Was told there is a review in Maxpower on the R26 and it gets a very good rating.
Anyone seen it or read it?

Max power?:ar: I aint seen one of them for Y-E-A-R-S!

Oh no, the R26 was in MaxPower... I'm cancelling my order :(

Oh no, the R26 was in MaxPower... I'm cancelling my order :(
:) Bloody chavs!! (No offence intended tho!)

Oh no, the R26 was in MaxPower... I'm cancelling my order :(

haha im thinking the same :tt2: well....maybe not cant wait til she comes!!

Autocar reckon it is the best hot hatch currently available, they are about to add one to the long term fleet.

I think Renault have been throwing the bungs around to the highest circulating magazines....

I think Renault have been throwing the bungs around to the highest circulating magazines....

Trying to put me off?

Not at all mate, I just find it very amusing that the 225, Cup or not was not liked in the press. A very low key affair. Then, add a few stickers and an LSD and it's the best thing since sliced bread!!

I've not yet driven an R26, but I really struggle to see how it will make that much of a difference unless you are at 10 10ths all the time, yet all of a sudden, the press absolutly love it, rave over it, and it's top of the hot hatches. Surely without an LSD it would still have been close to the top.......

quote from EVO magazine

'Its a shame we can't skip the three-or four years gestation period for these Renaultsport cars. Just like the previous Renaultsport clios, the Megane is finishing its life as an absolute blinder' verbatim

The also say the R26 is the car the RS Focus should have been!

Very high praise indeed-From what I have read (and I have driven an R26-but not a previous version) its sounds like all the little changes done to the R26, including the LSD have just hit the nail on the head for a FWD car. It seems to eclipse the previous models just enough to make it a great!

I don't want to get into an 'R26 vs the rest' discussion again, but a lot of the 'changes' to the R26 are the same as on the Cup/Cupped cars.

There are vast other differences, cosmetically etc (recaro's as standard etc, etc), but drive-train and chassis-wise, there is no way enough of a difference to make the R26 a 'great' car compared to the standard.

My point is, the Cup/Cupped and Lux/FF cars are also truely fantastic (especially for the money they can be bought for new), just different specs (slightly) to the R26.

Unless of course the previous versions of the Megane are 'OK', the R26 is 'great' and a re-mapped car is 'super-car'.

Oh - and since subscribing to Evo, I've realised how easily biased they are. Is it any coincidence that the Audi R8 is getting great reviews and this month there was also a Le-mans insert (sponsored by audi), and audi are also spending lots on advertising ahead of le-mans?

Bungs are rife in this industry when it comes to promoting cars. Not always direct either.

Imagine, you have a Porsche 911 lent to you on the UK roads, you give it some stick, perhaps even take it on the track, you like it.

Then, Audi say 'come try our new R8 in Las Vegas'. Audi then pay for you and the photographer to go club class to Vegas, pay for all the hospitality when you stay over, and give you the keys to an R8, on roads they have chosen, where they have tinkered with all the specs to make sure it goes perfectly. Real world, you're not going to have a factory race team setting the car up for every drive..

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my Evo, I get to see some great shots of the new cars, see all the new sportier models. But the reviews are sh!te. I take them with a pinch of salt, and know that if I'm choosing between more than one car in the future, I'll be testing it myself.

Oh, anyone notice this month that the 3.0TDI A5 got another great review (another audi, same issue.. hmm....), 0-60 in around 6 secs, FOR A DIESEL. Brilliant. Anyone looked at the MPG for that car? Sure it's about the same as ours, which does the same performance with a 2.0T and no black smoke (the BMW estate on the other hand just over the page has great performance and MPG..).

Yeah I see your point.
CAR mag also gave the R8 a fantastic review, but like you say who knows what goes on behind the scenes.
I also see your point about the slight differences between the R26 and the other models. All it takes is slight differences though to make a good car into a great car. Look at one make championships and hillclimb cars-nearly the same but some masively quicker than others-1 or 2 degrees of adjustment here and there etc.
As you rightly said, there is no point turning this thread into a 'done to death' R26 versus thread(and I can only personally vouch for the R26 myself anyway).
Next EVO mag will(if I reckon correctly) feature the R26 round Bedford autodrome (EVO's test track) so at least we should all see some comparative times in stone!

The proof of the pudding n all that.......

Spoke to Bert earlier today.......he's owned a FF, a Cupped FF and now the R26.

With all his tinkering n stuff he has probably good knowledge of the improvements through the range of 225's.

I'm sure he'll comment himself soon, but he said that he is blown away with the handling of the R26, even after being more than impressed with his previous motor.

Now with mine going from a standard FF, to Eibachs, and back to standard I sh1t you not the car is well lairy now - when the Eibachs were on it was superb.

So the step up to me R26 should be incredible - can't wait now.

Turning green Mr T??? LOL

Was Andy B's a Cupped FF? Thought it was like yours? A FF+eibachs?

Green? No chance buddy - I love mine, and LSD or not, there is no way I'd take a car with the recaros in, the mounting plates are just far too industrial, sticker or not! If I were to swap, it would be a FF+Cup, smother my car in moo-hide :D

I'd like a back to back drive in a standard R26 to compare to mine, until then, I still refuse to be convinced there is a difference. Even on the Renaultsport site, the differences are minimal.

Was Andy B's a Cupped FF? Thought it was like yours? A FF+eibachs?

Green? No chance buddy - I love mine, and LSD or not, there is no way I'd take a car with the recaros in, the mounting plates are just far too industrial, sticker or not! If I were to swap, it would be a FF+Cup, smother my car in moo-hide :D

I'd like a back to back drive in a standard R26 to compare to mine, until then, I still refuse to be convinced there is a difference. Even on the Renaultsport site, the differences are minimal.

But don't the new FF + Cup packs have Recaro's - full leather one's though??? Or they just optional? Just wondering.....

And if the tweeks, including LSD, make no difference then why have they bothered with them? Or with any of the enhancements through the range/over the years????

Continuous improvement Mr T - from Ferrari n McLaren n Honda n Renault n Porsche n BMW - high end multi-million pound R+D so we can reap the rewards at the lower end........

Im sure once more members have actually driven 'their' new R26's then we will see a realistic show of hands-ALL the magazines/members cant be wrong!

I simply don't understand why someone can't claim that there's is better than another, especially the same model.

Granted, from one different make/model to another it's bollox - every car will be different. If Jeremy Clarkson sez it's sh!te then loads go with him on it. It's only HIS opinion FFS - put 10 different people in the same car, with all levels of ability and age and experience and they will all give different reviews.

And let them 10 people have the car for a month or two, not just a blitz through Germany or a school run, for TV ratings.

However, someone who has had the SAME make/model for many years, in every weather condition, on all surfaces, at every speed, passengers etc. and then steps up to a revised model - they can truly comment on any improvements, or balls ups for that matter.

If these people claim it is better, then they are the one's with real and honest feedback. I am being told by those in the know that the R26 is better than their last. Good enough for me.

Exactly, and there are some changes with roll bars etc

Small changes can make a huge difference, especially on well set up cars, like tyre pressures for example.

Frankly I can easily see how it could be a better car, and am always confused why sometimes a good car will be knocked, when clearly, be overwhelming opinion, it is good.

Anyway, I'm not fussed what others drive, just what I drive, and I know its gonna be great!

Kin 'ell, here we go again........

The R26 IS different, Recaro's are only an option on the Cupped cars. You also only get cloth in the rear and on the door cards of the R26. Exactly the same as the Cup, but a different colour.

I am not knocking the R26 at all. It is different, but in terms of drivetrain and geometry:

Rear roll bar diameter has been altered
The car has a slightly different map (what exactly is still TBC)
New exhaust (which Icy has pointed out is the same, with different packing in the middle)
LSD

Now what I was getting at is that these magazines are far to easily swayed. Just the amount of advertising is evidence that Renault wanted the R26 to sell well. Lots of press, a sublimly set up car with fresh just scrubbed in tyres. I'm just a bit p!ssed off that everyone is of the assumption that the R26 is the only Megane to have. For many reasons it's not, and for many reasons the other two are better for other people.

Anyway bear - you shouldn't be taking Bassetts opinion, get out there are drive the pair! I'm sure you already want the R26 though because of the recaros and the LSD.

As for a show of hands. I think that'll just show that all are happy. I only know of people that will say they prefer the meggy to the ST, but there are reasons people want a Cup, or a FF, the LSD isn't the be all and end all!

I simply don't understand why someone can't claim that there's is better than another, especially the same model.


Better in what way though? There is no way I'd choose an R26 now out of the options that are there - but that is just ME. Rosscoe had the option of an R26 when he bought his, but went for a FF+Cup. Not because he was duped, not becuase he was drugged, he wanted the FF+Cup (and I'm jealous of all that cow). The R26 is different, not better than the other Meganes.

mine can do mid corners at over 100 + sweeping cornering at over 120 thats more than dangerous enough if you need to and its solid as a rock a diff is great for those who really nail it hard all the time in certain conditions.

ive heard some shizer recently, but nothing beats the comments about how an R26 is the true evolution and the rest are lame !

All i can say (and i will be brief) is that I owned a phase 1 ff for nearly 3 years and my currant R26 is like driving a totally different car.

Calm down Leigh!

Who's saying the R26 is better than other 225's? Not me, how could I possibly know. Not Bert, even though he's got his now. Not the sales rep' I know who has had a Trophy and now owns an R26. They are saying the handling is better - even more chuckable and positive etc. etc.

The LSD and bigger anti-roll bars are the source of the alleged 'better' handling, not what makes it a better 225.

I'm looking forward to mine from the step up from FF standard and FF on Eibachs - looking forward to it based on feedback from those who have had different 'handling' cars.

Do you really believe I have bought this car because it has an LSD and Recaro's hehehe???!!!

I bought it cos I love the Meg i've got but want to step up in terms of the handling, (if the Cup packed version was the latest then that would have been my choice, but the LSD etc. must be there to improve the handling again), the LY (would prefer white).......and the Recaro's are the only seats that come with it so I assure you that had nowt to do with my decision, but you're sure that's why I bought it.

My bad - I should have stated people should be able to say there's is better only in the areas they can see and feel an improvement.

The R26 is better by the way hehehehe :flipoff: :tt2:

I feel I may have written slightly incorrectly, my anger is all aimed at the press. I still can't see how the R26 will be that much better. Those who say it is are those stepping from a phase 1.

Even if the car drives a bit different still doesn't make it better. I might start a new poll 'who drove an R26 AND a Cupped phase 2 megane before buying'.

blimey..........

blimey indeed..........

we all have a choice. Define 'better'

If my opinion is of interest then I chose a cupped FF because it had more to offer for my needs than the R26 - so in my opinion was a 'better' car - for me.

There is a huge hype over the R26 and in looking at the spec I guess it is a very capable car - and if some of the handling specific traits of the replaced car have been tweaked then I am sure some people will class those tweaks as 'bettering' the car - but some wont.

And dont just beleive the press - a very powerful source of information and influence - but nothing beats your own instincts and desires.......

blimey..........

blimey indeed..........

we all have a choice. Define 'better'

If my opinion is of interest then I chose a cupped FF because it had more to offer for my needs than the R26 - so in my opinion was a 'better' car - for me.

There is a huge hype over the R26 and in looking at the spec I guess it is a very capable car - and if some of the handling specific traits of the replaced car have been tweaked then I am sure some people will class those tweaks as 'bettering' the car - but some wont.

And dont just beleive the press - a very powerful source of information and influence - but nothing beats your own instincts and desires.......

There you go mate.....


1. of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.
2. morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.
3. of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.
4. larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.
5. improved in health; healthier than before.
6. completely recovered in health.
–adverb, compar. of well with best as superl. 7. in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.
8. to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
9. more: I walked better than a mile to town.
–verb (used with object) 10. to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
11. to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.
12. Cards. to raise (a previous bid).
–noun 13. that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.
14. Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
—Idioms15. better off, a. in better circumstances.
b. more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.

16. better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
17. for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.
18. get or have the better of, a. to get an advantage over.
b. to prevail against.

19. go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
20. had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.
21. no better than one should be, Disparaging. morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
22. think better of, a. to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding: I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.

There you go mate.....


1. of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.
2. morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.
3. of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.
4. larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.
5. improved in health; healthier than before.
6. completely recovered in health.
–adverb, compar. of well with best as superl. 7. in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.
8. to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
9. more: I walked better than a mile to town.
–verb (used with object) 10. to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
11. to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.
12. Cards. to raise (a previous bid).
–noun 13. that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.
14. Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
—Idioms15. better off, a. in better circumstances.
b. more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.

16. better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
17. for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.
18. get or have the better of, a. to get an advantage over.
b. to prevail against.

19. go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
20. had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.
21. no better than one should be, Disparaging. morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
22. think better of, a. to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding: I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.

fantastic! we really do have a choice - 22 of them :bowdown:

There you go mate.....


1. of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.
2. morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.
3. of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.
4. larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.
5. improved in health; healthier than before.
6. completely recovered in health.
–adverb, compar. of well with best as superl. 7. in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.
8. to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
9. more: I walked better than a mile to town.
–verb (used with object) 10. to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
11. to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.
12. Cards. to raise (a previous bid).
–noun 13. that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.
14. Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
—Idioms15. better off, a. in better circumstances.
b. more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.

16. better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
17. for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.
18. get or have the better of, a. to get an advantage over.
b. to prevail against.

19. go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
20. had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.
21. no better than one should be, Disparaging. morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
22. think better of, a. to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding: I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.

WOT? Only 22? Where's 26?
:flipoff: :tt2:

26 is next to the 'R' - translation = 'better'! hahahaa

BTW whats with the recaro bashing, they're fantastic seats, and who gives a monkeys if the rear cards and seats are in a different cloth! :rolleyes: :P

26 is next to the 'R' - translation = 'better'! hahahaa

BTW whats with the recaro bashing, they're fantastic seats, and who gives a monkeys if the rear cards and seats are in a different cloth! :rolleyes: :P

In my opinion, they look aftermarket, especially with the massive metal mountingbracket on show. I know loads of people love them, but for me, I'd want them to be like the ones in the Clio.

Furry muff! Personally I think they rock! :partyhard:

Exactly mate - different opinions for different people :) I still really like the way the bue/grey cloth in mine matches the car well, and my LED's, and my ICE, but I know most don't like the look of the Cup interior at all!

I had the Recaros in the 182 Trophy, loved them! However they reduced rear leg room to almost zero and the cloth rear seats were a nag! When I bought 182 I didn't care about toys and luxuries like that, it was just awesome to own something that exclusive.

My needs changed after a year though, I now prefer the std seats and the toys!