Megane Cup as a part time track car

[FwdConvert]

I've had a couple of Clios and other fwd cars in the past but am mostly used to rwd track cars. I'm warming to front wheel drive these days, both as road and possible track cars after a couple of test days in a friend's very highly prepared Honda Civic race car and a newly finished Clio Cup spec. car.

So I'm wondering if a Megane would be a decent bet as a road car that is fun on the road (?) and can be comfortably driven to track days when I don't have the time or will to collect and trailer my other car. Is the Megane a good bet for this? Would it be as fun as the reviews suggest and is it a decent trackday toy? Or have I ignored alternatives?

Thanks.

Francis

[Hoygo 2]

R26.r is what you are looking for,fantastic on road and track,and that's as the factory made it,several tweaks could make it even more amazing.

[Stevoox]

Its what the Renaultsports are all about and the Megs are at the top of that!

Meganes have held the FWD record for the ring for quite some time now, previously the R26.R and now the 265 Trophy which in itself provs they are capable as track cars from factory

With regards to day to day driving (i own a 265 Trophy) i find it easy to live with. The ride can at times be noisy from the 19" speedlines but meh, who cares because they are brilliant to drive!

[FwdConvert]

Thanks for that. Probably what I was exacting (and hoping) to hear. I wondered if the 26R would be more fun but possibly a little too much like the Clio Cup race car, in less comfortable and liveable with on longer journeys?

But I also wondered if people would recommend Clios rather than the Megane for that legendary 'spirited' fun factor; the agility and nimbleness. Is the Megane so grippy and capable that it can seem less engaging? I know how fast they are and have seen a fair few videos of them on track so expect it to be plenty quick enough for track days.

[shaun442k]

I assume you're referring to the 225 cup?
I had the Megane 225 cup as a daily and took it on track a few times. It is fun on the road, the only issue I found is that it needs to be driven hard to find it's playful edge. On the road that can mean some silly speeds.

The suspension was a little firm sometimes on the road, nothing too mad, but was pretty well setup on track. In the wet not much could stay with me. The R26 has the LSD over this(same suspension) so would be better again, then the R26.r is the stripped out one.

[FwdConvert]

I was thinking more of the newer Megane 265 with Cup suspension and 18" wheels. I'm still getting used to fwd on track after many years in rwd and mid engined cars so felt that a sporty variant might give me more time behind the wheel and more practise in them, especially when I don't have time or the will to trailer a car.

Renault seemed the natural option given the Cup race car I have (OK, very different I know) but also wondered about Honda Civic Type Rs (love the look of them but hear they are too unyielding on the road) or the EP3.

I shared a garage with a team running a Britcar EP3 a few years ago and followed it around a lot but lost out in the corners even in a well set up M3, so that one definitely handled well. Does anyone have any direct experience of each type?

[joe_90]

Yep.. used mine, worked fine (my track car had a broken diff at the time).
However try and get one with a LSD, and a Stage One makes lots of difference.

[framerateuk]

Used to drive to work in my Megane 250 daily and do trackdays on the weekends.

It takes everything in it's stride. It's expensive on the tyres and brakes, but it's a really fun car to drive quickly, and a track is the only real place where you can get to close to the limits.

[supertouring]

If you want a superb track day car, ex-Clio Cup racecar, either the older 182 shape or the new 197 shape. I had a 182 and it was just stunningly quick and the sequential box was just a dream. I also had a day in a 197 version that was even more enjoyable to drive, but they are about twice the price.

I have a Megane R26R now and it is a good comprise between road and track car, but not a patch on the 182 Cup racer.

[sumo69]

Silverstone run a fleet of 250 Cup's on 18" rims as their tuition cars - the instructors love them which is why they are running them for nearly 3 years.

David

[FwdConvert]

Thanks again chaps. I think that confirms it, Megane it will be given the comments on fun (knew they were capable but wasn't sure of the fun factor).

Re. the Clio Cup cars, agreed with how good they are, having had two ex BTTC and Euro series cars. Tricky when cold and in the wet until the tyres are warm but after that... Feels like driving a mini touring car! Well, I guess.

[framerateuk]

It's definitely a fun car on track.

I can drive the Caterham all day, then hop in the Megane to drive home and still love how it feels. It's not the same "laugh out loud" enjoyment of the Caterham, but I love pretty much everything about it from the engine note to the ridiculous pace you can exit corners with!

[FwdConvert]

I like the sound of that! If you can step from a Caterham to a Megane and still enjoy it so much it must have 'something!" It's the early on the power/rapid corner exit aspect of that LSD that intrigues me. I must have spent hours reading reviews and watching videos this week. There are some awesome laps of the 'Ring with various Meganes scooting past all sorts.

I think the only thing that will stop me going for one now is a (probably silly) thought going through my head - that is if a later Clio Cup race car could be made road legal (as I did with a series 1 16V racer) or a road car be given the sequential box and maybe some of the suspension parts of a racer. Then I'd have a car I could use regularly that would be a good duplicate of the race car. Doubt it makes sense though so odds are definitely on the Megane.