RE: Megane Trophy-R = £72k
Discussion
D7Cup said:
BIG Renault Sport fan here (bar latest gen products) and not the one to moan about prices of modern cars. However, this IS nuts so let's get this out of the way first.
I of course appreciate that it couldn't have been cheaper than a ballpark £70k for the parts alone (iirc a wheel each cost around £4.5k) - but that doesn't really make it reasonable. The exotic parts is a marketing exercise and Renault is probably going to be selling/sold these cars at a loss, but how about the "normal" spec new Trophy-R?
4 years ago, the previous gen Trophy-R was a bit shy of £40k with fancy exhaust, seats, brakes, lighter wheels, sticky rubber and of course ohlins suspension but people would still moan - unfairly so. That car was/is an absolute machine and better/more enjoy-full to drive than many focused mid engined RWD cars...And you can now get your hands on one for around £25k, which is too much car for the money IMO.
The new one without the fancy ceramics and CF wheels is over £51k and I can't simply figure out why in all honesty. They chopped the rear steer so a few good savings there, they offer the same brakes as the normal trophy and in all essence they add after market parts as they did on the previous gen car. A bit of development for the aero but again that alone can not justify the >£15k pricetag of the normal Trophy300.
Unless I'm missing something?
being pedantic - it was 36k, and the cheapest i can find for sale now is 27k. That's still a very impressive residual for likely the least loved of the now 3 batsI of course appreciate that it couldn't have been cheaper than a ballpark £70k for the parts alone (iirc a wheel each cost around £4.5k) - but that doesn't really make it reasonable. The exotic parts is a marketing exercise and Renault is probably going to be selling/sold these cars at a loss, but how about the "normal" spec new Trophy-R?
4 years ago, the previous gen Trophy-R was a bit shy of £40k with fancy exhaust, seats, brakes, lighter wheels, sticky rubber and of course ohlins suspension but people would still moan - unfairly so. That car was/is an absolute machine and better/more enjoy-full to drive than many focused mid engined RWD cars...And you can now get your hands on one for around £25k, which is too much car for the money IMO.
The new one without the fancy ceramics and CF wheels is over £51k and I can't simply figure out why in all honesty. They chopped the rear steer so a few good savings there, they offer the same brakes as the normal trophy and in all essence they add after market parts as they did on the previous gen car. A bit of development for the aero but again that alone can not justify the >£15k pricetag of the normal Trophy300.
Unless I'm missing something?
t crazy Meganes...I was speccing normal Trophy 300s tonight and you can easily get them past 38k fully loaded.
52k for the base model though agree seems about 3-4k too steep, but not too crazy for what it is. Not that i think they'll make anything other than a loss on even the fully loaded version..
Panjy said:
£72k for a hot hatch 
I thought the world had gone mad when the A45 & RS3 pricing came out, this makes them look like a bargain.
How? The A45 isn't really doing anything the Focus RS didn't do a few years ago in terms of chassis technology, but it's a massive amount more money. Both the cars you mention will depreciate more than the Megane, are just series production cars and will largely be forgotten in 20 years. They're not really in the same segment in reality.I thought the world had gone mad when the A45 & RS3 pricing came out, this makes them look like a bargain.
Ian974 said:
The sum of its additional parts may be fair, but while it may have made its point for Renault by taking the record, there cannot be any other point in it?
Does there need to be any other point?Chestrockwell said:
You’re bang on there, yes it’s 70k but it’s only 4 secs quicker than the previous record holder. It’s not like it’s 15 seconds quicker and as quick as some interesting sports cars...even if it was, you wouldn’t have the advantage of rear seats!
It’s a PR stunt, a poorly executed one as the lap time will be beaten before the end of 2020.
By what? Another Civic Type-R that is nothing like a production car? It’s a PR stunt, a poorly executed one as the lap time will be beaten before the end of 2020.
You're right about it being a PR stunt of course, but does it even matter if it's beaten in 12 months? If Renault have sold more regular Meganes because of this, do you really think they'll care?
D7Cup said:
...A bit of development for the aero...
Unless I'm missing something?
How much do you think that "bit of development" might have cost, when you factor in modelling time, track testing time, driver, engineers, logistics etc etc etc?Unless I'm missing something?
Factor that for the wheels, suspension changes and everything else and I think it's very easy to see where the money has gone.
MiseryStreak said:
The only thing better than this car is the keyboard bashing rage it induces in muppets who can’t comprehend a Renault costing more than their favourite German yawnbox, when they have never even bought a new car, and never will.
They will sell all 500, and at a loss. It’s a marketing exercise FFS.
Good job Renault, as always. But the decals suck, as always.
This. 100% this.They will sell all 500, and at a loss. It’s a marketing exercise FFS.
Good job Renault, as always. But the decals suck, as always.
This thread (and plenty of others actually) show just how staggeringly ridiculous this forum is in many ways. Of all the car forums in the world, you'd think this one would be filled with people who totally get this car.
For what is supposed to be a forum for people who are genuinely passionate about cars and all things performance motoring, it's incredible how so many members have zero idea about how much effort/cost goes into development and what marketing is.
Reciprocating mass said:
shame nobody else has balls to build stuff like it
And that alone makes Renault a hero moniker in my eyes, there back catalogue of hot hatches
Is simply in another league compared to any other manufacturer
Plenty of cars out there doing the same thing just off the top of my head:And that alone makes Renault a hero moniker in my eyes, there back catalogue of hot hatches
Is simply in another league compared to any other manufacturer
Abarth 695 Biposto
Toyota Yaris GRMN
Mini GP
People can be passionate about cars and still have an opinion on a £70k Megane. I understand the sentiment, and agree it is a special car, but you can’t realistically expect people not to pass comment when it costs practically double that of the already top-of-the-range next most expensive model. It doesn’t mean everyone dislikes the car in isolation.
Personally I think it just shows how ridiculous chasing ring times in road cars is, when the car used is not representative of the one that people will buy. But that’s just my opinion and I still like the car.
Personally I think it just shows how ridiculous chasing ring times in road cars is, when the car used is not representative of the one that people will buy. But that’s just my opinion and I still like the car.
Edited by Kenny Powers on Thursday 1st August 09:28
Reminds me of those houses on Rightmove that have been done up to an incredibly high standard - all Smeg this and marble that. Then you see the outside and realise it's on a grotty street in a grotty part of a grotty town. Yes, the house has had masses spent on it and it fitted with high-quality parts, but that doesn't necessarily mean the house is worth the sum of its parts.
Another analogy; that car for sale that's had £20k of modifications fitted but is still only worth £5k.
I don't deny that all those parts add up to a car that costs £50-70k, but is the car *worth* that amount..?
Another analogy; that car for sale that's had £20k of modifications fitted but is still only worth £5k.
I don't deny that all those parts add up to a car that costs £50-70k, but is the car *worth* that amount..?
With a mere 296 brake-horse-power available, progress is too leisurely to be called fast, but on the motorway in fifth gear, the Megane’s slow pace really becomes a pain. Uphill runs become power-sappingly mundane, while overtaking National Express coaches can become a long, drawn-out affair.
kmpowell said:
With a mere 296 brake-horse-power available, progress is too leisurely to be called fast, but on the motorway in fifth gear, the Megane’s slow pace really becomes a pain. Uphill runs become power-sappingly mundane, while overtaking National Express coaches can become a long, drawn-out affair.
Partridge? 
Kenny Powers said:
People can be passionate about cars and still have an opinion on a £70k Megane. I understand the sentiment, and agree it is a special car, but you can’t realistically expect people not to pass comment when it costs practically double that of the already top-of-the-range next most expensive model.
True but that's more of a reflection of most people's lack of understanding of what it takes to make a new road car truly track capable. Renault have arguably built some of the greatest hot hatches of all time. I've had a few of them and currently own a Twingo RS as a daily drive and a Porsche Boxster S as a weekender.
I do believe that Renault should be applauded for building this machine but the big sticking point for me is not the price. It's the fact that it has five doors. If I had a spare 75k to spend, no matter how epic it is to drive, I just couldn't buy a hot hatch with five doors. Hot hatches should always be three doors, why this trend to go to five escapes me. It spoils the look and the aggressiveness of said machines. Three door hatchbacks always look better than their five door counterparts IMO. Same with the Civic Type R et al!! Maybe its because the cars are now so expensive, only 30+ individuals with kids can afford them. Years ago it was generally single people that bought these cars as they weren't that expensive.
So coming back to the Megane Trophy R, it looks totally ridicules with five doors IMO, two that are now completely redundant.
I do believe that Renault should be applauded for building this machine but the big sticking point for me is not the price. It's the fact that it has five doors. If I had a spare 75k to spend, no matter how epic it is to drive, I just couldn't buy a hot hatch with five doors. Hot hatches should always be three doors, why this trend to go to five escapes me. It spoils the look and the aggressiveness of said machines. Three door hatchbacks always look better than their five door counterparts IMO. Same with the Civic Type R et al!! Maybe its because the cars are now so expensive, only 30+ individuals with kids can afford them. Years ago it was generally single people that bought these cars as they weren't that expensive.
So coming back to the Megane Trophy R, it looks totally ridicules with five doors IMO, two that are now completely redundant.
I remember when dealers had R26.R's in stock and the discounts were simply staggering. I went to view three or maybe four at my local Renault dealer at the end of the run. It's easy to say "oh but they'll appreciate" but both these and V6 Clios were very hard to sell new at anything like RRP at the time. £72k is simply bonkers. Justify it however you want but there is simply no way that they will sell these at this price even with anticipation of future classic status. Has Renault ever sold out a limited series of cars at retail price. Not the Sport Spider, nor the two V6 Clio editions nor the R26R in my limited experience. This will clearly be the same.
kmpowell said:
With a mere 296 brake-horse-power available, progress is too leisurely to be called fast, but on the motorway in fifth gear, the Megane’s slow pace really becomes a pain. Uphill runs become power-sappingly mundane, while overtaking National Express coaches can become a long, drawn-out affair.
At least it's not a Mini-MetroMacboy said:
I remember when dealers had R26.R's in stock and the discounts were simply staggering. I went to view three or maybe four at my local Renault dealer at the end of the run. It's easy to say "oh but they'll appreciate" but both these and V6 Clios were very hard to sell new at anything like RRP at the time. £72k is simply bonkers. Justify it however you want but there is simply no way that they will sell these at this price even with anticipation of future classic status. Has Renault ever sold out a limited series of cars at retail price. Not the Sport Spider, nor the two V6 Clio editions nor the R26R in my limited experience. This will clearly be the same.
Difficult to say. I am not sure if those limited runs were as small as 32. And it doesn't have to be £72k as you can buy one for £51k before discounts, if any. 
D7Cup said:
4 years ago, the previous gen Trophy-R was a bit shy of £40k with fancy exhaust, seats, brakes, lighter wheels, sticky rubber and of course ohlins suspension but people would still moan - unfairly so. That car was/is an absolute machine and better/more enjoy-full to drive than many focused mid engined RWD cars...And you can now get your hands on one for around £25k, which is too much car for the money IMO.
The new one without the fancy ceramics and CF wheels is over £51k and I can't simply figure out why in all honesty. They chopped the rear steer so a few good savings there, they offer the same brakes as the normal trophy and in all essence they add after market parts as they did on the previous gen car. A bit of development for the aero but again that alone can not justify the >£15k pricetag of the normal Trophy300.
Unless I'm missing something?
As a RS fan I love that they are still doing mad cars like this. I bet it's fantastic to drive. I gulped at the price but that's because the headline price was the £72k with carbon wheels which I don't know much about. If it was headlined at £51k then I would have thought that is strong money but it is the ultimate FWD hot hatch so fair enough.The new one without the fancy ceramics and CF wheels is over £51k and I can't simply figure out why in all honesty. They chopped the rear steer so a few good savings there, they offer the same brakes as the normal trophy and in all essence they add after market parts as they did on the previous gen car. A bit of development for the aero but again that alone can not justify the >£15k pricetag of the normal Trophy300.
Unless I'm missing something?
In response to above comparing it to the 2015 car. One thing you missed is the Euro exchange rate in 2015 was 1.4 to GBP not the 1.1 it is now so that is 25% different.
It's why importers are having to raise prices and sales are declining in the UK.
Renault UK HQ has lost a quarter of its staff in the last 2 years as any profit they used to make has been wiped out by the exchange rate collapse.
Edited by GPH on Thursday 1st August 12:30
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