Goodbye STI, Hello Renaultsport - Liquid Yellow R26 Megane

[DanielSan]

I did have a look on there, even they were 199 just for the discs. It's all down to them having the bearings in as a unit so no one can be arsed to make pattern parts. Fortunately Brembo HC's for the front are less than 100 quid

[DanielSan]

MikeGoodwin said:

how on earth do you get that thing to average near 30mpg. My 275 does 20-21 average daily driving.

I do have the small advantage of just B roads and no traffic all the way to work, and only about 5 minutes of traffic at worst on the way home. Don't drive it particularly steady though, it's all single lane nsl roads but I generally do more like 60-70 bar the small village I have to go through.

[DanielSan]

Just a small update, still very much loving life with it at the moment. It's proving to be the perfect all rounder, fun to drive, quick enough to not get boring, good on fuel, comfortablefor a hot hatch and it even fits a mountain bike in the back with no issues and touch wood it's even proving reliable for a French car!

One thing did need some improvement though, the standard headlights. Christ they're woeful! A pair of candles may well be better than the standard bulbs fitted to these cars so I've fitted a 4300k HID kit. Massive improvement in visibility in the dark and with them already being a projector unit a nice oem look to it also.



Only one issue in my life when it comes to cars though, driving on B roads to a quarry every day does result in the car looking like this after just over a week....

[DanielSan]

BenLowden said:

They look ace. Have you got a link to the HID kit please? I'm picking up my LY R26 on Friday, you've definitely not had any influence whatsoever with this thread...

I've used this kit dude https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302080447434 I've tried a few different kits on various cars now both cheap and expensive and I honestly can't recommend them highly enough, this is the third car I've put them on now and in 4 years of use over different kits they've required one bulb replacement. Saying that I always buy 2 kits purely because of the price and it doesn't hurt to have spares

Any plans with yours? Aside from driving it, enjoying it and being unable to stop staring at the colour?

[DanielSan]

Managed to find the Autocar issue on fleabay so purchase has been made. I'm a fan of little bits like that as part of a cars history. The R26.R does seem to take attention away from the normal R26 at the moment but it wouldn't surprise me with he prices of the R holding/climbing slightly if it doesn't start to drag the prices of these up a bit aswell. It'd be a nice bonus if it did anyway

In the meantime I'm pretty much just planning to enjoy it and keep in top of it, wheels are being returned after winter and I need some paintwork sorting on the front bumper as jetwashing it a couple of weeks ago resulted in a big flake of paint parting company with the car. I would like to get the steering wheel retrimmed at some point also.

[DanielSan]

BenLowden said:

DanielSan said:

I've used this kit dude https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302080447434 I've tried a few different kits on various cars now both cheap and expensive and I honestly can't recommend them highly enough, this is the third car I've put them on now and in 4 years of use over different kits they've required one bulb replacement. Saying that I always buy 2 kits purely because of the price and it doesn't hurt to have spares

Any plans with yours? Aside from driving it, enjoying it and being unable to stop staring at the colour?

Awesome thanks! Sorry to be a pain but what options did you go for? And it seems dirt cheap, I paid £60 for a HID kit for my Fabia vRS when I had it.

Luckily it's had the R26R clutch/flywheel conversion like yours, rear box chop mod, panel filter and Forge dump valve. I'll probably get a full turbo back exhaust system and FMIC before a map. Potentially a 250 turbo and 630cc injectors to try and get to 300bhp but depends on funds/patience next year! Refresh suspension and brakes with new OEM parts (perhaps some different springs), the list will go on and on I expect.

I went for the 4300k 35W H7 kit, it's very very close to oem white, just with a subtle blue tinge before they get upto full temperature.

The R26.R clutch/flywheel is a nice bonus especially after seeing the parts prices....

[DanielSan]

chrismc1977 said:

Lovely & capable car

The only disappointment (as a DC2 owner) must be the sound compared to your GF's revvy N/A Honda??

She should invest in a Tegiwa Carbon airbox to make the most of it!

How does the R26 compare to the DC5 on the road?

I put a K&N Typhoon on her DC5 not long ago, ran one on my EP3 for 2 years and couldn't fault it especially for the price.

I've had an EP3/DC5 and S2000 so pretty much any other 4 cylinder is second best when it comes to noise, it's really the one weak link of the Renault.

Best way I can describe the R26 is that it combines the fun, handling, grip and sharp turn in of a DC5 but at the same time manages to do the comfy bits like my old VXR did. There's extra fun with the DC5 in revving it out and using every last rpm but the Megane is just ever so slightly more fun purely because the rear is just that bit more playful.

I did consider going back to a DC5 but as a car to use every day AND take on a hoon when required the R26 just slightly edges it out. It's a nice bonus having access to both though, especially when you couldn't get an R26.R for the price of the 2 combined!!

[DanielSan]

I'm permanently in TC on mode at the moment, anytime the car goes light in low gears and it starts to flicker, tried it without and they light up very quickly.

[DanielSan]

M77MWW said:

Do like the r26 especially in liquid yellow. I've got an rs250

I've seen your thread, your 250 is awesome! Looks an absolute weapon.

[DanielSan]

t4thomas said:

I loved your STI, but can appreciate the switch.

The Renaultsport Megane is supposed to be a fantastic drive and this looks like a very nice example.

I do miss the STI but so far this is proving to be a fair chunk easier on the wallet.

[DanielSan]

The previous owner put PS3's on mine, so far I can't fault them to be honest, grip very well in the dry, pretty good in the wet, cold/damp weather has shown they could do with a bit of heat in them to work at their very best but at no point are they unbearable.

[DanielSan]

New, hopefully brighter bulbs ordered today from HIDs4U, the ones that came with the HID kit seem to have lost brightness very quickly. Always a gamble with the price of the kit to be fair but it's the first time I've had it happen so certainly can't complain. The new bulbs also have metal backing plates so shouldn't have to adapt the bulb holder brackety thing (never know what the wire bit is called ) for these to remain secure.

Will report back as soon as they arrive and are in the car.

[DanielSan]

BenLowden said:

Went out for my first proper drive yesterday and grabbed a few shots. Thanks for your help and inspiration DanielSan, loving it!

Not a problem dude good to see you're enjoying it! That pic hasn't helped me with my wheel refurb decision. I'm in 2 minds whether to go standard flat grey, metallic grey for more shine or dark grey/black. Decisions decisions....


R.E the back box chop I have looked into it but the cars already had the mid box chopped so don't want it to end up sounding awful which with no silencers in I think it could do. I would like it to pop and crackle a touch louder than what it does now though

[DanielSan]

I need to hear one with both chops done I think, not too bothered about mapping it in the future, just be nice to have a bit more noise, unless it's boomy then the back box will go straight back in. Had enough boomy exhausts over the years, my brain can't cope anymore

[DanielSan]

Just a quick update, everything is still very much going well though I have noticed the common issue of the passenger window not wanting to go up at times has reared its head so that needs some investigation. Other than that I noticed that all 4 Michelin's are very much at the point of dead so after some deliberating between Pilot Sport 4's or Vredestein Ultrac Vorti's the simple fact of finding the Vredestein's £30 a tyre cheaper somewhere for near identical performance in any review I've found made the decision for me.... Hopefully they'll arrive tomorrow and I can get them chucked on this week.



Other than that I've just got some new pics, a friend happened to be down from Newcastle over the Xmas period so we met up for a catch-up and to watch the Man United game, the as the pub we met at were having issues with their Sky system a plan B formed.... To the jet wash wish sponges and bucket for a very quick going over to make the car look presentable.



And then to the fair that's been in town all over Xmas for a quick photo, and then another location for a few more snaps. You may be able to tell given the other shots in this thread who the photographer is out of the pair of us

[DanielSan]

diddles said:

Nice car and good photo's. Can I ask what camera you have taken these with?

Best I can do is it's a Canon of some description I think I'll drop my mate who did the pics a message and ask him.

[DanielSan]

Well no dramas or anything to report, I'm just enjoying the nice change of a car I don't have an urge to modify and enjoying driving it instead. I did discover one thing that put a smile on my face this week, revving it out through 3nd and 3rd gear on some quiet B road style test track the car pops and crackles really nicely on the overrun with the centre box having been chopped out.

Whatever brake pads that are in the car st the moment have created one small issue, while they do stop the car well they've screwed the front wheels with the dust that comes off them so a refurb is next on the agenda as they needed doing anyway I'm just not sure what colour to go for. Other than that with my commute to work being all B roads and past a quarry the car has pretty much constantly looked like this for the last 3 months.



Can't wait for a nice none cold day to give it a good claying, de-ironising, de-tarring etc and get that paintwork all smooth again.

[DanielSan]

nickfrog said:

DanielSan said:

Can't wait for a nice none cold day to give it a good claying, de-ironising, de-tarring

Whatever you do, do the decon (Iron and Tar) before the claying so that you minimise shyte being dragged by the clay bar.

On the wheel colour front, satin black seems the default choice for RSs and works well although anthracite is closer to the colour of brake dust ;-)

Beautiful car and possibly no depreciation.

I always go with the decontaminate part first, makes life a lot easier and if I decide I can't be bothered to clay it most of the work is already done for me

Wheel colour wise I'm edging back towards standard grey and will be swapping the pads out for some oem brembo's to make life a bit easier.

[DanielSan]

BenLowden said:

Looking good DanielSan! Have you had any issues with your dash rattling? Mine doesn't do it all the time, but it drives me bloody mad when it does start going. Don't really fancy pulling the whole thing off, but might have to if I can't find a quick fix.

Was considering a can of expanding foam but I don't think that'd be the best idea...

I have got one rattle which sounded like the dash, but just by chance I happened to be messing with the mount for the rear view mirror one day and as I pushed it in the rattle disappeared. I need to try pack the underside of it out with something but I keep putting it off.

Give that a quick poke when you hear the rattle just to be certain you're not going mad at the wrong area, my gf was annoyingly smug that she'd pointed out the sound was coming from there....

[DanielSan]

That's the brightest driveway I've seen for a long time! Both look stunning in that colour... if you do have an urge to do anything to the Meg I'd definitely recommend the Cooksport springs and Pure Motorsport spacers. Makes a huge difference to the look of the car and easily removable to go back to standard, guilt free modifying at its best.