RE: Honda Civic Type R vs. Renault Megane 300 Trophy
Discussion
moonigan said:
The standard seats on the Megane are good but yes the Recaros and paint would be the only things I would choose. That said the real world discounted prices would make the Megane a cheaper option. I really like both cars and I would agree the Honda just edges the Megane on driving but having just joined the 50+ brigade I don't think I could live with the looks of the Honda and everyone around me agrees. I also find the profile of the tyres on the Honda too kerb/pothole friendly. That said I found the Megane Trophy a little too civilised so have opted for the Trophy R 
Are the new R’s available to order, can’t see anything online.Matt Bird said:
Butter Face said:
PH said:
hat the Honda is the cheaper car here by £2,000 secures the Civic - you guessed it - yet another twin test victory.
SPECIFICATION - RENAULT SPORT MEGANE 300 TROPHY
Price: £31,835 (price as standard; as tested £36,085
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R GT
Price: £33,525 (price as standard; as tested £34,050,
SPECIFICATION - RENAULT SPORT MEGANE 300 TROPHY
Price: £31,835 (price as standard; as tested £36,085
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R GT
Price: £33,525 (price as standard; as tested £34,050,
Matt
philmots said:
moonigan said:
The standard seats on the Megane are good but yes the Recaros and paint would be the only things I would choose. That said the real world discounted prices would make the Megane a cheaper option. I really like both cars and I would agree the Honda just edges the Megane on driving but having just joined the 50+ brigade I don't think I could live with the looks of the Honda and everyone around me agrees. I also find the profile of the tyres on the Honda too kerb/pothole friendly. That said I found the Megane Trophy a little too civilised so have opted for the Trophy R
Are the new R’s available to order, can’t see anything online.Matt Bird said:
Elatino1 said:
I'm sure these articles are written just to stir up controversy.
Even if they are slower and a smidge less sharp personally I'd still take a Megane, Focus RS or i30N and maybe even a Golf R (perhaps a closer call for me) over the FK8. They all have their own talents and USP over a civic and the FK8 is uglier than all of them.
No controversy intended, Civic just very good! Old Meg might be an interesting comparison...Even if they are slower and a smidge less sharp personally I'd still take a Megane, Focus RS or i30N and maybe even a Golf R (perhaps a closer call for me) over the FK8. They all have their own talents and USP over a civic and the FK8 is uglier than all of them.
You know what to do...
TomTVR500 said:
Now that would be a very interesting read for me (not that this article wasn't) as the proud owner of a previous model Megane 275 Trophy. I'm very tempted to swap it next year for an FK8 Type R but I'm not sure, having never driven an FK8, if it would have the feel and subjective sense of agility over a stretch of B-road that I enjoy so much in the Megane.
You know what to do...
I owned a 275 Cup s for a while. No, the Civic doesn’t feel as raw or playful or up on its tiptoes. It’s infinitely faster, more accurate, more planted and more grown up and it puts its power down much cleaner but it’s a bigger, heavier, more serious car than your trophy. Depends if you want more of the same (if so, keep it) or something more mature and usable.You know what to do...
People are as likely to buy the £31,835 Mégane as they are the £31,525 non-GT Civic. The Trophy is decent value compared to the regular RS because it includes some upgrades as standard, but paint and especially seats are going to expensive options being ticked for most buyers. Discounts on the Mégane aren’t as good as on a 1.5dci and residuals probably not as good as the Civic.
I think calling the Honda cheaper is justified.
I think calling the Honda cheaper is justified.
Matt Bird: For those of us who aren't fans of Liquid Yellow, phat stereos but might stretch to Recaros... Would it change your conclusion?
Or to put it another way, if one were to secure a decent discount on the Renault, or if cost went a factor, would it change your mind about which was the better car?
Or to put it another way, if one were to secure a decent discount on the Renault, or if cost went a factor, would it change your mind about which was the better car?
blearyeyedboy said:
Matt Bird: For those of us who aren't fans of Liquid Yellow, phat stereos but might stretch to Recaros... Would it change your conclusion?
Or to put it another way, if one were to secure a decent discount on the Renault, or if cost went a factor, would it change your mind about which was the better car?
Ok I’m not Matt Bird, but a standard Civic is still a fraction cheaper. I don’t think price as the deciding factor either.Or to put it another way, if one were to secure a decent discount on the Renault, or if cost went a factor, would it change your mind about which was the better car?
I personally weighed both these cars up and went with the Civic. I do strongly consider price too. I had an M140i largely because of how attractive the deals are.
Fair review
I was considering either one of these cars and actually found better carwow discount on the Megane so it’s really down to which combination of styling vs dynamics you prefer. Both are great cars.
I couldn’t decide which to go for so got the best of both worlds and saved a fortune by getting a used 275 Trophy instead!
I was considering either one of these cars and actually found better carwow discount on the Megane so it’s really down to which combination of styling vs dynamics you prefer. Both are great cars.
I couldn’t decide which to go for so got the best of both worlds and saved a fortune by getting a used 275 Trophy instead!
Butter Face said:
No.
Correct. These are not GT4s though so demand rarely outstrips supply and whilst nothing in life is guaranteed I’ve been told if I place a deposit in August when details are released then I have a very good chance of getting one. When it would be delivered is an altogether different thing though. I'm a die hard Renaultsport fan and am fortunate to own a Megane 275 Cup-S. I think the new Megane 280/300 looks the part but the Civic is clearly a class act, it's also been available for over 2 years now! My partner has a New Civic diesel and even that is a pleasure to drive. If I was looking for a new car these two would be top of my list but I'd probably swing towards Civic, so practical too.
I wish Honda would do for the CTR what Ford did for the Escort Cosworth and offer a no-cost 'aero delete' option to tone the styling down a bit. The CTR is a brilliant car, but even as someone who places styling pretty low on the list of priorities, I just couldn't live with the looks. The problem with attracting attention is that not all of it is good.
Limpet said:
I wish Honda would do for the CTR what Ford did for the Escort Cosworth and offer a no-cost 'aero delete' option to tone the styling down a bit. The CTR is a brilliant car, but even as someone who places styling pretty low on the list of priorities, I just couldn't live with the looks. The problem with attracting attention is that not all of it is good.
I'm sure a "I'll swap your boggo spoiler for my CTR Wing + Cash my way (for labour if so needed)" would work 
blearyeyedboy said:
Matt Bird: For those of us who aren't fans of Liquid Yellow, phat stereos but might stretch to Recaros... Would it change your conclusion?
Or to put it another way, if one were to secure a decent discount on the Renault, or if cost went a factor, would it change your mind about which was the better car?
That's what I did. But I went one further. I bought a "280 Trophy" in flat white on 18s. I know it doesn't exist but apart from the 20-hp and the louder soundtrack which are both of no value to me, a Cup 280 is a Trophy minus 20hp and more crucially it's on 18s (can't find decent track rubber in 245 35 19...) as also think it's the dynamic sweetspot for a trackable daily, and the discs will be far cheaper to replace...Or to put it another way, if one were to secure a decent discount on the Renault, or if cost went a factor, would it change your mind about which was the better car?
While the Recaros were non-negotiable on the MK3, the new std seats are actually as good a proposition.
I might regret the delta in depreciation though as people still think a Trophy drives differently compared to a Cup...
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