Renault Megane RS250 vs Golf GTI review

[REXman]

I like it how someone mentioned that VW is the corolla of Europe.. That's interesting.

A) it still costs a bit relative to a corolla overseas.

B) the amazing Focus RS is actually cheaper than a Golf R overseas, so I guess that must be the Hyundai of Europe? And look how much your paying for it over here! No? Yeah I thought so!

You can buy a 335i in the US for $50k!! And we pay about $130k!! Who cares about overseas markets. Don't take it global trying to bag the R - cause there are just too many cars overpriced I Australia as it is. The R being pretty fair about it, actually.

C) The 90TSI is the corolla in Australia also! Just not the better models. I mean that is blindingly obvious even to a retarded ****.

[b0son]

Also, there are no VW engined F1 cars ATM, while there are at least Red Bull and Lotus Renault using Renault engines. This may change if F1 goes to 4 cylinder engines.

To be fair though, VW is represented in formula three. Renault however do have a fair bit more motorsport DNA, not just supplying engines, but whole race series.

[b0son]

People complain that there are too many Golf gti/R around but let's turn the table around and assume that Renault Megane RS250/Ford Focus RS cars are everywhere on the road, will it make it suddenly 'uncool'?

And lets not forget, there was a time where it was rare to see a MkV GTI on the road. The fact that the model has been as popular as it has shouldnt be held against it.

If anything, we should sing its praises because its definitely played a significant role in establishing the hot hatch category in the Aus market which ultimately now leaves us with a wider choice of vehicles. That cant be a bad thing.

[b0son]

@Corey_R: yes, you win. NASCAR and V8 Supercars isn't exactly what I was thinking about but hey, facts are facts!

pfffft. customer engines??? thats hardly commitment. if GM walks away, can always just buy the ford which is virtually identical. both nascar and v8 are moving to COTF style chassis anyhow.

OTOH, renault run Formula Renault 1.6, 2.0 and 3.5, Clio Cup, Megane Trophy, AND providing engines for the GP2 series, F1, and F3.

[jrgti]

The only thing I don't like about the 250 is the looks. I think it looks hideous esp in yellow - it reminds me of a beetle (insect not the car). Having said that, I'm not in love with the looks of the MkVI GTI either. Given a choice however, I'd take the 250 over the GTI. I'd rather enjoy the drive than worry about how the car looks.
Having driven the MkVI GTI several times, the experience was underwhelming.

The Golf GTI MkVI is more plain looking than the Megane, which draws less attention and thus there is less for the driver to worry about IMHO.
So the megane is performance focused but the GTI is balanced in all aspects. Again IMHO the real winner is the car that will last longer on the road. My money is on the GTI.

[Capercat]

The MKV GTI certainly did raise the bar in the performace hatch market, but it's not as hot as it could have been. An all rounder certainly, but I think most people figured this out & purchased the GTI with certain goals in mind.

Manufactures are fast approaching the end game coz they will need to start spending $$ into chassis development should they continue down the path of adding more hp. This is a tricky balance to consider. The RenaultSport Clio Cup chassis is brilliant! arguably the best hot hatch chassis straight out of the factory, but your paying a premium for a small hatchback...

The time will come when manufactures will have to halt the power race becuse expense will eat into their market segment. How much more power can VW comfortably put through the front wheels of the GTI without increasing chassis development costs? Again, its a balancing act.

As WJ pointed out, RS250 is reasonably well priced for its equipment.

[sabloke]

I like it how someone mentioned that VW is the corolla of Europe.. That's interesting.

A) it still costs a bit relative to a corolla overseas.

B) the amazing Focus RS is actually cheaper than a Golf R overseas, so I guess that must be the Hyundai of Europe? And look how much your paying for it over here! No? Yeah I thought so!

You can buy a 335i in the US for $50k!! And we pay about $130k!! Who cares about overseas markets. Don't take it global trying to bag the R - cause there are just too many cars overpriced I Australia as it is. The R being pretty fair about it, actually.

C) The 90TSI is the corolla in Australia also! Just not the better models. I mean that is blindingly obvious even to a retarded ****.

First of all, I said that VW iin Europe is as popular as Toyota in Asia. Never said that's a bad thing, never brought the Corolla into the discussion. Or the R for that matter. VW's cars are well built and reasonably priced over there and that's why there are so many on the road. The dream car of my generation was a silver Passat TDI and I still love VW's cars today.
I was just saying that VW is not a premium brand in Europe and that's a fact. All you have to do is go to wikipedia and read what VW stands for. Kudos for VW for succeeding where Citroen, Peugeot and many others failed: looking like a premium European brand here.
Oh, just for your info, the Focus RS is not that much cheaper than the R in Europe. In fact, the R is an expensive car over there, costing more than an S3! I'd even say that the R is fairly priced down under if we are to look at UK prices. No use to compare our prices with anyone else's though, it gets bloody depressing... What would a Clio like mine cost in US, $18k? Luckily we'll never find out.

[sabloke]

Back on topic: I'd like to know more about how the engines compare, does anyone know where to find power & torque graphs for the two? It would be interesting to get into some technical details. If indeed F1 will start using 4 cylinder engines, where should Ferrari go to buy engines, VW or Renault?

[Corey_R]

Back on topic: I'd like to know more about how the engines compare, does anyone know where to find power & torque graphs for the two? It would be interesting to get into some technical details. If indeed F1 will start using 4 cylinder engines, where should Ferrari go to buy engines, VW or Renault?

You know.. that's really not really the topic.
The topic is the magazine review....

[markwid]

You know.. that's really not really the topic.
The topic is the magazine review....

LOL! Spot on.

Not for the lack of trying from some bloke in South Australia to reframe the discussion to his own need to justify things and kept denying it as well. Added hypocrisy to my earlier notes on prejudice.