Renault Megane 225; Any good?
Discussion
Good evening all,
A day observing various fast Renaults (Amongst other exciting things) at Donington, followed by a comment in another thread got me onto Autotrader looking at the Renault Megane 225 - they have always appealed to me, but I was surprised to see how much their prices have reduced since I last looked.
So opening the floor upto the PH collective mind of vehicle expertise, are they any good? And if they are, which ones and why?
(If they're not, then let me know that too)
I already have an MX5, so no one needs to suggest that instead
A day observing various fast Renaults (Amongst other exciting things) at Donington, followed by a comment in another thread got me onto Autotrader looking at the Renault Megane 225 - they have always appealed to me, but I was surprised to see how much their prices have reduced since I last looked.
So opening the floor upto the PH collective mind of vehicle expertise, are they any good? And if they are, which ones and why?
(If they're not, then let me know that too)
I already have an MX5, so no one needs to suggest that instead
I have a 2006 225 f1. My best friend has a 2008 230 f1.
The difference is not worth talking about. His turns in a little quicker (lsd), but out and out grip i dont think there is anything in it. Its not quicker either. Being friends, we have tested them against each other and we have drove each others, and i think we will both come to the same conclusion. The best front wheel drive car ive driven (and ive driven astra vxr, golf gti etc as other friends have these also).
The difference is not worth talking about. His turns in a little quicker (lsd), but out and out grip i dont think there is anything in it. Its not quicker either. Being friends, we have tested them against each other and we have drove each others, and i think we will both come to the same conclusion. The best front wheel drive car ive driven (and ive driven astra vxr, golf gti etc as other friends have these also).
I had a trophy.
I sold it.
Don't get me wrong, it felt quick. Not blistering but certainly fast. The problem was, problems...
injectors, trim falling off at random times. This included the handbrake lever literally falling apart.. Then as I sold it on the flywheel died. For one reason or another the EML was on almost permanently! I may have had a pup but it was only a 40k 2 owner car.
Sadly it's put me off having another Renault (unless I buy a 172/182 as a track hack)
I sold it.
Don't get me wrong, it felt quick. Not blistering but certainly fast. The problem was, problems...
injectors, trim falling off at random times. This included the handbrake lever literally falling apart.. Then as I sold it on the flywheel died. For one reason or another the EML was on almost permanently! I may have had a pup but it was only a 40k 2 owner car.
Sadly it's put me off having another Renault (unless I buy a 172/182 as a track hack)
paulrhodes said:
I had a trophy.
I sold it.
Don't get me wrong, it felt quick. Not blistering but certainly fast. The problem was, problems...
injectors, trim falling off at random times. This included the handbrake lever literally falling apart.. Then as I sold it on the flywheel died. For one reason or another the EML was on almost permanently! I may have had a pup but it was only a 40k 2 owner car.
Sadly it's put me off having another Renault (unless I buy a 172/182 as a track hack)
This is what i'm afraid of...I sold it.
Don't get me wrong, it felt quick. Not blistering but certainly fast. The problem was, problems...
injectors, trim falling off at random times. This included the handbrake lever literally falling apart.. Then as I sold it on the flywheel died. For one reason or another the EML was on almost permanently! I may have had a pup but it was only a 40k 2 owner car.
Sadly it's put me off having another Renault (unless I buy a 172/182 as a track hack)
I don't mean to upset the Renault fans, but my only experience of Renaults was Mrs j44esd Scenic, which was, well, to put it bluntly, and i'm not going to beat around the bush on this, not me, no siree.... S**t...
But the concept of a 225bhp FWD car that has had it's handling praised from the four quarters of the globe sounds great in theory! So this is why I am interested in peoples first hand experience of them!
I have often wondered if a Megane 225 in bland trim with standard wheel, lsd added and remap would make an awesome sleeper. From memory there was a lot of criticism of the electric steering and light feel at launch, plus an epic number of reliability issues seem to come to light but this could be the internet rumour mill overdoing things as per usual.
They are cheap though!
They are cheap though!
alfa daley said:
I have often wondered if a Megane 225 in bland trim with standard wheel, lsd added and remap would make an awesome sleeper. From memory there was a lot of criticism of the electric steering and light feel at launch, plus an epic number of reliability issues seem to come to light but this could be the internet rumour mill overdoing things as per usual.
They are cheap though!
My experiences were ownership experiences so valid.They are cheap though!
In fairness though, I spoke to the Renault master tech at the local dealer and he assured me that most of them are relatively trouble free. I guess the 'relatively' leaves a margin for interpretation.
relative to the amount of Renaults which go wrong, that could still be a large number. They're bolted together by different people though, in reduced numbers? Doesn't stop the fundamental parts going wrong though, shame. I imagine some will be fine, some will be lemons - that is kinda how things go. I know they're highly regarded as one of the best FWD cars out there, in wider motoring press, but on here they're not really harped on about much.
j44esd said:
Good evening all,
A day observing various fast Renaults (Amongst other exciting things) at Donington, followed by a comment in another thread got me onto Autotrader looking at the Renault Megane 225 - they have always appealed to me, but I was surprised to see how much their prices have reduced since I last looked.
So opening the floor upto the PH collective mind of vehicle expertise, are they any good? And if they are, which ones and why?
(If they're not, then let me know that too)
I already have an MX5, so no one needs to suggest that instead
It not a hatch though ... Too bigA day observing various fast Renaults (Amongst other exciting things) at Donington, followed by a comment in another thread got me onto Autotrader looking at the Renault Megane 225 - they have always appealed to me, but I was surprised to see how much their prices have reduced since I last looked.
So opening the floor upto the PH collective mind of vehicle expertise, are they any good? And if they are, which ones and why?
(If they're not, then let me know that too)
I already have an MX5, so no one needs to suggest that instead
I prefer the clios and reckon they are more fun and feel nicer
I seem to remember the original 225 wasn't particularly well received and then they rectified it with the Trophy model. Every one they made after that was widely praised as being brilliant.
An R26 is my realistic dream car.
If I wasn't 21, skint and could afford the insurance (last quote I did was the same price as a car I was looking at), then I'd be all over them.
An R26 is my realistic dream car.
If I wasn't 21, skint and could afford the insurance (last quote I did was the same price as a car I was looking at), then I'd be all over them.
BBS-LM said:
Sorry What!
He asked if they were any good. My take is that the clios are more fun. The 225 feels a lot bigger and less chuckable and nimble than the renaultsport clios. The clios have that vintage hot hatch dna in them and are an absolute riot because of it. The 225 doesn't.
Mate of mine had one. Great car, superb handling.
Then the radio stopped working. Then the electric window on the driver's side. The mirror motor also went, not that you need to change these things often. He just became so annoyed with simple things failing that he got rid of it - heater switches breaking, so the fan only had one setting, heater vents that broke off and pointed straight down, creaking plastic from the dash on corners and potholes etc etc.
Then the radio stopped working. Then the electric window on the driver's side. The mirror motor also went, not that you need to change these things often. He just became so annoyed with simple things failing that he got rid of it - heater switches breaking, so the fan only had one setting, heater vents that broke off and pointed straight down, creaking plastic from the dash on corners and potholes etc etc.
The Crack Fox said:
Renaults ? Hmmm... Missus had a Scenic that had more issues than Charlie Sheen. Fecking thing was a deathtrap, shocking quality, dangerous car.
Yeah, same here, that was one of my over riding concerns!I suprised how decisive opinion is on these - plenty of people come out to say they love them, plenty to say they hate them! I suppose I need to drive one to see if the subjective stuff agrees with me - objectively, has anyone owned one and had issues?
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