Renault Megane RS250 vs Golf GTI review

[break]

One of those or a 172/182 cup would make a great little club car/hillclimb whilst still being road legal

Fantastic cars around a mountain, but typical French quirks and build quality (well, sensor quality... crank angle sensor and o2 sensors are pretty fragile).

Brilliant for a weekend car, very frustrating for a daily driver

Also, there are no VW engined F1 cars ATM, while there are at least Red Bull and Lotus Renault using Renault engines. This may change if F1 goes to 4 cylinder engines.

There is zero relation between Renault F1 development and their passenger cars... as much as they like to throw around the 'F1' badge from time to time on their limited edition models.

[sabloke]

Posted that link just because I think it will be an interesting race. I agree there's bugger all connection between RS cars and Webber's daily. However, I challenge anyone to show me another popular brand with a similar commitment to motor sport as Renault. That, for me, is important. It is probably the main reason why Dieppe's cars are the best FWD steerers.

[WhiteJames]

Renault Megane RS250 Trophee is good value for the sporting kit on offer. Consider the price of a 3-door manual Golf R with aftermarket Brembo B/Brake upgrade (Golf R stops no better than the GTI that does not stop as well as the Renault) and 19" wheels, Recaro seats, MDI and Bluetooth as factory options. The Renault Trophee RS250 would be far better value at 45K + orc with all that kit as standard. Having said that, the Renault would be a closer rival to the Sirocco R and Golf R 3-door than a 5 door GTI. Renault Megane RS250 could be a serious BYFB contender this year.
Cheers
WJ

[domlebo70]

Posted that link just because I think it will be an interesting race. I agree there's bugger all connection between RS cars and Webber's daily. However, I challenge anyone to show me another popular brand with a similar commitment to motor sport as Renault. That, for me, is important. It is probably the main reason why Dieppe's cars are the best FWD steerers.

Porsche. GT3 is basically a cup car for the road.

[sabloke]

Really? Porsche is a mainstream brand, like VW and Renault? If you're a multimillionaire, perhaps it is
Had no idea the GT3 is FWD... Live and learn, live and learn...

[Capercat]

Renault Megane RS250 Trophee is good value for the sporting kit on offer. Consider the price of a 3-door manual Golf R with aftermarket Brembo B/Brake upgrade (Golf R stops no better than the GTI that does not stop as well as the Renault) and 19" wheels, Recaro seats, MDI and Bluetooth as factory options. The Renault Trophee RS250 would be far better value at 45K + orc with all that kit as standard. Having said that, the Renault would be a closer rival to the Sirocco R and Golf R 3-door than a 5 door GTI. Renault Megane RS250 could be a serious BYFB contender this year.
Cheers
WJ

The Brembo's, leather Recaro's, & mechanical LSD would set you back close to $15K in the real world.
Renault have pulled off a bargain.

[Corey_R]

However, I challenge anyone to show me another popular brand with a similar commitment to motor sport as Renault.

General Motors! Woo, I win.

[domlebo70]

Really? Porsche is a mainstream brand, like VW and Renault? If you're a multimillionaire, perhaps it is
Had no idea the GT3 is FWD... Live and learn, live and learn...

Heh didn't read the FWD bit. Fair point on the mainstream bit.

Btw, as a Clio owner, don't you think you're posts are starting to become a littllllleeeee biased?

[Capercat]

What about those who made the switch. The head said yes, but the heart said no.

[sabloke]

Heh didn't read the FWD bit. Fair point on the mainstream bit.

Btw, as a Clio owner, don't you think you're posts are starting to become a littllllleeeee biased?

Biased towards handling and sharp steering, yes. If the next GTI will drive like my current puppy, I'm sold! Please VW, make it happen so VWWatercooled crowd will love me again

@Corey_R: yes, you win. NASCAR and V8 Supercars isn't exactly what I was thinking about but hey, facts are facts!

[Treza360]

General Motors! Woo, I win.

Wasn't aware that GM made any cars anymore? Their divisions and subsidiaries do though which is what you're getting at really. Saying GM makes cars is like saying Fuji Heavy Industries makes cars. Really they have a division or own a company that makes cars.

I love being pedantic.

Cheers,
Trent

[brisgtimkv]

1. Steering wheel button controls that are not as intuitive as on the mkV to use. Buttons are now clustered in a heap instead of nicely separated.

lol what? the button presses are the same distance apart as in the mkv. seriously

2. Loss of dedicated button for petrol cap release - now bundled with door locking button - again non-intuitive esp for people who are new to the car. e.g. if you loan the car to a relative.

that's the outside of the car. amazingly relatives may have to grudgingly accept that you car even has a filler cap on the wrong side of the car to theirs!

3. Shortening of door pocket space on both passenger and driver's side doors.

pocket shape has changed. size is the same, i can fit the same amount of stuff as in the mkv but there's more room in the vi for bigger bottles

4. Climate control temp displays now integrated with RCD and RNS510 display - leaving no choice but to use either unit as ICE.

wrong. temp is displayed as illuminated numbers around the selector wheel. seriously, are you kidding me here? if that were the case how could vw sell mkvis without the touch screen?

5. Chrome accents around angular airvents and steering wheel which look fashionable now but will date quicker than the traditional Teutonic austere look of the MKV dash + steering wheel.

really? i know which one will be worth more after 5 years! hint, it's the one with touch screen head unit as a really cheap option.

6. Red lighting of MFD now a bland white. Red Looks better with the blue Speedo dials.

there were people who didn't like the red/blue scheme either.

7. No more door sill protectors with GTI emblazoned on them.

only thing i agree with.

8. Thinner and cheaper plastics on dash and surrounds compared to MkV. The only carry over from the MKV is the centre console. Compare the plastic of that to the rest of the dash and you will see the difference.

i have. the quality is as good or better than the mkiv, which was better than the mkv.

well, that was easy.

[Treza360]

Three things which show that VW have gone for a cheaper route since the MkIV Golf.
1. Reflectors in the doors as opposed to proper lights.
2. Weighted balls on strings for the parcel shelves as opposed to self recoiling housings.
3. Really nasty engine covers (I mean the MkV GTI was cheap and nasty and now the MkVI GTI is even worse).

Then there's the fact that the GTI doesn't even come standard with nice GTI scuff plates anymore.

I mean seriously, come on VW you can do better than that.

Cheers,
Trent

[brisgtimkv]

This sums it up well. Now add a middle aged woman behind the wheel

Damn yuppies, what are we thinking

it's ok if you don't like women. it's the 21st century, you just keep on being fabulous. personally i have only seen caymans (caymen?) driven by men. manly men, with manly mates. i hear that before you buy one the porsche dealer sits you on a chair with a hole in it, and gently confirms your gender to make sure you aren't a secret woman out to give cayman drivers a bad name.

[brisgtimkv]

Three things which show that VW have gone for a cheaper route since the MkIV Golf.
1. Reflectors in the doors as opposed to proper lights.
2. Weighted balls on strings for the parcel shelves as opposed to self recoiling housings.
3. Really nasty engine covers (I mean the MkV GTI was cheap and nasty and now the MkVI GTI is even worse).

Then there's the fact that the GTI doesn't even come standard with nice GTI scuff plates anymore.
I mean seriously, come on VW you can do better than that.

Cheers,
Trent

that engine cover doesn't exactly set the world on fire, does it? and if you look in your boot, you'll see string lifting up your rear parcel shelf as well. does this mean that renault have cut every corner they possibly could? hint, it's a trick question.