2007 Megane R26 F1
Discussion
If people know anything about me, it's that I like a rare car. Indeed I'll generally choose the rarer offering over a more conventional one. So why then, am I bringing you a common or garden Liquid (victory) yellow RS Megane?
Well in 2007 Renault brought just 100 R26s to Australia, 60 black, 40 yellow. So by any measure a total of 40 cars is rare, factor in attrition over the years and who knows how many are left?
This car spent its whole life in South Australia, a dry state and as such is immaculate in terms of rust or any sort of corrosion, just check out that engine, doesn't look anything like the 230,000kms its covered.It hasn't suffered any paint peel but the interior trim has suffered as you can see. Seats look great, feel great. Full service history and apparently a female owner, looking at the wheels I can believe it
Early this morning I took a 5 hour train ride to the west side of Melbourne to pick it up. Now I was going get into a rant about car dealers and cars not being as described, more on that later, but since Ive got home and had a beer, Ive filed it under it is what it is, The seller knocked a good chunk of money off and delivered it from Adelaide at his expense. So here it is. The front lip is coming. Apparently
Well in 2007 Renault brought just 100 R26s to Australia, 60 black, 40 yellow. So by any measure a total of 40 cars is rare, factor in attrition over the years and who knows how many are left?
This car spent its whole life in South Australia, a dry state and as such is immaculate in terms of rust or any sort of corrosion, just check out that engine, doesn't look anything like the 230,000kms its covered.It hasn't suffered any paint peel but the interior trim has suffered as you can see. Seats look great, feel great. Full service history and apparently a female owner, looking at the wheels I can believe it
Early this morning I took a 5 hour train ride to the west side of Melbourne to pick it up. Now I was going get into a rant about car dealers and cars not being as described, more on that later, but since Ive got home and had a beer, Ive filed it under it is what it is, The seller knocked a good chunk of money off and delivered it from Adelaide at his expense. So here it is. The front lip is coming. Apparently
And now the not so good. Got to the depot to collect the car, fired it up and awesome, running on 2 cylinders. Angry call to the seller who said "it was running fine when I loaded it" Of course it was.
Luckily I always take my code reader with me so cylinders 2 and 3 not firing, I was a 4 hour drive from home, in the middle of nowhere, no tools and a busted car. Luckily the depot guys had some tools.
Pulling coils and plugs revealed tired looking coils and plugs, but appeared fine. Putting the clips back on, at the there was the issue. My many years of Toyota JZ engine experience kicked in, broken clips means a poor connection (they are exactly the same part by the way) Clips off, wires straight on the coil, away we go
Luckily I always take my code reader with me so cylinders 2 and 3 not firing, I was a 4 hour drive from home, in the middle of nowhere, no tools and a busted car. Luckily the depot guys had some tools.
Pulling coils and plugs revealed tired looking coils and plugs, but appeared fine. Putting the clips back on, at the there was the issue. My many years of Toyota JZ engine experience kicked in, broken clips means a poor connection (they are exactly the same part by the way) Clips off, wires straight on the coil, away we go
Now onto the drive. It didn't even drive straight, pulled strongly to the left, was all over the road. Screeching when turning lock to lock says the old swivel bearings and anti rotation links. Stick them on the list. But other than that it drove well, engine pulls well, and box good, LSD seems to be doing its thing, rides nicely, everything works bar the AC. Put it on the list.
What do you do when youre in Melbourne? Do a quick lap of Albert Park
Love a poorly cut 'induction kit' hose. Thats got to go.
They don't look standard, wonder what the story is
Problem with an ultra rare car is where am I going to get parts? Doublt Ill find decent door cards or A pillar trims
What do you do when youre in Melbourne? Do a quick lap of Albert Park
Love a poorly cut 'induction kit' hose. Thats got to go.
They don't look standard, wonder what the story is
Problem with an ultra rare car is where am I going to get parts? Doublt Ill find decent door cards or A pillar trims
Plans are in this order - Get under it and see what's what. Order swivel bearings and races (any recommendations please as they won't be available in country) Coils, clips and plugs, A/C regas/repair, the dreaded Vicroads roadworthy then Phillip Island. Oh and a very good clean and polish, its filthy!
On the whole its great to get back in an RS, Ive had a few over the years, I prefer the Trophy spec but beggars cant be choosers
On the whole its great to get back in an RS, Ive had a few over the years, I prefer the Trophy spec but beggars cant be choosers
Congratulations, I’ve got its baby brother:
They are great fun cars. Light, cuckable but very cheap, plastic and fragile inside. And I say that coming from Alfas and TVRs! When I got mine the front lip was making a bolt for freeedom. Just secured by brittle plastic clips on the bumper. Had to Tiger Seal mine on to stay attached.
However on an open twisty road here in Somerset it is a hoot. Enjoy.
They are great fun cars. Light, cuckable but very cheap, plastic and fragile inside. And I say that coming from Alfas and TVRs! When I got mine the front lip was making a bolt for freeedom. Just secured by brittle plastic clips on the bumper. Had to Tiger Seal mine on to stay attached.
However on an open twisty road here in Somerset it is a hoot. Enjoy.
Edited by ric p on Friday 5th September 11:31
Frimley111R said:
I've had three, in terms of performance per pound (or Aussie dollar) they are unbeatable. In the UK the R26 had different front seats, Recaros. Yours has the seats from the 225. Not sure if that was just an Aussie spec?
Ive had a few myself hence why I bought this one, Re seats I thought the same, but why would you change them out, well the whole interior? I know one thing, Im not getting a set any time soon, they cost a bomb already then the shipping, These seats are fine and Im sure they sit lower than stock seats, That was my only gripe, you always felt like you were sat on the car not in itDid you not get the Recaros in Oz? I'm pretty sure that they were standard here.
I loved mine- it went round corners so well thanks to the diff and was plenty fast enough out of the box. It's probably perfect for Oz as you don't have to be gong too fast to be having fun. Hope yours is sorted soon.
I loved mine- it went round corners so well thanks to the diff and was plenty fast enough out of the box. It's probably perfect for Oz as you don't have to be gong too fast to be having fun. Hope yours is sorted soon.
Alfa numeric said:
Did you not get the Recaros in Oz? I'm pretty sure that they were standard here.
I loved mine- it went round corners so well thanks to the diff and was plenty fast enough out of the box. It's probably perfect for Oz as you don't have to be gong too fast to be having fun. Hope yours is sorted soon.
I have no idea, I'll have to find out but again, why would you remove them if you had them? Have to see if there's some sort of VIN decoder,I loved mine- it went round corners so well thanks to the diff and was plenty fast enough out of the box. It's probably perfect for Oz as you don't have to be gong too fast to be having fun. Hope yours is sorted soon.
I used to have one of these back in the day, incredibly good performance and handling, even compared to my Elise and Exige. Only down side was its drink problem, and huge service/repair bills from the main dealer. One service I was quoted £200 for ended up over ten times that amount.
ps if you haven't tried it already, remove the parcel shelf, flatten the back seats, and just listen to the exhaust, brilliant sound and highly addictive.
ps if you haven't tried it already, remove the parcel shelf, flatten the back seats, and just listen to the exhaust, brilliant sound and highly addictive.
SeanyD said:
I used to have one of these back in the day, incredibly good performance and handling, even compared to my Elise and Exige. Only down side was its drink problem, and huge service/repair bills from the main dealer. One service I was quoted £200 for ended up over ten times that amount.
ps if you haven't tried it already, remove the parcel shelf, flatten the back seats, and just listen to the exhaust, brilliant sound and highly addictive.
To be fair coming back I got an indicated 41mpg which is pretty damn good IMOps if you haven't tried it already, remove the parcel shelf, flatten the back seats, and just listen to the exhaust, brilliant sound and highly addictive.
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