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RS Clio to RS Megane - the logical step?



  RS Clio 182
So im thinking of going from my 200 to an RS Megane - the 200 is such a machine on b-road blasts,but its quite an awkward car to drive in 10-30 mph commuting - which i do a lot of. The more refined,smoother,'grown up' approach of Meganes appeals to me now - plus the Turbo side of things,ive always had an NA hot hatch.

Im just hoping to get some opinions of anyone whos done the switch - and im also trying to decide whether it should be a R26 F1 or a 250. (around about a £8-9K budget)

Heres two im looking at so far :

https://www.pistonheads.com/classif...enault-megane-renaultsport-f1team-r26/7112636

https://www.pistonheads.com/classif...megane-2-0-t-16v-renaultsport-250-3dr/6764915
 

Gaz_

ClioSport Club Member
  Extreme mode
You're at the lower end of the 250 there, the desirable spec is cupped with xenons and recaros. That 250 linked is a standard with no cup pack (i.e. No diff) I'll be a decent car, but tricky to sell. With your budget I'd get the best r26 you can (for me it would have to be glacier white) and with the spare coin saved, get it minty fresh

I settled for a 250 cup with recaros

Good car, no real bulld quality issues other than the hub bearings. Oh and pads and disks at 50k ish which isn't cheap either. Other than that decent pace, better mpg than the 200, gobbles up B roads, nice cars imo

BEA4C059-4B29-4177-943A-F6E7CFC846BA_zpsa5skajj3.jpg
 
Last edited:
  RS Clio 182
You're at the lower end of the 250 there, the desirable spec is cupped with xenons and recaros. That 250 linked is a standard with no cup pack (i.e. No diff) I'll be a decent car, but tricky to sell

I settled for a 250 cup with recaros

Good car, no real bulld quality issues other than the hub bearings. Oh and pads and disks at 50k ish which isn't cheap either. Other than that decent pace, better mpg than the 200, gobbles up B roads, nice cars imo

BEA4C059-4B29-4177-943A-F6E7CFC846BA_zpsa5skajj3.jpg

ok cheers,and are belts every 4 years on these? My best option maybe would be to go for a mint R26 and pocket the change made from the 200 sale.
 

Gaz_

ClioSport Club Member
  Extreme mode
ok cheers,and are belts every 4 years on these? My best option maybe would be to go for a mint R26 and pocket the change made from the 200 sale.
6 like a 200

Effectively a 250 is like a boasted 200, which isn't a bad thing
 

MartinL1993

ClioSport Moderator
Do it you won't look back
I switched from a 200 to a 265 and love it
Miss my 200 every now and then but the interior of the megane is far superior and the low down grunt is great for commuting then it's just as good on track days!
 

Gaz_

ClioSport Club Member
  Extreme mode
It will be fine, but if your 200 is cupped i think you'll miss the pointyness if you don't go cupped on the meg, coupled to the fact it will be an arse to sell on

Mine had a full decontamination yesterday ready for a paint correction. Got one side done, then it pissed it down for the rest of the day

C71C9EB2-7FCC-41F0-8A34-35CAA3FB6F05_zpsotalxo0c.jpg
 

-Jamie-

ClioSport Club Member
If you can't afford to get a Cup or Cup pack, save more or get something else.

No point missing out on the main selling point of them, they ain't that special without it and I'd probably buy something else tbh.
 
I've done it. Loving the megane. As already said it's a bit more refined and grown up. Great fun when you floor it. Get the R26 f1, I think the mk ll has more character than the mk lll.
 
  RS Clio 182
I've done it. Loving the megane. As already said it's a bit more refined and grown up. Great fun when you floor it. Get the R26 f1, I think the mk ll has more character than the mk lll.

Yeah im looking at an R26 F1....some very good examples around the £6K mark.

regarding the sale of my 200 - it says an average garage PX value is £5K?! Is that right....when they are selling for £7-9K in Liquid Yelllow.....
 
  Clio 197,with megan'
I had R26R, R26, and now run Megane engined Clio. I did try a 265, lovely car, but not for me, and I won't be changing the Clio for anything else, so it is possible to come from the other end of the scale as well.
 

R-Sport.

ClioSport Club Member
  Mint 1*2's for sale-
Spec looks low
Wheels look tatty
Could be a good buy if you get it cheap if it needs work
 
  RS Clio 182
What other spec was there apart from xenons? If its in good condition and has had belts done then its looks really good value for money,it is an R26 at the end of the day. No interior pics could be a telling sign though.
 

massiveCoRbyn

ClioSport Club Member
  Several
I went from a Clio to a Megane 265, albeit via a Golf. Still have the Clio though. It's definitely a nice upgrade. They do have similar traits in some ways, but the meg does feel more grown up. In your budget, I think an R26 is the way to go. As someone above said, you're at the lower end of the 250 market there, so probably better to go for a really nice R26 rather than a ropey 250. Add a couple of tweaks and I suspect it would be every bit as capable.
 
  RS Clio 182
The owner of that is a top bloke, Jon. He's the owner of a Lotus Specialist and set up meganesport forums. He's got it on eBay for £6250.

Yeah he mentioned he works with sports cars - does it look a good example to you? Any idea on what spec that would have (Xenons etc)
 
Love the LY one!

They just look so 'right'. As said i'd go for an example like that LY one above, rather than a ropy, high mileage 250 Cup which probably won't even have Recaros!
 
  RS Clio 182
I'd probably stretch to a 250, rather than a 225/230.

My budget is determined by how much i can sell my 200 for - so i think im short for a decent 250.

You own a 200 - do you find it 'awkward' to drive in slow commuting traffic? This is one of the reasons im looking to change - the endless flatspot/kangaarooing that happens in certain locations is really getting tiresome,and jerky gear changes. My 182 was a lot smoother to drive even...
 

Christopher

ClioSport Club Member
  Z4M
My budget is determined by how much i can sell my 200 for - so i think im short for a decent 250.

You own a 200 - do you find it 'awkward' to drive in slow commuting traffic? This is one of the reasons im looking to change - the endless flatspot/kangaarooing that happens in certain locations is really getting tiresome,and jerky gear changes. My 182 was a lot smoother to drive even...
I do, but it's not my daily. They are a lot more awkward in traffic but it's more a mapping issue than anything.
Chris at EFI in Runcorn would sort that for you. Even before the benefits of optimising it for any mods, he can map out a few niggly issues that the 197/200's have.
Once I've fitted my Cup airbox, I'll be thinking about the same.
In the short term, try pulling off with no throttle if you're on a flat road. Just ease it up gently.
 
  RS Clio 182
I do, but it's not my daily. They are a lot more awkward in traffic but it's more a mapping issue than anything.
Chris at EFI in Runcorn would sort that for you. Even before the benefits of optimising it for any mods, he can map out a few niggly issues that the 197/200's have.
Once I've fitted my Cup airbox, I'll be thinking about the same.
In the short term, try pulling off with no throttle if you're on a flat road. Just ease it up gently.

Yeah ive heard of EFI,and its an option - does it remedy any of the cold engine issues aswell? The first 5-10 minutes the car has literally no power and sounds rough..

I just think its not a good car if you commute a lot,no power below the 4K range and a loud Akra exhuast isnt a great combo either hehe - it just feels like it should be on a track all the time. Whereas the 182 could be civilised aswell..
 

Christopher

ClioSport Club Member
  Z4M
Yeah ive heard of EFI,and its an option - does it remedy any of the cold engine issues aswell? The first 5-10 minutes the car has literally no power and sounds rough..

I just think its not a good car if you commute a lot,no power below the 4K range and a loud Akra exhuast isnt a great combo either hehe - it just feels like it should be on a track all the time. Whereas the 182 could be civilised aswell..
They are a lot more highly strung that the Mk2 RS' but I love that. Just not as a daily.
I have a cheap daily driver alongside the 200, mainly so I could make it a bit more track/fast road-friendly. Using buckets every day would do my head in.
Re the cold map, I don't think so. Mine's the same, I just make sure to change early and baby it for the first few miles.
 


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