From EV to Hot Hatch
Discussion
I always enjoy reading about other PH'ers 'journeys' on here so I thought I'd have a go at documenting my recent change.
After 3.5 years in a Tesla Model S75D, it's going back next week (job change). We are also moving house in January. My wife has a Macan, so we have 'practicality' covered, so I agreed with my wife that I'd keep to a modest budget if I could have something 'fun'. I initially wanted an S2000 but decided that it was too compromised for me as a daily. I'm 45 and have had back issues in the past, so a daily S2000 might have caused me further issues (other than on the wallet!). I'm also not sure how happy I'd be driving it through winter.
So I started a thread on here looking for suggestions, but I think i'd already made up my mind that I wanted an RS Megane (MK3). I spent a bit of time reading about them, and talking to a friend of mine who has had a few. I decided I wanted a factory Cup model, so that I could avail of the LSD and firmer suspension.
I went to a view a white factory Cup in Southport. It was a bit dirty but drove really well and was priced fairly. However, before I could gather my thoughts and get back to the dealer after the test drive it had sold. It became clear they didn't hang around!
I viewed another white factory Cup at a specialist. Again, lovely car but this one wasn't the one for me.
Finally, I became aware of a grey one for sale (with Cup-pack, rather than factory Cup). It hadn't been advertised fully yet, and the price seemed good.
Oyster Grey
Cup Pack
Leather Recaros
Visibility Pack
Renault Monitor
I did the sensible thing and travelled up at night, in the dark, to view the car. I'm not massively mechanical, but I knew a few things to check and everything seemed ok. The car drove fine, and the owner seemed genuine enough. Lots of receipts with the paperwork too, and the cambelt/dephasher and all that jazz was done a couple of years ago.
So, we agreed a price and I went back the next day to collect the car.
I've had it just over a week now. Other than the drive home, which was mostly motorway, I've not really used it. I'm now isolating with COVID so can't really take it out either!
I noticed that the cubby holes in the driver and passenger footwells had water in (they didn't when I went to view it). So, I've stripped down the scuttle panel and cleared out all the crap that was in the drains. Hopefully that will resolve that.
The audio is terrible, but I noted one of the receipts was for some Pioneer component speakers. I stripped the drivers door down yesterday and confirmed that they are installed. However, without an amplifier they are just awful. I am coming from Premium Audio in the Tesla though! I'll be installing a basic Pioneer amplifier over Christmas, and likely a small active sub-woofer in January too. I like my music!
There's something not quite right with the tyres (Eagle F1 Asym-3's (maybe they're old stock)). I can't stop them spinning in 1st and 2nd under any decent acceleration. So, they'll be getting replaced in the new year.
The brakes aren't great, so I'll be putting on some front OE Brembo discs and pads in January too.
The wheels need a refurb too. I had them booked in for last week and then I got COVID!
That's it really. It seems like a solid car that just needs a few jobs doing on it, and hopefully it'll be a decent reliable and fun daily. If everything works out with the new job, then the plan is to retire it to a 3rd car in 12 months and perhaps go back to EV for the daily.
I'll give it a proper clean inside and outside over Christmas as in places it's really quite dirty.
Couple of pics in the meantime:
Cheers!
After 3.5 years in a Tesla Model S75D, it's going back next week (job change). We are also moving house in January. My wife has a Macan, so we have 'practicality' covered, so I agreed with my wife that I'd keep to a modest budget if I could have something 'fun'. I initially wanted an S2000 but decided that it was too compromised for me as a daily. I'm 45 and have had back issues in the past, so a daily S2000 might have caused me further issues (other than on the wallet!). I'm also not sure how happy I'd be driving it through winter.
So I started a thread on here looking for suggestions, but I think i'd already made up my mind that I wanted an RS Megane (MK3). I spent a bit of time reading about them, and talking to a friend of mine who has had a few. I decided I wanted a factory Cup model, so that I could avail of the LSD and firmer suspension.
I went to a view a white factory Cup in Southport. It was a bit dirty but drove really well and was priced fairly. However, before I could gather my thoughts and get back to the dealer after the test drive it had sold. It became clear they didn't hang around!
I viewed another white factory Cup at a specialist. Again, lovely car but this one wasn't the one for me.
Finally, I became aware of a grey one for sale (with Cup-pack, rather than factory Cup). It hadn't been advertised fully yet, and the price seemed good.
Oyster Grey
Cup Pack
Leather Recaros
Visibility Pack
Renault Monitor
I did the sensible thing and travelled up at night, in the dark, to view the car. I'm not massively mechanical, but I knew a few things to check and everything seemed ok. The car drove fine, and the owner seemed genuine enough. Lots of receipts with the paperwork too, and the cambelt/dephasher and all that jazz was done a couple of years ago.
So, we agreed a price and I went back the next day to collect the car.
I've had it just over a week now. Other than the drive home, which was mostly motorway, I've not really used it. I'm now isolating with COVID so can't really take it out either!
I noticed that the cubby holes in the driver and passenger footwells had water in (they didn't when I went to view it). So, I've stripped down the scuttle panel and cleared out all the crap that was in the drains. Hopefully that will resolve that.
The audio is terrible, but I noted one of the receipts was for some Pioneer component speakers. I stripped the drivers door down yesterday and confirmed that they are installed. However, without an amplifier they are just awful. I am coming from Premium Audio in the Tesla though! I'll be installing a basic Pioneer amplifier over Christmas, and likely a small active sub-woofer in January too. I like my music!
There's something not quite right with the tyres (Eagle F1 Asym-3's (maybe they're old stock)). I can't stop them spinning in 1st and 2nd under any decent acceleration. So, they'll be getting replaced in the new year.
The brakes aren't great, so I'll be putting on some front OE Brembo discs and pads in January too.
The wheels need a refurb too. I had them booked in for last week and then I got COVID!
That's it really. It seems like a solid car that just needs a few jobs doing on it, and hopefully it'll be a decent reliable and fun daily. If everything works out with the new job, then the plan is to retire it to a 3rd car in 12 months and perhaps go back to EV for the daily.
I'll give it a proper clean inside and outside over Christmas as in places it's really quite dirty.
Couple of pics in the meantime:
Cheers!
Jhonno said:
Check the date on the tyres, but Asymetric 5's are an old tyre now.
Yeah I've just checked and they're 2018, week 48. The last receipt I can see for tyres was July 2018, which I'm guessing is earlier than week 48. So I've no idea where these tyres came from really.antipodes40 said:
Lovely cars. We've recently acquired a similar car. Love it, although we haven't done any huge trips in it yet. Heading away over some great roads during the Christmas break having just fitted a new set of PS4s. Should be fun.
Very nice. Where's that? Australia?Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff