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

[Track_Cit]

SidewaysSi said:

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.

I can appreciate your point of view but I am talking about fun factor. You get plenty of feel in a fast Meg, maybe not so much as a Lotus but you're comparing two very different cars. What is practical about a Lotus? I've owned and lived with all of these cars in question (with exception of the golf) so my thoughts are based on experience. You aren't going to go out driving a Caterham in the rain are you, whereas you could in any of the aforementioned hot hatches.

[vpr]

SidewaysSi said:

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.

Exactly, great shopping cars but also a quick road car and a sorted car for track too, perfect in my eyes.

[nickfrog]

jakesmith said:

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

True Jake although if I have to think of a second hand alternative, the M2 at the same money seems very tempting. It's the exact nice problem that I have...

[jakesmith]

nickfrog said:

True Jake although if I have to think of a second hand alternative, the M2 at the same money seems very tempting. It's the exact nice problem that I have...

The thing is the list price is usually heavily discounted, the car comes with a 3 year warranty that is longer & usually better than the warranty that comes with a used car, the car can be optioned & specified to the buyer's desire, the car is likely to have a longer period before anything needs spending on it at all, many buyers are fleets who only buy new, and many private buyers like the idea of no-one having used their car before them. These things all add value to some buyers. Not myself of course, but they are never taken into consideration from the tedious folk on here who say £32k for a Golf? I'd rather an 11 year old 90,000 miles R8' or whatever stupid comparison they make

[blearyeyedboy]

Are there any chassis/suspension/damper differences to the standard car with a Cup chassis?

[Simon Owen]

Some interesting comments about the Mégane in eCOTY this year !!

[CABC]

vpr said:

SidewaysSi said:

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.

Exactly, great shopping cars but also a quick road car and a sorted car for track too, perfect in my eyes.

these cars are complementary.

also, modern hot hatches aren't as much fun as older ones, purely because of weight. they're much better all round and now deliver the comfort and engagement of the older M3s. they're great cars but are a different segment to the 90s hatch.

[epom]

Simon Owen said:

Some interesting comments about the Mégane in eCOTY this year !!

Oh is that due ? Excellent.....

[Track_Cit]

epom said:

Simon Owen said:

Some interesting comments about the Mégane in eCOTY this year !!

Oh is that due ? Excellent.....

Do elaborate!

[framerateuk]

blearyeyedboy said:

Are there any chassis/suspension/damper differences to the standard car with a Cup chassis?

Nah the chassis setup is the same.

[blearyeyedboy]

framerateuk said:

blearyeyedboy said:

Are there any chassis/suspension/damper differences to the standard car with a Cup chassis?

Nah the chassis setup is the same.

So other than trinkets, funky wheels, bimetallic brakes and a modest power output that would be of negligible difference on a road, what's special about this Trophy?

No meaning to be a naysayer- I quite fancy the Mégane Mk4 RS- by I struggle to conceive why this is worth shelling out extra for compared to the base car.