Impreza WRX to Megane R26
Discussion
Hi guys,
I currently have an 04 WRX, it has been modified and is running around 290bhp but am getting wandering eyes...I've always loved the R26 Megane and have a hankering for one, but will I regret it? I know that is probably something that can only be answered by me, but I wondered if anyone had experience with both.
With a few mods the Megane would be running same sort of power as my current WRX so I imagine they'd be pretty similar on performance.
My only drawback is going back to FWD and also the fact it's French - they don't have the best reliability reputation but saying that I have never had first hand experience so who am I to judge!
I currently have an 04 WRX, it has been modified and is running around 290bhp but am getting wandering eyes...I've always loved the R26 Megane and have a hankering for one, but will I regret it? I know that is probably something that can only be answered by me, but I wondered if anyone had experience with both.
With a few mods the Megane would be running same sort of power as my current WRX so I imagine they'd be pretty similar on performance.
My only drawback is going back to FWD and also the fact it's French - they don't have the best reliability reputation but saying that I have never had first hand experience so who am I to judge!
I've had a couple of modified JDM Imprezas since 2001 and I currently use a lightly tweaked low miles R26 as a second train station car.
It's not bad to be honest, although I originally went looking for a Clio Trophy, but prices for those have gone mental in the last 12 months and are now north of £8k
The R26 prices have actually gone up a bit in the last year, so although it won't go up a few hundred whenever you blink like a STI Type R/RA I don't think you will losing out if you only end up making keep it a couple of years.
Performance is OK, and mine acquitted itself pretty well as a stand in car for a PH run recently against some much more powerful cars. But.....as with every non AWD car, it isn't as consistent as a Subaru in all weathers and despite the electronics you will lose traction when pulling away in the wet.
It's not bad to be honest, although I originally went looking for a Clio Trophy, but prices for those have gone mental in the last 12 months and are now north of £8k
The R26 prices have actually gone up a bit in the last year, so although it won't go up a few hundred whenever you blink like a STI Type R/RA I don't think you will losing out if you only end up making keep it a couple of years.
Performance is OK, and mine acquitted itself pretty well as a stand in car for a PH run recently against some much more powerful cars. But.....as with every non AWD car, it isn't as consistent as a Subaru in all weathers and despite the electronics you will lose traction when pulling away in the wet.
Traction in poor weather doesn't really bother me, car will only be used as a weekend toy... I do love my Scooby but just wanted something a bit different and a lot of people rave about the R26 and I have always admired them.
I am taking the Scooby to the Nurburgring in May and will give it a sort of final chance to change my mind lol - if I still have the itch for the R26 when I am back I am going to scratch it!
I am taking the Scooby to the Nurburgring in May and will give it a sort of final chance to change my mind lol - if I still have the itch for the R26 when I am back I am going to scratch it!
SaggyOstrich said:
Traction in poor weather doesn't really bother me, car will only be used as a weekend toy... I do love my Scooby but just wanted something a bit different and a lot of people rave about the R26 and I have always admired them.
I am taking the Scooby to the Nurburgring in May and will give it a sort of final chance to change my mind lol - if I still have the itch for the R26 when I am back I am going to scratch it!
All I can say is drive at least three.I am taking the Scooby to the Nurburgring in May and will give it a sort of final chance to change my mind lol - if I still have the itch for the R26 when I am back I am going to scratch it!
Like all cars there are always some dogs out there and you won’t realise you have driven one, until you drive a good un.
I was supposed to try mine on track earlier this month, but snow caused it to be cancelled.
My 17yo son was going to pop his track Day cherry. To be honest It will be a good car for him to use as it’s quite forgiving.
Edited by Hol on Thursday 15th March 23:46
I can’t say what a R26 will be like against an Impreza but I can tell you what an R26 is like to live with.
I had mine for 5years and about 80,000 Miles. In that time I had no real issues it never let me down. It was probably the best all round car I’ve owned. Like all performance cars if you keep on top of maintenance it won’t let you down, but I wouldn’t say they are as fragile as people say. The only maintenance I had to do was the usual discs and pads plus front hub bearings, while I had the hubs done o had all the drop links and front bushes done at the same time.
Mine was lightly modified to 280bhp and 300lbft with no suspension or break mods and it would keep up with most things on the road also I did a few track days with it and apart from needing tyres afterwards it was great and kept up and passed a lot of more powerful cars due to its handling. I didn’t find I had trouble getting the power down in the wet as long as you’ve got good tyres and you don’t side step the clutch then you shouldn’t have any issues. The LSD helps a lot with traction and handling.
The plus side with it being remapped I could get 40mpg at a steady 70mph motorway cruise normal driving I would get low 30mpg and on track low 20s ish if I remember correctly.
I had mine for 5years and about 80,000 Miles. In that time I had no real issues it never let me down. It was probably the best all round car I’ve owned. Like all performance cars if you keep on top of maintenance it won’t let you down, but I wouldn’t say they are as fragile as people say. The only maintenance I had to do was the usual discs and pads plus front hub bearings, while I had the hubs done o had all the drop links and front bushes done at the same time.
Mine was lightly modified to 280bhp and 300lbft with no suspension or break mods and it would keep up with most things on the road also I did a few track days with it and apart from needing tyres afterwards it was great and kept up and passed a lot of more powerful cars due to its handling. I didn’t find I had trouble getting the power down in the wet as long as you’ve got good tyres and you don’t side step the clutch then you shouldn’t have any issues. The LSD helps a lot with traction and handling.
The plus side with it being remapped I could get 40mpg at a steady 70mph motorway cruise normal driving I would get low 30mpg and on track low 20s ish if I remember correctly.
Andy_C77 said:
I can’t say what a R26 will be like against an Impreza but I can tell you what an R26 is like to live with.
I had mine for 5years and about 80,000 Miles. In that time I had no real issues it never let me down. It was probably the best all round car I’ve owned. Like all performance cars if you keep on top of maintenance it won’t let you down, but I wouldn’t say they are as fragile as people say. The only maintenance I had to do was the usual discs and pads plus front hub bearings, while I had the hubs done o had all the drop links and front bushes done at the same time.
Mine was lightly modified to 280bhp and 300lbft with no suspension or break mods and it would keep up with most things on the road also I did a few track days with it and apart from needing tyres afterwards it was great and kept up and passed a lot of more powerful cars due to its handling. I didn’t find I had trouble getting the power down in the wet as long as you’ve got good tyres and you don’t side step the clutch then you shouldn’t have any issues. The LSD helps a lot with traction and handling.
The plus side with it being remapped I could get 40mpg at a steady 70mph motorway cruise normal driving I would get low 30mpg and on track low 20s ish if I remember correctly.
Thanks for the feedback mate, that's all good to hear - I have also heard lots of horror stories but like you say just got to keep on top of the maintenance, like you should with any performance car!I had mine for 5years and about 80,000 Miles. In that time I had no real issues it never let me down. It was probably the best all round car I’ve owned. Like all performance cars if you keep on top of maintenance it won’t let you down, but I wouldn’t say they are as fragile as people say. The only maintenance I had to do was the usual discs and pads plus front hub bearings, while I had the hubs done o had all the drop links and front bushes done at the same time.
Mine was lightly modified to 280bhp and 300lbft with no suspension or break mods and it would keep up with most things on the road also I did a few track days with it and apart from needing tyres afterwards it was great and kept up and passed a lot of more powerful cars due to its handling. I didn’t find I had trouble getting the power down in the wet as long as you’ve got good tyres and you don’t side step the clutch then you shouldn’t have any issues. The LSD helps a lot with traction and handling.
The plus side with it being remapped I could get 40mpg at a steady 70mph motorway cruise normal driving I would get low 30mpg and on track low 20s ish if I remember correctly.
Quite looking forward to getting one now
Gassing Station | Subaru | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff