Welcome to the stable - my new French co-pilot.
Discussion
Recently, i posted in the car buyers section of PH, like so many others, asking the question "What is the best daily drivers car for £X". As always, such a topic is divisive, its bound to be. There are so many options and so many opinions on what makes a good drivers car and a good daily driver.
My own opinion is that a car needs to be something that engages you and puts a smile on your face. It needs to make you feel part of it, and for it to feel more than the sum of its parts. It's somewhat poetic. You have to feel engaged with a car and for it to connect with you, else you may be driving any box with wheels and for me that is not what driving is about.
Recent months of boredom and lockdown have really reminded me what i love about driving and about the freedom that cars represent, and , i think that probably goes for so many of us.
So asking, as i did, the PH community, i knew i would get many answers, to begin with there were options from old barges to hot hatches and for me, the hot hatch is something that i think was always going to come out at the top of the list, given i wanted a fun driving car for everyday use - pretty much the marketing reason behind every hot hatch ever made or conceived. Fun, quick, usable. All subjective of course.
I had many options thrown at me, Vauxhall, Ford, Renault, VW to name the main contenders. So after much advice, research, seeing cars, i have no bought my new stable mate and wanted to introduce you all to my new (to me) 2007 Renaultsport Megane F1 R26.
Two weeks ago, i finally bit the bullet and went to see a car with the intention of buying it and eventually chosen to see the most expensive i could find (at the time) in the hope that it was truly as good as i'd been told, read and this particular car looked.
The incumbent owner was a nice chap from a town near Notts, obviously a keen petrolhead himself, his current stable afforded him a works van, porsche and an evo. Exchanging chats and anecdotes aside, we got to the business in hand. The Megane. Sadly, to say the heavens had opened was an understatement. The weather was god awful. Typical really, as a few hours before was clear blue skies and a few days before it was next heatwave of the lockdown. Not here though, so the test drive was tenuous at best. That said, it was enough to test the brakes competently, to see that the car was solid, ran well, very well and believe it or not, there were no knocks or bangs or creaks from the interior or suspension. Surprising i felt for the fact it was a Renault, but none the less, the car proved great. 45 minutes later, a deal was done and the keys were in my possession.
To say that the two weeks since have been a bit of a story of blossoming romance is perhaps an understatement. I've managed to clock up 1100 miles in two weeks. Now this may not sound a lot and in isolation its not. However, i rarely do more than 3-4k a year and that is mostly driving to and from work, which i am not doing at the moment. I have honestly found each and every excuse to take the renault out and to just drive. Finding road after road, to savour the truly fun and great handling chassis that the bods in dieppe have designed and built. Don't get me wrong, its not perfect, but the way it drives and handles has made me nothing short of amazed at quite how much fun you can have in such a small car. Over and through twists and turns, over rises and dips the car is composed and very fun, transferring weight under braking in a way i've not experienced in a car for a time, if at all. It really does handle better than almost any car i've driven i think. I have to say "think" as i've had around 45 cars in my 40 years on this planet but to memory, at the time of writing this. I cannot think of another car i've had that made me grin and feel a part of it , quite as much as the Megane has. Especially in such a short space of time. To say im impressed is an understatement.
Now. Don't get me wrong. Its sparse inside, its few modcons like traction control, aircon, a stereo, is about as good as it gets, but for a daily driver, what more can i really need? It's surpassed my expectations on build quality too so far, no trim rattles or breakages and it seems all quite well put together. I imagine down to the love its previous owners have lavished on it - something i plan to uphold. There are issues, the drivers window mechanism is temperamental. there is an intermittant abs/esp warning that pops up after bad rain (think its the sensor) But all in all for a car that is now 13 years old, its in really good condition. The bodywork has only the most minor of mark and given the type of car it is , its never been crashed on track or off.
I would perhaps have liked to go for a more pure car but at the end of the day the work done to this would only have been things i would have eventually done myself seeking more power etc. So i cannot sit and tell you that this is car is standard. The original suspension items have been swapped out for some BC Coilovers. All the bushes throughout the car have seemingly been replaced by poly items (at least all the important suspension items).
To aid the go, the car runs a 2016 Megane RS275 engine and turbo, a KTR Induction kit, a Mitltek 2.75 turbo back resonated exhaust , remapped to a respectable 320bhp and 346ft/lbs, and all mated to a full rs275 brembo brake set up to help it come to a stop. To say this makes a hell of a difference to the feel and go of the car is perhaps an understatement. Having come from a 400hp impreza, i have to say, the way the Megane handles this power is superb, there is little spin and although 1st and 2nd are quite short, the boost from 3rd onwards is extremely satisfying and remains smooth and linear in a way that the Impreza just could not handle. No thump in the back here, its just progressive, continuing momentum. Different to, but no less exciting than the awd Impreza i had just come from.
So, what next - nothing but more driving. I plan to detail the car fully, as the paint is good, it is swirled and it would benefit from a full correction. I may eventually swap the wheels out for something lighter or of a different design but at the moment i like the standard 18" mutlispoke wheels. There is little in the way of modification that the car needs, perhaps a oil temp/pressure gauge to keep and eye on things but that isn't a necessity for me. At least not right now. All that remains is for me to enjoy it. I plan to take it across the welsh mountains at the soonest opportunity to see my parents. As well as taking her to cornwall and up to scotland for some road trips. Eventually taking her over to Germany (another regular visit for me). But that is it.
I love driving this car, i know it could be stripped and made a real track weapon and she will see the track i am sure in the coming months and years of ownership (yes i plan to keep her years). But i want it to remain what it was designed for. A competent driving hot hatch and daily driver. It will ferry me to work and the kids to school, but i can dam well promise each time it does, it will be with a big grin on my face. I really think this is a gem of a car and i wish i'd own one before now, i am just happy i've got to own this one. I just look forward to the French part of the car to kick in - its inevitable as croissant really lol.
Anyway enjoy some pics of my new lady.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/W6reTPQw.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/yDHtuuYB" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/yDHtuuYB.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/Y8Hp2GiL" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Y8Hp2GiL.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/yDHtuuYB" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/yDHtuuYB.jpg)
My own opinion is that a car needs to be something that engages you and puts a smile on your face. It needs to make you feel part of it, and for it to feel more than the sum of its parts. It's somewhat poetic. You have to feel engaged with a car and for it to connect with you, else you may be driving any box with wheels and for me that is not what driving is about.
Recent months of boredom and lockdown have really reminded me what i love about driving and about the freedom that cars represent, and , i think that probably goes for so many of us.
So asking, as i did, the PH community, i knew i would get many answers, to begin with there were options from old barges to hot hatches and for me, the hot hatch is something that i think was always going to come out at the top of the list, given i wanted a fun driving car for everyday use - pretty much the marketing reason behind every hot hatch ever made or conceived. Fun, quick, usable. All subjective of course.
I had many options thrown at me, Vauxhall, Ford, Renault, VW to name the main contenders. So after much advice, research, seeing cars, i have no bought my new stable mate and wanted to introduce you all to my new (to me) 2007 Renaultsport Megane F1 R26.
Two weeks ago, i finally bit the bullet and went to see a car with the intention of buying it and eventually chosen to see the most expensive i could find (at the time) in the hope that it was truly as good as i'd been told, read and this particular car looked.
The incumbent owner was a nice chap from a town near Notts, obviously a keen petrolhead himself, his current stable afforded him a works van, porsche and an evo. Exchanging chats and anecdotes aside, we got to the business in hand. The Megane. Sadly, to say the heavens had opened was an understatement. The weather was god awful. Typical really, as a few hours before was clear blue skies and a few days before it was next heatwave of the lockdown. Not here though, so the test drive was tenuous at best. That said, it was enough to test the brakes competently, to see that the car was solid, ran well, very well and believe it or not, there were no knocks or bangs or creaks from the interior or suspension. Surprising i felt for the fact it was a Renault, but none the less, the car proved great. 45 minutes later, a deal was done and the keys were in my possession.
To say that the two weeks since have been a bit of a story of blossoming romance is perhaps an understatement. I've managed to clock up 1100 miles in two weeks. Now this may not sound a lot and in isolation its not. However, i rarely do more than 3-4k a year and that is mostly driving to and from work, which i am not doing at the moment. I have honestly found each and every excuse to take the renault out and to just drive. Finding road after road, to savour the truly fun and great handling chassis that the bods in dieppe have designed and built. Don't get me wrong, its not perfect, but the way it drives and handles has made me nothing short of amazed at quite how much fun you can have in such a small car. Over and through twists and turns, over rises and dips the car is composed and very fun, transferring weight under braking in a way i've not experienced in a car for a time, if at all. It really does handle better than almost any car i've driven i think. I have to say "think" as i've had around 45 cars in my 40 years on this planet but to memory, at the time of writing this. I cannot think of another car i've had that made me grin and feel a part of it , quite as much as the Megane has. Especially in such a short space of time. To say im impressed is an understatement.
Now. Don't get me wrong. Its sparse inside, its few modcons like traction control, aircon, a stereo, is about as good as it gets, but for a daily driver, what more can i really need? It's surpassed my expectations on build quality too so far, no trim rattles or breakages and it seems all quite well put together. I imagine down to the love its previous owners have lavished on it - something i plan to uphold. There are issues, the drivers window mechanism is temperamental. there is an intermittant abs/esp warning that pops up after bad rain (think its the sensor) But all in all for a car that is now 13 years old, its in really good condition. The bodywork has only the most minor of mark and given the type of car it is , its never been crashed on track or off.
I would perhaps have liked to go for a more pure car but at the end of the day the work done to this would only have been things i would have eventually done myself seeking more power etc. So i cannot sit and tell you that this is car is standard. The original suspension items have been swapped out for some BC Coilovers. All the bushes throughout the car have seemingly been replaced by poly items (at least all the important suspension items).
To aid the go, the car runs a 2016 Megane RS275 engine and turbo, a KTR Induction kit, a Mitltek 2.75 turbo back resonated exhaust , remapped to a respectable 320bhp and 346ft/lbs, and all mated to a full rs275 brembo brake set up to help it come to a stop. To say this makes a hell of a difference to the feel and go of the car is perhaps an understatement. Having come from a 400hp impreza, i have to say, the way the Megane handles this power is superb, there is little spin and although 1st and 2nd are quite short, the boost from 3rd onwards is extremely satisfying and remains smooth and linear in a way that the Impreza just could not handle. No thump in the back here, its just progressive, continuing momentum. Different to, but no less exciting than the awd Impreza i had just come from.
So, what next - nothing but more driving. I plan to detail the car fully, as the paint is good, it is swirled and it would benefit from a full correction. I may eventually swap the wheels out for something lighter or of a different design but at the moment i like the standard 18" mutlispoke wheels. There is little in the way of modification that the car needs, perhaps a oil temp/pressure gauge to keep and eye on things but that isn't a necessity for me. At least not right now. All that remains is for me to enjoy it. I plan to take it across the welsh mountains at the soonest opportunity to see my parents. As well as taking her to cornwall and up to scotland for some road trips. Eventually taking her over to Germany (another regular visit for me). But that is it.
I love driving this car, i know it could be stripped and made a real track weapon and she will see the track i am sure in the coming months and years of ownership (yes i plan to keep her years). But i want it to remain what it was designed for. A competent driving hot hatch and daily driver. It will ferry me to work and the kids to school, but i can dam well promise each time it does, it will be with a big grin on my face. I really think this is a gem of a car and i wish i'd own one before now, i am just happy i've got to own this one. I just look forward to the French part of the car to kick in - its inevitable as croissant really lol.
Anyway enjoy some pics of my new lady.
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