Renault MEGANE RS / Porsche

[JKay]

I totally loved my Renault MEGANE RS250 manual With the Cup chassis, I felt so connected, the chassis was so confidence inspiring and made me feel Comfortable pushing it further and further. I went way faster in that than thenV8 M3 I ran at the same Time.

Always was a fan of Porsche so bought my first Porsche, an MY08 997 Turbo tiptronic, and have to say I was pretty disappointed, so swapped into a V8 Vantage and that's great for the purpose it serves

I still however hanker after a sharp connected machine to make me feel like I did in the MEGANE, and was wondering what Porsche anyone could recommend based on the above. I still want to get back into a Porsche and give the marque another chance. 991 GT3RS is out of reach here in aus at north of $500k, so what else can anyone recommend ?

Thank you

[Steve H]

I'm ready to get flamed here but I don't know that there is a Porsche that would feel as easy to exploit all the pace and fun out of as your Megane.

[GT4P]

Cayman GT4 or if too expensive down under a 987.2 S/CR ! Imo a turbo tiptronic was a bad move a c2s manual would have been better !

Edited by GT4P on Friday 23 December 08:03

[GT4P]

With the Aussie dollar strong and the pound weak is it not worth buying from the UK and importing a dream car ie gt3rs(circa 350k aus dollar in the UK) or is there some import tax on secondhand cars!

[robgt3]

Porsche Cayman GT4, sell your soul to the devil, they really are rather good.

[GT4P]

Just a thought being down under and with a sunnier climate 987/981 spyder!

[EGTE]

Cayman R?

[jimmyslr]

Is the answer to this not a GT3, be it 996 or 997? Proper gearbox, legendary engine, lots of race track DNA etc etc. A lot of connection to the road and the driving experience.

I have a megane r26r and a 997.2 GT3. When I describe the r26r to heathens who just think it's a chavved-up hatch back, I talk about as "if Porsche made a GT3 hatchback, this is what it would drive like". The same works in reverse.

[Geneve]

Firstly, the Renaultsport RS Clios and Meganes are very good. There will be people on here who will dismiss them as FWD hot hatches, but they are amongst the most engaging drivers cars ever. I've had a Clio RS 200 2 litre for 6 yrs and 100k kms, and adore it. (However I did buy the new Mk 4 and sold it after 3 weeks - Paddle Shift/Electric Steering/Turbo 1.6 engine - it had lost all its charm.)

Secondly, the 911 Turbos, especially Tips and PDKs, aren't the most rewarding drivers cars. I had a 997 Turbo S for three years - hugely competent, yes, but too clinical for my tastes.

If going contemporary - a Boxster/Cayman/991 GTS might fit the bill, or better still, IMO, the GT4 is an absolute gem.

However, I do think the all new Aston Martin AMG V8 Vantage could be the very special. It's due to be launched at Geneva, in tandem with the new GT3, in March, and I think it will create a lot of excitement.

Edited by Geneve on Friday 23 December 09:34

[georgeq]

any pre-1980s 911 or perhaps a 914

All newer Porsches are too competent and have to much contact patch/power to be fun on the road. I've tried many and think aircooled cars are still undervalued unless you live near a track.

[GT4P]

Geneve said:

Firstly, the Renaultsport RS Clios and Meganes are very good. There will be people on here who will dismiss them as FWD hot hatches, but they are amongst the most engaging drivers cars ever.

Edited by Geneve on Friday 23 December 09:34

Some of the best hot hatches were built in the 80s early 90s although low power(120 ish bhp) by today's standards were a complete riot!
I had an early Toyota Corolla Gti mk1 fwd (not the legendary rwd version).Although it lived in the shadow of the pug205gti and golf mk2 Gti it was just as good if not better IMHO with its 16v twincam fuel injected ford lotus derived engine and low weight!
Any way I digress I didn't mention gt3 as the gt4 is easier to drive and more exploitable for many

[edc]

georgeq said:

any pre-1980s 911 or perhaps a 914

All newer Porsches are too competent and have to much contact patch/power to be fun on the road. I've tried many and think aircooled cars are still undervalued unless you live near a track.

As nice a proposition as these may be they don't really address the OPs point of wanting the same sort of drive. For me that reads, endless grip, good traction, easily accessible limits and fairly easy to drive at the limit, compact and chuckable. Something like a lightly modified 987/987 with M030/X73 is probably more like it.

[hondansx]

I'm a bit sick of people saying you should get an early 90s because they are driver's cars. That's just not true; they simply have no grip. The implication is that the game hasn't moved on, when it clearly has. Otherwise, why don't we follow the flawed logic and just get a VW Beetle - the purest 911 of them all!


I would say get a 997.1 GT3. Fit the RS front arch extenders and put the wider wheels on to make it more pointy.

[JayK12]

Had alot of FWD road car's mainly Honda Type R's (and race car), also Clio Cup. I know how much fun and rewarding they car be and you can drive them on the limit. I have a 981 GTS and it is a great car but you still cannot drive it like a a FWD car, its still very different. Try one, or even still try a 987.

[isaldiri]

edc said:

As nice a proposition as these may be they don't really address the OPs point of wanting the same sort of drive. For me that reads, endless grip, good traction, easily accessible limits and fairly easy to drive at the limit, compact and chuckable. Something like a lightly modified 987/987 with M030/X73 is probably more like it.

+1. Given the OP has said he wanted a car that's confidence inspiring that you can push hard, a lightly modded 987 might well be better for that purpose even than a 6/7gt3 which is sharp and connected but not necessarily easy to be quick in.

[GT4P]

987spyder it is then!

[JKay]

Cheers for the replies.

GT4P said:

With the Aussie dollar strong and the pound weak is it not worth buying from the UK and importing a dream car ie gt3rs(circa 350k aus dollar in the UK) or is there some import tax on secondhand cars!

Yes there is tax, GST, Luxury car tax, transport and insurance etc which will bring the price pretty close. I could be wrong but for a 991 GT3RS, maybe not worth the hassle right now.

jimmyslr said:

Is the answer to this not a GT3, be it 996 or 997? Proper gearbox, legendary engine, lots of race track DNA etc etc. A lot of connection to the road and the driving experience.

I have a megane r26r and a 997.2 GT3. When I describe the r26r to heathens who just think it's a chavved-up hatch back, I talk about as "if Porsche made a GT3 hatchback, this is what it would drive like". The same works in reverse.

Id love a 997 GT3 RS, but they've gone a bit crazy here. Theres one for sale at a place I know well locally for $599,990, thats more than a used 991 GT3 RS.

Some great suggestions there. Those that stick out are the Cayman GT4, or perhaps a 996.2/997.1 GT3/GT3 RS. Cayman R also sounds interesting although I know little about them.The Boxster/Cayman GTS also look great I must say.

I admit the 997 Tip was a poor choice (it was a Cab too), so I feel I should definitely give Porsche another go. It was like meeting a childhood idol only to be let down in a massive way.

I plan on keeping the Aston as its very good at what it does as a GT, but I need something else good at being "sharp" as well

[Koln-RS]

From what I've read, seen and (limited)experienced - Cayman GT4 is a pretty sharp tool for semi-sensible bucks.

[JKay]

isaldiri said:

+1. Given the OP has said he wanted a car that's confidence inspiring that you can push hard, a lightly modded 987 might well be better for that purpose even than a 6/7gt3 which is sharp and connected but not necessarily easy to be quick in.

Missed this earlier.

Sounds like a great option for not so silly money too!

[GT4P]

Jkay how much do the gt4 go for down under out of interest and do you how many OZ/NZ got allocated?