Arun's R26.R #021/230
Discussion
Well got back home after picking her up from Basingstoke a couple hours ago. Over 100 miles of mostly motorway journey, I can happily say that I absolutely adore this car. It's a perfect mix of R26 and my old track prepped Fiesta ST, but wth everything turned up to 11.
Aside from the pinsharp drive, and a certain more willingness to pick up speed than the R26(very noticeable), the bigest thing that has occured to me was how it batters the senses. It is really quite hardcore, much more than I expecte. At the top of the list is the road noise. The lack of sound deadening really invites a whole heap of tyre whine, clunks and rattles from whatever the sticky rubber is throwing into the arches. It really is intense. The seats are enveloping and offer quite a restricted (coupled with the harnesses) but very suportive driving position. The whine is very apparant on the motorway, but I do love it.
The ride is very very firm, and I'm sure the seats play a part as well. I know it has softer springs than the car i px'd this morning, but I definitely didn't feel a softer ride on the whole.
The Titanium exahust looks the business but I must say is no where near as loud as I had envisaged. I think the microphone position on the Nurburgring car led us to believe it was quite a bit louder. I am however very happy with it, as it's noticeably deeper in tone and gives some lovely overrun pops and burbles. The Darth Vader turbo whoosh is great (esp' through the Dartford Tunnel
), but gone is the turbo whistle of other Megane Sports.
Performance wise, I havn't been able to lean on the tyres yet as i'm unfamiliar with their capability, but the odd bit of twisty road I have driven on gave so much back by way of feedback, through the wheel and more noticeable through the seat.
The car got plenty of attention as I drove back on the motorway. I really did feel like I was driving a tarmac rally car in between stages. Got her up to 38.1mpg as well
It looks fantastic, drives like a dream and sounds like nothing else. Enjoy the pics.
Big thanks to everyone at Martin's Renault Basingstoke. It was a long ride (since June!)but we got there in the end!!
Hopefully i'll be at the Southfleet meet on saturday, for those that would like to see it up close
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/... (most pics in this one)
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/...
Aside from the pinsharp drive, and a certain more willingness to pick up speed than the R26(very noticeable), the bigest thing that has occured to me was how it batters the senses. It is really quite hardcore, much more than I expecte. At the top of the list is the road noise. The lack of sound deadening really invites a whole heap of tyre whine, clunks and rattles from whatever the sticky rubber is throwing into the arches. It really is intense. The seats are enveloping and offer quite a restricted (coupled with the harnesses) but very suportive driving position. The whine is very apparant on the motorway, but I do love it.
The ride is very very firm, and I'm sure the seats play a part as well. I know it has softer springs than the car i px'd this morning, but I definitely didn't feel a softer ride on the whole.
The Titanium exahust looks the business but I must say is no where near as loud as I had envisaged. I think the microphone position on the Nurburgring car led us to believe it was quite a bit louder. I am however very happy with it, as it's noticeably deeper in tone and gives some lovely overrun pops and burbles. The Darth Vader turbo whoosh is great (esp' through the Dartford Tunnel
), but gone is the turbo whistle of other Megane Sports. Performance wise, I havn't been able to lean on the tyres yet as i'm unfamiliar with their capability, but the odd bit of twisty road I have driven on gave so much back by way of feedback, through the wheel and more noticeable through the seat.
The car got plenty of attention as I drove back on the motorway. I really did feel like I was driving a tarmac rally car in between stages. Got her up to 38.1mpg as well
It looks fantastic, drives like a dream and sounds like nothing else. Enjoy the pics.
Big thanks to everyone at Martin's Renault Basingstoke. It was a long ride (since June!)but we got there in the end!!
Hopefully i'll be at the Southfleet meet on saturday, for those that would like to see it up close
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/... (most pics in this one)
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/...
Gassing Station | French Bred | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff