Friday 19th June 2015

Civic Type R vs Megane Trophy: Pic Of the Week

Of-the-moment hot hatch showdown for your desktop delight - full story to follow!

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How long have we been waiting for this test? Civic Type R versus Renaultsport Megane has been an ongoing saga in forums and YouTube comments for what seems like years now, without a single mile being driven. But finally there's a Civic Type R on the road, we've driven it against the Renault and there's a verdict.

For now here's the two of them in their natural environment - a decent British B-road. And while neither could be described as beautiful they certainly have presence! A point the bus load of commuters gawping at the Civic on the way home will attest to... It won't be too revealing to say now that this twin test is exceptionally close. Place your bets, set your wallpaper and all will be revealed very soon!

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)

[Axionknight]

Can't wait for the head to head test - it should be interesting!

Go Honda

[Butter Face]

Arrrghhhhh, so conflicted.

I'm a Type R driving Renault Salesman

[Shins]

Errrrr, have I missed something??????

Unless this is the Megane 275 Trophy-R, shouldn't this test be against the car that the Civic has to take the Nurburgring record from....... the Seat Leon Cupra 280 sub8?

[motor mad]

Quite a good little vid. of all three cars.

I'm a big fan of the Renault so I think that would be my choice.

http://youtu.be/KlGCZiFyqVw

Edited by motor mad on Friday 19th June 21:08

[tonyb1968]

@Shins,

The Seat doesn't actually hold a record at the ring because the car isn't a production model (you still cannot buy the pack they tested with the car), so its pretty irrelevant tbh, hence the Civic v Megane

[Shins]

Sorry Tony but yes you can now buy the sub8 pack, so my comment still stands.

[Dblue]

Renault being used has slightly tired brakes and running the standard Bridgestone RE050As which are Meh!
Also no mention of Ohlins so I assume it doesnt have those. On Cup2s and Ohlins it would be the quickest I suspect but thats not really the point. The Megane has a sublime chassis and its never been about just power. SEAT and Honda both have more oomph but its how it comes together down a decent B road that really counts.

The CTR is clearly excellent (As is the SEAT) but maybe a bit stiff for our roads

[GrumpyTwig]

Shins said:

Sorry Tony but yes you can now buy the sub8 pack, so my comment still stands.

Problem was they also removed the air con and some interior etc. etc. who knows what else.

Basically Renault still claim the title because they think Seat didn't do it with an actual production car without modification.

[Dblue]

GrumpyTwig said:

Shins said:

Sorry Tony but yes you can now buy the sub8 pack, so my comment still stands.

Problem was they also removed the air con and some interior etc. etc. who knows what else.

Basically Renault still claim the title because they think Seat didn't do it with an actual production car without modification.

Renault claim the title because their time of 7"54" was 4 secs faster than even the Sun 8 non-standard SEAT recorded. The Honda is claimed to have done it in 7 mins 50 secs but not officially.

[Shins]

Dblue said:

Renault claim the title because their time of 7"54" was 4 secs faster than even the Sun 8 non-standard SEAT recorded. The Honda is claimed to have done it in 7 mins 50 secs but not officially.

That was done in the Trophy-R, some £5k dearer than the cars on test here and as said above a car with no back seats, air con and £££££££ thrown at it to lighten it!!!

[Dblue]

Shins said:

Dblue said:

Renault claim the title because their time of 7"54" was 4 secs faster than even the Sun 8 non-standard SEAT recorded. The Honda is claimed to have done it in 7 mins 50 secs but not officially.

That was done in the Trophy-R, some £5k dearer than the cars on test here and as said above a car with no back seats, air con and £££££££ thrown at it to lighten it!!!

I know, thats not the point. The Trophy R was and is available for sale exactly as it was when doing 7'54". The SEAT did 7'58" with a lot of special parts that as yet have never been available including an AC delete. Likewise the Civic cannot be bought in the exact spec either.

Renault claim the weight saving was worth 8-10 secs so the regular Trophy would not have been as fast as the SEAT though.....probably.........
Incidentally at Goodwood last year talking to the Renault test driver who set the record he thought a drier day would have seen sub 7'50" out of the Trophy R

[Shins]

I do know what you mean but you do have to draw a line somewhere and IMO the Trophy-R price is over the line/too extreme.

The 2 cars pictured above are within the same price bracket and both fit 4/5 people and again IMO the Seat in Sub8 guise (which you can buy) superseded the Megane on "Ring time" (also a newer car) and should therefore be the car of choice in this battle......

IMO. lol