RenaultSport Megane 250?

[jozeff]

Has anyone driven one? And what are your thoughts?

[BBK]

Haven't driven one yet... been meaning to though! They look great, and by all reports are the next best thing to a mini. Only bigger.

[Alpine*]

Shame we miss out on the R26.R here in Aus, wow that was a fun car to drive.

[ol'mate]

I drove one a month ago, right after I sold my Megane R26
They are a great drive especially with the LSD up front and Recaros look killer, but its just a shame the interior just dosen't quite cut the mustard, for me. Just feels a bit to plastic and ordinary it needs Golf Gti fit and finish.

[Tit]

I drove the Megane RS250 Cup Trophee a few months ago. It was a great drive! It had all of the essentials - nice manual gearbox, firm, communicative steering, a nice power-curve and it handled fantastically. It's not as ridiculous-looking as the previous megane either.

It seems to be getting a good wrap in the car-mags as well...I know Wheels mag loved it...

The tech seems to be a generation behind what BMW and some of the other German and Japanese brands are offering. It has a live trailing-arm rear axle, simple-2.0 turbo, manual only and no nav option etc. It sounds average, but the package is an excellent drive. I didn't mind the interior either. Also, the Recaro CS seats are awesome, no matter what car they are in....

One thing I noticed was that the most expensive version was about $55k on the road. Not too bad for the money.

Ultimately for me, I made the judgement that I'd rather spend the $11k extra on a well-specced 123d coupe (which I'm still waiting for). Better interior, better build quality, more advanced tech, better residuals, plus options I want - such as nav. I'm also a fan of German cars, so the Megane wasn't enough to bring me across to a French brand - it would have to be a pretty amazing car to pull that off!

[banglemangle]

Originally Posted by BBK

Haven't driven one yet... been meaning to though! They look great, and by all reports are the next best thing to a mini. Only bigger.

Tallest Dwarf?

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by Tit

I drove the Megane RS250 Cup Trophee a few months ago. It was a great drive! It had all of the essentials - nice manual gearbox, firm, communicative steering, a nice power-curve and it handled fantastically. It's not as ridiculous-looking as the previous megane either.

It seems to be getting a good wrap in the car-mags as well...I know Wheels mag loved it...

The tech seems to be a generation behind what BMW and some of the other German and Japanese brands are offering. It has a live trailing-arm rear axle, simple-2.0 turbo, manual only and no nav option etc. It sounds average, but the package is an excellent drive. I didn't mind the interior either. Also, the Recaro CS seats are awesome, no matter what car they are in....

One thing I noticed was that the most expensive version was about $55k on the road. Not too bad for the money.

Ultimately for me, I made the judgement that I'd rather spend the $11k extra on a well-specced 123d coupe (which I'm still waiting for). Better interior, better build quality, more advanced tech, better residuals, plus options I want - such as nav. I'm also a fan of German cars, so the Megane wasn't enough to bring me across to a French brand - it would have to be a pretty amazing car to pull that off!

It's actually quite a bit faster than a Focus RS around a track (which I believe was a Wheels test), which is significantly more expensive, has a lot more power and SUPPOSEDLY more tech.

[aus135i]

hahaah this is my current car... its got nothing on the 135i (stock vs stock) on the highway... however on the track this thing is an animal!!!(very less body roll) now compare that to the 135i, well enough said... around EC it should be at least a few sec faster then the 135

pro
looks alot better then the last gen
19" 235 on all fours (cup trophee)
handling (yes i know its front wheel drive)
5 maps to choose from on the fly
those seats =)
hardly any on the road

con
#!@#ing rubbish spkers!!!!!!! RUBBISH
tire noise
steering is very light
manual only
not enough POWER!
front wheel drive.. lol

[Honny]

Big fan of this car actually, I believe its the best balanced FF car available on the market.

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by aus135i

hahaah this is my current car... its got nothing on the 135i (stock vs stock) on the highway... however on the track this thing is an animal!!!(very less body roll) now compare that to the 135i, well enough said... around EC it should be at least a few sec faster then the 135

pro
looks alot better then the last gen
19" 235 on all fours (cup trophee)
handling (yes i know its front wheel drive)
5 maps to choose from on the fly
those seats =)
hardly any on the road

con
#!@#ing rubbish spkers!!!!!!! RUBBISH
tire noise
steering is very light
manual only
not enough POWER!
front wheel drive.. lol

Wow you got a Megane mate? Gotta show us your new ride next time!

A 135i with coilovers and tyres should smash the Renault around the track, yours should've had no problem.

[Guran]

Originally Posted by aus135i

hahaah this is my current car... its got nothing on the 135i (stock vs stock) on the highway... however on the track this thing is an animal!!!(very less body roll) now compare that to the 135i, well enough said... around EC it should be at least a few sec faster then the 135

Not so sure about that. Motor magazine lapped Wakefield Park in 1:09.9 in a 135i Coupe (Sep 2008) and 1:11.2 in a Megane RS 250 Cup (Dec 2010). Wakefield is a track that rewards high power/weight (Eastern Creek even more so), and the 135i out-punches the RS 250 to the tune of 152kW/t vs 133kW/t.

[gazz]

Originally Posted by Honny

Big fan of this car actually, I believe its the best balanced FF car available on the market.

I know it's not a current model but have you ever tried an Integra type R? The original DC2. You're hard pressed to tell it's a fronter.

[qship]

A very good and fun car. let down slightly by the interior and the stupidly small and high boot access.

[ol'mate]

They just broke a fwd record at the Ring again in the last few days, in the latest Trophy Version which has 265hp.
The time was 8.07 bloody impressive!!

[Rivenscyr]

Originally Posted by gazz

I know it's not a current model but have you ever tried an Integra type R? The original DC2. You're hard pressed to tell it's a fronter.

the classic rice rocket, hard to find a good one a P plater hasn't thrashed/crashed/converted into rice cooker

[jozeff]

Originally Posted by aus135i

hahaah this is my current car... its got nothing on the 135i (stock vs stock) on the highway... however on the track this thing is an animal!!!(very less body roll) now compare that to the 135i, well enough said... around EC it should be at least a few sec faster then the 135

pro
looks alot better then the last gen
19" 235 on all fours (cup trophee)
handling (yes i know its front wheel drive)
5 maps to choose from on the fly
those seats =)
hardly any on the road

con
#!@#ing rubbish spkers!!!!!!! RUBBISH
tire noise
steering is very light
manual only
not enough POWER!
front wheel drive.. lol

Mate, how are you finding the Meg 250 almost a year later? Any issues? I'm seriously thinking of upgrading my 130i to a Megane 250/265. I dunno i respect the 130i.... but i dont love it. Everytime i see one of those 250s, i sigh and think back to my Clio 172 days. Sure it wasnt the best built but i loved it to death.

[woosh]

Originally Posted by jozeff

Mate, how are you finding the Meg 250 almost a year later? Any issues? I'm seriously thinking of upgrading my 130i to a Megane 250/265. I dunno i respect the 130i.... but i dont love it. Everytime i see one of those 250s, i sigh and think back to my Clio 172 days. Sure it wasnt the best built but i loved it to death.

I asked him this question about a month ago. His only gripe was the stock short shifter has still too far of a throw and there aren't any aftermarket SSK's for it (I'm still looking Tim!). He praised the chassis stability higher than the 135i's, amongst other things..

If you have a 130i, this car would be a step up.

[Alpine*]

We lent the little 8:08 to Ausmotive for a run........




http://www.ausmotive.com/2012/12/10/...rophy-808.html

[Lima]

Thanks John.

[aus135i]

yea what woosh said... =P

[Convert]

I didn't know you got one John, did you cancel the Mini order?

[Alpine*]

Originally Posted by Convert

I didn't know you got one John, did you cancel the Mini order?

Yep, mini aus and the dealer pissed us off so we went shopping, Mrs Alpine hates the M135i and a 328i was seen as too big apparently , so the 8:08 was driven and bought in a week.