Renault Megane RS250 vs Golf GTI review

[triode12]

Before I reply to your individual points, I'll state that I drive both MkV and MkVI Golfs regularly, and am in a good position to compare them.



And yet each button is angled differently and set at varying heights, meaning there's no need to glance down at the wheel to differentiate between them. A day or less of acclimatisation is all that's required to get used to them. The MkV buttons are physically identical, and so are harder to differentiate without a visual cue.

I didn't need to "acclimatise" myself with the MkV buttons (when I first drove the car - coming from a Honda Civic FD) while with the MKVI, I had to take my eye off the road to make sure I was pressing the correct button. A observation that other people i have spoken to have expressed too.

The separate LCD screens are, IMHO, an ergonomic disaster. No-one should look that far down, away from the road, whilst driving. For the times when you're not driving, both MkV and MkVI provide an illuminated display of the temperature, right by the knob. I happen to think the MkVI system looks better and is a change for the better. So what if it may be cheaper to build... it doesn't make me any less satisfied with that change.

I have no issues with the LCD displays -the temp display on the RCD/RNS510s in the MKVI are also almost at the same eyelevel - Worst still, the illuminated numbers on the circumference of the knob are even smaller AND lower than the LCD screens of the MKV - so your argument is a null and void.

Insulting someone with a differing opinion is always a good way of swaying others' views to your way of thinking! I like it!

Yup - BrisGTI was the first to start - I just responded in kind.

Personally, I find the white is much easier to read at night. It's not as distinctive as the VWs of old, but from an ergonomic perspective I prefer it. Actually, I prefer it aesthetically too. Guess I must have a hole in my head. *Checks*

I guess you do - you bought a MkVI GTI. Perhaps you should get it checked out.


So many possible responses...

I will say, though, that I don't believe there's another poster on VWW who's so consistently negative about so many aspects of the MkVI - and the GTI in particular - as yourself. Thanks for your opinions - duly noted. Enjoy your MkV, but please stop purporting your opinions as fact (and in the process deriding the legitimate views of others).

Oh Adam,

I am not the only one who has these opinions... the others just don't say it to "your face".
Actually, I posted those points in a matter of fact way the first time - it was BrisGTI that was the first to deride my "legitimate views" - then I responded in kind. I didn't know that only MkVI GTI owners views were legitimate.

BTW, your response just confirms how defensive MKVI GTI owners are about criticisms leveled against the car. It is bordering on Fanboism.

[Ideo]

Oh Adam,

I am not the only one who has these opinions... the others just don't say it to "your face".
Actually, I posted those points in a matter of fact way first time - it was BrisGTI that was the first to deride my "legitimate views". I didn't know that only MkVI GTI owners views were legitimate.

BTW, your response just confirms how defensive MKVI GTI owners are about criticisms leveled against the car. It is bordering on Fanboism.

For those of use who are coming to the MKVI from other cars you just look a bit bitter, petty and desperate.

Oh noes! A button is in a different place !!!111!!!

[markwid]

I am not the only one who has these opinions... the others just don't say it to "your face".

I have a mk5 now, going to mk6. Short answer is no. Mk6 interior is an improvement over mk5, which looks dated in comparison.

Also, for me, white theme > blue theme.

[triode12]

For those of use who are coming to the MKVI from other cars you just look a bit bitter, petty and desperate.

Oh noes! A button is in a different place !!!111!!!

No not bitter, just stating the facts. Not like MKVI owners who are adopting the "It is new so it has to be better" stance.
The MKVI is actually a MK5.5. VW had had to cut costs and they did so in many areas. They did it well to conceal it and the MKVI GTI is a good car - no question about it. Is it better than the MKV, yes, in several ways it is - esp in lower NVH levels. Is it a better GTI, IMO No. Because in improving NVH levels, the car has lost some of it's magic.

You guys have to stop acting like there is nothing to criticise the MKVI about. The MKV has a lot of things to criticise about too. Many things I would agree with.

The forum would be useless if the cars were all perfect. The information would be useless to a prospective buyer. I for one would like to know all I can about the car - warts and all.

[Ideo]

I agree, there are issues - but having looked at a Mk V R32 prior to the Golf R (as in 25 minutes between test drives) I did not notice any difference in favour of the R32. I preferred the interior of the Mk VI. That is coming with no preconceived bias one way or the other. Considering they are the same basic structure as the GTI to GTI, it's the same basic comparison.

Criticise the massive waiting list - we can all agree on that

[triode12]

Unfortunately, like some of you have stated, not everyone is the same.
So my criticisms or observations of the MkVI interior may apply/be a useful insight to some prospective buyers out there.
If you keep shooting down alternative views or views that are the opposite to yours (by belittling the poster), then the information here will become one sided and useless.

[Corey_R]

This thread is already useless.

You've got a few Renault people stirring the pot to upset a bunch of VW people.
Then you've got a few MKV people saying that the MK6 isn't as good anyway and the MKV is where it's at. Then a bunch of MKV/MK6 people saying that MK6 is better....

All when the topic of the thread is the REVIEW.

So no prospective buyers would be looking in this thread to find the differences between the MKV and MK6 interior etc....

[Ideo]

Unfortunately, like some of you have stated, not everyone is the same.
So my criticisms or observations of the MkVI interior may apply/be a useful insight to some prospective buyers out there.
If you keep shooting down alternative views or views that are the opposite to yours (by belittling the poster), then the information here will become one sided and useless.

Mate, you said that people who preferred the MK VI to the MKV had a hole in their head.

If anyone is belittling people it’s you. You’ve got your agenda to push. Good for you. Keep on pushing it. But don’t start slinging out the insults if you’re not prepared to cop some back.

You want an intelligent discussion? Then how about you try to be civil in the first instance, rather than attacking people for daring to disagree with your position.

[triode12]

Mate, you said that people who preferred the MK VI to the MKV had a hole in their head.

If anyone is belittling people it’s you. You’ve got your agenda to push. Good for you. Keep on pushing it. But don’t start slinging out the insults if you’re not prepared to cop some back.

You want an intelligent discussion? Then how about you try to be civil in the first instance, rather than attacking people for daring to disagree with your position.

Ideo - yes, and I did explain in my post to AdamD, that it was in response to BrisGTI's barbs in his reply to me. So I didn't start it - it was in response to something someone else started.

I don't have an agenda to push. But it seems that MKVIer's are getting their backs up because of criticisms listed. BrisGTI did ask why the MKVI interior was inferior to the MKV - so I listed them in a matter of fact way - w/o belittling anyone. He then takes offense to it. Go back to his posts.

[markwid]

This thread is already useless.

Now that we are OT -> must be the heatwave in Sydney this week getting us aggro+sleep deprived and taking it out here.

We need cool change to bring some peace back here.

[Corey_R]

Now that we are OT -> must be the heatwave in Sydney this week getting us aggro+sleep deprived and taking it out here.

We need cool change to bring some peace back here.

God, tell me about it. I haven't had a good night sleep over a week!

[AdamD]

Now that we are OT -> must be the heatwave in Sydney this week getting us aggro+sleep deprived and taking it out here.

We need cool change to bring some peace back here.

Here in SA it's been seriously hot recently (several days of 40+), and now the cyclone has brought in a ton of humidity as well. Bleurgh.

[kaanage]

I've read the GTI-6 was pretty awesome. I had a 205, and my god it handled well. It was so immediate. There was zero slack in any of it's responses. The way you could tip it into a corner and then balance the whole car on the outside rear tyre was SOOO much fun. Caught me out once or twice though. I thought a 182 would be similar, but it feels so much more vague. Still a good car

Since we're off topic...

I had the 306 S16 (basically the GTI-6 without the 6th gear and a few less bhp) and it was very nice to drive as you could over the power off oversteer to help point the car (never spun it but did get it more sideways than intended a couple of times). When really pressing on, bumps could unsettle the rear but generally it was very well planted. The XSi handled identically but just had less power and grip.

The 205 GTI (a friend had one) was tighter and more immediate and more viscious with power off oversteer but less likely to be thrown off track by bumps (we're talking track day speeds on this point). Power was less than the hot 306s but the (relatively) massive torque of the SOHC 1.9 - since the 1.6 GTI never made it here - made up for it in real world driving.

They are basically not able to build cars like this anymore due to various safety regulations that force up the center of gravity and weight (and I wonder if fear of litigation / general lack of willingness to accept personal blame has added to this). Also, it's far easier to make a less powerful car handle well and a MkVI TSi has as much power as the 306 GTI-6.
That the 182 feels vague vs a 205 underlines this.

[Ideo]

God, tell me about it. I haven't had a good night sleep over a week!

Would now be a good time to point out the advantages of an east/south east facing apartment, in the middle of the block, with ceiling fans, large sliding doors with fly screens and having nice sea breezes in the afternoon off the harbour/Balmoral Beach

I've been sleeping pretty well.

[MkVIGTI]

Just saw an article in today's The Age Drive, comparing the manual Golf R 3dr to the RS250 Cup Trophee. The Renault won the Engine, How it Drives, The X Factor and the overall verdict whereas the Golf R won the value and interior sections.