Renault Megane R26R
Discussion
PaulJC84 said:
I think the numbers seem to keep dropping as they are regularly exported to HK.
Congrats on the purchase. Whats the spec?
Ok cool ...why HK ? Congrats on the purchase. Whats the spec?
White , 32k miles Titanium Exhaust..air con , cage all up to date maintenance wise not smashed. Has been remapped by Ktec . looking forward to picking it up now
Hol said:
R26R was a rare beast when new. I have only personally known one person, who owned one.
Because they hold their value very well, they often get overlooked as track toys in favour of a stripped out standard R26 and lots of additional aftermarket parts.
If you take a look online there are now only 70 cars left in the UK Because they hold their value very well, they often get overlooked as track toys in favour of a stripped out standard R26 and lots of additional aftermarket parts.
evojam said:
There was one on collecting cars a week or so ago,cannot remember what it went for,19k I think,boost had been wound up for trackdays,if it was mine would defo return it to standard.Not sure there worth the premium in terms of fun factor over something like a Clio Trophy.Defo a special standout car though in the Renault hot hatch family tree.
I bought one last Thursday for 19250 so I’m assuming it’s mine . Have already traced previous owners as it’s a clean car , collection is this weekend can’t wait ! Do agree the trophy is a great buy too but I wanted the stripped out R26R.
hhh182 said:
Enjoy your new car, I saw there were two recently on CC.
As a previous owner of a racing blue R26.R, the only issue I came across was the bonnet discolouration and a syncro issue.
The car is brilliant to drive, so much character, I miss mine very very much.
Many tks
Yes I bought one from CC’s.
I’m aware of the bonnet discolouration so if needs be I’ll get that seen to as and when.
Can’t wait for dry roads again so I can really push the car into corners. She was spinning up on damp roads y’day during a short blast.
Again, enjoy.
As a previous owner of a racing blue R26.R, the only issue I came across was the bonnet discolouration and a syncro issue.
The car is brilliant to drive, so much character, I miss mine very very much.
Many tks
Yes I bought one from CC’s.
I’m aware of the bonnet discolouration so if needs be I’ll get that seen to as and when.
Can’t wait for dry roads again so I can really push the car into corners. She was spinning up on damp roads y’day during a short blast.
Again, enjoy.
don logan said:
Hi
Glad you are happy!
Just a few points
I’m now on my 4th bonnet, generally an area the size of a large mobile phone becomes milky about 8 inches infront of the driver
Some people have put gold or other heat shielding under that area (which is above the turbo)
I also had one that chipped around all the edges
I did have a gearbox under warranty
The doors are terrible for letting water in and it affects the window relays
Water also gets in through the bottom of the windscreen area and can make the carpets damp
Getting out of the car can be a joke in a car park because of the seats and the fact that the doors are very long, unless you are super tall, the door opening in a confined space is behind you!
Mine has manual mirrors, it’s a pain adjusting them to parallel park if there is a big kerb
Check the swivel hub bearings are in good order, they are key to it NOT feeling too front wheel drive
These cars remind me of Integrales, they are only MEGA when they are spot on chassis wise, mine needed rear dampers last year (standard ones) it wasn’t making any noises, no leaks but it was TRANSFORMED with new ones
Regarding optimising it, a mild map to 265 is nice but I don’t get the desire for loads more power, the satisfying part is using it ALL
I warped standard discs on road, Ktech do a great, bigger 2 piece disc kit, I use that with Carbotech XP 10 pads and braided hoses all round, the rears do very little
And tyres, it’s a real shame to use “normal” tyres, I don’t use the Toyos, I compromise with Yokohama AD08r, they’ve been great!
Something you will notice at some point, finger prints on the back windows, people seem to think that they can authenticate an “R” by checking that the rear window aren’t glass, not seeing a wiper isn’t enougb for them!
Nice write up tks. Glad you are happy!
Just a few points
I’m now on my 4th bonnet, generally an area the size of a large mobile phone becomes milky about 8 inches infront of the driver
Some people have put gold or other heat shielding under that area (which is above the turbo)
I also had one that chipped around all the edges
I did have a gearbox under warranty
The doors are terrible for letting water in and it affects the window relays
Water also gets in through the bottom of the windscreen area and can make the carpets damp
Getting out of the car can be a joke in a car park because of the seats and the fact that the doors are very long, unless you are super tall, the door opening in a confined space is behind you!
Mine has manual mirrors, it’s a pain adjusting them to parallel park if there is a big kerb
Check the swivel hub bearings are in good order, they are key to it NOT feeling too front wheel drive
These cars remind me of Integrales, they are only MEGA when they are spot on chassis wise, mine needed rear dampers last year (standard ones) it wasn’t making any noises, no leaks but it was TRANSFORMED with new ones
Regarding optimising it, a mild map to 265 is nice but I don’t get the desire for loads more power, the satisfying part is using it ALL
I warped standard discs on road, Ktech do a great, bigger 2 piece disc kit, I use that with Carbotech XP 10 pads and braided hoses all round, the rears do very little
And tyres, it’s a real shame to use “normal” tyres, I don’t use the Toyos, I compromise with Yokohama AD08r, they’ve been great!
Something you will notice at some point, finger prints on the back windows, people seem to think that they can authenticate an “R” by checking that the rear window aren’t glass, not seeing a wiper isn’t enougb for them!
I did think there could be water ingress and i have already mentally prepared myself for teething issues and keeping on top of maintenance.
My car actually has the electric mirrors which is a bonus when in the harness's.
Keen to do a couple of track days to get a feel fro the front wheel drive feel but the car will be likely used in the summer so circa 3k miles a year i think.
I'd like to keep this car for a long time and part with my gt3 at some stage.
Something about this little car excites me and i do like the light steering feel
Tks for the post
don logan said:
Hi again
Electric mirrors, what a funny thing for me to be envous of, I’ll try to convince myself that mine is lighter :-)
I forgot, I have a Ktech short shift kit, it isn’t AMAZING but it is a wortwhile improvement because it’s not a very nice gear shift as standard, I did consider a CAE shifter but haven’t bothered.
I have also wondered what it would be like with lowered, closer gearing, no need for it to have a 150mph top speed for me
Don’t be too hastey to sell the GT3 if you don’t have to.
Know whats you mean re gear shift. I managed an unintentional 2 gear down shift the other day but then guess i'm used to the snatchy box in the GT3. Electric mirrors, what a funny thing for me to be envous of, I’ll try to convince myself that mine is lighter :-)
I forgot, I have a Ktech short shift kit, it isn’t AMAZING but it is a wortwhile improvement because it’s not a very nice gear shift as standard, I did consider a CAE shifter but haven’t bothered.
I have also wondered what it would be like with lowered, closer gearing, no need for it to have a 150mph top speed for me
Don’t be too hastey to sell the GT3 if you don’t have to.
Gt3 doesnt have to go just yet so will decide what its future with me holds in the new year.
Kinda want to keep this car as standard as possible bar the stage 2 remap that it currently has.
don logan said:
I think that’s why I didn’t change the shifter completely, you can’t see the modification, it’s the most basic looking part and it’s completely hidden, having used it for years I would say that if you drove my car you would just think that for some reason my gearshift was nicer but not radically different at all!
I think you will want the brakes :-)
Yeah tks ill take a look into the shift in the new year. I think you will want the brakes :-)
You're not the first to mention brakes. What upgrades would you recommend ?
I was thinking maybe just pads as and when they need it
don logan said:
You're not the first to mention brakes. What upgrades would you recommend ?
I was thinking maybe just pads as and when they need it
It wasn’t so much the power of the brakes (that was thee problem (though braided hoses made a good difference to the pedal, HOW did it not have them as standard?)I was thinking maybe just pads as and when they need it
The problem was warped discs, I changed to bigger 2 piece discs from Ktech (again) made by Performance Friction with the braided hoses and racing brake fluid with Carbotech XP10 pads at the front, the rear discs are standard with braided hoses but I think they are standard pads because the chances of warming the rears enough to work is probably impossible!
https://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=36...
You want to do track days..... I warped the standard discs on the road, not because I’m a hero or a nutter but because I’ve used my car a LOT in the Alps and I like driving down the mountains as well as up them!
Average brakes really hobble an amazing handling car and you are used to proper brakes!
if you and I were in the Alps and you leading in your GT3, I would be relying on my brakes to help me keep up with you
Terminator X said:
I had an early Sunday morning hoon a few months back about 20 of us and one chap had a R26r. Now my car is perhaps x3 as powerful as that PoS 
however it was remarkably quick! I'm a big fan of them all joking aside.
TX.
Maybe a fair bit to do with the driver too but i get the impression that once you learn these cars they are fairly easy to become quicker in. however it was remarkably quick! I'm a big fan of them all joking aside.TX.
My 996 Gt3 Manthey i'm always mindful of the back end breaking away ...though thats probably me being a bit of a pussy !
[quote=don logan]
Can’t believe you are asking!
It’s an aero thing, try driving without it, the car is all over the place!
There is some pre wiring for s radio behind the blanking plate and some terrible little speakers in the doors too
I’m going to remove mine, it’s cheap and nasty looking and I’d rather use an old phone and some bluetooth speakers!
I’d use headphones (which surprisingly isn’t illegal to use so long as you aren’t “distracted” by them but I’m paranoid about not hearing car problems!
I once had a car stereo problem that was SO shockingly expensive to fix that I used a pair of bluetooth speakers on a 2 week driving holiday and it all worked out really well!
Back to the Megane, why didn’t they use the foglight blanks to duct some air to the brakes!
Ahhh got it.
Not bothered about music TBH....rarely put music on in the Manthey.
Lockdown may mean flat batteries !
Can’t believe you are asking!
It’s an aero thing, try driving without it, the car is all over the place!
There is some pre wiring for s radio behind the blanking plate and some terrible little speakers in the doors too
I’m going to remove mine, it’s cheap and nasty looking and I’d rather use an old phone and some bluetooth speakers!
I’d use headphones (which surprisingly isn’t illegal to use so long as you aren’t “distracted” by them but I’m paranoid about not hearing car problems!
I once had a car stereo problem that was SO shockingly expensive to fix that I used a pair of bluetooth speakers on a 2 week driving holiday and it all worked out really well!
Back to the Megane, why didn’t they use the foglight blanks to duct some air to the brakes!
Edited by don logan on Thursday 5th November 16:30
[/quoteAhhh got it.
Not bothered about music TBH....rarely put music on in the Manthey.
Lockdown may mean flat batteries !
don logan said:
I wouldn’t be either :-)
I remember having sleepless nights about a yellow Manthey about 10 yeard ago I think, the mileage wasn’t low but the spec was EXCELLENT!
It was around the time that good 360s were £35k, 550s were £42-45k, LOW mile GT3s were the same!
I chose my R26 R because I thought I could really “use” it, and I did, I’m not sure I made the right decision! I think the 360 / 550 woild have made me worry too much and they would have been gone after a year or 2!
I ticked that box a few years ago with a 355 and managed to nick a profit out of it but it was always going to break and cost me heaps of cash so it went. I remember having sleepless nights about a yellow Manthey about 10 yeard ago I think, the mileage wasn’t low but the spec was EXCELLENT!
It was around the time that good 360s were £35k, 550s were £42-45k, LOW mile GT3s were the same!
I chose my R26 R because I thought I could really “use” it, and I did, I’m not sure I made the right decision! I think the 360 / 550 woild have made me worry too much and they would have been gone after a year or 2!
I've had 996RS and a few 997 Gt3's Gt4 and a bunch of aircooled plus lotus and M2's etc. The Manthey is great in the summer months but i cant see me being down to the R26R this time next year
plenty said:
You also have Mark Fish in Harlow and Engine Dynamics in Colchester...Essex is probably the best place in the country to live if you own a Renaultsport 
Harlows a bit of a trek sadly so Engine dynamics is looking the favorite .......Can take the boy out of Essex as they say !
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