As somebody already said, I think it's cool that the Megane isn't always crazy... If you want to be taken seriously at any point then it just has more class
@amapolishplummer. it isn,t about power in a HOTHATCH. it,s about how well the chassis handles the power. VXR hasn,t got the chassis to handle 240bhp let alone 300bhp.lol
What a fantastic reviewer :) Keeps you really "in" the test, makes a lot of fun to watch! :) Regardless of that: last week I've just driven the Megane (see my videos) and it's simply AWESOME! The grip level, how you can corner with it how fantastic it handles.. that's just stunning. I promise you: get into one and you don't want to give it away afterwards ;)
What would be the best choice? Renault Megane 250 Cup? or the Renault Megane 250? You know for everyday use? is the Cup too hard and track oriented, or?
@turbo311 Yeah, I'd love to be able to pick up a used Clio 172 Cup. A few weeks ago I was talking to a guy in the UK who was buying a 182 Cup, and I was pretty jealous.
In fact, I've read that Ford had the RS MkII in the Nordschleife, and it managed 8:26 with stock tyres, and then they tried again with semis (R888 I think) and somehow they only improved 1 second, at 8:25.
The Thorney motorsport upgrade requires the use of a brand new car purchased from the guys themselves and costs £25,000, or if you do it with a second hand VXR the upgrades will still come to around 12K...
Yes, you are right. But it has to be taken into account that Horst Von Saurma and other magazine drivers test cars that belong to someone, be it a private owner or be it a press car, but that if they screw up and damage or write-off the car, it would be embarrassing or even have to pay for it. When the car is tested by the manufacturer, be it Ford, Renault, etc, they use racing drivers and expendable cars, so they can go all-out without any worries for the car, and can be a bit faster
@santclause1 Dude you have problems lol. I'm not talking about the normal car, i'm talking about a heavily modified version tuned by a racing team. The mean reason it doesn't go round corners is because of the soft wooly suspention. With that upgraded it does go round corners quite well. I drove my friends standard Vaxhaull VXR Nurburgring Edition one, that goes round corners pretty epically and it's the equivilent of a very lightly tuned normal VXR. And i still think to this date the VXR....
I work as a car quality inspector,and I must admit that the Renault Megane RS has really upped there game from reliability and build issues,they arwis so good compared
Focus RS500 did 8:26 driven by Horst Von Saurma, a driver that drove thousands of laps on Nurburgring and knows it like the back of his hand. Also, here are some other times driven by excellent drivers able to push much faster cars to the limits. BMW 1M (8:15), BMW M3 E46 (8:22), Porsche Cayman S (8:25), Ford Focus ST (8:35), Alfa Giulietta QV (8:30), Golf Mk5 R32 (8:36), Audi TTS (8:29)...etc.
As others have said, would love to see a rematch of this review with Chris again but with a DC5 integra type R shoved in the mix, Huuuuuuyyaaaaaaa Vtec!
@santclause1 is this one of the best looking hot hatches ever made. Also mate, don't forget, i'm talking about a HEAVILY tuned version of the car for WAYYYY less then these hot hatches.
Kratos kratos what are you on about? It did do it in 7.54. It holds the record for the fastest FWD car around the ring. Its 20 seconds a lap FASTER than a FOCUS RS500!!
I'd rather have a car that drives better and is a purer hot hatch than an overpriced museum piece that will sit in a garage to protect its value. Plus the Megane is more exclusive, I drive one of 96 275 Trophy Meganes in the UK and that appeals to me a lot more than the millions of Focus RS's and Golf R's you see
Truth is they could do with a better set of camera equipment. And Chris Harris is the best thing that happened to EVO since the departure of Maeden and Bovingdon
This guy is a terrific reviewer. Ford Australia have decided not to sell the RS here. A BIG mistake. Renault, however, are going to sell the RS250 here in 2010. I can't wait. I WILL be ordering one!!!
I really like the Cupra R and also the Megane RS or 265 RS. If I had the money i'd either do the VXR thing or buy a Honda Integra Type-R DC5 (In Pearl White), fit it with nice black Honda rims and semi slicks. Also new exhaust for the sound and remap the ECU for better performance.
I mean really it all depends on personal taste and requirements. I like both cars a lot but if I were to buy one i would get the RS250/265 Cup because its fantastic to track but can also pass as a sexy hatchback in normal day to day life. Im 24 and couldn't be seen going to work in the Focus RS. BUT...that said, if i could afford a normal car for work AND a hot hatch just for fun and track days i would probably buy the RS, perhaps even the RS500 (money being no issue) what a car!!
How, how, how can evo release videos with this quality and sound (1 channel for part of it!?) Surely a decent camera and some clever encoding isn't beyond a team who have so much talent elsewhere. So frustrating! Anyone who viewed the content on Drivers Republic has seen what is possible...
@Mclarensenna Yeah seriously considering it. These days the hot hatches are getting more and more expensive. Golf/Scirroco R = £30k.. This is much more affordable and fast.
Hi m8, well it's a difficult decision.But you have to ask yourself what car do you want day to day bases and ofc what do you want from a car. f you have a family propably you should have Megane or Audi, perhaps Audi coz it's little bit spaceous and puts out greater horspowers but its not agile enough as Megane is. The TTRS is totaly sick thing to drive, you feel like you're in one of those rollercoasters yust switching G forces from one side to another. As I said it all depends about the driver!
The Mégane RS 250 has set the Nürburgring lap record for front wheel drive cars. It did it in just over 8 minutes, 08:07:97 The previous record was the Mégane R26R, which did it in 08:16:90 I dont know if they had the Focus RS out there, but if they did, that means its at least 10 seconds slower than the Mégane RS. Otherwise the Focus would have beaten the Mégane R26R The Focus RS is a cult car, like the old Cosworths, but let's be honest, the Renault is the better one
Had Focus RS and guys I bought Renaul Megan Rs Cup..... This guy tells the truth. Meagne is better balanced and overall you have better feel for the car, it seems like you are bind together, but with Focus puting aside that monstruos sound explosions you really feel detached from it. So in my opinion Renault made excelent work with their car. Can't wai't to see what years to come bring from those two manufacturors. Cheers. Croatia
Chris Harris is hands-down the best car reviewer... no-one in my mind comes close... drives cars, has passion for them, comes from the heart and the head and doesn't waste my time with stupid jokes for the sake of drumming up hype. Where Top Gear failed endless years ago - a show for my mum versus those who live and breath cars and just want honesty.
To be honest i won't bother with either car and get a old Vaxhaill VXR, give it to Thorney Motorsport and turn it into a VXR-R. Has 300bhp, goes 0-60 in 4.9 secs and looks really good. And it's nearly half the price.
great review Chris, for me it's Megane all the way. I've got too much disrespect for Fords back home (U.S.A.). With the Focus, I'd continually assume any minute the thing would light on fire and take me with it! I'm tired of the lame 'stang, give us something we can rely on Ford!!
Both excellent cars. One of my cars is a normal focus mk.2 1.6 with 115 hp, but i have to say that i'd get the Megane 250 over the FocusRS . Its just a much nicer car inside. Focus feels cheap, and seating position is not perfect. Seats are too high, A pillar is on the worst possible position imaginable, gear knob is too far away (or pedals too close, however you wanna put it). Megane on the other hand feel really premium and expensive inside.
@alpacino1974ok Check the ADAC ratings... Megane is the most reliable car in its class for 3 years in a row now (since the 3rd generation came out basically). Its a HUUUUUUUGE improvement over the old one, that was very unreliable.
@fordfool420 Could only be said by a Ford fan but you're wrong. He clearly says that he is a Focus nut and loves them, and that he needed to do more driving before coming to a conclusion. Also, he says that they are really close and constantly changes his mind as to what car he'd take home, so I'm not sure what video you've been watching. Accept that the Megane is awesome and dry your eyes.
@santclause1 Well the chassis isn't that bad. And i don't care too much if it understeers a bit on a trackday. Does it go round a bend quite fast = Yes. Does it smoke all the other hot hatches in a straight line = Yes. Can you give it even MORE power = Yes. Does it look good = Yes And for me that's all that matters. You can even put it on a diet and lighten 150kg off it and give it 450bhp. Then it goes 0-60 in under 4 secs (Only REALLY goes on a straight line then).
Spot on. Doesn't mean it's bad but there is better. What I like is the Megane isn't in your face all the time but can do the business when required. The Ford has to shout all the time with it's styling and it just comes across a bit too Halfords. I wouldn't say no to a free one but I wouldn't buy one. Leon Cupra for me.
If I had the money I would honestly go for the Ford , dont get me wrong , I love RenaultSport cars (just sold my Twingo and got a Clio) and I am almost certain that the Megane is much better in therms of handling , but there is just something about that Ford that makes me want to have one, bad
why doesnt this guy get his own tv show? like a ch5 5th gear remake or whatever... it would surely be better than top gear (although i really like top gear we also need a factual car program to complement it lol)
Wonder where the new Focus ST is built now ? My old 55 plate ST was built in Germany & ran for 5 &1/2 years without so much as a bulb going = Can't knock the Mk1 or 2 Focus for Build, Reliability etc Anyone who says different has no idea !!! I don't like the new Focus at all - So won't be buying one anyway.
@turbo311 i dont like ford, european cars are much more agile, lancia integrale sure awsome car, they don´t make more of these cars, they can´t because os CO2 its a shame :)
So it's down to a purely arbitrary personal preference. In my view, the Focus is a very bland car, and the RS is an aggressive looking version of a bland car. The end result is not convincing - in my personal opinion, at least. Now the Mégane 5d is pretty bland as well, but the coupé and thus the RS is a really snazzy looking car. The problem is that I live in a country where I won't be able to do a test drive. So thank you for this test, it helps me decide. Now there's just the finances...
@butolina cars like the Focus are more European than American. Ford N America is only just starting to bring those cars here. The stuff we've had has been shit by comparison.
not true. Twingo RS i best to buy. quicker than Golf GTI 1, 5 GT Turbo, and all of hot and not expensive (as new) hatches and also cheap. the more advanced car you want the more money you have to pay and thats obvious.
*as I was saying,Renault Megane RS is much better than the previous Meganes and would say on par with VW Golf,but the new Focus ST is built by monkeys,the build quality is shockingly bad.One down side to Renault Megane RS is the car loses value quickly compared to VW Golf or Audi S3
No, you're not right. The Ford has to up the power in order to compete with the Megane. The Megane is the better car in pretty much every aspect. It's pretty much agreed across all the magazines and journalists that the Megane is best hot hatch available. Yes, the Ford is appealing and looks mean but it's not as good a car. A 200 will out handle the Focus - Renault has it sewn up in the hothatch category. And the interiors ain't plush. Sorry Ford fanboy.
the thing tht u hav 2 decide is if u want a nice drive and feel then the renault is the one however if u want a fast fun car then u get the rs for me renault = zzzzzzzzzz boring focus rs = :) see if ur gonna buy cars like these ur not gonna be driving them once a week to church these are cars tht are suppose to be fun and the renault isnt
@pmcgillick you don't even have a driving license probably, so stay out of this. RenaultSport is probably the best hot-hatch car manufacturer. (on Earth).
The Ford Focus RS 5 cylinder comes Volvo engine specs where bought some of blue print duties of the engine manufacturer to have that 5 cylinder dud... its not impressive, Ford they could slap in this with limited diff rationale, a little bit chassis work, and there you 300bhp or so...The first Audi Quattro 5 cylinder was turbo charged and that beast of car, of road on dirty with Rally cross it did 240 km with S.Van de M. But sadly the Renault screwed them all over Megane 250 Cup, in ever aspect of a Hot hatch, even over spin from tyres of the car.. Ford is built in South Africa, Manufacturing plant is Pretoria...My first cousin is production manager at the plant...!!
nash6504 To be honest in South Africa, BMW, AUDI, VOLKWAGEN, TOYOTA etc most of the time these vehicle are export, and the FORD FOCUS ST and RS was late released 2006 - 2007
@ienupar2003 you probably havent driven none of them so shut up you cant even afford one either so u cant have an opinion wel you can but it doesnt mean shit ive driven both and al i said was i think the focus is better its alot more exciting to drive n feels like a your in a sports car the renault is quick but quite and doesnt giv you the rush of excitement, it al depends on wot u prefer do you want a fast flamboyent car or a fast excecutive car, dont get me wrong i like the clio sports alot
