Renault Megane RS250 vs Golf GTI review

[clover4studio]

Renault Megane RS 250 v Volkswagen Golf GTI | Car Advice | Reviews

[Corey_R]

Thanks for the link clover4studio.

Members - do you like having individual threads for every single article which reviews the Golf or compares it to something else? Or should we just make an official "reviews and comparisons" thread? Keep in mind, that new articles could still be posted into a new thread, and a redirection left for a week (or month) when it's merged into the official thread. That way you won't miss any new reviews, but it'll keep the forum a little tidier.

Feel free to comment on that here. But please post your comments on this article in a separate post (i.e. double post if you need to), so that when I clean up the thread, I don't have to do too much editing! Cheers.

[Corey_R]

Thanks again for that link clover4studio.

This is probably the best comparison review that I've seen. I've only really skimmed the body of the text, so I may have missed factual errors (if there are any), but I like how they highlight the positives of each car.

Most of all I like the style of the conclusion. I think that it is simply ridiculous how many magazines have reviews like "The Megane is better than the Golf R[/b]. Like hell it is... it's not even a considering for my requirements, so how can it be better?
So I love how they have a conclusion which breaks it down and says "The Megane is better if..." and "The Golf is better if..."

Well done.

[clover4studio]

Yeh, I agree with you Corey_R. I thought the review was nicely done and balanced.

Regarding your question, I don't mind the reviews and comparisons being grouped into one thread - save me time browsing and finding the articles personally

(Btw, luv the new design of the Renault Megane RS250!)

[sabloke]

"The Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 6 is the car for you if:

• You want seriously good performance in an understated package
• You want the best value for money hot hatch in the business
• You want a premium look and feel interior in a hot hatch
• You want a hot hatch that even your grandmother could drive"

I don't really understand why is GTI the best value for money in the hot hatch business? Isn't that a subjective criteria as well, depending on what you're after in a hot hatch?
Also, I'm not sure the last statement is a compliment, really

All in all, a pretty good and balanced review that could help people make a decision choosing between the two.

[Johnbu]

I also don't understand how the GTI could be best value hot hatch. They are terribly expensive for what you get.

The RS250 drive away pricing is sharp.

Anyway, if you can drive manual, the RS250 offers much more performance than the GTI. Golf R performance for the price of a GTI.

If you need an auto, the GTI DSG is still a good car.

I can see a 1-2 yo RS250 being my next car.

[sabloke]

I wish Renault launched a DSG-ish RS250, just to see what people preferring to drive auto would use as an excuse for buying a GTI
"It's way too sexy for me!" perhaps?

[triode12]

The only thing I don't like about the 250 is the looks. I think it looks hideous esp in yellow - it reminds me of a beetle (insect not the car). Having said that, I'm not in love with the looks of the MkVI GTI either. Given a choice however, I'd take the 250 over the GTI. I'd rather enjoy the drive than worry about how the car looks.
Having driven the MkVI GTI several times, the experience was underwhelming.

[break]

People forget that any review, no matter where you read it, is going to be subjective based on the views, interests and ideals of the reviewer.

I'm sure there are people out there that rate **** cars as being 'fantastic' (ala. Hyundai i30 winning car of the year ), and great cars as horrible.

What my experiences have made me feel is that VW is, as Clarkson put it during the MKV GTI review, "all things, to all people". It really is a fantastic balance of performance, practicality, build quality and comfort. Naturally, this isn't going to make it excel in any one of those areas, where the Renault Sport products have always been blisteringly good performers (they are really the new Mx5 when it comes to drivers cars IMO), but have never had the practicality, comfort or build quality to compete.

So, like me, people need to decide what matters to them most. As much as my Polo GTI was a fantastic commuter, it just always lacked the performance I've wanted. As such, I chose to fore-go comfort/practicality/build quality and buy a brilliant drivers car in my Clio 172.

That said, I think the reviewer is a little ill informed about price.... the VW wait times are allowing dealers to charge the earth for their cars. I still haven't seen anyone get any of the latest VW's at anything close to RRP

[cme2c]

We have the TSI for versatility. A Megane is on my shopping list for 2013. IIRC GoAuto compared the Clio RS ( not sure if it was the 197 or 200) with the Golf GTI. They said something along the lines of if you only have 1 car, get the Golf, if it's a second car, get the Clio.

At a lower performance level, it's the same for me. The Golf is a smooth, comfortable way to carry up to four people. My Pug GTi still puts a smile on my face.

And about a car your grandmother can drive? On OzRenaultSport they talk of a 71 year old (ok , a guy) buying a Megane RS250.

[Corey_R]

That said, I think the reviewer is a little ill informed about price.... the VW wait times are allowing dealers to charge the earth for their cars. I still haven't seen anyone get any of the latest VW's at anything close to RRP

Whist wait times are bad, there are at least a few people per week that post their price, and not a single one of them has even been charged RRP, let alone over RRP, so I'm not really sure what you're basing your comment on there.

[Ideo]

Car magazine had a compare between the two (and an alfa that came dead last)

“You’ll buy the Renault because it’s a pure sports car that just happens to have a back seat and a boot, and if you’ve got a family they’ll hate every journey you inflict upon them. They’ll love the Golf, but then so will you, because it does everything including offering 90% of the Renault’s fun factor”

Basically, chose the one you want for what you need. They are both damn fine cars, just two different cars.

[Ideo]

Whist wait times are bad, there are at least a few people per week that post their price, and not a single one of them has even been charged RRP, let alone over RRP, so I'm not really sure what you're basing your comment on there.

Even for the R I got a discount of around 9.5%, negotiated a fair whack more for a GTI but went for the R instead.

[Capercat]

The GTI badge is accurate for the Golf, because that's exactly how it drives...

[Ideo]

The GTI badge is accurate for the Golf, because that's exactly how it drives...

?

Que?

Bit of a nonsensical statement. Would you mind expanding on it?