Wednesday 24th March 2010

Renaultsport Megane 250 Reader Test

PH special promotion - on track in the new Renaultsport Megane 250 - just how good is Renault's latest hot hatch?

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Everybody loves a good hot hatch. Done properly, the combination of performance, chuckable dynamics, everyday practicality and value for money can be quite intoxicating.

So it seems to be with the new Renaultsport Megane 250 - a typically focused, powerful and fun Renault hot hatch. But we didn't want you to just take our word for it (or that of the assembled body of motoring hacks). This is PistonHeads, you see, the people's motoring website, so we thought we'd get you lot to review it as well.

To help us do this, Renault kindly provided us with a fleet of Renaultsport Meganes (thanks again chaps), which we dispatched to Bedford Autodrome for a good thrashing at the hands of our 'citizen reviewers'.

The result is this, a microsite where you can read our PHers' reviews of Renault's latest fast hatch, and watch a video of their on-track exploits. We think they did a good job of it actually, in fact they made our job look far too easy.

Thanks to the the six Phers who gave up their time to join us at a rather chilly circuit one Monday morning and we hope you enjoy the result.

Read all about our PHers' exploits and watch the video here

[RacingPete]

I have to admit I really like this car after driving it, especially as I thought it might not compare to the long-term 200 we had in.

[Dagnut]

Second link not working.

[RacingPete]

Dagnut said:

Second link not working.

It is working now.

[oxfordbiker]

Very swish video review - when Top Gear finally kicks the bucket, you guys should take over! Lovely looking car - esp in silver...

[Fastra]

Yep - bang on video!!
Very nicely produced. Are you taking the plaudits for this one Riggers??



Just one question though, Rupert Massey has only been a member since January and has no posts!
So which Renault Department does he work for then???

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

[PascalBuyens]

What, I didn't make it AGAIN? LOL

[Zippee]

Dooshbag said:

Rupert didn't work for Renault ! I'll leave it up to him to say what his job is

A great day, thanks to Renault and PH, a really high-quality film there

Agreed - a fantastic day, no corporate sales pitch and free reign with the cars! Just wish it could have been a little warmer and that I hadn't had such a rough hangover following my mates stag weekend the 2 days before.

I can also confirm that Rupert certainly doesn't work for Renault!

[Mr Whippy]

It's no looker though.

The last three Clio's and the new Twingo are very desireable in Sport form, but this has entered the realm of the new Impreze... just a fat "old age" hatch. Yuck.

[Riggers]

Fastra said:

Yep - bang on video!!
Very nicely produced. Are you taking the plaudits for this one Riggers??



Just one question though, Rupert Massey has only been a member since January and has no posts!
So which Renault Department does he work for then???

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

Goodness no - video is courtesy of a very nice chap called Paul 'Diz' Williams. All I did was write the various bits of blurb and inserted the odd hidden typo into the readers' reviews

Oh, and Mr Massey might be a new member but he is most definitely 100 per cent a PHer - no ringers here!

[David87]

Great feature, PH. Anyone who drove the cars care to comment on the handling differences between cars with the 18" and 19" wheels?

[Wayne King]

Shame about some of the reviews, but overall it seems as if it got the thumbs up. No current Renaultsport Megane Owners there to try it out against the old model?

[sumo69]

I have an r26 and applied - didn't get picked!

[tommyhilla]

Really well made video there, very impressed. As for the megane looking like an impreza i can see a slight similarity but the megane is far and away the better looking car. Shame im a student otherwise id be tempted.

[Garlick]

It's quite amusing for us to read this, as when we did previous tests (MINI and Twingo133) we had owners of other Renaults at the Twingo event and previous gen MINI drivers at the MINI test. After publication there were cries of 'but of course Renault/ MINI owners are going to like it' and 'so you invited a load of fanboys who will give praise regardless'

This time we acted on that and invited neutrals, and still we get it wrong

[BBS-LM]

Good on Renaultsport for putting there money where there mouth is, I don't see BMW, VW or Audi doing something like this on pistonheads?

[Zippee]

Wayne King said:

Shame about some of the reviews, but overall it seems as if it got the thumbs up. No current Renaultsport Megane Owners there to try it out against the old model?

Just out of interest which reviews are you referring to?
Whilst there were no present owners there most of us owned or had owned a rival car of some sort be it a Focus ST, Golf GTi or Leon FR so it was a good comparison.

If I were in the market for that kind of car I have to admit it would be right up the top of the list whereas prior to this day I'd have discounted it immediately due to my thoughts on French cars of old. The day certainly changed my opinion with regards to build & interior quality, though obviously I can only speak for the Renauly sport models and can't comment on long term use.

[stuartrav]

I am intrigued, who is Rupert Massey?

[curveking]

The French have made some of the best Hot Hatch's this is not one of them.

[RacingPete]

curveking said:

The French have made some of the best Hot Hatch's this is not one of them.

I'm intrigued by that comment... Why do you think this isn't one of the best?

[bencollins]