Looking to chop my motor in but want something that is relaxed on the motorway, decent laugh on A/B roads, well equipped and cheapish to run.

My search has led me to the Renaultsport megane - had a drive on Sat and its quick, seems well put together and the looks have grown on me.

Anyone got real life experience of owning one? Good points / bad points / alternatives?

Also had a look at the Alfa GT but the budget wont stretch to the 3.2 one!

 

Never driven one, but the reviews say it's a competent car(not excellent in any particular catagory). The one concern I would have would be reliability, which although better has yet to match(according to surveys) the Japanese.

Other cars I would consider would be Civic type R, Mini Cooper S, New Golf GTI(if you are buying new and can stretch to it), second hand BMW 330d or even an Impreza WRX.

 

what about a Leon cupra R 225. I bought a second hand one last week and have no regrets... awesome cars.

 

A'K has a sh!te taste in cars though so forget the cupra Id go for the megane, been trying to talk the misses into 1 since they came out but she didnt like the ar$e on them. We saw a silver 1 on the high street last saturday though and she even said it looked nice so I might be getting somewhere eventually 18k new IIRC so they aint cheap. about 7 secs to 60. 1/4 mile in 14.5 too, so reasonably fast but nothing breath taking

 

I'd buy something without an incredibly invasive electronic nanny traction control. I can think of nothing more annoying than traction control that can't be turned off! Also watch out for depreciation.... I still haven't seen one on the road! They were launched in may weren't they? seems to me that there isn't much interest in them, so second hand might be a problem. I saw them for around 16.5k for a uk from a car broker I think - so don't even think about giving the rip-off merchants 20k!

I would definitley go for the LCR out of the two. (Not sure if its traction can be completely turned off, but rumour has it that it's a lot less invasive than the megane's).

There was a good review over on evo.co.uk for the megane versus the alfa versus the LCR if I remember correctly.

 

Dave - I thought they were quicker? See the Autocar test (on link) where they got 6.1 to 60 and the 0-100 matched the focus RS. In gear was quicker than the Alfa 147 GTA too.

http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/Roa....asp?RT=208743

I do like the Cupra and plenty of Revo potential - could be an option!

Another option may be the new Focus ST.

 

they might be quicker but pretty sure that 1/4 miles time is right though....

think they look great, spacious, none of this spanish midget hot hatch

 

3-door Megane 225's are available for £15.5k OTR brand new if you do some searching......

 

Go for the cup version supposed to be far better than the std version.

My brother has the std one and it is a great car but the handling is wooden to say the least..depends on what you want really??

Forgot to add it looks really good

 

LCR all the way, had a little play with a Meg 225 demonstrator (smothered in dealer logo's) when I was loaded to the roof with computer gear plus two up and still beat him

 

£14,988 on broadspeed.com

 

www.fastraxvehiclesourcing.co.uk

Megane 2.0T Renaultsport 225 3dr Brand New UK Supplied £15,695
Megane 2.0T Renaultsport 225 5dr Brand New UK Supplied £15,995

Broadspeed price is well cheap, UK supplied and including FREE mySatNav personal satellite navigation service.

 

15k for a megane sport. hmmm, think the reno 5 can forgot about its respray if the misses can have her arm twisted

 

Cupra R all the way, much better car!

 

no they are poop handling, poop performance, depreciation disasters

 

A friend of mine bought one in September and he loves it, got 6K on it now so the engine's really lose and it goes very well. It's comfortable on the motorway too and does actually average the best part of 30mpg. Only downside he's had is one of the tyre pressure sensors was playing up and the EML was coming on at tickover occasionally, both sorted under warranty now though. He's been on about a Renaultsport upgrade for around £500 that gives another 30 odd horsepower too . . .

You'll find most 'internet' car dealers will have to order you a car and mean you waiting a couple of months. www.motorhouse2000ltd.co.uk have the cars physically in stock at £14995.

 

Both have a clue about any cars, but I think the Reno is so much better in looks and you wont be a sheep
Kam

 

Good value PPP= £1600-£2000