Neither the R26 or the F1 were limited editions, they just sold as many as were ordered for but only limited by the length of time they were sold for. The Megane Trophy was the only one that was limited in numbers which is pretty much a 225 Cup.

To be honest though, you'll find any of the Meg 225s a pleasure to drive. Mine is a full fat, non cupped model and even though I get to drive my missus Clio 182 Cup and owned a Clio 172 before, its performance and handling still impresses me.

Where with the normally aspirated motors you have to get the revs right up to feel the power, its a lot more progressive and effortlessly fast compared to other fast hatches I've driven.

You won't find build quality an issue, certainly no worse than the Skoda/VW build you're used too. Its solid and comfortable.

It may be French but its certainly doesn't live up to the stereotype people give French cars. I would say to anyone, if you get the chance to drive or be driven in one it should put a smile on you face. Just don't expect more than about 25-30mpg!! lol

the R26 is a dealer special and costs in excess of

personally i would stick with your fabia vrs well i wouldnt trade mine in for one i love my vrs

personally i would stick with your fabia vrs well i wouldnt trade mine in for one i love my vrs

Personally I think you need to drive a few other cars.

The furby VRS handling is awful as stock.

Sure overall it is quite a nice package for the money, but it certainly isn't a drivers car without quite a bit of modding.

I'm sure you love your VRS, but there are plenty of other good cars out there too.

fabia is only average until you fit struts, arbs and lowering. the ride is awfull and noisy at all times dunno why but our works car 1.2 fabia is the same

First Drives | Reviews | MSN Cars UK - First Drive: Renault Megane F1 R26

Sounds good to me.

Yes they mention the LSD but also say the ride is alot better than the Cup.

True no doubt, but the ride even in meggerman's cup with recaro's is still 10x that of my Fabia, also the sound deadening used is very good as you hear nearly no road noise, just the nice growl from the engine/exhaust.

Ptshhhh.

Just had a quick read over the R26 review in autoexpress. They say its fitted with a LSD and the ride is better than the CUP but say nothing about suspension changes. But if you look at the captions to the pictures they say its got a more sportier exhaust and the suspensions been revised. :confused:

Think it may be a thicker front ARB and the exhaust is revised on the R26

F1-inspired Megane now even hotter - 4Car News from Channel 4

Paris Motor Show: Renault Mgane F1 Team R26 - Auto show

Paris Motor Show: Renault Mégane F1 Team R26 - Autoblog

They say its the CUP chassis with altered mapping, LSD and drilled discs. Suspension no different.

But then here Renaultsport.co.uk - Roadcars - M

They say its the CUP chassis with altered mapping, LSD and drilled discs. Suspension no different.

Suspension is the same, Cup comes with Drilled Brembro's the exact same as the R26. IIRC mapping & exhaust tweak gives the 230PS output, only real major addition is the LSD.

Suspension is the same, Cup comes with Drilled Brembro's the exact same as the R26. IIRC mapping & exhaust tweak gives the 230PS output, only real major addition is the LSD.

According the Renault site it's a modified version of the Cup chassis.

If the car is still under warranty with manufacturer rather than dealer then yes go for it , that is till the warranty runs out then it falls apart and the dealer doesn't want to know, coil pack go (renault warranty last year was over 100.000 cars) and that was the re-designed coils. If the coils dont bother you then all the elecrical problems and transmission breackages most likely will,

your better off with a Cupra R a much much better car all round with the added bonus of 5 drs

For the people who say French cars fall apart. Have they every owned one or had a friend or family member whos had one? Only reason I ask is alot of people are quick of the mark to fault them.

I agree! and to be honest, it's kinda ironic...

mate's dad has a 505 GTi, which is god knows how old and I don't recall hearing any tails of woe

your better off with a Cupra R a much much better car all round with the added bonus of 5 drs

You can get the Meg 225 with 5 doors, and the LCR isn't without it's faults either, but that's a seperate discussion

mate's dad has a 505 GTi, which is god knows how old and I don't recall hearing any tails of woe

Used to have one of them, great car and reasonably quick too....but oh so comfortable!!!

Oh, and I think the signature below says where I stand on the Megane issue

Agreed, mines been pretty good so far. Had a pedal box break on me but then the VAG group is no stranger to that issue. The Lupo/Polo Gti had massive issues with that. Whats more it went in to be fixed, was ready early, was valeted inside and out and delivered back to my house...........never got so much as a smile and reasonable service a VW. 4 years of VW ownership has made me bitter!!! Great cars, shame about the service!!

the 230 isnt tweaked at all its the same power as a (2005 onwards) euro4 engined 225 they have been proven as standard to run 228-230hp and 235-240lbft.

275hp isnt there yet for the one with the map, the highest is 270 but 280lbft < ! FMIC,Remap basically soon there will be some turbo upgrades for 300+

Go for it!!!!

I love my Clio Trophy,its so much fun,try one now you've driven a 197 i think you'd be impressed.

The interior isn't as well put together as the 197 but thats not the important bit,the driving of it is!!!!

I have to echo your comments WrightyRS. I've driven most of the latest Renaultsport cars (except the new megane with the slip diff) and nothing i have ever driven so far is as fun as my clio trophy for the money. Owed it for 18 months now and covered 17k miles. Experienced no more problems than the revod Fabia VRS I owned prior to buying the clio; yes, the clio rattles at times on bumpy b roads, but I have learnt to tolerate this on the basis that it corners at speeds that still amaze me after 18 months of ownership.

I miss the MPG and the mid range punch of the fabia but that's about all. Never thought i would rave about French car ownership after many years of buying VAG cars. For some reason VAG cars fail make me grin in the same way my clio trophy does every time i drive it.

I will be test driving the Megane 230 R26 as reports so far suggest it could be the best handling fwd hot hatch offering to date. Check out this months evo report.

Wouldn't touch another French car with a bargepole (had three Renaults) - see Reliability Index. Do a Google.

I have to echo your comments WrightyRS. I've driven most of the latest Renaultsport cars (except the new megane with the slip diff) and nothing i have ever driven so far is as fun as my clio trophy for the money. Owed it for 18 months now and covered 17k miles. Experienced no more problems than the revod Fabia VRS I owned prior to buying the clio; yes, the clio rattles at times on bumpy b roads, but I have learnt to tolerate this on the basis that it corners at speeds that still amaze me after 18 months of ownership.

I miss the MPG and the mid range punch of the fabia but that's about all. Never thought i would rave about French car ownership after many years of buying VAG cars. For some reason VAG cars fail make me grin in the same way my clio trophy does every time i drive it.

I will be test driving the Megane 230 R26 as reports so far suggest it could be the best handling fwd hot hatch offering to date. Check out this months evo report.

Cheers Nick,

I'm lucky that i have my Octy vRS which i use 80-90% of the time and the Clio Trophy is my fun/days off/weekend car.

I love how alive it feels,how connected to it and the road you are.

I really like the R26 and i have to admit very tempted to get one in place of the Trophy but i know i would miss the Trophy like mad if i sold it so will be keeping it for a good while yet.

And i would want to get the R26 in WHITE but that isn't an option yet/if ever so who knows.

Cheers Nick,

I'm lucky that i have my Octy vRS which i use 80-90% of the time and the Clio Trophy is my fun/days off/weekend car.

I love how alive it feels,how connected to it and the road you are.

I really like the R26 and i have to admit very tempted to get one in place of the Trophy but i know i would miss the Trophy like mad if i sold it so will be keeping it for a good while yet.

And i would want to get the R26 in WHITE but that isn't an option yet/if ever so who knows.

Alex, i notice you organise trips to the nurburgring, is there a briskoda outing this year? Have driven on many tracks in the UK. The ring scares me silly on GT4 however it's one of those experiences on my must do list before i die!

Regardless of what may be said, the renault megane 225 is an awesome car. I had one for 2 years, and no problems, build quality was excellent, and i'd say better than my VRS.

Only problem came when i tried to take it through a small puddle, and it 'may' have ingested a bit of water. Turns out the only thing they don't have is a set of gills