Spotted: Renaultsport Megane R26.R
Maybe it's the autumnal weather but there's another Q-ship hot hatch in the classifieds that's taken our fancy...
The R puts several of them in your way. Stickered up there's the same tackiness test. But without it looks little different from the DCi diesel Renaultsport Megane. A good car, but not really the message buyers of plastic windowed, stripped'n'caged track monsters want to be giving off. So, stickered it looks tacky and without it looks too anonymous.
OK, still want in? Those jokers from Dieppe have barely got started yet. Can you really live without a stereo? If you can you then face the reality of the one saving grace of a car like this - the rear seats, boot space and daily practicality that let you justify it as a do-it-all car - being ripped out and replaced with scaffolding poles and harnesses.
It must be redeemed by a dizzying power output? Nope. Same as the regular car. Less than many rivals. This is a car for those who can appreciate handling over outright power without feeling their manhood being threatened. Who value a 123kg weight saving over 100 extra horsepower.
So it's cheap, right? No. Two or three times the price of its nearly as able R26 basis. Yes, the one with an interior. Seats. A stereo. Stuff like that.
Basically the R26.R tests how strongly you get it. And if you really, truly do then you're in for one of the great automotive treats. Your correspondent has had the pleasure on a number of occasions and all have been memorable. The first, running late for a grouptest in the Yorkshire moors in probably the first car in the UK and on French trade plates (you can probably fill in the blanks of that one...) was manic, epic and a bit silly. Another involved a weekend comprising 12 increasingly ludicrous laps of the 'ring on Saturday, 70-odd of Spa on the Sunday (where it became known as 'that Renault') and a very nervous drive home with no brake pads and 888s down to the canvas.
Renault had aspirations for the R to become a collectable hot hatch classic and was going to import 230 of the 450 built to the UK - nearly 10 times the allocation for Germany. But sales were sluggish and HowManyLeft reckons just 75 are still registered and on the road.
That more of the ads in the PH classifieds are 'wanteds' rather than 'for sale' indicates demand has picked up, especially for those with the desirable titanium exhaust and roll cage/888s options (£2,250 and £700 respectively new).
This one has neither but it's the cheapest currently in our classifieds at £14,500 and has only 21,000 miles on it. The destickered Nimbus Grey paint over black wheels is super stealthy too and completely at odds with the Sabelt carbon racing seats and harnesses within (the R apparently the first road car ever to be homologated with such) so if you really, really have nothing to prove it's the car for you. A call to Renault reveals you could, if you really wanted, get the cage and ti exhaust factory retrofitted but at circa 5,000 euros and 2,000 euros (plus VAT) respectively that'd be taking a fair punt on values climbing significantly and, in all honesty, if you really need them there's a more in your face stickered and caged one for only a little more here. If you're going to use it as intended and really want a cage better to stick two fingers up at originality and go aftermarket. If you want one to collect and covet ... well ... you're probably missing the point.
One more thing. The R was the swansong for the outgoing Renaultsport Megane. The previous Clio was given a send off in the shape of the sublime Trophy version. With the current 200 on the verge of being replaced what's in store to bid that a suitable farewell? We await with interest...
RENAULTSPORT MEGANE R26.R
Engine: 1,998cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Power (hp): 230@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 229@3,000rpm
MPG: 33.2mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 199g/km
First registered: 2009
Recorded mileage: 21,000
Price new: £23,815
Yours for: £14,500
See the original advert here.
Cage/tyres option is one you'd have wanted to tick at least. And the ti exhaust? Well, good bragging rights and once it gets hot it does make good banging and popping noises. Not cheap mind.
Dan
Price and optional equipment
The Mégane R26.R is £23,815. The pricing for the optional equipment is:
• Roll cage and Toyo Proxes tyres £700
• Titanium exhaust £2250
• Deletion of decals No charge
• Black alloy wheels £120
• Climate control £460
• Metallic paint £375
• Renault i.d. Glacier White £150
• Renault i.d. Pearlescent Paint £1200
Great cars these and are best all stickered up, white or blue with red wheels, just for the in your face ness that this car deserves.
It's a shame that it didn't do too well but I guess it was just a bit too extreme, I have a customer who had an R26 and now has a 250, he has been on many a track day and the owners of the R26R's will never say a bad word against them as they easily demolish much more exotic machinery that come in at 3 times the price.
- edit* I stand corrected, climate wasn't standard.
I'd rather buy a Clio Cup for £3k, or spend £15k on an Elise/Caterham!
Renault went balls out and made quite honestly the ultimate hot hatch and you have to take your hat off to them....
Theres a good reason why they hold their money.
The car is a no nonsense drivers car, its also a collectable.
If I buy one, can I really put 20,000+ miles per year on it without completely destroying the resale value?
I'd buy one of these to cherish and if I wanted to drive, I'd buy an R26 and strip it myself.
Megane R26
Megane R26.R
Ignoring the 'limited edition' status of course,which I wouldn't care about because if I owned one I'd be tracking it at every opportunity.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&...
The R26, on the other hand, I entirely understand.
An E46 M3 would not see which way this car went on a country road and would struggle to keep up on a track.
If I had the money, I would have one in a flash - it is one of the best cars I have ever driven!
It's a stripped-back 2-seat road-racer. I'd compare it to others of that genre.
The R26, on the other hand, I entirely understand.
There obviously isn't much of a market or someone would be producing an actual ground-up FWD drivers car, so I guess it makes sense to do the best they can with a hacked about hatchback.
As good as this car is, for me the inherently nose-lead handling and high polar moment of inertia brought on by having the engine slung out over the front axle will always be a down-side when compared to a sports car, not to mention the lack of traction.
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