Great car, especially in flame red. I've had a 275 Trophy almost 2 years from new and it's brilliant, only 96 of them in the UK makes you feel part of an exclusive club too
Super video Peter. I think the owners reasons for buying his car are spot on. Decent value for money. I think 250 to 350 bhp is enough for UK roads. OK so a C63 AMG Merc or an M3 etc would leave it standing on the open road but I prefer a B road blaster like this sort of car any day.
I loved this vid. Thank you. Informative and down to earth. Being the proud and happy owner of a RS 265 Cup+, I agree with everything stated by Andy as why it is such a joy to own and drive. The confidence to take so much speed into a corner, and back out of it (in sensible and safe circumstances of course) is exhilarating. It's fun ...and entirely affordable. Best bang-for-your bucks of any hot-hatch. Thanks again.
Just purchased a megane 275 trophy and very impressed with it. Wanted a megane for a few year and the trophy came up at the correct time. Also have a 172 cup and a 197.
I'm enjoying the hot hatch series, I previously owned a Megane RS250 so I know how good they are. I'm a big Renaultsport fan as I have a Clio 182 which I'm slowly turning into a track car which performed brilliantly at Goodwood earlier in the week. However, my daily is a Cupra 290 which seems a step up from my old RS250.
Big Renault fan here,once I had a 2009 Megane RS 225 and it did draw a smile on my face every time Am in it ! So I wonder what would be the new one like !
I'm not a fan of Renaults(or Citreons either) but this one may be an exception. Great value for money and nice to hear from the owner about what it is like on a day to day basis. Not too keen on the interior though it looked a little bland in my opinion but i liked the colour and that titanium exhaust rocked although how much would that be to replace!!!! Great video Peter look forward to the next one from Goodwood or on another hot hatch.
Hi Rob. Thanks mate, it certainly changed my opinion of Renault too. Hopefully Goodwood will provide some good content and I have some cracking cars planned for April !
Thing is, they aren't that great value for money as a car, interior is shite, looks good but not great, but it's just so much fun and much more fun than the competition, that makes it a no brainer for people that like fun cars.
good watch again! your welcome to have a drive on track in my 2008 Astra VXR Nurburgring this year if you wanted to do some older hot hatches or track car series!! thumbs up from me
Recently picked up a 1.5 dci coupe for a new job which turns out to pay better than I thought it would.... I'm gonna have to upgrade to one of these next year!
I'm not sure if we can get Renault in the U.S. but will look into getting one someday if we can. Great looking and seems like a blast to drive. #LoveHatchbacks.
Gearbox feels as good as the Honda type R? Your gotta be kidding me. I currently have a cup 250 and even with a 4h short shifter the shifts are ambiguous and lengthy at best. Coming from my previous type Rs, this box is one of the major let downs
Another really good video. One thing though, surely you must eventually find a car that you don't get on with? So much positivity I guess if all is valid just shows what great choice is out there currently.
Thanks. I'm not shy of saying if I don't like things. I gave the Type R Civic a hard time about it's ride quality. But you are right, it's hard to find too much wrong with the cars I've driven recently !
Petrol Ped Type R hard ride quality serves a purpose. People don't buy these cars for comfort....you only have to look at the latest Audi RS3 super fast and apparently quite a hard ride. Like I said if you want comfort you shouldn't be looking at hot hatch/super hatch territory - go buy purposely built car like a Skoda Super!! Hard ride comments are bit unfair tbh stating the obvious...Honda never once marketed any Type R as being a comfortable ride although the latest FK8 model could well be perfect with independent suspension but maybe that will comprise overall performance - get what I'm saying? When it comes to performance there's a comprise....think about how many super cars struggle over speed bumps as an example!!
The thing is, you can have firm and sporty suspension but still have compliant damping that is not crashy or bonejarring. All the hot hatches that he has reviewed have had firm suspension but only the CTR has been exceptionally bonejarring. As you say, the torsion beam rear suspension from 1984 might be part of the problem.
Word Maestro Torsion beam on Fk2 was resigned it's not the same from the 80s! You cannot discount the rear setup for out right cornering ability and performance but disadvantages are comfort and road noise especially cabin noise. You've got to get independent suspension right usually costs a lot of money otherwise you compromise on handling performance for comfort ride quality. Like I said it's difficult to get the balance right/perfect for this sector of cars cost drives a lot...these aren't Ferraris at the end of the day.
1984 torsion beam suspension was meant to be tongue in cheek. My S60R with adjustable suspension dampening manages to do very 'comfort'able on one setting and overly stiff (advanced) on another setting which really is only good for track and a 'sport' mode inbetween which is perfectly usable on the road. It's odd that all the hot hatches with adjustable dampening only have the option of 'very stiff' or 'way too stiff'.
Oh jeez. I had my m140i stolen and was thinking of buying something a bit older like this megane hoping it would be less desirable to scum bags. Guess not. Where abouts in the world are you? I'm in West Midlands in the UK, unfortunately loads of car crime here.
I’ve owned both. Totally different cars. The Megan’s is by far the more fun car to drive on the B roads and track and feels more special but can get tiresome day to day. The golf is the better allrounder and a much better daily and is a lot quicker on the straights and easier to live with day to day but more expensive to run. The Megane is better suited as a weekend driver, whereas the golf it a nicer daily. Would be nice to own both.
Pretty much all hot hatches from the time after were better in a way or another, the thing is, until the fk2 none was as fun and even the type r are ALMOST as fun as a Megane, not more tho. I30N is the only I don't know shite about it.
Nice car! if you are doing a Hot hatch Series then the GTC VXR is a must.Some say the GTC is better than the Trophy cup.I think they are on an even par.Spec on the GTC VXR is 276BHP,0-62mph 5.9secs.Top speed 155mph.The car is lowered by 10mm 20 inch alloy's. Engine torque is 295 IBS.I own one and a video is on my page mate ;)
Hi Warren. Thanks for the heads up. I'll take a look. The tricky bit is getting access to the cars to create the films. I'm still trying to get a Golf R and RS3 too !
You can't just compare all 'hot hatches'. There are different tiers. The focus RS, Golf R, A45s etc. are 300+bhp with 4wd. They are completely different to a Megane RS and other sub 300bhp FWD cars.
Nice Video but won't touch a Renault again! When your on first name terms with your service manager it's spending too much time with them!! Once burnt as they say!!!
Anthony Swan done 89,000kms in a 2011 manual and recently did some remapping and straight piping etc about 300hp and still feels ok... Ive done a few too many engine mounts and a AC compressor, but apart from that the french havent let me down? Touch wood... lol
We own two gm cars which are known to be 'reliable' both V8 Holden commodores. One just had the slave cylinder shit itself which unfortunately was inside the transmission gearbox out to fix. The other leaks oil from every Orpheus imaginable.
I think comparing this to the likes of the Focus RS, Golf R and Civic type R is a bit unfair. This is more in the league of the ST, Astra GTC VXR and Golf GTI.
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E0W11rauT2Q.html - here's a review Renault 265 not a 275 but it's always good to see what a professional race driver thinks and in real bad weather too...the ultimate test! Really good review of the 275 by the way! I reckon 275 and the Civic Fk2 probably the best fwd (driver track focused) cars you could buy right now and pretty good for daily use. Hopefully Renault will do another RS and add to the already exciting and competitive hot hatch race 😀
