RS Megane - great track car despite FWD.

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As someone who was passionately against FWD on track I have to say I've really fallen for the Megane.

It is fantastic on track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p93IadRwy-U

Cheap to run, fast enough, useable and brilliant fun to drive.

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Thanks for the welcome

Konan, yup, I remember your wagon

Timbo s2, thanks mate, would happily take the credit for being a highlight but I wasn't there Friday - quite common then these meganes!

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loggyboy said:

Nothing like a bit of moving around...!

https://youtu.be/4iFT_ORFgjU

Like it but I prefer vids that show what the driver is doing with the wheel. If you're using a go pro you could sucker it to the back screen, that's how I got mine

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Timbo_S2 said:

Ha! I did of course mean Saturday, saw your little 'battle' with the focus too... And remember watching the mustang crawl around the track...

Haha fantastic, very pleased to have been of service

The driver of the focus is a mate, his focus has had a mountune conversion and was much quicker. Quite annoying as before he tuned it and in the dry there wasn't much difference and was huge fun!

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james_gt3rs said:

Seems very adjustable, even mid corner.

Yes, exactly my point, even on a long corner it's adjustable, more so than a lot of other cars I've tracked.

Apologies to others for my lines and clunky driving.

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Hey Nick!

Lol!

Yeah it' push a bit if I pushed the pedal too hard, only to be expected though

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C70R said:

The 225 is on my radar at the moment, but I feel like I would get more fun out of 'adjustability' in a RWD chassis due to my driving style (generally smooth). Looking at your video, your style seems to be somewhat different to the direction I want to go in - your inputs are quite clunky (e.g. block downshifting with no apparent h&t) and your lines aren't particularly conducive to smooth/quick track driving. A FWD is always going to be more forgiving of that kind of driving, so it's good that you found a car that you can enjoy. However, there's a good likelihood that you would have spun a RWD car with the same driving style.

This isn't intended to be disparaging, as everyone is different - and I am by no means suggesting that I'm a 'good' driver by any measure. My current FWD track car has been an awesome learning tool for a newbie, because it's forgiving when I brake late and am a bit hamfisted with my inputs. However, I feel like I'll progress my driving style better if I move to a RWD car, because it will help me refine things like smoothing my inputs and driving better lines.

You sound like a hero

I hope to meet you on track!

Feb 24th at Brands any good?

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Ahbefive said:

Fwd can be great fun. My Focus ST used to have a really playful rear end.

The st's make a really nice noise too

I've not done much track stuff in fwd, I bought the Megan's as a second track car but haven't really used my other one since!

The whole package is really good; brakes, temp control, power, balance etc. I used it in 32 degree heat with air con on and no issues, this couldn't be more different to what I'd expect when tracking cars.

My reason for this thread was to enlighten people like me who wouldn't have given any fwd a second thought for track stuff.

Very little choice for rwd so some may find it useful

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I started watching that and thought you'd linked to a 30 vid of your car's interior 😂

That's a long session, good effort

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Excellent effort on the tyres there chaps

Amen to that!

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vanman1936 said:

A great thread, I have just acquired an R26 for tracking. Amazing how adjustable it looks in that video and impressive driving OP.

Only driven briefly on the road, can already tell it's going to be epic.

Going to get a fastchip module for 260bhp and some pads and fluid.....what pads do people run in here?

Thanks mate!

You'll love the R26, I initially started looking for one of these and think they're ideal for track stuff and a fair bit lighter than the 250.

With 260 it'll fly!

I'm just using the stock 250 cup pads as they're cheap and work ok. I swapped fluid but haven't felt it needs anything else. That said I haven't quite summoned the courage to really push them yet, it's making 1.1g through the corners on the stock suspension and ad08r's but not on the brakes, I think they'll do it, if I had the balls!

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Just wanted to update this and share some more French love

Took a little trip to Brands this afternoon and got some dry lapping. The car was doing consistent high 56's which isn't bad esp with me behind the wheel!

It laps up the punishment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3-k0TMYwcA

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Neil - YVM said:

Those are pretty good times for a standard car.

I'm currently selling my track spec Clio and debating what to replace it with, the Meg 250 cup wasn't my first choice, but the more I look into it the more it's seem to be a good road / track / cost compromise.

I'd say it's a pretty fantastic time, esp when you consider it'll run fine on track in 32 degrees with air con yet is still comfortable and quiet, not bad on the road etc.. What other cars were you considering? What times have you done in the Clio?

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Neil - YVM said:

Only went to brands once in the Clio a couple of years ago for a very busy evening , when it near std, and no times where taken. Id previously achieved high 55's in an Impreza, hence being impressed that a std car could get so close.

I'm looking to replace the Clio with a more fast road car, that can track, rather than an all out track car. The list of possible replacements, currently consists of
Boxster 987 3.2S,
Boxster 986 3.2S
BMW E46 M3
BMW 135i Coupe
Audi TT 3.2 2nd gen
Renault Megane RS250 Cup
Renault Clio RS200
Renault Clio 197/200 Meg engine conversion
VX220

All depends if you want rwd or not?

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Henry Fiddleton said:

Hi Sam,

"You're welcome" ;-)

Re: his driving - by all means try to keep up with him.

Catch up soon

Kam

Hey Kam,

Hehe thanks mate

Are you around on Friday? - brands again, possibly might take the Megane and the Datsun - can't wait!