New 250 Cup Owner in Surrey

Getting back onto the subject of discs and pads, I was just reading up on all the different CL pads and it says that they prefer a plain disc rather than grooved because the grooves can deglase the surface of a brake pad if you drive the car hard and overheat the braking surface.

Nick, you've been saying this all along......!!

So how do some pads work ok then with grooved/hooked discs such as PF and AP who sell both to be used together??

 

Definitely remove the RS badge, it looks really out of place on our all-black cars. Blackening the front RS badge would look really smart, and something I've just added to my list!

I really like the CL pads but if they work better with plain discs will do that instead of grooved both front and back. RC6's on front and RC5+'S on the rear.

 

Photo of rear without badge hopefully attached,it's not the best shot and the car is a bit dirty but it will give you an idea.

I fitted my new black wheel bolts today, bloody Nora what a difference they have made, not only do they look great being black but the old ones were so rusty that it's literally transformed the look of the car!

Have removed the exhaust surround, will try and spray it in the evenings this week.

Any idea how to remove the front RS badge as will spray this at the same time, Ive had a look and it isn't obvious??

 

Its obviously your car therefore if you prefer it on then that's all that matters.

We'd look like the Civics in Fast & Furious! There wouldn't be half a lap between us for long though........

Thanks, will have another look tonight.

The exhaust trim is looking good already, I gave it a rub down with an abrasive pad and then a few coats of gloss-black. Have left it to harden until tonight when I will do the same again. Then tomorrow a wet & dry and a polish-up.

Looking forward to seeing your new lights. Its on the immediate to-do list!

 

What's wrong with neons??!! They’re well cool init. Depends whether I let you catch up just to show you the correct lines!

TBH I don't think I'm being particularly patient (it’s not one of my only-child skills), I didn't use primer because the chrome was just paint so I keyed that and then gave it a wipe over with some white-spirit. Then a couple of light coats of black, drying in-between with an old hairdryer. Then I gave it another light rub with an abrasive pad and then a couple more coats of black. I'm not even going to bother clear-coating it. It actually looks great already, but like I say I will give it a few more coats tonight to build up a few layers of paint before I can then safely 2000 wet & dry it tomorrow and then polish it.

If/when I get the time (In about 20 years when my boys have left home!) I may actually paint the original diamonds as I think that would look a lot better than the dull black stick-on covers. They were useful though to see if I liked them being black

 

I’m really surprised at the acceleration of the Megane; it feels shockingly fast when booting it in 2nd or 3rd It doesn’t need NOS!!!!!! If they did black neons I may consider them though.


I may do that. Would probably get lots of interest before they just realised it was about exhausts………


How old are yours? I’ve two boys, 27 months and 5 months.

 

Your C63 must cover ground pretty quickly, but there is just something about the Megane (at least mine with circa 300bhp and the LSD) that it seems much quicker than it probably is compared to other properly quick cars. It just takes off up the road as if it’s got 4WD and 400+ bhp.


I’ve driven a friend’s 991 Turbo-S and obviously its time-warpingly quick, but it just does it without any fuss or particular noise and just catapults you 100 meters up the road and 70mph higher in a couple of seconds. The Megane IMO is more fun for doing what it does and it just goes to show that we can have fun in our relatively cheap cars doing relatively normal speeds rather than spending £150k on cars that you can’t drive anywhere near their potential and when you do you don’t notice it.


Blimey, I bet they’re a handful, I can’t wait to start having conversations with mine. No.1 is sort of talking but mainly just the odd few words. Although funnily enough one phrase is, I kid you not, “drive fast daddy”. I honestly don’t know where he has got this from and I certainly don’t drive fast with him in the car???!!! 99% of the time it’s in our Q5 which lovely car that it is, it isn’t “fast”!!

 

What do you think of these, they look original: https://www.motor-doctor.co.uk/products/1502020-headlight

 

It looks great, how does the quality compare with the original? So I see they're made by Depo. Can you see who the originals are made by? Presumably they're not actually made by Renault.

I've found some made by a company called TYC or for a few more pennies Diederichs (which confusingly quote the quality as Depo/TYC??). They all look the same, are they copies or are they the ones supplied to Renault themselves??

 

Thanks Mark, could you send me the link to them please.

I've put another few coats on the exhaust surround tonight, looks pretty good as it is and may not need wet & drying...

 

Thanks Mark (that would make you MK1! Pulling rank I'm guessing I may be older (Aug 75) therefore I should be MK1) I will look at home tonight as I cant view eBay at work.

Was the Radical road-legal? I've driven similar on track, but not on the road, must be very intimidating to do so on the road.

 

Bloody hell, that just can't be road legal - just look at it!!!

I've never driven a Radical, but have driven other aero cars and you need to be going some before the magic hand starts pushing you down, that must've been very frustrating driving it on the road and only scratching its surface.

 

Too much car for anyone but a few. Getting the tyres and brakes to optimum temp must be a struggle in itself!

 

The quickest car I drove was race trim FPA car (not the Corporate one). Things do happen VERY quickly, particularly the things that dent your pride, like a full spin... I had more fun in a simple Formula Ford because you're (kind of...) in control!

 

Yes I bet, I guess it’s one of those cars that doesn’t make sense being road legal because you can’t actually really drive it on the road other than to & from the track but then it will be compromised when on track to if it was set up solely for the track. At least you can say you had one and gave it a try! Definitely a big tick on the list!


A friend has a race team and himself drives a Saker (Subaru flat-4, approx. 450bhp, paddle-shift sequential box etc.) in the GT Cup and that thing is just too much for me to try and take in all at once, it’s got lots of mechanical grip but then like the Radical it needs 100mph before the aero kicks-in. He has another without the sequential box and just trying to change gear whilst also trying to steer/hold on around the faster corners is not possible for my limp wrists. With the paddles it’s just about manageable.


I get taken to Palmersport every year by clients and the JP1 ‘s are great fun to drive there, everything happens at a bit more normal speeds and you have an instructor telling you what gear to be in so you can just concentrate on steering it. They also have single-seater Formula 3000’s which are all about aero, there are a couple of slow corners that you try and drive around at say 50 and the rear is sliding, then you man up and try it at 60-70 and all of a sudden you have the hand of god pushing you down, so the next time you try it even faster…….


I fitted the black exhaust tip last night!! – It didn’t need sanding at all; the finish was 98% perfect so I saved myself the bother. It looks really smart! Just got to order the headlights now…..


On a separate note, I’ve posted a thread regarding my gearbox if you guys have the time to read it please.

 

Great thread will give me some ideas, have bookmarked the headlights

Is the rear RS badge not held on with pins then?

 

Nope its just stuck-on just like all the others.

 

Good news thanks

Nice to see the Headlights wont be a bumper off job, like my Clio

 

No, nor me!! That's why when I win the Lotto I'll buy a Continental GT Speed and just steam-roller the road with mechanical grip and weight rather than pretending I can drive GT3 RS on the limits of adhesion.


Agreed, a lot of people get all sentimental about manuals and yes I can see the pros & cons, but for me being able to keep both hands on the wheel is a major point and being able to change gear mid-corner rather than taking one hand off and then not being in control of the wheel as well. TBH I think a DSG would really suit the Megane! I had a Scirocco 2.0 Turbo DSG (black with black wheels!!) a few years ago and that thing was great to drive. It wasn't anywhere near as precise as the Megane and I wouldn't have wanted to take it on track though but the gearbox-engine combo was great!


Ok ok, I'll post a picture of my arse if you post a picture of your front when you're finally able to.

 

Both would be lovely to simply own and just go and sit in the garage and look at, and both would be great track-day cars (I’ve driven race prepared Caymans and they are just the best handling cars I’ve ever driven) but as road cars they are very unpractical, for the UK roads at least.


Something with softer suspension, 4WD, higher seats to see a bit further ahead and around corners etc. would IMO be much more suited. But on the basis that I’ll be able to afford a new GTC I’ll also be able to afford a GT4. And a SQ7. And a classic Alfa Spider (used to have one). And an Interceptor. And a 300SL……….


My back bottom is all dirty at the moment, how’s your front bottom looking?

 

A-ha I like it – Radiant – Radiator!!


Well done that man, looks like a job well done, not sure I would’ve tackled it myself. It looks like a Wagner cooler, any reason for choosing that over any of the others? Surprising just how small the standard cooler is isn’t it.


I’m in talks with a Renaultsport specialist near me for a full on belt-service and all oil, fluids, plugs etc. etc. Depending on funds am also likely having an uprated cooler fitted, they recommend Forge and Airtec, I don’t know anything about any of them so just interested why you chose your particular brand? Plus a cat-back exhaust and also brake hoses when they do the fluid. Then I’ll fit the discs and pads myself (and black headlights!!) and it should be fit to go on track…..


So what’s your next job?