Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup - track and road car??
Discussion
Would like to switch from 2 wheeled track days to 4. I live in London and have to park in the street - running multiple cars is not straightforward. Therefore looking at all rounder options that I can run as a daily and tracker.
Looking to do 5-6 td's per yr including a trip out to Spa and the Ring. Snooty as this sounds I wouldn't normally consider a Renault road car but these seem well reviewed and I notice that they are used for track instruction and also offered by some Ring Rental companies.
Does anyone have direct experience of these cars and have comments on how much fun they are, if mods would be required for track work beyond pads, fluid and geo - and anything else. Assume that track running costs would be meaningfully lower than something like an E46 m3?
Any thoughts much appreciated!
Looking to do 5-6 td's per yr including a trip out to Spa and the Ring. Snooty as this sounds I wouldn't normally consider a Renault road car but these seem well reviewed and I notice that they are used for track instruction and also offered by some Ring Rental companies.
Does anyone have direct experience of these cars and have comments on how much fun they are, if mods would be required for track work beyond pads, fluid and geo - and anything else. Assume that track running costs would be meaningfully lower than something like an E46 m3?
Any thoughts much appreciated!
Its a really great track car, very adjustable with the throttle, which makes it really fun. But It suits faster tracks (at least by swedish track standard, some of our tracks are smaller dompared to more international tracks) otherwise FWD charachteristics starts to shine through with lots of front tyre punishing, even though the grip is really good with the diff.
I could easily live with one, they pretty nice inside and the Recaro seats are great, even at track. I have driven one at 2 occasions on track (hire) and they tend to be pretty hard on tyres and pads. But they do seem to be very well built cars. I have been following some of the swedish owners (one who lives close to the ring and had driven his at sick speed for hundreds of laps), seems very problem free.
I dont know if that was any help, but it would probably suit your needs fine.
If I were to own a e46 I would be a little scared of the cracked body at the rear suspension. Seems to be happening to many of the track driven M3s, defintely fixable, but alot of work. And they seem to be pretty tough on tyres and brakes since the weight is pretty hefty
I could easily live with one, they pretty nice inside and the Recaro seats are great, even at track. I have driven one at 2 occasions on track (hire) and they tend to be pretty hard on tyres and pads. But they do seem to be very well built cars. I have been following some of the swedish owners (one who lives close to the ring and had driven his at sick speed for hundreds of laps), seems very problem free.
I dont know if that was any help, but it would probably suit your needs fine.
If I were to own a e46 I would be a little scared of the cracked body at the rear suspension. Seems to be happening to many of the track driven M3s, defintely fixable, but alot of work. And they seem to be pretty tough on tyres and brakes since the weight is pretty hefty
They are excellent track day cars, quick enough, adjustable with great balance.
Brakes take a hammering , especially rears unless you turn the traction control off. Tyres are 235 section so a little pricey, especially 19s but they are veru robust indeed with no real problems.
We ran 2 in the company , both did 40k, both entirely reliable including 5 track days in my one, rattle free and solid.
Simply fantastic hot hatch, one of the best ever made. I wouldn't touch Renaultsports geo, they are brilliantly set up just as they are.
Brakes take a hammering , especially rears unless you turn the traction control off. Tyres are 235 section so a little pricey, especially 19s but they are veru robust indeed with no real problems.
We ran 2 in the company , both did 40k, both entirely reliable including 5 track days in my one, rattle free and solid.
Simply fantastic hot hatch, one of the best ever made. I wouldn't touch Renaultsports geo, they are brilliantly set up just as they are.
I own one, have been track going for maybe 2-3 years and only bought this a few months back with initial track going in August.
They are very stable, very easy cars to drive fast (somewhat too easy maybe?) and 90% of the car works very well as a track going vehicle. Only weak bit is when using road tyres, they tend to go off pretty quick if you're doing consecutive fast laps on technical circuits. The standard PS3s lasted 3-4 laps following a buddy in his R26.r before letting go
Consumables are a mixed bag on costs, the discs are very expensive but pads are not too bad (although the brakes are extremely good so worth every penny). Servicing other than that is not any more expensive than you'd expect, probably cheap compared to any M taxed servicing.
Off boost they're not to bad on fuel too, high 20's and around 30+mpg maybe on motorways. On boost is another matter, I went through a tank in a morning.... Though that is probably no worse than an M3.
TBH it sounds like you're going to be using yours similar to how I use mine and it fits the bill pretty well. As soon as you start looking at slightly more 'special' kit the servicing and running costs rise exponentially, but at the same time it's a pretty comfortable and (for a french car) nice place to sit.
Any specific questions just fire away.
They are very stable, very easy cars to drive fast (somewhat too easy maybe?) and 90% of the car works very well as a track going vehicle. Only weak bit is when using road tyres, they tend to go off pretty quick if you're doing consecutive fast laps on technical circuits. The standard PS3s lasted 3-4 laps following a buddy in his R26.r before letting go
Consumables are a mixed bag on costs, the discs are very expensive but pads are not too bad (although the brakes are extremely good so worth every penny). Servicing other than that is not any more expensive than you'd expect, probably cheap compared to any M taxed servicing.
Off boost they're not to bad on fuel too, high 20's and around 30+mpg maybe on motorways. On boost is another matter, I went through a tank in a morning.... Though that is probably no worse than an M3.
TBH it sounds like you're going to be using yours similar to how I use mine and it fits the bill pretty well. As soon as you start looking at slightly more 'special' kit the servicing and running costs rise exponentially, but at the same time it's a pretty comfortable and (for a french car) nice place to sit.
Any specific questions just fire away.
Got talking to a couple of Renault engineers last year who were playing about with a couple of Megane Coupes, supposed to be an enven better version coming out this spring.That should be a very quick car, not that the current version is anything like slow around here! (Ring, that is)
I nearly bought one last year for around £12k. I agonised on the decision really. It's one of those rare road cars that works OK on track.
But I've never really forgiven Renault for past poor reliability which I am sure doesn't apply to more recent efforts although how many times have they claimed to have improved reliability over the past 25 years ?
I know it's not a rational decision as I ended up with a lesser car on track (which I knew would be the case) but on the other hand, the appeal of RWD and NA6 won the day for the same money. Just.
But I've never really forgiven Renault for past poor reliability which I am sure doesn't apply to more recent efforts although how many times have they claimed to have improved reliability over the past 25 years ?
I know it's not a rational decision as I ended up with a lesser car on track (which I knew would be the case) but on the other hand, the appeal of RWD and NA6 won the day for the same money. Just.
nickfrog said:
I nearly bought one last year for around £12k. I agonised on the decision really. It's one of those rare road cars that works OK on track.
But I've never really forgiven Renault for past poor reliability which I am sure doesn't apply to more recent efforts although how many times have they claimed to have improved reliability over the past 25 years ?
I know it's not a rational decision as I ended up with a lesser car on track (which I knew would be the case) but on the other hand, the appeal of RWD and NA6 won the day for the same money. Just.
Its a fair decision mate but we ran 2 RS250/265s in our firm for 2 years and 40k miles each and neither gave a single problem of any sort, even minor stuff, were rattle free and as solid as when new with little obvious wear. Pretty impressedTBH. Would have tolerated some faults for the laugh out loud brilliance of the daily drivesBut I've never really forgiven Renault for past poor reliability which I am sure doesn't apply to more recent efforts although how many times have they claimed to have improved reliability over the past 25 years ?
I know it's not a rational decision as I ended up with a lesser car on track (which I knew would be the case) but on the other hand, the appeal of RWD and NA6 won the day for the same money. Just.
Dblue said:
Its a fair decision mate but we ran 2 RS250/265s in our firm for 2 years and 40k miles each and neither gave a single problem of any sort, even minor stuff, were rattle free and as solid as when new with little obvious wear. Pretty impressedTBH. Would have tolerated some faults for the laugh out loud brilliance of the daily drives
Noted, thanks. Will deffo consider one in a couple of years, particularly as the ones with the 4-year warranty will fall within my budget and will still have some of the original warranty. I got quite close to one here http://youtu.be/5zuKvR3xrYQ?t=10m10s . It doesn't look much on the video but it felt a little marginal at the mini-carrousel, well marginal for me anyway. He was obviously cruising...Terzo204 said:
Forgot to say, for about £2k you can get 325 BHP. Then it's really quick!
I think circa £400 for 300bhp/300ftlbs is probably the better sell but true :Pnickfrog said:
Yeah but then will eat brakes and tyres even more. I suppose fitting Michelin SS or Yoki AD08 and better pads should help for serious track work.
True that road tyres are not up to track work with it entirely but I think you'd be ok with standard pads/brakes, they handle the heat very well, a lot better than the slightly smaller brakes/calipers on the Clio for example even though that's lighter.Edited by GrumpyTwig on Wednesday 15th January 23:01
Drove a 250cup at Spa. Was blown away. Staggeringly good!
loads of fun and so much grip.
Genuinely one of the most impressive cars I've ever driven
I've had 2 x E46 M3's... I'd normally say RWD for track car, but I genuinely loved the Megane.
Great all rounder.
If 2 seats are enough. Get a Lotus or a Boxster/Cayman though in my opinion.
loads of fun and so much grip.
Genuinely one of the most impressive cars I've ever driven
I've had 2 x E46 M3's... I'd normally say RWD for track car, but I genuinely loved the Megane.
Great all rounder.
If 2 seats are enough. Get a Lotus or a Boxster/Cayman though in my opinion.
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