Renault Megane 275...... Nav
Discussion
Bought 2 months ago to replace a lease Focus ST that goes back in a few days, I'd spent about 4 months pondering over which car I should get. I wanted something interesting and engaging to drive having suffered the Focus ST for 2 years and before that an LCI 320d E92 Sport+ which is the 2nd most detached car I have ever driven, 1st being an F30 328i. Other cars considered included a Golf R, Seat Leon 280/290, BMW 235i, S3, Megane Trophy R which my Mrs said absolutely no when she saw the roll cage and cargo net where there would normally be rear seats, and probably anything else in that sort of power and price bracket.
The Megane was at the top of my list for most of those 4 months. Thanks to the PH review Civic Type R vs Megane my mind was set on a 275 Cup-S or a 265 of some sort. Requirements were the Cup pack for the LSD everyone goes on about (ill get to why thats so good...), 18's and Recaros. Id really like the Ohlins, and still want the Ohlins as I think they would make a great car even better for making serious progress over a back road, I would really like an exhaust of some sort as well as the stock one sounds like s
t. My Mrs heard the car outside when I was giving it some beans once and remarked on how it sounded like it was struggling.
As has been typical of my car purchases over recent years I placed a deposit on a dealer car which cropped up, 6700 mile 275 Nav with Cup, 18's and recaros without actually seeing or driving the car relaying on the 'honest' dealer information with the wheels being unmarked and the body work being pristine, although I did make the 4 hour round trip to see it and drive it after. Turns out the car has what appears to be 2 or 3 large key scratches or grit scratches on the bonnet which Ill attempt to sand out next year, or have resprayed. Rest of the car is relatively OK but swirled to st. Only noticed scratches on collection.
The car is used as a daily 30 mile round trip Surrey commuter and to be honest 2 weeks after getting the car I was wondering why on earth I bought it. Its not really that comfy, returns 240 miles to £60 of Vpower and is largely uneventful in a straight line. It also needs working to get the best out of it in comparison to say a Focus ST or Golf R, S3 where there is plenty of torque on tap, I do miss the mid wider mid range of the Focus ST but the top end of the Megane makes it worth it. I took it out one Sunday evening round some local back roads when it was quiet and gave the thing death for around 2 hours to learn how the thing drives and honestly I was blown away by its capability through corners and its ability to make mince meat out of a narrow twisty back road. RE the diff, Ive never experienced a car that just hooks up in a corner and drags you round at speed like its got claws in the tarmac. At the same time its adjustable and can be unsettled if you like to make things more playful. There isnt much 'feeback' through the steering like the reviews said however it doesn't feel detached as the Focus ST does and Ive never felt as though I dont know what the front wheels are doing. All in all a good electric rack. Brakes are good, coming from an over servo'd Focus ST they felt a little lacking to begin with and they do suffer heat soak after a bit of abuse, but the first time I tried them out was enough to reassure me the car actually chucks an anchor out the boot and almost stops you dead. It returns 42mpg on a 70mph run with cruise control (on PS2's, 38mpg with wider PSS) which was pleasing. Gearbox is probably the weakest point of the car. Ive had people here write that its normal for them to sound like train signal junction boxes but they are actually OK and dont have an issue putting 320-360hp through them.
On day 2 of ownership a nail appeared in a rear tyre. The fronts were past their best when I got it really and had about 2k left I reckoned. So I replaced all 4 PS2s with slightly wider PSS (235.40.18 to 145.40.18). This gave it even more traction, (on PS2s it didnt have any problem with axle tramp when warm in 1st) grip and sorted out a really irritating rear end which I think has a habbit of biting and stepping out where it really shouldnt (i think this is the reason a lot of Meganes end up in the barriers at the ring), jumping around and just being skittish nuisance. All of this has gone away and there have been a couple of occasions where the rear end has tried to step out, but almost immediately the tyres grip again and stop it. It is still adjustable and playful.
Future plans include a good detail (full wetsand and ceramic sealant next year), Mid Section Delete on the exhaust and perhaps followed by an exhaust system of some sort (maybe the akra), possible remap at RS tuning to see it to 310hp depending how the gearbox hold up over the next 6 months or so, cheap short shifter mod (http://rsmegane.com/threads/megane-rs265-cup.9246/). It already has an ITG panel in it.
The Megane was at the top of my list for most of those 4 months. Thanks to the PH review Civic Type R vs Megane my mind was set on a 275 Cup-S or a 265 of some sort. Requirements were the Cup pack for the LSD everyone goes on about (ill get to why thats so good...), 18's and Recaros. Id really like the Ohlins, and still want the Ohlins as I think they would make a great car even better for making serious progress over a back road, I would really like an exhaust of some sort as well as the stock one sounds like s
t. My Mrs heard the car outside when I was giving it some beans once and remarked on how it sounded like it was struggling. As has been typical of my car purchases over recent years I placed a deposit on a dealer car which cropped up, 6700 mile 275 Nav with Cup, 18's and recaros without actually seeing or driving the car relaying on the 'honest' dealer information with the wheels being unmarked and the body work being pristine, although I did make the 4 hour round trip to see it and drive it after. Turns out the car has what appears to be 2 or 3 large key scratches or grit scratches on the bonnet which Ill attempt to sand out next year, or have resprayed. Rest of the car is relatively OK but swirled to s
t. Only noticed scratches on collection. The car is used as a daily 30 mile round trip Surrey commuter and to be honest 2 weeks after getting the car I was wondering why on earth I bought it. Its not really that comfy, returns 240 miles to £60 of Vpower and is largely uneventful in a straight line. It also needs working to get the best out of it in comparison to say a Focus ST or Golf R, S3 where there is plenty of torque on tap, I do miss the mid wider mid range of the Focus ST but the top end of the Megane makes it worth it. I took it out one Sunday evening round some local back roads when it was quiet and gave the thing death for around 2 hours to learn how the thing drives and honestly I was blown away by its capability through corners and its ability to make mince meat out of a narrow twisty back road. RE the diff, Ive never experienced a car that just hooks up in a corner and drags you round at speed like its got claws in the tarmac. At the same time its adjustable and can be unsettled if you like to make things more playful. There isnt much 'feeback' through the steering like the reviews said however it doesn't feel detached as the Focus ST does and Ive never felt as though I dont know what the front wheels are doing. All in all a good electric rack. Brakes are good, coming from an over servo'd Focus ST they felt a little lacking to begin with and they do suffer heat soak after a bit of abuse, but the first time I tried them out was enough to reassure me the car actually chucks an anchor out the boot and almost stops you dead. It returns 42mpg on a 70mph run with cruise control (on PS2's, 38mpg with wider PSS) which was pleasing. Gearbox is probably the weakest point of the car. Ive had people here write that its normal for them to sound like train signal junction boxes but they are actually OK and dont have an issue putting 320-360hp through them.
On day 2 of ownership a nail appeared in a rear tyre. The fronts were past their best when I got it really and had about 2k left I reckoned. So I replaced all 4 PS2s with slightly wider PSS (235.40.18 to 145.40.18). This gave it even more traction, (on PS2s it didnt have any problem with axle tramp when warm in 1st) grip and sorted out a really irritating rear end which I think has a habbit of biting and stepping out where it really shouldnt (i think this is the reason a lot of Meganes end up in the barriers at the ring), jumping around and just being skittish nuisance. All of this has gone away and there have been a couple of occasions where the rear end has tried to step out, but almost immediately the tyres grip again and stop it. It is still adjustable and playful.
Future plans include a good detail (full wetsand and ceramic sealant next year), Mid Section Delete on the exhaust and perhaps followed by an exhaust system of some sort (maybe the akra), possible remap at RS tuning to see it to 310hp depending how the gearbox hold up over the next 6 months or so, cheap short shifter mod (http://rsmegane.com/threads/megane-rs265-cup.9246/). It already has an ITG panel in it.
Edited by MikeGoodwin on Saturday 1st October 11:26
Hello
I've just bought a megane nav with 19s and cup chassis.
I've had 3 focus St's in a row and fancied a change.
I agree with most of what you say. The diff is great, lack of traction was a real issue in the focus. Generally the megane handles much better than the focus.
I do miss the focus seats, the standard ones in the megane lack support.
I'm not overly impressed with the engine either. It doesn't feel as lively as I had expected and I keep hitting the rev limiter. It seems to cut in very early, the red line is at 6k but the rev limiter cuts in at 5.5k.
The car only had 900 miles on, so it might loosen up with a few more miles. Had it about 3 weeks now. Like it, but don't love it........yet
I've just bought a megane nav with 19s and cup chassis.
I've had 3 focus St's in a row and fancied a change.
I agree with most of what you say. The diff is great, lack of traction was a real issue in the focus. Generally the megane handles much better than the focus.
I do miss the focus seats, the standard ones in the megane lack support.
I'm not overly impressed with the engine either. It doesn't feel as lively as I had expected and I keep hitting the rev limiter. It seems to cut in very early, the red line is at 6k but the rev limiter cuts in at 5.5k.
The car only had 900 miles on, so it might loosen up with a few more miles. Had it about 3 weeks now. Like it, but don't love it........yet
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