Is an RS Megane 280/300 the answer?

Is an RS Megane 280/300 the answer?

Author
Discussion

Legacywr

12,277 posts

190 months

Friday 16th February
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The Rotrex Kid said:
Legacywr said:
The cup chassis is far from ideal for a road car.
Disagree. If you buy a 'hot hatch' you aren't buying it for it's comfort or ability to do GT-esque distances IMO.

The cup chassis is the only one to have.

I've driven virtually every RS model over the last 15 years and the 300 (EDC, Trophy, Recaros and Volcanic Orange is my choice) is a superb bit of kit.

Heating controls on the screen are wk, the battery issues are well documented and it WILL brick itself on your driveway one morning unable to release the handbrake, but they are great drivers cars, the interior is a much better place to be that the 265/275 even if they're not quite as 'raw' or whatever.

This is the one to buy - bang on spec and a facelift as well - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402036... - heater controls much better in a facelift!
£29k for a 2020! Surely not?

The Rotrex Kid

30,592 posts

162 months

Friday 16th February
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
The Rotrex Kid said:
Legacywr said:
The cup chassis is far from ideal for a road car.
Disagree. If you buy a 'hot hatch' you aren't buying it for it's comfort or ability to do GT-esque distances IMO.

The cup chassis is the only one to have.

I've driven virtually every RS model over the last 15 years and the 300 (EDC, Trophy, Recaros and Volcanic Orange is my choice) is a superb bit of kit.

Heating controls on the screen are wk, the battery issues are well documented and it WILL brick itself on your driveway one morning unable to release the handbrake, but they are great drivers cars, the interior is a much better place to be that the 265/275 even if they're not quite as 'raw' or whatever.

This is the one to buy - bang on spec and a facelift as well - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402036... - heater controls much better in a facelift!
£29k for a 2020! Surely not?
CAP retail is £27k but with the paint and Recaros it’s about right. It’s still a lot of money but the right spec/colour for sure.

The Rotrex Kid

30,592 posts

162 months

Friday 16th February
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
popeyewhite said:
snorkel sucker said:
The Rotrex Kid said:
Legacywr said:
The cup chassis is far from ideal for a road car.
Disagree. If you buy a 'hot hatch' you aren't buying it for it's comfort or ability to do GT-esque distances IMO.
I dunno' . . .

If I'm buying a hot hatch it needs to tick all of the boxes from a b-road blast, boring commute, track day, tip run and perhaps most importantly as a father of two and husband to one, it needs to have a ride that copes with the worst of the British road network.

I've been on the receiving end of the earache after a family trip out in a car that's too stiff for passengers to be comfortable and I'd definitely opt for a more compliant ride as the alternative!
This. It's a hatchback first and foremost. A hot hatch should be practical but good fun to drive as well.
This, for sure.
What I meant is that people who say it’s ’far from ideal for a road car’ is wrong. A cup car is more than suitable for a daily driver, it’s compliant and rides just fine. It’s hardly a track focused monster with solid bushes and rose joints. I’ve had my whole family (and dogs !)in multiple Cup chassis equipped cars with zero complaints

If you want a comfortable car, a 300bhp FWD French hot hatch shouldn’t be top of the list. Many other cars that suit the brief better!

Sai

34 posts

169 months

Friday 16th February
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This car is really tempting me at the moment. Nice Liquid Yellow one bounce

Xenoous

1,106 posts

60 months

Saturday 17th February
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My RS265 had gearbox issues, it's not just 275s. The most reliable boxes are actually the 250.

I'd echo the above really, cup chassis is incredibly hard for our shocking roads as they are at the moment. But when you get the right road, at the right time, I imagine there's very little that better it in terms of being a drivers car. Throttle is fantastic in sports mode, gear ratios are short enough to always be going through the gears, it turns in and pulls out of corners exceptionally well. Truly a great car, but massively flawed.

Can't comment on the 280/300 though.

M.F.D

717 posts

103 months

Sunday 18th February
quotequote all
Xenoous said:
My RS265 had gearbox issues, it's not just 275s. The most reliable boxes are actually the 250.

I'd echo the above really, cup chassis is incredibly hard for our shocking roads as they are at the moment. But when you get the right road, at the right time, I imagine there's very little that better it in terms of being a drivers car. Throttle is fantastic in sports mode, gear ratios are short enough to always be going through the gears, it turns in and pulls out of corners exceptionally well. Truly a great car, but massively flawed.

Can't comment on the 280/300 though.
What makes you think they are massively flawed? I've ran and tracked several and struggle to fault them.

popeyewhite

20,191 posts

122 months

Sunday 18th February
quotequote all
M.F.D said:
Xenoous said:
My RS265 had gearbox issues, it's not just 275s. The most reliable boxes are actually the 250.

I'd echo the above really, cup chassis is incredibly hard for our shocking roads as they are at the moment. But when you get the right road, at the right time, I imagine there's very little that better it in terms of being a drivers car. Throttle is fantastic in sports mode, gear ratios are short enough to always be going through the gears, it turns in and pulls out of corners exceptionally well. Truly a great car, but massively flawed.

Can't comment on the 280/300 though.
What makes you think they are massively flawed? I've ran and tracked several and struggle to fault them.
"cup chassis is incredibly hard for our shocking roads as they are at the moment"

HTH



M.F.D

717 posts

103 months

Sunday 18th February
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popeyewhite said:
"cup chassis is incredibly hard for our shocking roads as they are at the moment"

HTH
'Massively flawed' is a bit over dramatic then. They aren't that uncompliant on the road, I've owned and driven far worse.

popeyewhite

20,191 posts

122 months

Sunday 18th February
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M.F.D said:
'Massively flawed' is a bit over dramatic then. They aren't that uncompliant on the road, I've owned and driven far worse.
They're good cars with an uncompromising suspension set up. Many years ago I owned an EVO Vi Extreme - utterly brilliant, but after a year my backside was more than happy to see it sold in favour of a softer riding Subaru. Another car (the mitsi) with a major flaw IMO.

M.F.D

717 posts

103 months

Sunday 18th February
quotequote all
popeyewhite said:
They're good cars with an uncompromising suspension set up. Many years ago I owned an EVO Vi Extreme - utterly brilliant, but after a year my backside was more than happy to see it sold in favour of a softer riding Subaru. Another car (the mitsi) with a major flaw IMO.
I suppose it's a little subjective. I have ran 3 x 250 Cups (some standard and some more aggressive) and collectively done 100k miles or so. I never felt like it was too much for the road.

popeyewhite

20,191 posts

122 months

Sunday 18th February
quotequote all
M.F.D said:
I suppose it's a little subjective. I have ran 3 x 250 Cups (some standard and some more aggressive) and collectively done 100k miles or so. I never felt like it was too much for the road.
Yes sure it's a balance. I mean some cars get it spot on with good damping, forgiving ride but also well set up, eg a RenaultSport Clio I once owned. The EVO VI i owned was criminally unpleasant after a while on local roads hehe

M.F.D

717 posts

103 months

Sunday 18th February
quotequote all
popeyewhite said:
Yes sure it's a balance. I mean some cars get it spot on with good damping, forgiving ride but also well set up, eg a RenaultSport Clio I once owned. The EVO VI i owned was criminally unpleasant after a while on local roads hehe
All part of the drama of owning a special car smile

popeyewhite

20,191 posts

122 months

Sunday 18th February
quotequote all
M.F.D said:
All part of the drama of owning a special car smile
Yes indeed.