyline in 8.30 and a Porker pi**ed passed us like we were standing still!!

[hairykrishna]

Mrs Muttleysnoop said:

The RWD record is usually 7mins + so does the MX5 come close to that?

Nowhere near. Sub 8 minutes needs serious machinery.

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

I have had a long day, so am confused that Kambites wants to see a back to back comparision with the MX5 v the Renault which he thinks is a competitor for the Renault. Oh and by the way what are tires? Do you mean tyres? !!!

[c_seven]

MrGman said:

It amazes me that even on here a car is rated how good it is on how fast it is!!!

+1

Only going on what I have read but FWD or not this sounds like a seriously tactile and rewarding machine, personally I see this as a poor man's GT3 RS rather than a tricked up hatchback. They even have similarly suspect decals.

I should imagine it is also a lot easier/less intimidating for the average driver to get the best out of one compared to a lotus/caterham.

[hairykrishna]

Mrs Muttleysnoop said:

I have had a long day, so am confused that Kambites wants to see a back to back comparision with the MX5 v the Renault which he thinks is a competitor for the Renault. Oh and by the way what are tires? Do you mean tyres? !!!

He already suggested an Elise instead. An MX5 isn't a terrible suggestion anyway, despite the speed difference - they're both 2 seater 'fun' cars. What would you compare it to?

Excuse the 'tires', I was briefly speaking American for some reason.

ETA:

I liked the 5th gear comparison with the Caterham personally;

http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?mnk=410&am...

I'd rather have the Caterham!

Edited by hairykrishna on Monday 13th April 22:49

[Nolar Dog]

I'll stick with my Focus thanks.

[H22K]

I was sceptical of stipping out my civic (my daily driver at the time) at first. Once done, it was certainly entertaining and altogether better to drive, but it wasn't until I had to transport all those bits of interior home (I stripped it out at uni) that I realised the difference.

I resolved, there and then, never to be without a completely stripped out car.

I still have that same civic, only now with a 200bhp prelude engine.

Vive la difference!!

Oh and to keep more on topic, I am a MAHOOSIVE fan of the R26-R.

I am NOT a fan of the "chav-spec" comment regarding bare cf.

Does that mean the CSL has a chav-spec roof?

[daveknott5]

Great write up David! And on the subject of Elise S vs Megane R26.R - it'd have to be the Elise for me. Properly good steering feel, a much lower driving position (therefore great seat-of-the-pants feedback), rear drive (so uncorrupted steering), and ultimately, quite a lot lighter than even the R26.R, so less wear on brakes/tyres. Ultimately, I reckon it'd be more fun.
On the Focus RS vs R26.R debate, the RS is the better everyday proposition, but I do wish it wasn't quite as heavy as it is! In my view, a hot hatch should have 4 seats, but doesn't need to weigh nearly 1500Kg!

[mattbvw]

c_seven said:

MrGman said:

It amazes me that even on here a car is rated how good it is on how fast it is!!!

+1

Only going on what I have read but FWD or not this sounds like a seriously tactile and rewarding machine, personally I see this as a poor man's GT3 RS rather than a tricked up hatchback. They even have similarly suspect decals.

I should imagine it is also a lot easier/less intimidating for the average driver to get the best out of one compared to a lotus/caterham.

You've hit the nail on the head.

I would have thought such a focused machine would have been more warmly welcomed on what I think of as a 'proper' enthusiasts' site. I admire Renault for doing it and for executing it so well (yes I have driven one and it was bloody amazing).

[mattbvw]

neema_T said:

Wish the wheels weren't bright orange, though, not that it matters because I doubt I'll ever own one of these!

Edit- Ok so maybe the orange wheels are an option?

The wheels are red (not orange) as standard or black are available as an option. The decals are a no cost delete option.

[Piers917]

They are pretty pokey....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoG15BblbZE

[ewenm]

I think the R26R presents an interesting decision to a car buyer. Nowadays performance that was previously limited to supercars is available to everyone. At the same time, roads have become more crowded, speed limits are more rigidly enforced and petrol is expensive. So, for those that think about more than numbers that you seldom have the chance to replicate yourself (0-60 times, Nurburgring times, top speeds, etc), for the driving enthusiast, the choice becomes less about absolute performance and more about the experience of the drive. How much "fun" is the car to drive in the conditions we experience everyday?

I see the R26R as the "safe" choice. It closely resembles cars that the general public are familiar with and used to, so is an easy choice for people to make. How many other 2 seat sports cars are there available that people label "impractical" and "too extreme"? The Elise is one that springs to mind, the various Lotus-7-inspired cars are others. For me, the driving experience would be the key factor. How much fun is the car at sub-limit, everyday speeds? Does it make you smile even when sat in traffic?

For me, the extreme examples of everyday cars (R26R, Focus RS, etc) are interesting exercises in engineering, but don't appeal as a sports car proposition. If you gave car design engineers a blank canvas to design a new sports car, how many would end up with a stripped out powerful hatchback? The achievements of the designers in making the R26R and Focus RS so good despite their modest starting point are remarkable. I think the RS makes a better case for itself as it still retains the practicality of the Focus, the R26R with only 2 seats loses that edge.

[FNG]

H22K said:

I am NOT a fan of the "chav-spec" comment regarding bare cf.

Does that mean the CSL has a chav-spec roof?

Agreed.

I notice that a carbon fibre bonnet that saves the same weight as the titanium exhaust (but for a quarter of the cash and in a better place to shed kilos) is "chav-spec" but orange wheels and some pretty damn nasty stickers are no worse than "garish". I'd rather lose the stickers than paint the bonnet, that's for sure.

Chavs can't afford real carbon fibre panels - they're expensive.

CF bits do crop up on lots of Japanese cars which, as a serious threat to the performance atuobahnstormers, menas that they're there to be sneered at as fast'n'furious-tastic.

Never mind that the weight loss is considerable and in some of the most important areas of the car - at either end and high up...