Renault R26R

[Chipper]

ewenm said:

Chipper said:

ewenm said:

I don't see why you'd buy a hot hatch as a weekend toy. Isn't the point of a hot hatch to be good as a daily car as well as fun? I'd go for something less practical and less compromised myself.

Hmmmmmmm , it has hardly any soundproofing due to weight saving , has only two seats which are competition seats with a carbon fibre shell with full harness, the tailgate and rear side windows are in polycarbonate , it has no stero and comes with a great big roll cage + toyo track tyres!

IMO i don't think it gets near practical and less compromised unless you're comparing it to an Atom!

But (to me) the starting point is compromised. Why start with a family hatchback and make it more track-worthy when there are cars developed from the ground up for the purpose? Caterham (my bias ) for example.

Because like i said before , i'm 6"4 19 stone so can't fit in Caterham,Elise etc... I've just come from an Ariel Atom which generally speaking make Caterham's look slightly comfortable and warm.

I'm after a car that will keep me snug,safe and again WARM and most importantly be fun! Fun for the occasional hoon on the weekend and fun for trackday's and a trip everyyear to the ring.
I dont want to spend more than £22000 and i dont want to have a car that is costing me a fortune in servicing costs warranty and general up keep- stuck in a garage for 5 days of the week!

Edited by Chipper on Sunday 14th September 20:15

Edited by Chipper on Sunday 14th September 20:25

[CarlT]

Truckosaurus said:

There's a R26R on the Autotrader website, 750miles @ £17k, there's 5 of the 8k difference to a cooking R26 gone.

No Megane R26.Rs have been delivered yet. That is an advert for a 'cooking' R26 !!

[Catherine197]

Truckosaurus said:

There's a R26R on the Autotrader website, 750miles @ £17k, there's 5 of the 8k difference to a cooking R26 gone.

How?

Deliveries don't start until October.

[matt3001]

Have you looked at a SEAT Leon Cupra?? Much better built and 240bhp (+10bhp), it weighs in at 1375kg so a bit heavier and no LSD but fantastic brakes and probably better residuals...

[ALawson]

[Chipper]

matt3001 said:

Have you looked at a SEAT Leon Cupra?? Much better built and 240bhp (+10bhp), it weighs in at 1375kg so a bit heavier and no LSD but fantastic brakes and probably better residuals...

I'm not after a hot hatch, and to be honest if i was i'd probably go for the new Focus RS.

[Chipper]

ALawson said:

Good choice , but again i think the R26R will be more special for what i'm after. I'm seeing this as Renault's Megane GT3 RS.

Edited by Chipper on Sunday 14th September 20:53

[h4muf]

What about a murtaya?

4wd,290bhp(sti)
Warm and snug,more practical that r26.

The megane would`nt know which way it went.

[ALawson]

Haven't read an actual road test for one of these R26R on the UK roads, I have seen the FD2 in the metal and it does look good with the owners saying they are "special".


In terms of practicality, reliability and projected running costs I wouldn't be phased with the civic. I will always have reservations about french cars, but hey I've never owned or driven one just read horror stories on the internet!

IMHO

[Rocky Balboa]

Whatever you decide, you had better do it quick!

As only 230 R26.Rs are coming to the UK!

Which is nice as it makes it a really rare and special car!

Id say go for it!

[OPC100]

Chipper said:

ewenm said:

Chipper said:

ewenm said:

I don't see why you'd buy a hot hatch as a weekend toy. Isn't the point of a hot hatch to be good as a daily car as well as fun? I'd go for something less practical and less compromised myself.

Hmmmmmmm , it has hardly any soundproofing due to weight saving , has only two seats which are competition seats with a carbon fibre shell with full harness, the tailgate and rear side windows are in polycarbonate , it has no stero and comes with a great big roll cage + toyo track tyres!

IMO i don't think it gets near practical and less compromised unless you're comparing it to an Atom!

But (to me) the starting point is compromised. Why start with a family hatchback and make it more track-worthy when there are cars developed from the ground up for the purpose? Caterham (my bias ) for example.

Because like i said before , i'm 6"4 19 stone so can't fit in Caterham,Elise etc... I've just come from an Ariel Atom which generally speaking make Caterham's look slightly comfortable and warm.

I'm after a car that will keep me snug,safe and again WARM and most importantly be fun! Fun for the occasional hoon on the weekend and fun for trackday's and a trip everyyear to the ring.
I dont want to spend more than £22000 and i dont want to have a car that is costing me a fortune in servicing costs warranty and general up keep- stuck in a garage for 5 days of the week!

Edited by Chipper on Sunday 14th September 20:15

Edited by Chipper on Sunday 14th September 20:25

Looks like you've already made your choice then. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you take the plunge. I think that the only other alternatives that haven't been mentioned already would be older cars that are track focused. Something like an RS500 Cosworth, 968 CS, E30 M3 Sport Evolution, or Alfa SZ would all fit the budget.

If you don't mind LHD the M3 and the SZ would also be good for European trips.

All of these would probably give you zero depreciation, that even when you take into consideration their ongoing maintenance will make them a cheaper ownership prospect than a brand new car. Alternatively, wait 6 months and buy a good M3 CSL for £22K.

[dave_s13]

None of the alternative cars listed by others on this thread fulfill the criteria you've specified. That Megane does though, and I can't think of anything else!

So buy one! It seems to do exactly what you need it to.

[otolith]

It will be interesting to see just how quick it is; the standard R26 is quicker round Millbrook's hill circuit than the Impreza STi and only a couple of tenths slower than the supercharged Elise.

Car	Time	Gap	Cumulative
R500	01:43.18
LP640	01:51.90	00:08.72	00:08.72
Evo X	01:52.83	00:00.93	00:09.65
M3	01:52.90	00:00.07	00:09.72
RS6	01:53.18	00:00.28	00:10.00
Elise SC	01:53.62	00:00.44	00:10.44
Megane R26	01:53.83	00:00.21	00:10.65
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 S	01:55.03	00:01.20	00:11.85
Impreza STi	01:55.95	00:00.92	00:12.77
Jaguar XF SV8	01:57.12	00:01.17	00:13.94

[waynepixel]

Chipper said:

matt3001 said:

Have you looked at a SEAT Leon Cupra?? Much better built and 240bhp (+10bhp), it weighs in at 1375kg so a bit heavier and no LSD but fantastic brakes and probably better residuals...

I'm not after a hot hatch, and to be honest if i was i'd probably go for the new Focus RS.

I think you will find that the R26R is a hot hatch?

[BT52]

Chipper said:

matt3001 said:

Have you looked at a SEAT Leon Cupra?? Much better built and 240bhp (+10bhp), it weighs in at 1375kg so a bit heavier and no LSD but fantastic brakes and probably better residuals...

I'm not after a hot hatch, and to be honest if i was i'd probably go for the new Focus RS.

Eh?

Personally I think the R26R is one of the stupidest cars on sale today. The whole point of a hot hatch is to combine performance with practicality.

This has all the downsides of a hot hatch (FWD, weight layout etc) without the advantages.

An Impreza Spec-C can be picked up for (relative) peanuts, keeps its rear seats and will take it apart.

[Fastra]

Brand new R26 F1:

£ 16749

http://www.buymynewcar.co.uk/ViewItem.php?ItemID=8...

Junk the interior (must be worth a few quid second hand to someone) and spend the left over on the trick bits?

[otolith]

waynepixel said:

Chipper said:

matt3001 said:

Have you looked at a SEAT Leon Cupra?? Much better built and 240bhp (+10bhp), it weighs in at 1375kg so a bit heavier and no LSD but fantastic brakes and probably better residuals...

I'm not after a hot hatch, and to be honest if i was i'd probably go for the new Focus RS.

I think you will find that the R26R is a hot hatch?

I don't think it's the hot hatch part of what an R26R is that appeals to him. It's like being surprised that someone looking at Caterhams doesn't really fancy a convertible TT. "But I think you'll find a Caterham is a convertible..."

[otolith]

The downside to buying a standard R26 and stripping and fettling it is that you will absolutely ruin the residuals, whereas the factory version of the same is likely to retain value better than the standard car.

[RobCrezz]

JDM Civic type R will likely be a more special and faster car. I would take another look at that first.

[CooperS]

RobCrezz said:

JDM Civic type R will likely be a more special and faster car. I would take another look at that first.

on looks alone get the Civc, but i think the R26R seems a good package. I just would be at odds with myself buying a 20k french hot hatch which will depricate quicker than it can get to 60