Which Megane..?

[mainline]

Hi Chaps,

Thought I'd get some opinions. I am in the market for a hot hatch. I've had a few performance cars before, Integra DC2 Type R, VX220 and 205 GTIs but for the last few years I've had boring family cars and barges with a 205 GTI in the garage for rainy days and when the wife needed the family barge. Anyway, I have sold the 205 and bought the wife a car, so I need a car for me.

What I wanted was a MKV Golf GTI with DSG and a low mileage, but what I can afford is a Megane 225 or F1 Team or Trophy, or Cup....

Before I started reading up I thought all RS Megane's were the same, except the R26.R but now, I have read that the original 225 wasn't that great and there were a host of models between the launch 225 and the R26. I think the R26 might be out of budget?

What I need is a bit of guidance. My budget is up to about £5k maybe £5,500 at a push.

I don't mind something a bit raw, I've lived with some pretty hardcore cars as my daily driver in the past, but I want to get the ideal car for my budget. I would track it maybe once or twice a year, there would be some regular B-road blasting, a daily commute from Leeds to Bradford and quite a bit of motorway. I'm in Leeds, so I'm close to RS Tuning, are they any good?

Cheers guys.

[roystinho]

I had a face lifted 225 which was great for cruising on the motorway, but not too hot on the B roads. A friend had a 225 F1 team which was basically the same bit with cup suspension and was certainly an improvement. But that was just a suspension change, so you could do that to a regular 225 if the car was in good condition but without cup chassis.

If try and see if you can get a 225 lux with cup chassis (06 onwards roughly). As you say, an R26 is the best, but slightly put of budget.

Meganesport forum is a great place for info, and there's also a good Renaultsport following in Leeds/Yorkshire if you need any local help.

[Technomatt]

mainline said:

Hi Chaps,

Thought I'd get some opinions. I am in the market for a hot hatch. I've had a few performance cars before, Integra DC2 Type R, VX220 and 205 GTIs but for the last few years I've had boring family cars and barges with a 205 GTI in the garage for rainy days and when the wife needed the family barge. Anyway, I have sold the 205 and bought the wife a car, so I need a car for me.

What I wanted was a MKV Golf GTI with DSG and a low mileage, but what I can afford is a Megane 225 or F1 Team or Trophy, or Cup....

Before I started reading up I thought all RS Megane's were the same, except the R26.R but now, I have read that the original 225 wasn't that great and there were a host of models between the launch 225 and the R26. I think the R26 might be out of budget?

What I need is a bit of guidance. My budget is up to about £5k maybe £5,500 at a push.

I don't mind something a bit raw, I've lived with some pretty hardcore cars as my daily driver in the past, but I want to get the ideal car for my budget. I would track it maybe once or twice a year, there would be some regular B-road blasting, a daily commute from Leeds to Bradford and quite a bit of motorway. I'm in Leeds, so I'm close to RS Tuning, are they any good?

Cheers guys.

If trackdays are important then the R26 is the one to go for with its LSD and suspension etc. Different league to the 225/Cup/Trophy etc. The R26R is only a lighter R26 after all.

Budget might be a problem but there are some R26 around for about 6K and they are getting cheaper.

[clarki]

Your right the original 225 realy wasnt all that good, to drive or in the reliability stakes - more so as they get older.

You need an LSD, it transforms the car, so you need an R26 - hold out, it'll be worth the wait believe me.