Goodbye STI, Hello Renaultsport - Liquid Yellow R26 Megane
Discussion
Insurance is a wedge cheaper, cars nicer to drive as well to be honest, and although not as quick proving to be more fun. And have a wedge of cash left over from selling the Impreza is a nice side bonus. Plus it's not likely to cost me 10 grand in the next 2 years which is pretty much bang on what the Subaru has done. And wheels, front lip, sideskirts, exhaust and remap aside it's pretty much all been stuff that needed to be fixed or replaced. For a standard car wit a stack of history and receipts when I bought it it's hardly been the model of reliability they're made out to be. It's good but I don't think I'd have another one if I'm honest.
It was this or an E46 M3 and it appears you can't get a nice one of those for less than 12k anymore and as I'm in cash saving mode spunking a wedge to have the BM didn't seem like a great idea.
It was this or an E46 M3 and it appears you can't get a nice one of those for less than 12k anymore and as I'm in cash saving mode spunking a wedge to have the BM didn't seem like a great idea.
Wow, £10k in 2 years? Mine has cost about a quarter of that in 6 years and that includes cam belt, tyres and brakes etc. Sounds like yours was quite a money pit.
That's quite a saving but you originally suggested fuel economy was a main fctor which at £15 a week saving doesn't seem an issue. If you are having to do £5k of repairs a year then you had quite a lemon.
That's quite a saving but you originally suggested fuel economy was a main fctor which at £15 a week saving doesn't seem an issue. If you are having to do £5k of repairs a year then you had quite a lemon.
Fuel part is more a bonus saving, the 5k plus engine rebuild was the big cost. Came apart to do the bearings, crank needed grinding which isn't recommended so new crank, pistons weren't at their best so they got replaced etc etc etc. Did the clutch and flywheel while it was apart, new oil pump, water pump belts. The list just gets bigger as you're going.
I kept going because I loved the car but I need to save a house deposit, half of that's covered now with the money freed up from selling it.
I've got into mountain biking more recently and it's a nice positive I can just thrown the bike in the back if I can't be arsed to put the carrier on the roof at 7am on a Sunday morning.
I kept going because I loved the car but I need to save a house deposit, half of that's covered now with the money freed up from selling it.
I've got into mountain biking more recently and it's a nice positive I can just thrown the bike in the back if I can't be arsed to put the carrier on the roof at 7am on a Sunday morning.
Fair enough, sounds unlucky. I also end up selling cars when I have made them better than they have ever been. Fix everything, make it mint then sell but I can't bring myself to sell the RB5 even with an RS on the way. I know I would want it back one day and would never find another in such good nick.
Just a wee small update over the weekend. The logbook arrived Friday so I've swapped my private plate onto the car this weekend, complete with shorter height front number plate that fits snugly into the recess in the front bumper.
Also given the car it's first proper clean today, washed, polished, waxed, windows done, engine bay given a quick going over etc and managed to get a few more pics of it once it was done. Oh and the obligatory PH smiley is now on the car.
A couple of interior shots complete with my Guy Martin Racing Snapon seat cover.
And as it received a few positive comments a few extra pics and spec on the GF's DC5. It was a fresh import car into the country last year arriving with the kit and different set of 18inch work wheels that looked good but weighed more than the moon and a set of HKS coilovers, one of which snapped! just before Christmas last year. Current spec of the car is -
Full INGS+1 bodykit
949 Racing 17 inch wheels
Mugen style rear wing
BC racing coilovers
DC Sports catback exhaust
Pioneer double din headunit
LED taillights
Also given the car it's first proper clean today, washed, polished, waxed, windows done, engine bay given a quick going over etc and managed to get a few more pics of it once it was done. Oh and the obligatory PH smiley is now on the car.
A couple of interior shots complete with my Guy Martin Racing Snapon seat cover.
And as it received a few positive comments a few extra pics and spec on the GF's DC5. It was a fresh import car into the country last year arriving with the kit and different set of 18inch work wheels that looked good but weighed more than the moon and a set of HKS coilovers, one of which snapped! just before Christmas last year. Current spec of the car is -
Full INGS+1 bodykit
949 Racing 17 inch wheels
Mugen style rear wing
BC racing coilovers
DC Sports catback exhaust
Pioneer double din headunit
LED taillights
Lovely cars! Your girlfriends DC5 looks so clean!!
My friend had one, which he sold for the same price when he bought it 2 years later! Definitely a keeper...
Another friend has an R26 and he loves it, although he is having some gearbox problems at the moment and needs to source a refurbished unit unfortunately.
Enjoy
My friend had one, which he sold for the same price when he bought it 2 years later! Definitely a keeper...
Another friend has an R26 and he loves it, although he is having some gearbox problems at the moment and needs to source a refurbished unit unfortunately.
Enjoy
Nice motor. I like these, so they come with a proper LSD as standard? It looks very clean and in good condition. I really enjoyed my DC5, so it must be a nice car to be as good. The colour is pretty awesome to be fair, stands out just a tad!
I was enjoying the pics of the DC5 until I saw the wing.....
I was enjoying the pics of the DC5 until I saw the wing.....
I encouraged the Mugen wing, and the wheels 
just something I really like about them. Fortunately she thought the same....
There is one thing I've noticed now after a few quick blasts in it, I'm genuinely convinced that standard vs standard there's very little if anything between the Megane and the STI. Wet weather will be a different matter though I'm sure.
just something I really like about them. Fortunately she thought the same.... There is one thing I've noticed now after a few quick blasts in it, I'm genuinely convinced that standard vs standard there's very little if anything between the Megane and the STI. Wet weather will be a different matter though I'm sure.
Just a quick update, the new door speakers gave arrived today so they've gone in this afternoon. I managed to discover why the drivers door spraker seemed to be broken, it just wasn't there the new speakers are an absolute doddle to fit though, 2 screws and as they're Renault specific they just clip into the existing connectors.
All in all for 70 quid I'm pretty pleased, good improvement in sound quality especially for the cost and sheer ease of fitment.
Half done after 10 minutes...
Just a simple connector...
I just need an active underseat sub now for that bit extra bass and to let take some work away from just the door speakers.
the new speakers are an absolute doddle to fit though, 2 screws and as they're Renault specific they just clip into the existing connectors. All in all for 70 quid I'm pretty pleased, good improvement in sound quality especially for the cost and sheer ease of fitment.
Half done after 10 minutes...
Just a simple connector...
I just need an active underseat sub now for that bit extra bass and to let take some work away from just the door speakers.
Just a quick update really, took the car to it's first PHSS at the weekend, and in my rush to get my name down didn't even notice that there was track time, having a quick session around Silverstone would've been quite good fun.... But the car did bump into one of it's more hardcore family members...
I have ordered one small upgrade this week, after seeing the difference spacers made to the looks of the R26.R I've ordered some 10mm front and 18mm rear spacers which should be going on tomorrow afternoon all being well. Other than that I'm just enjoying driving the car the moment, nice to drive just going to work and back day to day but huge fun when I'm in the mood for a spot of hooning.
I have ordered one small upgrade this week, after seeing the difference spacers made to the looks of the R26.R I've ordered some 10mm front and 18mm rear spacers which should be going on tomorrow afternoon all being well. Other than that I'm just enjoying driving the car the moment, nice to drive just going to work and back day to day but huge fun when I'm in the mood for a spot of hooning.
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