RE: New Megane Trophy spied at the 'Ring

[Salamura]

That's the point of the car . If you want to be brash: get a Civic.

[nickfrog]

rob.e said:

I was lucky enough to borrow one earlier this week, did about 150 miles or so in it and i have to say it was completely ignored by every other road user. A couple of the petrolheads in the office noticed it as soon as it was in the work car park but to joe public this car is completely invisible.

Thanks for posting the pic Rob, it looks great and very subtle, particularly in white. How did it drive ?

[culpz]

rob.e said:

I was lucky enough to borrow one earlier this week, did about 150 miles or so in it and i have to say it was completely ignored by every other road user. A couple of the petrolheads in the office noticed it as soon as it was in the work car park but to joe public this car is completely invisible.

Megane R.S. by Rob E, on Flickr

Edited by rob.e on Friday 22 June 11:22

That looks fantastic in white, i must admit! I like how the white contrasts with the black bits and wheels. It's great that Renault generally don't plaster their cars in loads of chrome, which i think looks awful anyway.

Was it a manual one that you were lent?

[rob.e]

yes

manual
arctic white (metallic)
roof
cup chassis
bi-metal brakes
alcantara / heated seats
alcantara wheel
parking pack (camera)
19 black interlagos
bose
big screen

[culpz]

rob.e said:

yes

manual
arctic white (metallic)
roof
cup chassis
bi-metal brakes
alcantara / heated seats
alcantara wheel
parking pack (camera)
19 black interlagos
bose
big screen

My spec would be the EDC gearbox, with the cup and alcantara pack. I'd prefer the Tonic Orange or Liquid Yellow paint, but any colour other than black i'd be happy with.

What are your general thoughts on the car?

[rob.e]

nickfrog said:

Thanks for posting the pic Rob, it looks great and very subtle, particularly in white. How did it drive ?

It's very, very good. Cup chassis is very firm but you could totally live with it as a daily, i prob wont go cup though as i do big miles. Carving through bends this thing is epic, combination of rear wheel steer and the diff it really fires round bends like you wouldn't believe. Sounds great, better than CTR which i found a bit flat noise-wise.

interior is better than i expected, very well built, good quality easily up with the germans

i'm making a decision between this and civic type R. I think money no object i'd prob go with the civic (bigger boot, more kids space in the rear) and the snick-snick gear change on the civic is lovely, better motor more revvy/blippy and more powerful. Civic in comfort mode is unbelievably comfortable for a car that has that level of performance/ handling. although i'm also mid-40's (ok, late 40s..) i really don't mind the civic looks - yes i'd prefer a spoiler-less option or the ability to spec 18" wheels in place of the monster 20s that will get kerbed but i'd not be put off.

... however, can't ignore the civic is 33 in gt spec (nav and park sensors) where renault is 27.5 and includes nav and rear park as standard. up-spec the renault with alcantara and cup (diff) so it's closer to the civic spec and the renault is still 3k cheaper. Personally i'm not bothered with adding either of these two options so it makes the renault significantly cheaper. If you're leasing it won't make much difference but i'm not.

[Butter Face]

rob.e said:

Save the manuals said:

I like it how fast Renaults are instantly recognizable to those who care about cars, and completely go under everyone else’s radar. This one is no exception.

I was lucky enough to borrow one earlier this week, did about 150 miles or so in it and i have to say it was completely ignored by every other road user. A couple of the petrolheads in the office noticed it as soon as it was in the work car park but to joe public this car is completely invisible.

Megane R.S. by Rob E, on Flickr

Edited by rob.e on Friday 22 June 11:22

Looks great. Arctic is a lovely colour and if you want super subtle it's the way to go. We are after Orange for ours, should look suitably eye popping

[rob.e]

Butter Face said:

Looks great. Arctic is a lovely colour and if you want super subtle it's the way to go. We are after Orange for ours, should look suitably eye popping

Yes, orange is nuts

I had a passenger ride in this car last week at millbrook, looks great in this colour but £1,300 option..

company-car-in-action_meganeRS by Rob E, on Flickr

[culpz]

rob.e said:

Yes, orange is nuts

I had a passenger ride in this car last week at millbrook, looks great in this colour but £1,300 option..

company-car-in-action_meganeRS by Rob E, on Flickr

What a stunning colour for the car! Dare i say it, much preferred to Liquid Yellow? I think it is for me.

[cobra kid]

V8 FOU said:

Oh, hell.
He's caught Cackett itis..... "hunkered down" indeed!

Anyway, those "things attached to the wheels" measure wheel movement/deflection.... Obvious innit!!?

LVDT?? Strain gauge??

[nickfrog]

rob.e said:

nickfrog said:

Thanks for posting the pic Rob, it looks great and very subtle, particularly in white. How did it drive ?

It's very, very good. Cup chassis is very firm but you could totally live with it as a daily, i prob wont go cup though as i do big miles. Carving through bends this thing is epic, combination of rear wheel steer and the diff it really fires round bends like you wouldn't believe. Sounds great, better than CTR which i found a bit flat noise-wise.

interior is better than i expected, very well built, good quality easily up with the germans

i'm making a decision between this and civic type R. I think money no object i'd prob go with the civic (bigger boot, more kids space in the rear) and the snick-snick gear change on the civic is lovely, better motor more revvy/blippy and more powerful. Civic in comfort mode is unbelievably comfortable for a car that has that level of performance/ handling. although i'm also mid-40's (ok, late 40s..) i really don't mind the civic looks - yes i'd prefer a spoiler-less option or the ability to spec 18" wheels in place of the monster 20s that will get kerbed but i'd not be put off.

... however, can't ignore the civic is 33 in gt spec (nav and park sensors) where renault is 27.5 and includes nav and rear park as standard. up-spec the renault with alcantara and cup (diff) so it's closer to the civic spec and the renault is still 3k cheaper. Personally i'm not bothered with adding either of these two options so it makes the renault significantly cheaper. If you're leasing it won't make much difference but i'm not.

Oh no. I have been trying to ignore the new Megane as I am almost financially ready for the M2. You're not helping as it would probably make more sense for track use than the M2 which will invariably be great for Ring trips but probably expensive in consumables vs the Meg on 18's. And allow me a new car rather than a 2 year old and having to pay for M extended warranty. I will have to reconsider particularly if the discounting starts...

[culpz]

nickfrog said:

rob.e said:

nickfrog said:

Thanks for posting the pic Rob, it looks great and very subtle, particularly in white. How did it drive ?

It's very, very good. Cup chassis is very firm but you could totally live with it as a daily, i prob wont go cup though as i do big miles. Carving through bends this thing is epic, combination of rear wheel steer and the diff it really fires round bends like you wouldn't believe. Sounds great, better than CTR which i found a bit flat noise-wise.

interior is better than i expected, very well built, good quality easily up with the germans

i'm making a decision between this and civic type R. I think money no object i'd prob go with the civic (bigger boot, more kids space in the rear) and the snick-snick gear change on the civic is lovely, better motor more revvy/blippy and more powerful. Civic in comfort mode is unbelievably comfortable for a car that has that level of performance/ handling. although i'm also mid-40's (ok, late 40s..) i really don't mind the civic looks - yes i'd prefer a spoiler-less option or the ability to spec 18" wheels in place of the monster 20s that will get kerbed but i'd not be put off.

... however, can't ignore the civic is 33 in gt spec (nav and park sensors) where renault is 27.5 and includes nav and rear park as standard. up-spec the renault with alcantara and cup (diff) so it's closer to the civic spec and the renault is still 3k cheaper. Personally i'm not bothered with adding either of these two options so it makes the renault significantly cheaper. If you're leasing it won't make much difference but i'm not.

Oh no. I have been trying to ignore the new Megane as I am almost financially ready for the M2. You're not helping as it would probably make more sense for track use than the M2 which will invariably be great for Ring trips but probably expensive in consumables vs the Meg on 18's. And allow me a new car rather than a 2 year old and having to pay for M extended warranty. I will have to reconsider particularly if the discounting starts...

The only thing that annoys me is that, if you want the EDC gearbox, which i probably would, you can't have the Cup pack with it. It seems that the Cup chassis and the extra bits that comes with it is only available on the manual version. So, with EDC, you'd have to settle for the Sport chassis only.

I'm not sure if this will change but it'd be nice to separate the two. I've just had a play on the online configurator.

[Butter Face]

culpz said:

The only thing that annoys me is that, if you want the EDC gearbox, which i probably would, you can't have the Cup pack with it. It seems that the Cup chassis and the extra bits that comes with it is only available on the manual version. So, with EDC, you'd have to settle for the Sport chassis only.

I'm not sure if this will change but it'd be nice to separate the two. I've just had a play on the online configurator.

It's because the Cup pack adds an LSD which Renault don't fit in their EDC boxes.

[culpz]

Butter Face said:

culpz said:

The only thing that annoys me is that, if you want the EDC gearbox, which i probably would, you can't have the Cup pack with it. It seems that the Cup chassis and the extra bits that comes with it is only available on the manual version. So, with EDC, you'd have to settle for the Sport chassis only.

I'm not sure if this will change but it'd be nice to separate the two. I've just had a play on the online configurator.

It's because the Cup pack adds an LSD which Renault don't fit in their EDC boxes.

Ah, i see. Thanks for the clarification. I presumed there'd be a genuine reason behind it.

[Jon_S_Rally]

rob.e said:

I was lucky enough to borrow one earlier this week, did about 150 miles or so in it and i have to say it was completely ignored by every other road user. A couple of the petrolheads in the office noticed it as soon as it was in the work car park but to joe public this car is completely invisible.

Megane R.S. by Rob E, on Flickr

I do love the arches on it. Actually quite subtle, but very purposeful. I am looking forward to driving one.

culpz said:

The only thing that annoys me is that, if you want the EDC gearbox, which i probably would, you can't have the Cup pack with it. It seems that the Cup chassis and the extra bits that comes with it is only available on the manual version. So, with EDC, you'd have to settle for the Sport chassis only.

I'm not sure if this will change but it'd be nice to separate the two. I've just had a play on the online configurator.

I am sure I read somewhere that the Cup pack will be available on EDC cars, but not immediately.

[Butter Face]

Jon_S_Rally said:

I am sure I read somewhere that the Cup pack will be available on EDC cars, but not immediately.

IIRC all that has been said to dealers is that it's not available 'yet' but we haven't had it confirmed for sure either way.

[Itsallicanafford]

That does look good in white...

I’m thinking seriously about getting a new mk4 EDC sport chassis car for the family hack and keeping the mk3 275 Cup-s for the track but is having 2 RS meganes a bit nuts??

[nickfrog]

Itsallicanafford said:

That does look good in white...

I’m thinking seriously about getting a new mk4 EDC sport chassis car for the family hack and keeping the mk3 275 Cup-s for the track but is having 2 RS meganes a bit nuts??

Probably not as your 275 is quite a slow depreciator now judging by Trophy prices (which it's identical to).

[Kosy]

That white one looks fantastic. Love the wheels, much nicer that the polished ones on the orange car.

[gigglebug]

rob.e said:

yes

manual
arctic white (metallic)
roof
cup chassis
bi-metal brakes
alcantara / heated seats
alcantara wheel
parking pack (camera)
19 black interlagos
bose
big screen

Its good to see it was specced with a roof. It's something that can be easily overlooked when ordering a car!