RE: Renault Megane RS Trophy on sale from ?31,810

[blearyeyedboy]

emperorburger said:

I'm not quite sure of the point you are making, but do you actually find the Honda so offensive in appearance that this would influence your purchasing decision were you in the market for either the Honda or Renault, regardless of how they drive?

Fair play to those who are fans of the Honda's looks, and there are plenty out there. But yes, I wouldn't buy a Civic Type R purely because of the way it looks. For me, it's like fashion: Some people can look good in skinny jeans, my lard ass powerfully built frame wouldn't. I would simply feel out of place parking up the Type R in my work car park, no matter how well it drives. That said, I think it's great we have a choice.

Those who like the heavily stylised and aggressive Type R look can have it.
Those who don't and like 4 wheel steer can have the Mégane.
Those who want a VAG car with a bigger boot can choose a variety of Seat, Skoda or VW flavours.
Those who want something softer can have a Peugeot or Hyundai.
Those who want a RWD car have the BMW 140i.

Ford and Mercedes Benz will soon have new toys for us to play with.

PHers are frankly spoilt for choice if a turbo hatch rings their bell. To paraphrase Macmillan, PHers have never had it so good. Arguing over who likes what styling or that people "hate" one car's styling misses the point; we should celebrate the fact that there's a choice for everyone.

I just have to wait for a Mégane to become cheap enough for me to buy second hand, now.

[ortontom]

Ah I remember when the humble Megane was just under £20k. At 31k its a bit costly and a 981 cayman or boxster second hand would be a better bet...

[Simon Owen]

I would agree that we are spoilt for choice these days .... a Renaultsport fan here But the Honda does look a cool package to me ... wheels aside !!! Why oh why did they fit 20” rims which many have proved to be a real pain in the arse on UK blacktop & would probably influence a purchase for me :-(

Given the engineering effort put in by Honda I cant believe they dont offer smaller wheels as an option, probably dont fit ?

[TartanPaint]

We are indeed spoiled for choice, and what a great addition to the line-up that Megane is!

10 years ago, if I told you we'd have a choice from a handful of 300bhp-ish hatchbacks, warrantied from the showroom, so well mannered that your granny could drive them to the bingo, all faster and more economical than a STi or Evo, would you have believed me?



I'll take a Golf R, please.




Estate.




In Liquid Yellow.

[vpr]

emperorburger said:

vpr said:

I think it’s worth any amount of money more than the Honda when the Honda is such a hideous looking thing.

Neither the Civic or Megane are ever going to be considered design classics and the sheep like hatred for the Civic is all a bit tiresome. When I bought a Subaru back in the day, it wasn't a decision based on looks.

Personally I don’t care and wasn’t aware the Civics looks are hated but this is my view. Not just because of the over the top mismatch of angles and heaps of fake plastics grills but because the wheels appear too small against the bulk. Wouldn’t care less if it was the fastest thing in the world. To my eyes at least I can’t even look at it.

[vpr]

I think if you want to compare the Renault with a Golf, compare it with the Clubsport S. That’d be my choice.

[SidewaysSi]

vpr said:

I think if you want to compare the Renault with a Golf, compare it with the Clubsport S. That’d be my choice.

Ah yes a 2 seater Golf. That makes very little sense to a lot of people.

I would rather an Elise or Caterham rather than a boring VW.

[Track_Cit]

SidewaysSi said:

vpr said:

I think if you want to compare the Renault with a Golf, compare it with the Clubsport S. That’d be my choice.

Ah yes a 2 seater Golf. That makes very little sense to a lot of people.

I would rather an Elise or Caterham rather than a boring VW.

I think the Golf GTI CSS is far from boring, and it's certainly not comparable to a Caterham as you can use it in all weathers. I have an Elise now coming from a Trophy R and the build is much better on the Megane same would be true with the Golf.

The normal clubsport comes with four/five seats and same doors if specced too.

[epom]

I really like the look of these, I see a black lower spec GT every morning and its a handsome thing. Those looks with Renault know how, sounds good to me.

(I'd probably buy and Edition 40 Golf though )

[SidewaysSi]

Track_Cit said:

SidewaysSi said:

vpr said:

I think if you want to compare the Renault with a Golf, compare it with the Clubsport S. That’d be my choice.

Ah yes a 2 seater Golf. That makes very little sense to a lot of people.

I would rather an Elise or Caterham rather than a boring VW.

I think the Golf GTI CSS is far from boring, and it's certainly not comparable to a Caterham as you can use it in all weathers. I have an Elise now coming from a Trophy R and the build is much better on the Megane same would be true with the Golf.

The normal clubsport comes with four/five seats and same doors if specced too.

Did you post on SELOC? Build is better from a quality of plastics angle but I have never had mechanical issues with the Lotus whatsoever.

Depends what you want but a Lotus /Caterham is a lot more fun. Without rear seats, hot hatches lose their appeal as the family/practical car

[vpr]

SidewaysSi said:

Ah yes a 2 seater Golf. That makes very little sense to a lot of people.

I would rather an Elise or Caterham rather than a boring VW.

Horses for courses I guess you’ve never driven one.

Would be my choice over am Elise or caterham all of which Ive owned.

[vpr]

double post

Edited by vpr on Tuesday 18th December 11:14

[SidewaysSi]

vpr said:

SidewaysSi said:

Ah yes a 2 seater Golf. That makes very little sense to a lot of people.

I would rather an Elise or Caterham rather than a boring VW.

Horses for courses I guess you’ve never driven one.

Would be my choice over am Elise or caterham all of which Ive owned.

I have driven one but for me I prefer RWD and a fun car with more interaction that the old VW. They make great shopping cars though.

[nickfrog]

ortontom said:

Ah I remember when the humble Megane was just under £20k. At 31k its a bit costly and a 981 cayman or boxster second hand would be a better bet...

When a Megane's list was £20k I reckon you could buy a new Boxster for £32k. But yes second hand cars tend to be cheaper than when they were new...

[WCZ]

crazy that the 0-60 is the same as a honda civic type r with 180hp from 20 years ago!

[nickfrog]

Or perhaps it's governed by off the line traction limitations. I am not convinced 0-60 is a really good metric for this car.

[Track_Cit]

SidewaysSi said:

Track_Cit said:

SidewaysSi said:

vpr said:

I think if you want to compare the Renault with a Golf, compare it with the Clubsport S. That’d be my choice.

Ah yes a 2 seater Golf. That makes very little sense to a lot of people.

I would rather an Elise or Caterham rather than a boring VW.

I think the Golf GTI CSS is far from boring, and it's certainly not comparable to a Caterham as you can use it in all weathers. I have an Elise now coming from a Trophy R and the build is much better on the Megane same would be true with the Golf.

The normal clubsport comes with four/five seats and same doors if specced too.

Did you post on SELOC? Build is better from a quality of plastics angle but I have never had mechanical issues with the Lotus whatsoever.

Depends what you want but a Lotus /Caterham is a lot more fun. Without rear seats, hot hatches lose their appeal as the family/practical car

Hiya, yes I do post on SELOC

I've never had mechanical trouble with any of the numerous Renaults i've owned...perhaps i've been lucky, either that or they aren't as poor as people say, and / or they have improved their build quality in recent years. Saying that I have a 10 year old Clio which I use daily and it's never let me down either (touch wood!)

I agree to a point that a Lotus is more fun, however, they rattle a lot more and the general annoyances of living with such an extreme car means they cannot reasonably be compared to a hot hatch like a Meg or a Golf. Despite being 2 seaters they are both more useable on a day to day basis. Anyway you can buy a four seater Megane Trophy and a four seater Golf GTI Clubsport, both of which are still fantastic cars.

My Trophy R was phenomenal, and whilst the Lotus is more raw I wouldn't say it's LOADS more fun. Maybe a little, but its's not night and day. It's just not that much faster really. It certainly looks a lot more purposeful but on a B road it wouldn't out run a Megane Trophy R, I can guarantee that, it's a ferociously fast car. If I could have stretched to an S3 Exige perhaps that would have been different, however, the new breed of hot hatches offer mega power and usability.

Unless you have driven the Clubsport / Clusport S / Trophy R, I don't feel that you can comment objectibly as they are very different cars to the regular models, despite being 'the same'.

Edited by Track_Cit on Tuesday 18th December 13:13

[Track_Cit]

WCZ said:

crazy that the 0-60 is the same as a honda civic type r with 180hp from 20 years ago!

It is! However 0-60 doesn't mean jack these days as it's all about the mid range power and acceleration through the gears, as this is what you actually use in real world driving.

[SidewaysSi]

Track_Cit said:

SidewaysSi said:

Track_Cit said:

SidewaysSi said:

vpr said:

I think if you want to compare the Renault with a Golf, compare it with the Clubsport S. That’d be my choice.

Ah yes a 2 seater Golf. That makes very little sense to a lot of people.

I would rather an Elise or Caterham rather than a boring VW.

I think the Golf GTI CSS is far from boring, and it's certainly not comparable to a Caterham as you can use it in all weathers. I have an Elise now coming from a Trophy R and the build is much better on the Megane same would be true with the Golf.

The normal clubsport comes with four/five seats and same doors if specced too.

Did you post on SELOC? Build is better from a quality of plastics angle but I have never had mechanical issues with the Lotus whatsoever.

Depends what you want but a Lotus /Caterham is a lot more fun. Without rear seats, hot hatches lose their appeal as the family/practical car

Hiya, yes I do post on SELOC

I've never had mechanical trouble with any of the numerous Renaults i've owned...perhaps i've been lucky, either that or they aren't as poor as people say, and / or they have improved their build quality in recent years. Saying that I have a 10 year old Clio which I use daily and it's never let me down either (touch wood!)

I agree to a point that a Lotus is more fun, however, they rattle a lot more and the general annoyances of living with such an extreme car means they cannot reasonably be compared to a hot hatch like a Meg or a Golf. Despite being 2 seaters they are both more useable on a day to day basis. Anyway you can buy a four seater Megane Trophy and a four seater Golf GTI Clubsport, both of which are still fantastic cars.

My Trophy R was phenomenal, and whilst the Lotus is more raw I wouldn't say it's LOADS more fun. Maybe a little, but its's not night and day. It's just not that much faster really. It certainly looks a lot more purposeful but on a B road it wouldn't out run a Megane Trophy R, I can guarantee that, it's a ferociously fast car. If I could have stretched to an S3 Exige perhaps that would have been different, however, the new breed of hot hatches offer mega power and usability.

Unless you have driven the Clubsport / Clusport S / Trophy R, I don't feel that you can comment objectibly as they are very different cars to the regular models, despite being 'the same'.

Edited by Track_Cit on Tuesday 18th December 13:13

All comes down to what you want and look for in a car. I value feel and interaction above raw speed hence a penchant for Lotus and Caterhams. And outrunning other cars is of little consequence. A very sideways Caterham at 20mph can be a bit of a handful. As you watch a Golf TDI disappear into the distance..

I have driven a Meg R and a R26R and thought they were great but wouldn't swap a true lightweight for one. Yes they are more practical but having lost the rear seats means you lose a large chunk of practicality. Easy to see out of and park though.

[jakesmith]

ortontom said:

Ah I remember when the humble Megane was just under £20k. At 31k its a bit costly and a 981 cayman or boxster second hand would be a better bet...

It's just as well there are people out there prepared to buy new or the second hand car market, in fact the entire car market, would end