2007 Renaultsport Megane 230 F1 Team R26
Discussion
Cheers! Yep you can't deny it had a great looking booty.
Braved the fine rain this afternoon to sort some carpet. Cost me a whole £10 to do and am more than chuffed with the results.
Before/After:
31 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Completed:
32 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
33 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Looks much better inside now, although the Mrs has finally clocked that the rear seats won't be going back in anytime soon!
Braved the fine rain this afternoon to sort some carpet. Cost me a whole £10 to do and am more than chuffed with the results.
Before/After:
31 by the northern monkey, on FlickrCompleted:
32 by the northern monkey, on Flickr33 by the northern monkey, on FlickrLooks much better inside now, although the Mrs has finally clocked that the rear seats won't be going back in anytime soon!
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:31
Been a bit busy of late, so figured an update is required in here!
Had my MOT a few weeks ago, which went well apart from an exhaust hanger. Had the hanger replaced (eventually), but also had a few advisories - play in steering rack, creak from steering rack and corroded rear springs.
So, after getting a brilliant quote from Flux, I decided to get a few things done on the car.
1st off was springs, so I got some Cooksport springs as soon as they came into stock and had them fitted a week later.
34 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
35 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
36 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
37 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
As you can see, the front driver side spring had corroded and snapped, which has completely justified the cost of the springs.
I also had the Track Focus Direct steering rack bush fitted and the rack lubed, it now feels completely solid and there is no more squeak!
One unexpected expense was a track rod, as the thread had corroded so much that we just couldn't get it back on.
Finally I had the tracking done on the way home, but plan to get it checked again once everything has settled down.
In other news, the rear seats are out again and the brace/net is back in. I put the seats in over easter thinking I'd be ferrying family around, but that didn't happen so out the come.
I still need to get the rear belts out, but didn't have time on the weekend.
38 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
It makes such a huge difference having the seats out, the car just feels much more responsive in acceleration an turning. Coupled with working suspension and accurate tracking, the car is an absolute blast at the mo.
I'd also planned to get the back box chop done this week, but low and behold, the car throws something else at me...
Cue a 1/2 width sized crack in my screen.
39 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
So fingers crossed I can nurse it to work tomorrow and get it fixed. Admittedly I can't wait as the screen was already peppered with little scratches and chips, but the back box chop will have to wait till payday now.
Had my MOT a few weeks ago, which went well apart from an exhaust hanger. Had the hanger replaced (eventually), but also had a few advisories - play in steering rack, creak from steering rack and corroded rear springs.
So, after getting a brilliant quote from Flux, I decided to get a few things done on the car.
1st off was springs, so I got some Cooksport springs as soon as they came into stock and had them fitted a week later.
34 by the northern monkey, on Flickr35 by the northern monkey, on Flickr36 by the northern monkey, on Flickr37 by the northern monkey, on FlickrAs you can see, the front driver side spring had corroded and snapped, which has completely justified the cost of the springs.
I also had the Track Focus Direct steering rack bush fitted and the rack lubed, it now feels completely solid and there is no more squeak!
One unexpected expense was a track rod, as the thread had corroded so much that we just couldn't get it back on.
Finally I had the tracking done on the way home, but plan to get it checked again once everything has settled down.
In other news, the rear seats are out again and the brace/net is back in. I put the seats in over easter thinking I'd be ferrying family around, but that didn't happen so out the come.
I still need to get the rear belts out, but didn't have time on the weekend.
38 by the northern monkey, on FlickrIt makes such a huge difference having the seats out, the car just feels much more responsive in acceleration an turning. Coupled with working suspension and accurate tracking, the car is an absolute blast at the mo.
I'd also planned to get the back box chop done this week, but low and behold, the car throws something else at me...
Cue a 1/2 width sized crack in my screen.
39 by the northern monkey, on FlickrSo fingers crossed I can nurse it to work tomorrow and get it fixed. Admittedly I can't wait as the screen was already peppered with little scratches and chips, but the back box chop will have to wait till payday now.
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Monday 6th June 19:02
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:32
Well... it's been a while since posting on here, so an update is overdue.
Still got the Megane and enjoying more than ever - hopefully below will explain why!
Back in September, I took a morning off to get some Hel braided lines fitted, along with engine oil, gearbox oil and some RBF600 brake fluid dropped in and a general poke about by my mechanic for a stamp in the service book.
40 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
41 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Safe to say I'm impressed with the brakes. They felt quite spongy and lacked feel previously, so I'm not sure if its just the fluid or the lines, but I've got much more confidence in the brakes now.
Still got the Megane and enjoying more than ever - hopefully below will explain why!
Back in September, I took a morning off to get some Hel braided lines fitted, along with engine oil, gearbox oil and some RBF600 brake fluid dropped in and a general poke about by my mechanic for a stamp in the service book.
40 by the northern monkey, on Flickr41 by the northern monkey, on FlickrSafe to say I'm impressed with the brakes. They felt quite spongy and lacked feel previously, so I'm not sure if its just the fluid or the lines, but I've got much more confidence in the brakes now.
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:33
In November, I bought some new cleaning stuff from DVS Car Care and decided to give it a go while the weather was dry.
Opted for the Poorboys Black Hole kit/deal, and the meg has come up really well.
I need to invest in a better camera though!
42 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
43 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
44 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Opted for the Poorboys Black Hole kit/deal, and the meg has come up really well.
I need to invest in a better camera though!
42 by the northern monkey, on Flickr43 by the northern monkey, on Flickr44 by the northern monkey, on FlickrEdited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:33
Took the car and all the parts to Dan at SJM Automotive and left it there for a week.
Dan was great, kept me updated along the way and I really appreciated the feedback!
Quaife is in!!
45 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Had a few issues with a drive shaft and found a few leaky gearbox seals - also replaced an ARB link which fixed a knock up front and sorted a leaky thermostat.
and it was done...
Spent a fortune in fuel yesterday getting to know the car again. It's just immense.
The front end feels incredibly tight, it can actually put the power down now.
Grip is just amazing, it goes exactly where you point it. Previously would get moved around on road undulaitons or wet patches, but now stays straight and true.
Brake pads and disks are next on the list, then a track day!
Dan was great, kept me updated along the way and I really appreciated the feedback!
Quaife is in!!
45 by the northern monkey, on FlickrHad a few issues with a drive shaft and found a few leaky gearbox seals - also replaced an ARB link which fixed a knock up front and sorted a leaky thermostat.
and it was done...
Spent a fortune in fuel yesterday getting to know the car again. It's just immense.
The front end feels incredibly tight, it can actually put the power down now.
Grip is just amazing, it goes exactly where you point it. Previously would get moved around on road undulaitons or wet patches, but now stays straight and true.
Brake pads and disks are next on the list, then a track day!
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:34
Really tidy looking car! I keep being tempted to go back seats out and have a rear brace in mine but have a feeling if I put the brace in then I won't be able to get my mountain bike in the back without height issues. I need to have a look next time the bikes in the back, or just not be lazy and use the carrier I have on the boot 
supersarbs said:
As I read through the thread I was thinking 'what about the diff'! I had the megane 250 with the LSD, absolutely loved the way it pulled you into corners.
Looks a nice megane, thanks for the updates.
Thanks...Yeah the diff absolutely transforms the car, coupled with the lighter flywheel and stronger clutch, it absolutely flies off the mark!Looks a nice megane, thanks for the updates.
SamGTV said:
I had one of these, why did I sell it! Stupid me. Yours is a lovely well cared for example. Don't sell it not much in the real world as rewarding.
Thanks, this one is definitely a long termer. Currently looking out for a house, my one and only pre-requisite is a garage that will house the Megane. Mrs has free reign on the rest ha.DanielSan said:
Really tidy looking car! I keep being tempted to go back seats out and have a rear brace in mine but have a feeling if I put the brace in then I won't be able to get my mountain bike in the back without height issues. I need to have a look next time the bikes in the back, or just not be lazy and use the carrier I have on the boot
Cheers - how many bikes do you need to fit? I'm 100% certain 1 will fit in the back with the brace, it's quite high up in the back (I've seen a mtb in the back of a 350z before, so it must fit in a Meg!) I would test, but my mtb goes in the Pug 206 hack..
Frimley111R said:
I see a lot of R26s with uprated springs but no-one seems to bother with the shocks??
The general consensus seems to be that you can't get much better than the OEM cup/R26 shocks. I'm running Cooksport springs with oem shocks on mine and come the day a shock dies it'll be replaced with a standard one it genuinely doesn't feel like it could be improved with the setup I've got.I do want to try it on mine, with the back seats down/parcel shelf out the exhaust is more noticeable so it does make hard driving that bit more fun. After checking heights last night I think I'll have to either not bother as I won't be able to just throw my bike in the back or not be lazy and use the carrier. I don't like option 2
DanielSan said:
I do want to try it on mine, with the back seats down/parcel shelf out the exhaust is more noticeable so it does make hard driving that bit more fun.
Yep, that's my friend's summary of it but given you lose the rear seats for occasional use it seems a bit pointless, however no-one said pointless mods were a bad thing Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff