2007 Renaultsport Megane 230 F1 Team R26
Discussion
Court_S said:
Good read and glad to hear it’s still treating you well. I really like this shape Megane. None of the cars that followed it have ever really appealed.
Cheers! Is getting a bit rough round the edges with the track days (front bumper has taken a bit of pebble dashing), so I'll likely be going full track spec over the winter.Just pricing up some changes / priorities now, although the suspension bushes seem to be 1st point of call as they're pretty knackered now, so PF black are on their way asap.
Although, has been made easier with a recent addition to my RenaulSport addiction:
Frimley111R said:
Have you done Cadwell in it? I think it was the most fun i'd ever had at a TD in my Megane
Thats one for next year I think, it's a bit of a trek from Cardiff - 5 hour drive I think!Needs to be done though.
Had some fun chasing/being chased by a number of fast cars/hot hatches this weekend, Megan surprised a few thats for sure!
North3rn Monk3y said:
Court_S said:
Good read and glad to hear it’s still treating you well. I really like this shape Megane. None of the cars that followed it have ever really appealed.
Cheers! Is getting a bit rough round the edges with the track days (front bumper has taken a bit of pebble dashing), so I'll likely be going full track spec over the winter.Just pricing up some changes / priorities now, although the suspension bushes seem to be 1st point of call as they're pretty knackered now, so PF black are on their way asap.
Although, has been made easier with a recent addition to my RenaulSport addiction:
Poseidon said:
How are you finding the Clio? They're really appealing to me at the moment, however the reviews put me off slightly.
I drove one at Bedford. It felt very ordinary, not like a hot hatch at all. Quite soft too but then I have a firm set up on my Megane so maybe it's normal. i just didn't feel any excitement. I want them to be good as they are well priced and I like paddleshift too but...Poseidon said:
How are you finding the Clio? They're really appealing to me at the moment, however the reviews put me off slightly.
Eating a bit of humble pie - 2nd to last comment: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...I love it. It's a stiff ride, but I'm used to that form the Megane.
The drive is great though, electronic steering feels a bit disconnected in normal mode, but really tightens up in sport/race modes. It's point and shoot for sure, but really shifts
The EDC box has been great, and was the one thing I was worried about. However after driving it for a bit, you get to predict what it's going to do. Normal mode still has the punch you'd expect from a hot hatch, but it's quite reserved and means it's enjoyable to drive day to day.
When you want to open it up, sport/race really transforms it into a B road weapon.
Frimley111R said:
I drove one at Bedford. It felt very ordinary, not like a hot hatch at all. Quite soft too but then I have a firm set up on my Megane so maybe it's normal. i just didn't feel any excitement. I want them to be good as they are well priced and I like paddleshift too but...
It does feel like 2 cars rolled into one - normal mode it could be any other Clio, but with a nice exhaust and sporty styling. However chuck it into sport/race and it will cover the miles pretty quickly.It's no replacement for my Megane that's for sure, but as a daily hot hatch it ticks the boxes!
Can't remember if I mentioned, but I had project silver adjustable top mounts fitted just before Anglesey so I can run a bit of camber up front.
Had it set to about -2.3 which has made a huge difference to turn in and power out of a corner (as you can see in the above vid at Llandow, chasing the M3).
So just received a full array of powerflex black bushes for front suspension arms, front ARB and rear beam to go in (engine and gearbox are already pf black).
Also got new ball joints to do as pretty much the whole front end needs to come off and noticed some play in one of the steering arms, so that's getting done too.
Have something fairly special too.. watch this space!
Had it set to about -2.3 which has made a huge difference to turn in and power out of a corner (as you can see in the above vid at Llandow, chasing the M3).
- Not adjusted in these pics.
So just received a full array of powerflex black bushes for front suspension arms, front ARB and rear beam to go in (engine and gearbox are already pf black).
Also got new ball joints to do as pretty much the whole front end needs to come off and noticed some play in one of the steering arms, so that's getting done too.
Have something fairly special too.. watch this space!
Are the cook springs worth the expense?
I've had my identical black one for just over 2 years now and although nothing has broken (other than a cracked windscreen), I have replaced the Exhaust with a Milltek cat back and the steering wheel with a retrimmed Clio200 one, as I was bored.
Mine is otherwise standard, bar a boost increase by a previous owner and handles fine as I had the geo done at the same time as my track car, but I was wondering about fitting new springs and dampers as they now both over 10 years old.
Ill be honest and say I would like the car to remain road-car friendly as I already have a track car with more power and AWD.
Hol said:
Are the cook springs worth the expense?
I've had my identical black one for just over 2 years now and although nothing has broken (other than a cracked windscreen), I have replaced the Exhaust with a Milltek cat back and the steering wheel with a retrimmed Clio200 one, as I was bored.
Mine is otherwise standard, bar a boost increase by a previous owner and handles fine as I had the geo done at the same time as my track car, but I was wondering about fitting new springs and dampers as they now both over 10 years old.
Ill be honest and say I would like the car to remain road-car friendly as I already have a track car with more power and AWD.
Yeah the cooksports have been really good. My rear springs were snapped, if you're on 10 years old, I'd imagine they aren't in great condition!I've had my identical black one for just over 2 years now and although nothing has broken (other than a cracked windscreen), I have replaced the Exhaust with a Milltek cat back and the steering wheel with a retrimmed Clio200 one, as I was bored.
Mine is otherwise standard, bar a boost increase by a previous owner and handles fine as I had the geo done at the same time as my track car, but I was wondering about fitting new springs and dampers as they now both over 10 years old.
Ill be honest and say I would like the car to remain road-car friendly as I already have a track car with more power and AWD.
I went for new cup dampers and cooksports, which are a bit firmer and lower than OEM.
Alternatively, you could go for cup dampers and grams springs from Kam Racing, which are supposed to be a bit more comfortable than the cooksports, but still a bit lower.
Honestly, the 2 biggest improvements were the new shocks/springs and the engine/gearbox inserts - getting on 10 years old so stuff is starting to wear out!
Butter Face said:
That’s not a small amount of water is it!?
Could safely say it was a bit on the damp side!Using Federal 595-rs, which dont have the best reputation as wet weather tyres, but I found them alright once they got warm.
Learnt so much about how the car behaves when it gets a bit loose...I did manage a full 360 out of druids mind, ha!
Interesting year in the R26, lots of changes last winter - cage, buckets, harnesses, BC coilovers!
Done a fair few track days this year, Cadwell, Llandow, Combe x2, Blyton and seems to be going well... brake upgrade this winter hopefully, ran out of brakes a few times at Blyton!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSTytYyI7LE&ab...
Quickly coming into the 7th year of ownership of the Megane... can't imagine getting rid of it any time soon, so best get on with some maintainence before MOT comes up.
One of the things that started to become a limitation last year, was the brakes. Not so much the braking power, but the issue of heat build up.
At Blyton, I practically destroyed a set of DS1.11's, which wasn't ideal.
I've decided against a Mk3 brake upgrade, mainly due to cost, so the plan is to upgrade to 330mm front discs with curved vanes and throw some standard discs on the rear. Also seen some positive feedback on thermal backing plates for pads, so may go down that route.
Other thing I want to do is some brake cooling, via the front fogs. So the fogs have come out and a smaller washer bottle from a scenic has been installed to allow more space for some ducting.
Annoyingly, I plugged in the headlight washer electrics, so it only works every 5 or so pulls of the stalk... will have to corret that, doh!
But, while on French electrics, they've bitten me in the ass this week.... but it's my own fault.
Last Christmas, when I was fitting the cage and door cards, one of the window switch plugs spent a few weeks underwater in the door pocket. I've had intermittent issues with the windows ever since, but I think the recent cold spell has caused it to corrode even more and is now confusing the BCU.
Got stuck for 6 hours, 25 mins from home, becasue I couldn't get the thing to start again... luckily right next to a Starbucks though.
So on the search for new window switches and plugs now.
One of the things that started to become a limitation last year, was the brakes. Not so much the braking power, but the issue of heat build up.
At Blyton, I practically destroyed a set of DS1.11's, which wasn't ideal.
I've decided against a Mk3 brake upgrade, mainly due to cost, so the plan is to upgrade to 330mm front discs with curved vanes and throw some standard discs on the rear. Also seen some positive feedback on thermal backing plates for pads, so may go down that route.
Other thing I want to do is some brake cooling, via the front fogs. So the fogs have come out and a smaller washer bottle from a scenic has been installed to allow more space for some ducting.
Annoyingly, I plugged in the headlight washer electrics, so it only works every 5 or so pulls of the stalk... will have to corret that, doh!
But, while on French electrics, they've bitten me in the ass this week.... but it's my own fault.
Last Christmas, when I was fitting the cage and door cards, one of the window switch plugs spent a few weeks underwater in the door pocket. I've had intermittent issues with the windows ever since, but I think the recent cold spell has caused it to corrode even more and is now confusing the BCU.
Got stuck for 6 hours, 25 mins from home, becasue I couldn't get the thing to start again... luckily right next to a Starbucks though.
So on the search for new window switches and plugs now.
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