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Any experience of Clio 182 or Megane 225 ?

jonabonospen - 20/9/15 at 05:27 PM

Been looking with a mate at "cheap" track cars and the Clio 172 and 182, and also the Megane 225 keep coming up. Had a test drive in a Clio 182 the other day and it seemed like it could be good fun, but the one I drove ended up being a bit of a shed. Have read loads of reviews and comments about the merits of both the clio and megane models, but wondered if anyone here had any experience of either?

Wanting to use it for some day-to-day use but with the main aim of going to do some track days in it.

theduck - 20/9/15 at 05:41 PM

Owned multiple renaultsport clios. Brilliant cars, just make sure cambers been done or budget Ł500 for a specialist to do.

jonabonospen - 20/9/15 at 05:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by theduck
Owned multiple renaultsport clios. Brilliant cars, just make sure cambers been done or budget Ł500 for a specialist to do.

Cambelt and dephaser???

big_wasa - 20/9/15 at 06:21 PM

My Bro' has a Megan 225. He has NO mechanical sympathy or knowledge and would have you believe he doesn't know one end of a spanner from the other and doesn't own any.

He has had it two years and has had it serviced once and a couple of sets of front tires and that is it other than a window coming of the cable.

It was smoother with less wallop than my Scooby but just as quick. I don't like the seating position. The seats seams very high and the roof low but I am tall-ish.

The flip side is his wife liked it so much she bought the 1.4 version it broke down twice a week every week for the year and a half she had it. The electrics where a nightmare.

I am doing a focus at the moment for next year. great handling but heavy and under powered. I am sorting the power with a turbo and the car is on a diet.

marco - 20/9/15 at 06:26 PM

I've really enjoyed mine this year, I bought it standard and fitted the following parts over the last 6 months which have transformed the car.

Cooksport Springs with new front shocks and top mounts.
Whiteline front camber bolts
Brembo High carbon front disks
DS2500 Front pads
New standard rear pads and disks
New rear Brake calipers
K Tech cat back system
Whiteline rear anti roll bar.

I've been giving thought to moving up to something more expensive and not road legal, let me know if you might be interested In this as I haven't advertised it anywhere yet and can send you more details.

Even if you're not interested, I can definitely recommend one, I've owned many many cars both fast road and track and these are little gems...

lsdweb - 20/9/15 at 06:47 PM

I sprinted and hillclilmbed a road going one for a short period. Pretty nippy but rolled around a lot on standard suspension.

I was a bit dubious about crashing it though!

Wyn

Martini High Res

big-vee-twin - 20/9/15 at 06:50 PM

I have owned the 230 team F1 R26 version, had it from new.

What an amazing car, it it best handling I have driven.

Mechanical issues I had none but the coil on plug units are crappy.

Hodor - 20/9/15 at 06:52 PM

I used to have a 172 and whilst it was fun, wasn't as much as my mates megane 225. It has an LSD too that made a difference. Don't know which would make the better stripped out track car, but the turbo'd meg was way faster on the road. Typically French though, you want to replace a light Sir? Of course, just remove the wheel and arch liner etc

daniel mason - 20/9/15 at 07:09 PM

Looks like you were really holding back in an attempt not to crash that wyn!
But on a hill it's poo or bust as every hundredth counts

theduck - 20/9/15 at 07:15 PM

Nah that's just how they cornel Daniel!

lsdweb - 20/9/15 at 07:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
Looks like you were really holding back in an attempt not to crash that wyn!
But on a hill it's poo or bust as every hundredth counts

I was actually taking it easy! I'd bought the car on a Thursday night (in the dark, at a motorway service station, for cash and with no V5). I sprinted it at Llandow on the Saturday and broke a wheel by hitting the kerb into the chicane too hard (

Broken wheel ); I kept going for a lap and a half without noticing which probably shows how little 'feel' I have!

So, on the Sunday (photo), I didn't have a spare wheel / tyre so was taking it easy just to get to the top of the hill and score some points!

Wyn

[Edited on 21/9/15 by lsdweb]

jonabonospen - 20/9/15 at 07:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Hodor
I used to have a 172 and whilst it was fun, wasn't as much as my mates megane 225. It has an LSD too that made a difference. Don't know which would make the better stripped out track car, but the turbo'd meg was way faster on the road. Typically French though, you want to replace a light Sir? Of course, just remove the wheel and arch liner etc

I may be wrong but I think the models with the LSD are the F1 and R26 models, which are really more than I would want to pay for a track car really as they are in the Ł4k+ price range, whereas the 225 Megane (none F1 or R26 models) are around Ł2k+ for a 100k mile car. But what puts me off though is the reports about the handling on early 2004 and 2005 models before they altered the suspension and steering.

One minute I'm just thinking its got to be the Clio for the small hot hatch fun factor, then next minute thinking the Megane 225 could be the better option with more power in it but might just be a little less focused when it comes to track fun.......... oh the dilema

loggyboy - 20/9/15 at 07:38 PM

Megane is good but too lardy for track imo, certainly haven't met one on track thats showed my 172 or 182s up for the 40/50bhp deficit.

coyoteboy - 20/9/15 at 09:11 PM

Personally, having had to look after my other half's Megane I'd. never touch a Renault again!

Adamirish - 20/9/15 at 09:56 PM

I have driven plenty of both but not owned either. 172/182's like to munch gearboxes, one friend blew a hole in the gearbox casing, fitted a second hand low mileage box. 10,000 miles later it sounded like a mini jack night straight cut! The renaultsport megane's do seem to be better built than the Boggo Megane, though any I have had anything to do with have had electrical issues. IE windows switches, motors and regulators, stupid key card things dying, central locking playing up, heater fans playing up etc. they do go well though and more power is easily achievable. Gearboxes feel like stirring a bowl of porridge. Would I own either? No. I would buy a civic type r. Not as much fun but wouldn't be worried about it breaking.

ettore bugatti - 20/9/15 at 10:32 PM

On the street a Megane R26 is quite capable, the pull in second and third gear is a level above the Clio 1x2.

It feels less French hot hatch/ more solid too, but if you look at the running costs (tires, brakes, etc) you will find that the Clio is a lot cheaper to run.

The Clio is also more chuckable on the road, the Megane is more point and shoot.

So a Clio with the Megane engine, please

van cleef - 21/9/15 at 02:20 AM

I owned a 55 plate Megane 225 cup form new for 7 years. The car never missed a beat but like most cars they do have their problems and ones I had were the front hubs and electric window regulators.

If your not going with a R26, non earlier LSD models are really good but the cup pack is a must in my eyes.

theduck - 21/9/15 at 08:18 AM

If you have any mecchanical sympathy, then the gearboxes are fine. As for them feelinng like stirring a bowl of porridge, this can be resolved fairly cheaply and easily with some aftermarket bushes.

jonabonospen - 21/9/15 at 09:09 PM

Problem now resolved after buying a cracking Clio 182 Full Fat from marco

Nice 40 to 50 mile drive back and was loving it. Feels so planted and it definitely goes well. Going to get the spare set of wheels out of the boot tomorrow and then take it for a proper blat

theduck - 21/9/15 at 09:18 PM

Enjoy it! My wife still misses our clios.

phelpsa - 21/9/15 at 09:55 PM

Fancied a Clio 182 but just couldn't get comfortable in one, so went for the Megane R26. Brilliant to drive on the road, the driving position isn't for everyone but I find it very good and the Recaros are supportive in all the right places. The steering and chassis feedback is excellent, and the balance just right for the road. However the engine is a bit dull and thirsty and the build quality hasn't moved on since the 80s (particularly the electrics....).