RE: Renault Sport Megane 280 vs. Hyundai i30 N

[burger81]

Surely these will drop in price like mentioned earlier about the i30N being around 24k new now.
Give it a year to 18 months and these will be a bargain I'm sure.

I love the looks, I think it's easily the best looked out of all the other 5 door hot hatches.

Do these still have the weird credit card style key fobs?

[nickfrog]

burger81 said:

Surely these will drop in price like mentioned earlier about the i30N being around 24k new now.
Give it a year to 18 months and these will be a bargain I'm sure.

I love the looks, I think it's easily the best looked out of all the other 5 door hot hatches.

Do these still have the weird credit card style key fobs?

Megane RS have traditionally held their money very well in relation to transaction prices.

[Ahbefive]

yonex said:

More of a commentary about your total lack of social skills and downright rudeness

Coming from you. Hilarious. Why do you stalk me in every thread? Really very odd, you must have something better to do? Go and follow someone else about like a lost little puppy, I'm not interested.

[Track_Cit]

I don't really understand the grumbling about the interior on the new Meg, ok it's not quite as plush as the civic or Golf but it looks smart and tidy to my eyes. I think they could've used slightly more special seats, perhaps they will on the Trophy version, who knows. Besides, people who are looking to buy this car will be concerned about it's performance and handling as a primary buying point, which in my mind is more important than it's interior quality. This is secondary to it's exterior styling and performance in my opinion. I think it's looks great externally. It's aggressive but not childish. The civic may be a better car but I could not live with those looks, and I have a car with red stripes on it!!

I own a mk3 Megane RS and I think the interior is lovely. It's simple and clean lined, and looks smart, whereas many other modern hatches are cluttered and use that shiny black plastic which looks shocking after a week of use from dust build up etc.

Really looking forward to the Trophy version. I've owned a plethora of hot hatches and while some were faster than the numerous Renault Sports I've owned, the difference with a 'sporty' Renault is it's ability to carry speed in a controlled fashion on a B road, it really is quite special. Ohlins only serve to enhance this quality further, and means you can cover ground mind-bendingly quick. It is great fun though!

PS: I really like the look of the FRS, I just wasn't overly impressed when I drove one...

[loose cannon]

My complaint about the dash is the screen not the quality, I’m not interested in huge screens in cars but unfortunately there here to stay, it doesn’t matter what badge is on the bonnet, I don’t like huge screens in cars but I’m in the minority as that’s what people want,
And yes I don’t find my mk3 interior poor
Thanks for the pictures butter face

[Butter Face]

loose cannon said:

My complaint about the dash is the screen not the quality, I’m not interested in huge screens in cars but unfortunately there here to stay, it doesn’t matter what badge is on the bonnet, I don’t like huge screens in cars but I’m in the minority as that’s what people want,
And yes I don’t find my mk3 interior poor
Thanks for the pictures butter face

The larger 8.7” screen is an option, as standard it’s a much smaller 7” screen.

[loose cannon]

If there was an option for no screen and no sat nav it would be the box I would tick,
Just as I did with my 250 I just don’t want them

[Track_Cit]

loose cannon said:

If there was an option for no screen and no sat nav it would be the box I would tick,
Just as I did with my 250 I just don’t want them

Sadly you'd be in the minority I would guess, hence the lack of option on it! The screen does look a little clumsy I agree, but at the end of the day I'd argue that most people after a hot hatch don't care too much about the mod cons, and it's pure driving pleasure they seek. The Infotainment system in my Mk3 is laggy and annoying at times but it works well otherwise, and I am not thinking about that when I'm at full chat on a b road roaring through the gears, in fact I sometimes switch it off to enjoy the car / noise at it's full potential

[DanielSan]

Ahbefive said:

Focus RS also has 5 year warranty, the engine problems are sorted now too so it is very reliable. It's one of the most stand out hot hatches out there.

What about the others I listed? Or the m140i or Audi S3? It's only really the Civic that is more aesthetically outrageous than the RS imo and that looks like a dogs dinner.

One big advantage with the Hyundai, it’s warranty also covers track day use.

[Ahbefive]

DanielSan said:

One big advantage with the Hyundai, it’s warranty also covers track day use.

That's very good if it's actually stipulated. On the other hand how many people tell a dealer if they have used a car on track?

Has anyones warranty been voided from driving on track?

[Ajax Treesdown]

Ahbefive said:

That's very good if it's actually stipulated. On the other hand how many people tell a dealer if they have used a car on track?

Has anyones warranty been voided from driving on track?

I have the Hyundai and its stipulated in the warranty documentation that you are covered for one track day per year for the full 5 year warranty.

[nickfrog]

Which probably mean as many as you want if you blank the plates! That's great.

[W12JFD]

Ajax Treesdown said:

I have the Hyundai and its stipulated in the warranty documentation that you are covered for one track day per year for the full 5 year warranty.

That’s bloody impressive given that Porsche no longer warranty their cars for track! Neither do BMW or Ferrari for that matter.

[Pommy]

W12JFD said:

Ajax Treesdown said:

I have the Hyundai and its stipulated in the warranty documentation that you are covered for one track day per year for the full 5 year warranty.

That’s bloody impressive given that Porsche no longer warranty their cars for track! Neither do BMW or Ferrari for that matter.

Yeah that GPS everyone has now, great at tracking coordinates and speed - pretty easy to clarify if a track day occurred more than once if it goes in for a claim

[The Voice]

Track_Cit said:

but at the end of the day I'd argue that most people after a hot hatch don't care too much about the mod cons

I’d disagree with that.

A hot hatch isn’t a Caterham - it’s a ‘jack of all trades’ car which combines serious pace and handling with everyday usability - which includes interior quality and ‘mod cons’.

When buying hot hatches, performance and chassis have always been at the top of my priority list - but it also needs to work as an everyday car driving to and from the office, up and down the motorway when required, so usability and interior ergonomics are important too.

[nickfrog]

Pommy said:

Yeah that GPS everyone has now, great at tracking coordinates and speed - pretty easy to clarify if a track day occurred more than once if it goes in for a claim

I didn't think of that. Is it that easy though ? Does the satnav or GPS keep track of every single mile the car has driven ? And if so would a dealer actually be allowed to access that data ?

[SidewaysSi]

The Voice said:

Track_Cit said:

but at the end of the day I'd argue that most people after a hot hatch don't care too much about the mod cons

I’d disagree with that.

A hot hatch isn’t a Caterham - it’s a ‘jack of all trades’ car which combines serious pace and handling with everyday usability - which includes interior quality and ‘mod cons’.

When buying hot hatches, performance and chassis have always been at the top of my priority list - but it also needs to work as an everyday car driving to and from the office, up and down the motorway when required, so usability and interior ergonomics are important too.

Agree. Hot hatches have become quick but they aren't hardcore road racers so need to work on many levels and is one reason why I wouldn't want a 3 door one as I don't see the point.

If I were to buy one, it would serve as the family shuttle so will be used to go shopping, be dumped at the station and filled for a weekend away.

Having a reasonable spec to allow this without too many compromises is important.

It may do the very odd track day if I wanted to see what it was like over the limit but that's probably as far as it would go to be honest.

[Track_Cit]

SidewaysSi said:

The Voice said:

Track_Cit said:

but at the end of the day I'd argue that most people after a hot hatch don't care too much about the mod cons

I’d disagree with that.

A hot hatch isn’t a Caterham - it’s a ‘jack of all trades’ car which combines serious pace and handling with everyday usability - which includes interior quality and ‘mod cons’.

When buying hot hatches, performance and chassis have always been at the top of my priority list - but it also needs to work as an everyday car driving to and from the office, up and down the motorway when required, so usability and interior ergonomics are important too.

Agree. Hot hatches have become quick but they aren't hardcore road racers so need to work on many levels and is one reason why I wouldn't want a 3 door one as I don't see the point.

If I were to buy one, it would serve as the family shuttle so will be used to go shopping, be dumped at the station and filled for a weekend away.

Having a reasonable spec to allow this without too many compromises is important.

It may do the very odd track day if I wanted to see what it was like over the limit but that's probably as far as it would go to be honest.

The point being it would be secondary to performance, that's not to say it wouldn't be of consideration but as a priority it's not something that would make or break the sale. Say for example the radio wasn't great, but there was one at least, that's where I'm coming from!

[Pommy]

Track_Cit said:

SidewaysSi said:

The Voice said:

Track_Cit said:

but at the end of the day I'd argue that most people after a hot hatch don't care too much about the mod cons

I’d disagree with that.

A hot hatch isn’t a Caterham - it’s a ‘jack of all trades’ car which combines serious pace and handling with everyday usability - which includes interior quality and ‘mod cons’.

When buying hot hatches, performance and chassis have always been at the top of my priority list - but it also needs to work as an everyday car driving to and from the office, up and down the motorway when required, so usability and interior ergonomics are important too.

Agree. Hot hatches have become quick but they aren't hardcore road racers so need to work on many levels and is one reason why I wouldn't want a 3 door one as I don't see the point.

If I were to buy one, it would serve as the family shuttle so will be used to go shopping, be dumped at the station and filled for a weekend away.

Having a reasonable spec to allow this without too many compromises is important.

It may do the very odd track day if I wanted to see what it was like over the limit but that's probably as far as it would go to be honest.

The point being it would be secondary to performance, that's not to say it wouldn't be of consideration but as a priority it's not something that would make or break the sale. Say for example the radio wasn't great, but there was one at least, that's where I'm coming from!

Im with the others here and say that equipment and quality thereof is at least, if not more, important than performance to hit hatch buyers now.

For example theres a reason numerous Megane RS versions didnt outsell the Golf GTI and its ilk. More people want auto and lots of kit, not a stripped bare track special. Some read great in EVO but in reality not so much on a crappy weds morning in february commuting to work.

[nickfrog]

A non-Cup version of the RS is fairly commute friendly but the 3 door only might be a key reason for the low numbers. The new version should sell well.