RE: Renault Sport Megane 300 Trophy | PH Fleet

[blearyeyedboy]

It does make me wonder whether the best compromise in the Renault range for a fun road car (that won't be tracked) is a 280 non-Cup with an aftermarket LSD.

[nickfrog]

I wonder if that would fit. If not Drexler will probabky do one to go in the 280 gearbox.

https://trackparts.ch/Drexler-Sperrdifferential-Re...

[Turbojuice]

blearyeyedboy said:

It does make me wonder whether the best compromise in the Renault range for a fun road car (that won't be tracked) is a 280 non-Cup with an aftermarket LSD.

Yes and i imagine on the used market that the presence of the 300 trophy and 280 cup models will drive the price of the 280 non cups down too. Could turn into a bit of a bargain. Although i'm still of the belief that the whole "the trophy is too stiff" is just written by journo's with bad backs and rhetorical keyboards.

[Zarco]

Non-Cup Megane's are rare as rocking horse poo.

With good reason IMO.

[Turbojuice]

Zarco said:

Non-Cup Megane's are rare as rocking horse poo.

With good reason IMO.

Not so sure about that. Seen quite a few non cup 275's knocking around the used car market as of late.

[Butter Face]

Turbojuice said:

blearyeyedboy said:

It does make me wonder whether the best compromise in the Renault range for a fun road car (that won't be tracked) is a 280 non-Cup with an aftermarket LSD.

Yes and i imagine on the used market that the presence of the 300 trophy and 280 cup models will drive the price of the 280 non cups down too. Could turn into a bit of a bargain. Although i'm still of the belief that the whole "the trophy is too stiff" is just written by journo's with bad backs and rhetorical keyboards.

It really is very stiff, but it should be expected really.

It is a superb bit of kit.

[Zarco]

Turbojuice said:

Zarco said:

Non-Cup Megane's are rare as rocking horse poo.

With good reason IMO.

Not so sure about that. Seen quite a few non cup 275's knocking around the used car market as of late.

That's because the ones that have been built no one wants

I've never seen one in the wild.

[CraigV6]

I don’t know why anyone would consider buying a non-Cup Megane and adding a diff, rather than just buying a Cup Megane and installing adjustable / softer suspension (if that’s the end game).
Sounds like madness.

FWIW the Cup suspension is nowhere near being too hard, perhaps a touch too soft at times.

[blearyeyedboy]

CraigV6 said:

I don’t know why anyone would consider buying a non-Cup Megane and adding a diff, rather than just buying a Cup Megane and installing adjustable / softer suspension (if that’s the end game).
Sounds like madness.

Because I'm an idiot and didn't think of it that way round.

The point I'm trying to make is that a good back-road car is different to a good track car. More compliant (as opposed to squishy) suspension can help you make progress on potholed and broken surfaces.

Having never driven a Mégane IV, I don't know how hard or soft any of them are. I do know that I found a Civic FN2 limiting over rough terrain and uncomfortable to live with. I imagine the latter day Civic drives a lot better but haven't tried one.

[Zarco]

You're over thinking it.

At speed it makes sense and just feels connected.

It's at low speed, 'normal' driving around town etc it will feel stiff and fidgety on uneven roads. That's the compromise.

[Turbojuice]

Zarco said:

You're over thinking it.

At speed it makes sense and just feels connected.

It's at low speed, 'normal' driving around town etc it will feel stiff and fidgety on uneven roads. That's the compromise.

And it's a bloody great compromise. The journos need to understand this.

[nickfrog]

Turbojuice said:

And it's a bloody great compromise. The journos need to understand this.

It is. When the 250 RS came out, it wasn't that well received either.

They're not cars that you instantly get as they're often chassis led rather than engine. And it's sometimes not that easy for your average car journo to get to the right situation or pace that makes the chassis shine.

We all know what eventually happened to the last generation in terns of reputation, even though the chassis remained untouched for about 6 years.

[blearyeyedboy]

Thanks, that's helpful perspective.