Any R26 Owners?

[Dan x2c]

Hi All

I've recently sold my 172 Cup which I had for the best part of 2 years. Over that time I'd spent quite a bit turning it into a daily-use track car, seats coilovers, half cage etc etc.

Really want to move to an R26 sometime this year and wondered how people find them day to day and on the track.

I've read numerous reviews saying there too harsh for everyday use....is this really the case? Bearing in mind i've been used to H&R fixed dampening coilovers for the past year and I didn't find them too bad.

Also how do the standard brakes hold up with some abuse on a track, do the pads need replacing?

Not looking to spend half as much on parts for this but just want something that is very capable.

Literally the following...

ITG Panel Filter
Remap
Brake Pad upgrade
Spare set of wheels with R888's or A048's

Would there be anything else you'd consider?

Thanks in advance

[sniff petrol]

I've seen a black one at Oulton Park last November and that appeared to be going very well - not far off E36 and E46 M3's

[obes]

the "ultimate" one's out soon I think..
no rear seats and a carbon roof is about all i've heard though !
255bhp I believe

[Mclovin]

obes said:

the "ultimate" one's out soon I think..
no rear seats and a carbon roof is about all i've heard though !
255bhp I believe

Any link to info about this ultimate one, sounds very appealing.

[clarki]

Ive had mine for a few months now - traded up from a 182 Trophy.

Great car - good grip, pace and nowhere near as bouncy and uncompromising as the clio. And over 30 mpg!!

Done 1 trackday and it performed spot on. Not too much wear and tear on the car and chased down a fair few bigger spec vehicles - great fun.

Downside is plasticiness interior, exhaust noise is kinda loud, tyres are mega expensive and the rattles have started to develop already - and im only at 6k miles!!

The evo IS apparently going to happen my dealer informs me. 200 to be made, no rear seats, carbon roof and bonnet, AP Racings 6 piston brakes, sachs suspension, no rear seats and very little in the way of the standard creature comforts the R26 comes with in order to slash the weight. Price is expected to be circa 21k, due some time around august.

Sounds very raw and uncompromising!! - ive told him I want one in white with a/c

[CarlT]

clarki said:

The evo IS apparently going to happen my dealer informs me. 200 to be made, no rear seats, carbon roof and bonnet, AP Racings 6 piston brakes, sachs suspension, no rear seats and very little in the way of the standard creature comforts the R26 comes with in order to slash the weight. Price is expected to be circa 21k, due some time around august.

Sounds very raw and uncompromising!! - ive told him I want one in white with a/c

Your dealer is merely guessing on the spec, no details have been released !

[Wiggwam]

I traded up from a 182 and have not found it a problem to live with day to day. I have done numerous trips into France and covered over 600miles in it in one day and no aches or pains... stunning piece of kit.

Brakes are fantastic and prob no need to upgrade. Only thing is they do need replacing regularly if driven hard as discs very abrasive. I needed a new set of pads and discs at 11k.

Tyres are also bespoke for the car so i would stick to those. I was thinking of changing them but after speaking to the guy that headed the project when i visited the factory i decided to stick with the ones on there...

No offical news on Ultimate yet so everything you've heard is pure guess work so far...

I also had a load of rattles at 6k miles but a quick visit to my dealer sorted it... apparently an easy fix to the rubber mounts under the dash.. car has done 12k very hard miles and is still feeling like new...

[_daveR]

I've just ordered one, should be here at the end of May.
I'd looked at Golf GTi's but they were just too much for what you get IMO. Managed to get a pretty good deal & px so went for the R26 instead.

[daverichmond1]

To add further support to the R26 case, I took mine on a 3500 mile road trip across Europe last summer and it performed faultlessly...

Swiss Alps, Autobahns & Nurburgring, it ate them all up and performed brilliantly!

Get yourself over to www.meganesport.net for more information mate, the community is full of top people and packed with useful knowledge and tips. In addition, you probably will find a good source for the vehicle on the site as many dealership staff use it and offer excellent deals.

Hope this helps,

Dave

P.S. As I got my wheels powder coated white on Friday, I thought i'd post up some pictures too! The remaining Michelin decals are being removed this week by the way!

Here is the car in 'Road Trip Trim' which was on the car for 3 weeks last summer:


And here are some photos of the car which were taken today:

Edited by daverichmond1 on Sunday 20th April 23:10

[_daveR]

Ah, thats where the stickers came from Dave!

All makes sense now.

[Dan x2c]

Cheers for all the feedback, I signed up to meganesport.net about 2 months back and this is a very good site to get more information. Merely posted on here as well as I thought I may also get more opinions from people who aren't on there.