Megane 250 day to day running

Megane 250 day to day running

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Discussion

dalzo

Original Poster:

1,877 posts

142 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Just curious as to how these are like as a daily, considering getting one as my first fast car (turn 21 in jan) .

Any reliability problems?
What's the mpg like?
How is the interior to live with?
Are the cup packs a definite to get?

There just a few questions that are in my head just now but if any owner could give me an idea of how their ownership has been would be appreciated.

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

163 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
dalzo said:
Just curious as to how these are like as a daily, considering getting one as my first fast car (turn 21 in jan) .

Any reliability problems?
What's the mpg like?
How is the interior to live with?
Are the cup packs a definite to get?

There just a few questions that are in my head just now but if any owner could give me an idea of how their ownership has been would be appreciated.
Nigh on bullet proof.

Averaging 27mpg with 90% being urban use, on a motorway at 70 it'll do low 30's easily if not mid 30's depending on if you use cruise or not and the road you're on.

Interior is nice enough, it's fairly modern and solid feeling. It feels a bit more premium if you don't just get the standard cloth seats. Either the recaros or the leather seats make it a nicer place to be.

Waste of time unless you get the cup pack, it's all about the diff. The ride is hard but it's fairly compliant.


Hope you have a fair amount of restraint, money and a good postcode though as insurance will be silly at 21 and it gets into license losing speeds while hardly making a noise about it.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
dalzo said:
Just curious as to how these are like as a daily, considering getting one as my first fast car (turn 21 in jan) .

Any reliability problems?
What's the mpg like?
How is the interior to live with?
Are the cup packs a definite to get?

There just a few questions that are in my head just now but if any owner could give me an idea of how their ownership has been would be appreciated.
Any reliability problems? - Not really, just some early engine rattle issues.

What's the mpg like? - Depends how/where you drive. 20-40 mpg.

How is the interior to live with? - Not VW, but OK. Rear is a coal hole.

Are the cup packs a definite to get? - Yes. Base Cup or FF + Cup Pack.


They are easy to tune and 300 Bhp is about £300. Also they are an amusing track day car.

Some nice used ones around for £12K ish now. Many private sellers seem to want dealer prices. Best avoid.

dalzo

Original Poster:

1,877 posts

142 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
GrumpyTwig said:
Nigh on bullet proof.

Averaging 27mpg with 90% being urban use, on a motorway at 70 it'll do low 30's easily if not mid 30's depending on if you use cruise or not and the road you're on.

Interior is nice enough, it's fairly modern and solid feeling. It feels a bit more premium if you don't just get the standard cloth seats. Either the recaros or the leather seats make it a nicer place to be.

Waste of time unless you get the cup pack, it's all about the diff. The ride is hard but it's fairly compliant.


Hope you have a fair amount of restraint, money and a good postcode though as insurance will be silly at 21 and it gets into license losing speeds while hardly making a noise about it.
Thanks for the reply spot on what I was looking for, I appreciate the insurance is pretty expensive at £2200 but were only young once haha!

Technomatt said:
dalzo said:
Just curious as to how these are like as a daily, considering getting one as my first fast car (turn 21 in jan) .

Any reliability problems?
What's the mpg like?
How is the interior to live with?
Are the cup packs a definite to get?

There just a few questions that are in my head just now but if any owner could give me an idea of how their ownership has been would be appreciated.
Any reliability problems? - Not really, just some early engine rattle issues.

What's the mpg like? - Depends how/where you drive. 20-40 mpg.

How is the interior to live with? - Not VW, but OK. Rear is a coal hole.

Are the cup packs a definite to get? - Yes. Base Cup or FF + Cup Pack.


They are easy to tune and 300 Bhp is about £300. Also they are an amusing track day car.

Some nice used ones around for £12K ish now. Many private sellers seem to want dealer prices. Best avoid.
What are the engine rattle isssues currently looking at 10 plate 250's would they be affected?
What are the differences in cup packs?

Probably wouldn't tune it till I'm used to it, maybe a brake pad and lines upgrade at the most nice to know they are pretty tuneable though.

Thanks for your reply

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

163 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
quotequote all
Should mention having just reminded myself, while they can be remapped to 300 or more bhp if you're using it on track it might be wise to either hold off doing it or invest in some extra cooling.

They've shown to get pretty toasty, mine was sat at 110c on a recent TD and I've seen people mention in hotter weather it can get up as high as 130c which afaik if border line for what you want oil to get to.

Oil cooler is a mod I'd like to do, but if you're just using it on the road you won't need to worry about it.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
dalzo said:
What are the engine rattle isssues currently looking at 10 plate 250's would they be affected?
What are the differences in cup packs?

Probably wouldn't tune it till I'm used to it, maybe a brake pad and lines upgrade at the most nice to know they are pretty tuneable though.

Thanks for your reply
Some early 250s had timing belt roller bearing rattles.

Cup packs are the same. Just depends if you have the basic Cup car or the Full Fat version with a Cup pack option.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
I also feel an intersting debate over oil temperatures is on its way.

Doesn't a decent spec Ester Synthetic oil run satisfactorily at 130 Deg C?

Where is the oil temperature being measured? Engine outlet, inlet or at the sump?

Discuss.... biggrin

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

163 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Technomatt said:
I also feel an intersting debate over oil temperatures is on its way.

Doesn't a decent spec Ester Synthetic oil run satisfactorily at 130 Deg C?

Where is the oil temperature being measured? Engine outlet, inlet or at the sump?

Discuss.... biggrin
Debate away depends how much you value your engine, as for measurement from the RS monitor I seem to recall it's none of the above.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
GrumpyTwig said:
Technomatt said:
I also feel an intersting debate over oil temperatures is on its way.

Doesn't a decent spec Ester Synthetic oil run satisfactorily at 130 Deg C?

Where is the oil temperature being measured? Engine outlet, inlet or at the sump?

Discuss.... biggrin
Debate away depends how much you value your engine, as for measurement from the RS monitor I seem to recall it's none of the above.
So where does the Monitor pick up oil temperature then?

And are you really suggesting an engine is likely to fail at 130 Deg C oil temperature?

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

163 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Technomatt said:
So where does the Monitor pick up oil temperature then?

And are you really suggesting an engine is likely to fail at 130 Deg C oil temperature?
You're the expert, you tell us all.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
GrumpyTwig said:
Technomatt said:
So where does the Monitor pick up oil temperature then?

And are you really suggesting an engine is likely to fail at 130 Deg C oil temperature?
You're the expert, you tell us all.
No, I much prefer 'the facts' from you as you raised the issue and like facts.

I'm sure you can back up your claims ref Megane oil coolers, engine temperatures and potential failures.

Some help? The Clio 200 monitor doesnt have an oil temp sensor does it?, yet it dispalys oil temp.

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

163 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Technomatt said:
GrumpyTwig said:
Technomatt said:
So where does the Monitor pick up oil temperature then?

And are you really suggesting an engine is likely to fail at 130 Deg C oil temperature?
You're the expert, you tell us all.
No, I much prefer 'the facts' from you as you raised the issue and like facts.

I'm sure you can back up your claims ref Megane oil coolers, engine temperatures and potential failures.

Some help? The Clio 200 monitor doesnt have an oil temp sensor does it?, yet it dispalys oil temp.
You're the pragmatist.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Monday 16th September 2013
quotequote all
GrumpyTwig said:
Technomatt said:
GrumpyTwig said:
Technomatt said:
So where does the Monitor pick up oil temperature then?

And are you really suggesting an engine is likely to fail at 130 Deg C oil temperature?
You're the expert, you tell us all.
No, I much prefer 'the facts' from you as you raised the issue and like facts.

I'm sure you can back up your claims ref Megane oil coolers, engine temperatures and potential failures.

Some help? The Clio 200 monitor doesnt have an oil temp sensor does it?, yet it dispalys oil temp.
You're the pragmatist.
I’ve dropped in a few clues regarding oil quality and oil temperature sensing.

You raised the potential issue. No technical support to back it up? Surely not.

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

163 months

Monday 16th September 2013
quotequote all
  • yawn*

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Tuesday 17th September 2013
quotequote all
It does show how a lack of experience and knowledge can mislead people.

ant leigh

714 posts

149 months

Tuesday 17th September 2013
quotequote all
Since my Megane was nicked I realise I've missed the pointless Renault arguments on the French forums started by TM biggrin

framerateuk

2,771 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th September 2013
quotequote all
Any reliability problems?
I've had a couple of little problems that were fixed during the warrantee period, but nothing worse than any other new car I've bought. Dash dials needed to be changed when the screen broke, door hinges have been changed and my recaro seat was rattly. The 2nd two have been quite common amounst owners, but I'm the only person I've heard of with a broken screen. Bad luck on that I guess!

What's the mpg like?
Pretty good for a car of its type. Average is 27mpg for me. On a long run you can get mid 30's without a problem.

How is the interior to live with?
Very nice! It's no Audi but the plastics feel solid and nothing has fallen apart or broken. The Recaro seats are great. The stereo might not be good enough if you like your music loud, but I've had no problems with it.

Are the cup packs a definite to get?
YES. This car is all about the diff and it would be a shame if you didn't get it.

Bottom line is I love mine. I've had it three years and have no intention of changing it anytime soon. It did a lot of trackdays in the first two years of its life and performed very well. It's since been kept as a road car (with the Caterham doing the trackdays instead) and its been comfortable everyday car with plenty of grunt.

Can't fault it in the wet either. Great traction and combined with good tyres feels very planted.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

139 months

Wednesday 18th September 2013
quotequote all
ant leigh said:
Since my Megane was nicked I realise I've missed the pointless Renault arguments on the French forums started by TM biggrin
Glad to be of service.....

I like the dialogue with the self-proclaimed weird Troll Hunting hobbyist and his subsequent squirming.

PAJRS250

7 posts

239 months

Wednesday 18th September 2013
quotequote all
I've had my 2010 Megane RS250 for about 14 months now, and absolutely love it.

No reliability issues at all for me in that time.

I get 31mpg on average (using fuelly.com) - around 80% is on the motorway at sensible speeds.

Interior is ok - I've come from an Alfa GT which felt quite special (despite being older), in comparison the Renault isn't as nice a place to be. But I've been in much worse! And has been said above, with leather seats it's comfortable and looks decent enough.

I don't have the Cup pack - and I wouldn't want one. I wanted the sat nav and a less bone-shaking ride (I'm now in my 40s!). The performance without the Cup pack is already blistering (if you put your mind to it) - not sure I'd want any more really.

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

163 months

Wednesday 18th September 2013
quotequote all
Technomatt aka the gearbox specialist said:
It does show how a lack of experience and knowledge can mislead people.
laugh