Megane R26 from other cars.....experience?
Discussion
M3csl>R26.R
Megane better but it was new and CSL was old (brand new to about 5 years old).
R26.R was much more special than a R26 but a CSL was more special than a Z4. R26.R was amazing for what it was which elevated it above ///M's finest-not sure a plain jane R26 would cut it above a Z4 coupe.
Megane better but it was new and CSL was old (brand new to about 5 years old).
R26.R was much more special than a R26 but a CSL was more special than a Z4. R26.R was amazing for what it was which elevated it above ///M's finest-not sure a plain jane R26 would cut it above a Z4 coupe.
I went from a 1.6 mk2 mx5 to a r26 (blue). Had a ktec exhaust put on, suspension refresh, tuning and some other bits. Its a fun car and quick for what it is, mine did low 270's on the rollers and I'd stripped some weight out of it.
Downsides were it was unreliable. Not big things but continuous small fixes needed, interior and exterior bits, handbrake slipping, suspension bits to replace, had a taste for window regulators etc. It was heavy on brakes and very heavy on tyres. Mpg averaged at 19mpg. Final straw was a coolant leak out of the turbo, right PITA to get too.
Cambelts and clutches are expensive jobs, clutches can be short lived. 60k intervals or 5 years on the Cambelt. Personally I wouldn't buy another but maybe I was unlucky, still have it and it will come back on the road at some point but I was never relaxed driving it. Always listening for the next new noise or dodgy feeling. When it was on form though it's a cracking car.
Downsides were it was unreliable. Not big things but continuous small fixes needed, interior and exterior bits, handbrake slipping, suspension bits to replace, had a taste for window regulators etc. It was heavy on brakes and very heavy on tyres. Mpg averaged at 19mpg. Final straw was a coolant leak out of the turbo, right PITA to get too.
Cambelts and clutches are expensive jobs, clutches can be short lived. 60k intervals or 5 years on the Cambelt. Personally I wouldn't buy another but maybe I was unlucky, still have it and it will come back on the road at some point but I was never relaxed driving it. Always listening for the next new noise or dodgy feeling. When it was on form though it's a cracking car.
You must have been having fun averaging 19mpg 
My standard 275 averages approx 27mpg according to the trip computer (take that with a pinch of salt perhaps). That's an A road commute with the odd opportunity to give it beans. Basically same engine and my Mk3 is obviously a bit heavier.
I did do 50 litres of fuel at 15mpg (properly calculated) blasting round Salisbury Plains and back one Sunday morning
My standard 275 averages approx 27mpg according to the trip computer (take that with a pinch of salt perhaps). That's an A road commute with the odd opportunity to give it beans. Basically same engine and my Mk3 is obviously a bit heavier.
I did do 50 litres of fuel at 15mpg (properly calculated) blasting round Salisbury Plains and back one Sunday morning
Edited by Zarco on Sunday 15th March 13:43
Edited by Zarco on Sunday 15th March 13:45
I've got an R26 that I came to following a fiat coupe 20v turbo and prior to that a S1 Elise. I love it, it does rattle a bit but has been reliable and has never broken down.
Its quick enough and handles brilliantly. Thinking back it can be hustled down my favourite roads as quick as the Elise could have been. I don't find it too heavy on brakes but tends to get through front tyres every 18months.
I would definitely recommend getting one and I can't see them getting any cheaper. I can't think of anything that I would replace it with for the price.
Its quick enough and handles brilliantly. Thinking back it can be hustled down my favourite roads as quick as the Elise could have been. I don't find it too heavy on brakes but tends to get through front tyres every 18months.
I would definitely recommend getting one and I can't see them getting any cheaper. I can't think of anything that I would replace it with for the price.
This is the thing, for 4-6k you can get a really mint 230 ideally with some mods already done and I imagine I'll take it on the track at somepoint once I've done a few days in the 182 and know what I'm doing. I know I'll miss the Z4s looks and RWD but the more I think about it the more I like the idea of a really nice r26. I might even end up with a bit of spare cash once the Z4C is sold which could go into some upgrades or else on track days and tires for the 182
I replaced my Lotus Evora S with two cars: an R26.R and a Clio 182.
Never tried an E85 Z4 but I suspect you’ll find an R26 quicker over the ground, more nimble, with better steering and simply more fun. The tradeoffs are a much less special engine and considerably worse build quality.
Though if you already have a 182 and are keeping it, I’d question if an R26 is different enough whereas your Z4 is about as different as it gets, allowing your cars to serve different needs. Only reason I bought the 182 is to keep the miles off the .R...I wouldn’t have bothered if I owned the cooking version.
Never tried an E85 Z4 but I suspect you’ll find an R26 quicker over the ground, more nimble, with better steering and simply more fun. The tradeoffs are a much less special engine and considerably worse build quality.
Though if you already have a 182 and are keeping it, I’d question if an R26 is different enough whereas your Z4 is about as different as it gets, allowing your cars to serve different needs. Only reason I bought the 182 is to keep the miles off the .R...I wouldn’t have bothered if I owned the cooking version.
I had an R26R in the past and now daily a 130i (vaguely similar to Z3.0si)
Both completely different chassis, but both great.
The FWD with LSD are much more forgiving when hooning, so perhaps less challenging/interesting. Definitely faster for the average person.
... but LY R26s are lovely and quite rare. I would give it a go. If it doesn't work for you, it's easy to go back as there are still quite a few Z4Cs around.
Both completely different chassis, but both great.
The FWD with LSD are much more forgiving when hooning, so perhaps less challenging/interesting. Definitely faster for the average person.
... but LY R26s are lovely and quite rare. I would give it a go. If it doesn't work for you, it's easy to go back as there are still quite a few Z4Cs around.
lord trumpton said:
That looks really very good. The owner also has an R26.R. Easy enough to fit a diff to the Trophy to bring it up to R26 spec.Z4MCSL said:
Argh I've started looking at 250/265/275 megane now too????????
I want one of the 300hp fettled ones now!
This is exactly what I did 4yrs ago. Ended up with a 1yr old 275 having started off looking at R26 I want one of the 300hp fettled ones now!
Man maths took over to an extent, but the price difference between a 250 with the options I wanted and a 275 still in warranty didn't add up to me.
plenty said:
lord trumpton said:
That looks really very good. The owner also has an R26.R. Easy enough to fit a diff to the Trophy to bring it up to R26 spec.
I bought reasonably low mile blue R26 two and a half years ago. I sold my 106 rallye and wanted something newer french and I didnt have to put much towards it.
After being over at the Nurburgring two years prior and the 3 most common cars were GT3s, M3s and Meganes. All be it MK3 ones but my friend had one of those and I wanted a late model car.
I really enjoy the car but servicing and parts can be quite expensive. It is quite raw for most but I was used to older cars so is luxury for me.
I wanted the car perfect so spent a reasonable amount having quite a few things refreshed. I took the car off the road over this winter as I had not used my A4 for 2 years (owned for 16 years) and wanted to use it. But looking forward to using it again in April.
Mine has not been remapped but I do have a pure motorsport exhaust, airtec intercooler, cooksport springs more modern DAB/bluetooth headunit and lowered seat brackets as you do sit very high.
Any more questions let me know.
After being over at the Nurburgring two years prior and the 3 most common cars were GT3s, M3s and Meganes. All be it MK3 ones but my friend had one of those and I wanted a late model car.
I really enjoy the car but servicing and parts can be quite expensive. It is quite raw for most but I was used to older cars so is luxury for me.
I wanted the car perfect so spent a reasonable amount having quite a few things refreshed. I took the car off the road over this winter as I had not used my A4 for 2 years (owned for 16 years) and wanted to use it. But looking forward to using it again in April.
Mine has not been remapped but I do have a pure motorsport exhaust, airtec intercooler, cooksport springs more modern DAB/bluetooth headunit and lowered seat brackets as you do sit very high.
Any more questions let me know.
I have an R26.r which I bought it October last year. It really does feel very special. I suspect the std R26 is similar in terms of the basic car, so will feel fairly similar except for the weight, seats etc.
I have done relatively few miles (~150) so far but it covers ground remarkably quickly and is pretty raw. It feels quicker than the M2 on back roads but I think that is more about rawness than outright real world pace. Booked on a track day early April so will see how that goes.
I also have an M2 and one of my concerns was that I have been a RWD man for the last 15 years so I wondered about moving to FWD. The R26 is a different experience and so they compliment each other very well. The LSD is amazing and the way it pulls you through and out of a corner for an FWD machine is staggering.
Can't comment on reliability etc just yet but it's obviously not a BMW inside!
I wouldn't worry about changing from RWD to this, it will be fun for sure! I think they look pretty cool too!
I have done relatively few miles (~150) so far but it covers ground remarkably quickly and is pretty raw. It feels quicker than the M2 on back roads but I think that is more about rawness than outright real world pace. Booked on a track day early April so will see how that goes.
I also have an M2 and one of my concerns was that I have been a RWD man for the last 15 years so I wondered about moving to FWD. The R26 is a different experience and so they compliment each other very well. The LSD is amazing and the way it pulls you through and out of a corner for an FWD machine is staggering.
Can't comment on reliability etc just yet but it's obviously not a BMW inside!
I wouldn't worry about changing from RWD to this, it will be fun for sure! I think they look pretty cool too!
Edited by KristianS on Thursday 19th March 10:26
Edited by KristianS on Thursday 19th March 10:30
Thanks for the input everyone, really helpful.
I am now starting to think i need
R26
Intercooler (airtec or Ktec)
Exahust
Intake
630cc injectors
Stage 2 remap
and from what I have see n that should be good for 270-290hp (with torque capped at 300/290)
Anyone have experience in R26s at this level of tune, would be keen to get an idea of how quick that will actually be in real world conditions?
I am now starting to think i need
R26
Intercooler (airtec or Ktec)
Exahust
Intake
630cc injectors
Stage 2 remap
and from what I have see n that should be good for 270-290hp (with torque capped at 300/290)
Anyone have experience in R26s at this level of tune, would be keen to get an idea of how quick that will actually be in real world conditions?
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