Arun's R26.R #021/230
Discussion
Just in case you missed it in the french bred forum, here's my new motor. Will be at the Southfleet meet on saturday if anyone wants to have a closer look
Well got back home after picking her up from Basingstoke a few 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!!
As said before, hopefully i'll be bringing it along on Saturday to Southfleet for the meet, if anyone would like to see it.
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/... (most pics in this one)
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/...
Well got back home after picking her up from Basingstoke a few 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!!
As said before, hopefully i'll be bringing it along on Saturday to Southfleet for the meet, if anyone would like to see it.
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/... (most pics in this one)
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/...
I quite like that - didn't think I would with red wheels but I do. Not for the shy and retiring though! 
Are those Toyo R888's? If so take your time finding their limits on the road as I know from experience they don't like wet roads and cold temperatures. Found out the hard way and nearly planted a friends Exige into some armco!
I should've read the disclaimer on the Toyo website first:
"Caution: Careful attention is required in wet conditions due to limited aquaplaning capabilities. As this tyre is designed and produced with competition compounds, no warranty is implied or given."
Super grip when they are properly hot though, have fun.
Are those Toyo R888's? If so take your time finding their limits on the road as I know from experience they don't like wet roads and cold temperatures. Found out the hard way and nearly planted a friends Exige into some armco!
I should've read the disclaimer on the Toyo website first:
"Caution: Careful attention is required in wet conditions due to limited aquaplaning capabilities. As this tyre is designed and produced with competition compounds, no warranty is implied or given."
Super grip when they are properly hot though, have fun.
Thankyou mate. Rest assured i'm being very cautious at the moment. They are indeed R888's. Still exploring the limits very slowly on these dry but cold roads we're having at the moment. Since I've not had semi-slicks before I'm taking things very slowly till I learn what the rubber can do. Very impressed so far. The first time I drive it in the wet (let's be honest, won't be too long!) will be very interesting. I am really not one to muck about in poor conditions, I have trackdays and a sprint championship to have my fun. Not gonna let anything happen to this beauty.
Arun_D said:
Cracking car Arun, well done mate. I'd forgotten it came in any other colour than white! Looks equally good in black, perhaps even preferable as it disguises the carbon bonnet which I'm a little undecided on. Would'nt mind getting myself one of these in a year or two.
John D. said:
Cracking car Arun, well done mate. I'd forgotten it came in any other colour than white! Looks equally good in black, perhaps even preferable as it disguises the carbon bonnet which I'm a little undecided on. Would'nt mind getting myself one of these in a year or two.
Yep, that was exactly my thinking, John. The bonnet stands out too much for my liking on the other colours, and there was no way I was gonna get a white one (nice colour, but pretty much everyone else has ordered white). Animal, i'll get on the case very soon!
More pics (don't worry, I have driven it today as well!)...
(more in gallery):
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/...
(more in gallery):
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/arunweb100/...
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