Hi all, Just thought I'd sign up on here and say hello! I don't actually own a Megane- I currently have a Clio 182 Trophy and before that had a Titanium Silver FF 182. Next car will be an R26 though so thought I'd sign up on here and learn a bit more about them...
Welcome along. Just moved myself from a 172 to a R26. Really thinking a 182 trophy would of been better tbh. What reason are you wanting to change?
I have just got a new job, where I'll be doing 2-3k miles a month. The Trophy is already on 90k and I'm conscious that if it gets much higher I'll have a hard time selling it on. I appreciate an R26 is probably not ideal for that kind of mileage (much like the Trophy), but a diesel / something sensible doesn't appeal to me so I'd rather pay a bit more for a car I actually want. I love the Trophy, it's such a capable car and lots of fun- if it wasn't for the above I doubt I'd even be thinking about selling it... You not enjoying the R26 then?
Welcome along! It is a lot easier to cover that sort of mileage with the R26 than the 182 - not cheap but quieter, more comfortable, and more power on tap when you want it - without loosing the fun factor too!
Not really worth the extra cost compared to the clio. Fuel economy is terrible, brakes aren't as good, handling not as good (has the diff, but needs the diff to tame the understeer the clio doesn't have to start with), £300 and three visits to the dealer and I still only have one partially working window. Dealer has disconnected my speaker & put two dents in the sill. Nowhere near as exciting to drive, sound is nice and quite at 5 AM but too quite when 'on it'. Sounds like I have a CV joint/drive shaft on it's way out. Xenon headlights point 20 yards infront of the car so I can't see anything at all when dark. Halogens in clio were better. I'm sure i'll get these faults fixed given time (and money), but I had none of these in the clio and that was two and half times older with double the miles.Megane is a little faster obviously, but not that much. ITB's on the clio and I'm sure it would of left the meg on any road.
Sounds like you didn't get a very good one, I would have said that my experience between the 182 and the R26 is very different. Fuel economy - to be expected, no idea what a standard car is like, but a stage 2 map with 630cc injectors gives about 28mpg on my commute to work (motorway and A road). Brakes would put a 182 in my boot if I jumped on them. Handling - it isn't as chuckable as a Clio, but that is to be expected from the size - I found it took some time to adjust driving style to exploit it to it's full. The speed you can carry through corners is incredible, the diff will drag you round by the scruff of your neck, and it carries speed so much better than the smaller car. Window regulators are a problem, and main dealers are a nightmare it would seem - I have never been to one. Noise is to personal taste - is yours standard? Repairs are expensive - mine cost a fortune over the first 12 months. Some to be expected, some not. I find the xenons to be very good, perhaps they have been poorly fitted or the adjustment is not working properly?
Fuel, thrashed-steady: meg 19-30, clio 38-45 Brakes standard OEM on meg 2k miles ago, just don't seem to slow the car. Clio brakes literally twice as good - Brembo HC & Mintex M1144 pads front, OEM rear & braided lines - hardly exotic. Handling, on a trailing throttle the meg has more understeer than the clio. Using the diff, I agree will pull the car round but it feels unnatural. Paid £300 for window reg and loom to be replaced and still the window has a mind of it's own. Wiring in A pillar was serverley corroded on a five year old car. Water seems to get in everwhere, footwell, doors, boot. Five year old car has had three replacement rear numberplate lights. Boot lock doesn't work correctly and sometimes opens the boot while driving, again due to water ingress. Car has a induction kit only. Can't really hear the exhaust because I can't use the windows. Clio was stupid loud in the morning. Meg is much better in this regard, but also too quite at other times. Can't have it both ways I know. Had a look at the auto level for the lights and all seems to intact. Wiring doesn't look corroded - they do move up and down on startup, then settle at teh lowest point so I can't see past a couple of car lengths. Not fun on fast A roads at night on which I drive a lot. I honestly think a trophy with a little more power would embarrass a R26 in almost all circumstances.
xanda mate think you got a dog. i had a FF182 and a r26 and the r26 won for me in every department (i dont have either car now so hardly bias) and the r26 handled far better for me, especially on track. as soon as i had a stage 1 map i was overtaking 182's on track like they were 1.2's!
