We all know that in 2008 Renaultsport set a high standard with the
Megane R26.R. That was such an achievement for the French brand that its replacement would always struggle to reach such heady heights. Yet from its release the Megane III Renaultsport has been considered the
best car on track among the hot hatch group, outperforming its always-strong competitors. We rated it highly enough to pitch against the more powerful and more expensive
BMW M135i in fact. Could a FWD, four-cylinder Renault challenge the almighty rear-wheel drive six-cylinder BMW? Yes, it really could. Though perhaps not as accommodating or versatile as the BMW, the Renault was certainly the more exciting driver's car.
Alright, so it's not the most practical hot hatch...
There are many factors that make the Megane great, and they're worth repeating. The chassis is brilliant, with the limited-slip diff in the Cup-equipped cars providing incredible levels of traction out of corners. It is most definitely one of those vehicles that gets better the harder you push it, and its engine allows that. The 2.0-litre turbo under its bonnet develops 250hp in this early car, more still than a new Golf GTI. Offering only a manual gearbox always appealed too, and that seem unlikely in the next Megane RS.
On the negative side, it could be argued that is not the best everyday car. It works brilliantly at high commitment levels, but it's far from the most comfortable hot hatch out there. The exhaust sound from the turbo was never as good as on its smaller brother, the Clio III RS, either. The back seats can also be claustrophobic but this is a driver's car, remember; who cares about passengers?
A set of 18s away from full purist special
The third-generation Megane RS offered a driving experience that not much else at that price (£23,935) could match. But what if today you could get this car for a smaller amount? There are many deals out there, but probably not as good as the red RS250 Cup seen here, which could be yours for just £10,750. The cambelt has recently been changed, the condition is good and the red ones are fastest, right? Some may prefer the additional luxury of a 'full-fat' Megane with the Cup pack on a regular model, but for full purist kudos this is the one to have.
Car enthusiasts should not ignore the opportunity, especially at a time when Renaultsport aims to broaden the appeal of the future generations. Is this the last enthusiast-oriented Megane RS?
RENAULT MEGANE RS250
Engine: 1,998cc, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive, limited-slip differential
Power (hp): 250@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 251@3,000rpm
MPG: 34
CO2: 190g/km
First registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 57,800
Price new: £22,995
Yours for: £10,995
See the original advert here
[Nacho Salvador]
