RE: Renault Megane R.S: Driven
Discussion
Itsallicanafford said:
Ohlins equipped cup chassis mk3 cars ride beautifully in my experience, presumably this will not be an option on mk4? Or not yet until trophy models come out
I suspect that the toy cupboard containing more power and Öhlins will remain locked until the Trophy comes out, and a couple of years after that it'll be an option for all of them. Oh, and the obligatory Akrapovič exhuast too, naturally.I think it would have to be cup chassis with EDC gearbox for me.
This is coming for someone who's never owned a car with a dual clutch or automatic transmission.
Why? This is a hot hatch so designed to do the everyday stuff, and personally I'm just fed up with having to shift on the daily commute. Sure, on the right road and at the right time a manual is likely to be more engaging, but for the rest of it, it's just not worth driving a manual anymore! especially when these gearboxes are so fast!
This is coming for someone who's never owned a car with a dual clutch or automatic transmission.
Why? This is a hot hatch so designed to do the everyday stuff, and personally I'm just fed up with having to shift on the daily commute. Sure, on the right road and at the right time a manual is likely to be more engaging, but for the rest of it, it's just not worth driving a manual anymore! especially when these gearboxes are so fast!
Edited by driftingphil on Friday 2nd February 16:23
driftingphil said:
I think it would have to be cup chassis with EDC gearbox for me.
This is coming for someone who's never owned a car with a dual clutch or automatic transmission.
Why? This is a hot hatch so designed to do the everyday stuff, and personally I'm just fed up with having to shift on the daily commute. Sure, on the right road and at the right time a manual is likely to be more engaging, but for the rest of it, it's just not worth driving a manual anymore! especially when these gearboxes are so fast!
Funnily enough, I share your exact viewpoint on this matter. Manual gearboxes, for me, really aren't an enjoyable aspect of motoring anymore. In fact, they completely detract from the experience.This is coming for someone who's never owned a car with a dual clutch or automatic transmission.
Why? This is a hot hatch so designed to do the everyday stuff, and personally I'm just fed up with having to shift on the daily commute. Sure, on the right road and at the right time a manual is likely to be more engaging, but for the rest of it, it's just not worth driving a manual anymore! especially when these gearboxes are so fast!
Edited by driftingphil on Friday 2nd February 16:23
I'm not even putting that down to my daily commute and getting stuck in traffic either. I reckon that, even on a nice, quiet day, i'd much prefer a decent automatic with paddles set-up to a proper manual
I really like this new model and think it looks fantastic. I also love the black wheels too, they finish off the look nicely and add to the aggressive appearance. Diamond cut wheels just look too gaudy imo.
People harping on about the 'lack' of power need to appreciate that Renaultsport develop cars that have an incredible ability to carry speed over terrain, and therefore don't need any additional power to acheive the same 'pace' as more powerful variants. This makes them faster in the 'real world'. See Evo's comment on the Trophy R where they use the term 'real world pace', which is what matters rather than on paper values.
I went from a Civic Type R (EP3) to a Clio 200, and while the Civic felt faster initially, the Clio was in actual fact the quicker car cross country due to the way it destroyed B roads and handled the terrain in such a sophisticated manner. Yes, it was pretty solid and uncompromising (cup suspension) but that was the compromise I was prepared to accept for the performance it offered.
The remarks in relation to the engine bay being messy are superfluous. OK, it's not an Alpha bay but how much time do you actually spend looking at the engine? Some people chose to complain about the most inane details....anyhow, it's great to see RS back on track and I hope their Trophy does the business on the Ring again!
On a final note, the ride quality on the 275 Trophy (non R model) which I own currently is fantastic and the grip provided by the suspension along with the diff makes for a comfortable yet supremely capable machine. I recall seeing a comment earlier in this thread about the diff making it a handful on the road. This is true to an extent, as it can really tug you into cambers if you're aggressive with the throttle and catch you out if you're not careful. However, I love how you have to fight it and it makes it a characterful and aggressive weapon to drive. This keeps you interested, and I tend to bore very quickly with performance cars!
I look forward to seeing the Trophy and hopefully an ultimate R model after that!
Ps, manual is fun but I would consider the EDC as it makes it easier to live with day to day.
People harping on about the 'lack' of power need to appreciate that Renaultsport develop cars that have an incredible ability to carry speed over terrain, and therefore don't need any additional power to acheive the same 'pace' as more powerful variants. This makes them faster in the 'real world'. See Evo's comment on the Trophy R where they use the term 'real world pace', which is what matters rather than on paper values.
I went from a Civic Type R (EP3) to a Clio 200, and while the Civic felt faster initially, the Clio was in actual fact the quicker car cross country due to the way it destroyed B roads and handled the terrain in such a sophisticated manner. Yes, it was pretty solid and uncompromising (cup suspension) but that was the compromise I was prepared to accept for the performance it offered.
The remarks in relation to the engine bay being messy are superfluous. OK, it's not an Alpha bay but how much time do you actually spend looking at the engine? Some people chose to complain about the most inane details....anyhow, it's great to see RS back on track and I hope their Trophy does the business on the Ring again!
On a final note, the ride quality on the 275 Trophy (non R model) which I own currently is fantastic and the grip provided by the suspension along with the diff makes for a comfortable yet supremely capable machine. I recall seeing a comment earlier in this thread about the diff making it a handful on the road. This is true to an extent, as it can really tug you into cambers if you're aggressive with the throttle and catch you out if you're not careful. However, I love how you have to fight it and it makes it a characterful and aggressive weapon to drive. This keeps you interested, and I tend to bore very quickly with performance cars!
I look forward to seeing the Trophy and hopefully an ultimate R model after that!
Ps, manual is fun but I would consider the EDC as it makes it easier to live with day to day.
Edited by Track_Cit on Friday 2nd February 17:35
Edited by Track_Cit on Friday 2nd February 17:36
Track_Cit said:
I recall seeing a comment earlier in this thread about the diff making it a handful on the road. This is true to an extent, as it can really tug you into cambers if you're aggressive with the throttle and catch you out if you're not careful. However, I love how you have to fight it and it makes it a characterful and aggressive weapon to drive. This keeps you interested, and I tend to bore very quickly with performance cars!
That was me and I was just referring to the Drexler LSD upgrade that some people have done to replace the oe GKN slipper for track use.Sounds like the new Cup will go up in terms of LSD % but I find the humble GKN mostly fine on the road too.
Quickmoose said:
They each have their own qualities, but for me, in a car like this, EDC does not suit it. It's the option for the non-enthusuast. Just lazy.
I don't see the correlation between enthusiasm and gearbox type. It's a personal and therefore highly subjective preference. Like wheel colour.Track_Cit said:
I went from a Civic Type R (EP3) to a Clio 200, and while the Civic felt faster initially, the Clio was in actual fact the quicker car cross country due to the way it destroyed B roads and handled the terrain in such a sophisticated manner.
Interestingly, I remember being taught a similar lesson when test-driving a Civic Type R FN2. Despite accelerating quicker than the MK2 Octavia vRS it was supposed to replace, I had to slow down to a pedestrian pace on East Anglian fenland roads to stop the thing bouncing off. Lovely gearbox, awful suspension. In the real world, the heavier/stodgier Octavia- while clearly no rocketship- was quicker and more trustworthy. I kept it a bit longer.Itsallicanafford said:
Ohlins equipped cup chassis mk3 cars ride beautifully in my experience, presumably this will not be an option on mk4? Or not yet until trophy models come out
Superb but not sure I would use the term "ride beautifully".By most normal standards still a very firm set up, even when run in B Road setting which we use all the time (road use) most people who don't know what it is comment how firm it is !!
More supple than stock cup spec though.
Simon Owen said:
Itsallicanafford said:
Ohlins equipped cup chassis mk3 cars ride beautifully in my experience, presumably this will not be an option on mk4? Or not yet until trophy models come out
Superb but not sure I would use the term "ride beautifully".By most normal standards still a very firm set up, even when run in B Road setting which we use all the time (road use) most people who don't know what it is comment how firm it is !!
More supple than stock cup spec though.
Are you running on 19’s? Ours has the 18 inch wheels and I genuinely am impressed by the ride, maybe that extra bit of sidewall makes the difference?
blearyeyedboy said:
Track_Cit said:
I went from a Civic Type R (EP3) to a Clio 200, and while the Civic felt faster initially, the Clio was in actual fact the quicker car cross country due to the way it destroyed B roads and handled the terrain in such a sophisticated manner.
Interestingly, I remember being taught a similar lesson when test-driving a Civic Type R FN2. Despite accelerating quicker than the MK2 Octavia vRS it was supposed to replace, I had to slow down to a pedestrian pace on East Anglian fenland roads to stop the thing bouncing off. Lovely gearbox, awful suspension. In the real world, the heavier/stodgier Octavia- while clearly no rocketship- was quicker and more trustworthy. I kept it a bit longer.Peanus said:
I’m still not sure how Renault managed to turn the masterpiece that was the 197/200, into the 200t. Just what where they thinking?
The 200t is not a bad car by any means, and the chassis is as good if not better than the old 200. It's the gearbox that is a letdown for some. So Renaultsport never lost their mojo when it comes to tuning cars. It was just the stupid "auto only" decision, which undoubtedly someone higher up made....Peanus said:
I’m still not sure how Renault managed to turn the masterpiece that was the 197/200, into the 200t. Just what where they thinking?
A broader market for a car that was cheaper to build. And it was successful too. They just lost the crown of Best Small Hot Hatch to the Fiesta ST in the process, and lost the “enthusiast” market with it. The Mk3 RS200 was an incredible car. Salamura said:
The 200t is not a bad car by any means, and the chassis is as good if not better than the old 200. It's the gearbox that is a letdown for some. So Renaultsport never lost their mojo when it comes to tuning cars. It was just the stupid "auto only" decision, which undoubtedly someone higher up made....
It also lost Perfohub, Brembos, the Recaro option. It was also about taking a lot of cost out of the car. nickfrog said:
Quickmoose said:
They each have their own qualities, but for me, in a car like this, EDC does not suit it. It's the option for the non-enthusuast. Just lazy.
I don't see the correlation between enthusiasm and gearbox type. It's a personal and therefore highly subjective preference. Like wheel colour.Quite why some react with such hysteria to a subjective observation over a highly visible design choice yet get ever so upset about how a gear is changed is quite the 'hysterical' mystery....
I mean you could argue that the vast majority of time spent interacting with your car is when it is stationary....so it's design qualities are extremely important to a lot of enthusiasts...and you could counter that with the fact a cars' only reason to be is to go places under its own power, so how it does that is also fundamental.
Why berate either discussion...
Quickmoose said:
nickfrog said:
Quickmoose said:
They each have their own qualities, but for me, in a car like this, EDC does not suit it. It's the option for the non-enthusuast. Just lazy.
I don't see the correlation between enthusiasm and gearbox type. It's a personal and therefore highly subjective preference. Like wheel colour.Quite why some react with such hysteria to a subjective observation over a highly visible design choice yet get ever so upset about how a gear is changed is quite the 'hysterical' mystery....
I mean you could argue that the vast majority of time spent interacting with your car is when it is stationary....so it's design qualities are extremely important to a lot of enthusiasts...and you could counter that with the fact a cars' only reason to be is to go places under its own power, so how it does that is also fundamental.
Why berate either discussion...
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