Megane 250/265 Cup with Recaro's

[MCSL]

I quite fancy one of these - must be a Cup with the Recaro seats though. Anything to look out for, or any potential issues with these cars? All advice and recommendations greatly appreciated... And if anyone is either looking to sell or can vouch for a good example please feel free to drop me an e-mail

Ta

[Butter Face]

Knackered tyres, worn edges on Recaros, worn brakes.

There's not a lot else, they're ace cars.

Recaros and cup are a great combo. If you can find one with 19's and visibility pack you're onto a winner.

[Technomatt]

MCSL said:

I quite fancy one of these - must be a Cup with the Recaro seats though. Anything to look out for, or any potential issues with these cars? All advice and recommendations greatly appreciated... And if anyone is either looking to sell or can vouch for a good example please feel free to drop me an e-mail

Ta

Good choice, the 250/265 is still the pick of the Renaultsport bunch. The rest of the Renaultsport range are either ancient or heading in a new, soft and sad direction such as the 5 door Clio 200 Turbo.

Don’t buy new or nearly new as they depreciate fast in true Renault fashion, plus although there are a few good ones out there, Renault dealers have a well earned reputation for being ste. Plenty of high quality independents will look after the car very well.

A £12K+ 250 is a top used buy right now and the 250 and 265 are essentially the same car and with a decent remap both will see 300+ Bhp with no known engine reliability issues (so far). The older Megane 230 engine is known to go pop at high mapped torque/bhp without a bit of forging. A useful 220 bhp/ton is just a remap away for these and that transforms the experience.

The Cup + LSD is the performance choice but the trade off is a firm ride on the UK’s superbly maintained roads. These motors are great everyday devices and with just some decent pads, fluid and tyres they are a very effective trackday performer in Cup fit. That Megane Ring production fwd record is for a reason.

Snags? Some early 250s had a bit of an engine rattle issue from the cam/aux belt drive (not a serious problem) and many blouse wearing types complained about the illegible red 250 Speedo needle. Apart from that, it’s the usual wear and tear. They are shaping up so far to be very dependable bits of kit.

[framerateuk]

Butter Face said:

Knackered tyres, worn brakes

That could be said for any car!

The worn Recaros are a good point though. Mine (leather) were starting to go a little but after getting used to avoiding the edge and keeping them cleaned and treated they've been fine ever since.

In 3 years of ownership I've had very few problems. My first Recaro seat rattled a bit and Renault replaced the base. Relatively common though most should have been fixed on warrantee.

I had the OBC screen by the speedo fail. That's the only one I've heard of so guess it was bad luck. Again, replaced on warrantee.

The "invisible speedo" is a bit of an issue but to be honest I hardly notice it anymore. 265's and some 250's have had a replacement one which arguably doesn't look as good.

Other than those little niggles, the car has been brilliant. I've done several trackdays and the car has driven home as if it's sat doing nothing all day. Very impressed. The brakes are the best I've tried on a production car - especially when used with some better pads - you can leave the braking very late on track and not much will come close to it in that regard!

Even given the trackdays and 25k the interior has held up very well. No rattles or shakes. My doors decided to make a knock while opening last week but some GT85 has sorted that.

The R.S. Monitor is a must if you do trackdays since you'll be able to use the "linear" throttle mode which gives you the best control over the pedal - though the standard Sport mode is decent too, if a little jumpy.

Generally all round fantastic cars. I did a trackday at Anglesea with some guys from Meganesport last month and all the 250/265 owners are still thrilled to bits with their cars. The PCP on mine finishes in September and I've decided to buy the car out since there isn't anything else about that floats my boat!

[MCSL]

Cheers guys, that's the kind of replies i was hoping for

I agree technomatt - the 250 for around £12k looks the pick of the range. Renault Peterborough nearly tempted me into a brand new 265 Cup with this VAT-FREE offer but couldn't supply a car until September. Glad i didn't go for it tbh - it's a 2nd car that will be used for a bit of fun (track), and also for the missus+kids to plod use (5 seats)

Thanks framerateuk for confirming the brakes are adequate - didn't really want to mess around with stoppers yet.

I'm in no rush but keep looking in the classifieds for a car not too far away - there is one that stands out but is a 300 mile round trip. Too busy atm to travel that far.

[framerateuk]

There are quite a few 250s for around the 12k/13k mark.

Brilliant value if you ask me.

[daviebroon]

I recently had the same thoughts as yourself... 250 or 265. I went with the 250, and I think I made the right choice. Speaking to a few people with similar thoughts, a quick bluefin plug & play gives you approx 300bhp anyway.... so no point paying the extra premium for a 265. Its the first thing I'll be doing when out of warranty.

I went for FF, with cup chassis, leather recaros, satnav, DTRL. The only things I wish they had instead is the Xenons & RS Monitor (although I am enjoying the sat nav at the moment - until I have to pay for live services).

The things I would look for

• noisy pulley tensioners (sounds like tractor from cold)
• worn recaros on driver sides
• creaking/rattling boot lid under chassis flex
• noisy NSF shocks under breaking/accelerating
• stonechips (if they bother you) - paint seems very thin

Things I wish the 250 did better

• not noisy enough
• traction on standing acceleration - to be expected, but tyre dependent
• bluetooth communication can be intermittant
• voice control doesn't understand the Scottish accent at all
• radio signal seems poor
• usual cheap flooring in boot

Overall - i f*cking love this car. I was genuinely surprised by the attention the car brings - which can be good & bad!

[Selmer Mk6]

Is the depreciation that bad though?
11 plates seem to be marked up around £11 - £12k. If you paid say £25k new. Doesn't seem to bad to me for 4 yrs.

[Selmer Mk6]

Is the depreciation that bad though?
11 plates seem to be marked up around £11 - £12k. If you paid say £25k new. Doesn't seem to bad to me for 4 yrs.

[framerateuk]

Selmer Mk6 said:

Is the depreciation that bad though?
11 plates seem to be marked up around £11 - £12k. If you paid say £25k new. Doesn't seem to bad to me for 4 yrs.

It's only bad if you expect it to be worth more

It's bad if you compare it to the Focus RS which came out around the same time. Those are still hovering around 20k, while the 250 has gone as low as 11k.

That said, when I bought mine out at the end of the PCP deal at 3 years old, the GFV was £12,500 and the actual market value was nearer 14k.

[Selmer Mk6]

How much was an RS back then?

I would have thought they were more than £25k. If they were £25k then yes exceptional value! Depreciation of around £1k a year.

[framerateuk]

Selmer Mk6 said:

How much was an RS back then?

I would have thought they were more than £25k. If they were £25k then yes exceptional value! Depreciation of around £1k a year.

I'm sure they were around 29k once you added a few options. Still, at two thirds of their value after 4 years.

[anonymous-user]

I've just bought one