Sorry for another thread asking for advice... I just bought a 2011 Megane cup and have some questions that I hope some of you can help with: 1 Jacking points - is there anything anyone can point me in the direction of That shows where to jack these cars? Standard brake pads - Guessing I'll get through them but how do they hold up - from what I've seen here there are mixed reviews. Tyres - my car has 19's which is a bit of a pain. It's not worth it financially for me to buy set of 18's so have been searching 19's. Have people used 225.35/40.19 or 245.35.19? Altering the width gives more options and importantly for me less cost! Mytyre are doing the continental conti force contact track day tyres in 235/35/19 for £139 delivered. I've read they're OK and actually better than r888's but does anyone have any experience of these? Oil usage - do these engines use much? Clonk! - getting a clonk. Seeing a few reporting gearbox and engine mounts failing. Is there an easy test for this? I'm not very mechanically minded but can't feel any movement from the engine in corners and only notice it at slow speed. The handling is really impressive and nothing feels wrong when loading it up. Do drop links etc need replacing much? Car was serviced by Renault just over a month ago - nothing mentioned lol! Sorry again for all the questions, it's taken literally months for me to get this car but I'm so glad I did! Most modern car I've owned!
Yes jacking points will be easy to spot under the car as they have a solid mount that you will see. Brakes are good just need a decent set of pads and some fluid Tyres are very personal choice but I'd drop to 18s (I've personally got 17s on my 250) but on 19s 235/35/19 is the most common size Oil does get used if it's pushed I've been told to run 10w60 in mine as that's pretty much all its used for now Engine wise they are pretty solid but look at bushes on the hubs upper and lower there is loads of info on this on here and online. Gearbox mounts are weak it's the bolt that's poor but the news 275 Megane has a much better design
If you're not mechanically minded, do a bit of research and if you don't have a decent garage for spannering think about using a Renault specialist for future work. There as some good dudes doing great work much cheaper and better than Dealers.
I'd seriously for a few reasons consider the 18" wheel route. If your planning on tracking then long term it'll be cheaper on tyres but not only that I found the ride and handling far superior with the 18" wheels on. Also if you do source a set of 18" wheels for tracking you can have a purpose track wheel and keep the 19"s for winter / daily.
It makes me sad that it looks so good on 19s, but my head knows 18's would be far better for road and track. Particularly our lovely roads here in Northern Ireland!
Many thanks for this Will have a better look underneath but are the mounts like a sort of raised round bit? Thanks for advice about tyres. It'll take an awful lot of tyres to recoup the cost of another set of wheels. Especially if I can continue to get the contiforce contacts at £140. It's just there is so little info about this relitavely new track tyre. From the tests I've seen its apparently equal to an R888 in the dry but without the noise, better wear and much better in the wet. Seems like a winner but would like to hear of anyone else's experience. Noted about oil. Will continue searching about bushes. It's funny but I can't feel anything loose when driving but can hear a sort of rattle when going over slow speed bumps. Could I do any serious damage to anything by using it ? The car has done 25 k miles and was serviced just over a month ago by the previous owner but Renault failed to notice anything What pads do you use and did you ever try the standard ones on track? Thanks again
I've a very basic understanding of cars but nothing like the knowledge of some and am completely new to renaults. I use a garage that's not too far from me for my track car that are excellent so can always use them. As above my car was serviced just over a month ago by Renault yet they failed to notice the noise I mention. Maybe my ears are a little sensitive but the car is so quiet I'm amazed they didnt notice. The previous owner said the noise had always been there. Can you or anyone recommend a garage in south east London area?
I've used standard pads on track. Over 25 laps of the Nurburgring too. They'll be fine for a track day, especially if it's your first. Take it easy if in doubt. You can upgrade later. I did. I now run CL5+ and braided lines.
Thanks for this. Yeah will feel for fade. 25 laps of the ring is a lot of miles for a set of pads! I'll run some sort of track tyre eventually, hoping a set of pads and a bit of mechanical sympathy will be good for a few mins hard lapping. Off to Bedford on Saturday. Taking the Megane for its first of hopefully many track days Really can't wait - so impressed with the car so far
It wasn't 25 laps over one weekend. I lived in germany at the time so it was a few laps every other weekend. They lasted over a year, with normal road use and some uk track days too. I had the car from new in Germany so they were spankers. Depends how you drive I suppose.
Also, regarding buying 18" wheels, don't forget that you can sell them if you ever sell your car so its not 'lost' money in that way. I love my 19" wheels but I know a set of 18s and track tyres would be better for TDs.
That's really impressive. I shall see how they get on then change as necessary. My experience is that tyres only give their best for not much more than 5-10 mins, then temps start to creep and times drop. I'm a good enough driver to know I'm not very good! With the little logging I've done if I have a lucky lap I can usually hold 1.1g in the braking zones, even with my flailing about at the wheel this can make for a not too slow lap time The standard brake setup on the Megane is excellent imho. My track car has over twice the power and is heavier yet stops brilliantly with a setup that is about the same size, albeit with slightly thicker 2 piece discs and 6 pot ap callipers. Really impressed with the car out the box Can't believe how much I'm enjoying it after being so anti fwd for so long!
