RE: Driven: Megane Renaultsport 250 Cup
Discussion
An "almost" car for me. Lots to like, including the wheels - but I can't get over the fat lump of butter styling from the B pillar back. It seems like they've desperately tried to get the all-round visibility of a Countach into a hatch. Those sills also remind me of a BMW 1-series which is probably the last thing anyone desiring a Renaultsport wants reminding of.
Yeah, driving might top the list, but my car has to satisfy many more needs over and above being great to drive. I have a MKV Golf GTi so know they're not too shabby in that department, though I accept they are nowhere near as dynamic as the recent Renaultsport products. The Megane might be the right car for a cross country blast, but for 90% of my driving, trundling through town or the weekly trip to Sainsburys, the Renault just wouldn't do. If I was in my mid twenties and wore a baseball cap maybe. Same goes for the Focus RS.
Good to hear that Renault build quality is improving, it's always been my biggest criticism of them. Who knows, if they get that right there'll be no need to improve on their dreadful customer service.
Good to hear that Renault build quality is improving, it's always been my biggest criticism of them. Who knows, if they get that right there'll be no need to improve on their dreadful customer service.
how can a car with 250bhp and a 2litre turbo engine have such poor acceleration. my brothers 2004 ep3 honda civic type r has a na 2litre vtech engine with 197bhp and that can get to 60mph in 6.4s thats only .3 of a second slower. the old megane r26r is a much nicer car than this new one alot cheaper and faster. still would have the type r know the vtech engine puts a smile on my face every time
I dare say that the Civic was probably lighter and you can hardly say 6.1 secs is slow for a hot hatch. Having owned both a 225 F1 and a 197 R27 F1 the Megane wins hands down for daily driveability and effortless progress. Having to wring the neck of the type-r to make decent progress would get tiresome as an everday car. Like the new 250 but asking too much £, give it 12 months and bargains a plenty 
James - think your confusing the R26 with the stripped out R26r
James - think your confusing the R26 with the stripped out R26r
Edited by Doc883 on Wednesday 28th October 21:59
Edited by Doc883 on Wednesday 28th October 22:01
James - its VTEC. No H. the H is on childrens computer products.
As for acceleration - theres a limit to what a fwd hatch on a road set up will manage, purely down to physics. Sit in the civic at 50mph and then try to keep up with an accelerating Megane..
Or use 1st / 2nd / 3rd to really get lost in the moment.
Yes, to make equivalent progress, you have to work a bit harder. That doesn't mean it's bad, you pays yer money...
Oh and back to topic - WOW I'd take the old R26 over this new one every time.
I was considering an R26 when I got my S, but I decided I hated the interior!
As for acceleration - theres a limit to what a fwd hatch on a road set up will manage, purely down to physics. Sit in the civic at 50mph and then try to keep up with an accelerating Megane..
Doc883 said:
Having to wring the neck of the type-r to make decent progress would get tiresome as an everday car.
- yawn* spoken by someone who's read a lot of threads but not driven the cars. It, like my S2000 and my current / previous civics will sit perfectly happily in day to day traffic without any fuss or drama required.
Or use 1st / 2nd / 3rd to really get lost in the moment.
Yes, to make equivalent progress, you have to work a bit harder. That doesn't mean it's bad, you pays yer money...
Oh and back to topic - WOW I'd take the old R26 over this new one every time.
I was considering an R26 when I got my S, but I decided I hated the interior!
Tis a bit ugly and odd looking. Nowhere near the old one in terms of unique looks. It's taken on the Seat/Astra 'blob' look and is all the worse for it imho 
Engine sounds like it's using a small turbo for good response, but it's costing it power at high revs. As much as the Focus RS engine is 5 pot and 2.5 litre, it revs, which is admirable!
Peak power at 5500rpm puts this engine firmly in relatively bland land next to the Focus RS, and I bet it won't tune up much more without a bigger turbo.
Sounds like they have done a good job with it generally, but like many warm lardy hatches these days, it has lost the edge to go for mass-market appeal. A viscious circle. To sell a car that expensive they have to appeal to a wider more wealthy market, and in doing so they make it a crapper hot hatch.... £30k specced up! Focus RS instead please!
The real Renaultsport core appeal, for me at least, has lived in the Clio's, and still does.
Dave
Engine sounds like it's using a small turbo for good response, but it's costing it power at high revs. As much as the Focus RS engine is 5 pot and 2.5 litre, it revs, which is admirable!
Peak power at 5500rpm puts this engine firmly in relatively bland land next to the Focus RS, and I bet it won't tune up much more without a bigger turbo.
Sounds like they have done a good job with it generally, but like many warm lardy hatches these days, it has lost the edge to go for mass-market appeal. A viscious circle. To sell a car that expensive they have to appeal to a wider more wealthy market, and in doing so they make it a crapper hot hatch.... £30k specced up! Focus RS instead please!
The real Renaultsport core appeal, for me at least, has lived in the Clio's, and still does.
Dave
I think the standard Megane looks nicer, I don't like this gimmicky F1 spoiler within the air intake thing that RS are doing now. It ruins the form of the car having that shiny black plastic insert.
As for the acceleration debate, it's not just about power/weight, my 187bhp Integra does 0-60 in 6.2 seconds apparently, it only has 131 ftlbf of torque and that's at 170,000rpm. The reason it's quick is it never runs out of revs and they are what multiply the torque at the wheels to give road speed. Below 5252rpm engine power is always less than torque, this is where the Megane will spend most of it's time, using it's ample torque to accelerate briskly, the EP3/DC2 has another 3,500rpm to multiply engine torque and give really good wheel torque.
It also helps that my car weighs 250kg less, which together with shorter gearing and greater revs enable it to have similar acceleration despite the 63bhp maximum power deficit.
I've driven a standard R26 with only 230bhp and it accelerates noticably quicker than my DC2, which is quicker than an EP3. Sometimes the figures don't tell the whole story.
As for the acceleration debate, it's not just about power/weight, my 187bhp Integra does 0-60 in 6.2 seconds apparently, it only has 131 ftlbf of torque and that's at 170,000rpm. The reason it's quick is it never runs out of revs and they are what multiply the torque at the wheels to give road speed. Below 5252rpm engine power is always less than torque, this is where the Megane will spend most of it's time, using it's ample torque to accelerate briskly, the EP3/DC2 has another 3,500rpm to multiply engine torque and give really good wheel torque.
It also helps that my car weighs 250kg less, which together with shorter gearing and greater revs enable it to have similar acceleration despite the 63bhp maximum power deficit.
I've driven a standard R26 with only 230bhp and it accelerates noticably quicker than my DC2, which is quicker than an EP3. Sometimes the figures don't tell the whole story.
Steve Gunnis said:
I think the standard Megane looks nicer, I don't like this gimmicky F1 spoiler within the air intake thing that RS are doing now. It ruins the form of the car having that shiny black plastic insert.
As for the acceleration debate, it's not just about power/weight, my 187bhp Integra does 0-60 in 6.2 seconds apparently, it only has 131 ftlbf of torque and that's at 170,000rpm. The reason it's quick is it never runs out of revs and they are what multiply the torque at the wheels to give road speed. Below 5252rpm engine power is always less than torque, this is where the Megane will spend most of it's time, using it's ample torque to accelerate briskly, the EP3/DC2 has another 3,500rpm to multiply engine torque and give really good wheel torque.
It also helps that my car weighs 250kg less, which together with shorter gearing and greater revs enable it to have similar acceleration despite the 63bhp maximum power deficit.
I've driven a standard R26 with only 230bhp and it accelerates noticably quicker than my DC2, which is quicker than an EP3. Sometimes the figures don't tell the whole story.
You speak sense there Steve, only thing I would beg to differ on is that a DC2 is not quicker in a straight line than an EP3. I can tell you that from experience.As for the acceleration debate, it's not just about power/weight, my 187bhp Integra does 0-60 in 6.2 seconds apparently, it only has 131 ftlbf of torque and that's at 170,000rpm. The reason it's quick is it never runs out of revs and they are what multiply the torque at the wheels to give road speed. Below 5252rpm engine power is always less than torque, this is where the Megane will spend most of it's time, using it's ample torque to accelerate briskly, the EP3/DC2 has another 3,500rpm to multiply engine torque and give really good wheel torque.
It also helps that my car weighs 250kg less, which together with shorter gearing and greater revs enable it to have similar acceleration despite the 63bhp maximum power deficit.
I've driven a standard R26 with only 230bhp and it accelerates noticably quicker than my DC2, which is quicker than an EP3. Sometimes the figures don't tell the whole story.
Mr Whippy said:
mattbvw said:
Mr Whippy said:
£30k specced up! Focus RS instead please!
Dave
The 250 Cup is £21,995 and the 250 is £22,995 - even with the Cup pack on that and a few goodies yo'd really struggle to get anywhere near £30k on one.Dave
Dave
I quite like the look of it. However, I feel that as cars get heavier manufacturers 'should' beef up the engine accordingly.
The focus RS being a good example - lugging round all that lard needs a bigger engine such a 2.5/ 5cylinder lump..
Perhaps Renault should have done a similar thing.
The focus RS being a good example - lugging round all that lard needs a bigger engine such a 2.5/ 5cylinder lump..
Perhaps Renault should have done a similar thing.
Dr Imran T said:
I quite like the look of it. However, I feel that as cars get heavier manufacturers 'should' beef up the engine accordingly.
The focus RS being a good example - lugging round all that lard needs a bigger engine such a 2.5/ 5cylinder lump..
Perhaps Renault should have done a similar thing.
I would have thought a 2.0 turbo with 180bhp/ton was sufficient to carry a medium sized hatchback?The focus RS being a good example - lugging round all that lard needs a bigger engine such a 2.5/ 5cylinder lump..
Perhaps Renault should have done a similar thing.
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