Renault Megane RS250 vs Golf GTI review

[MkVIGTI]

I waited 4.5 months 4 my GTI but I IMO the car is well worth the wait, just a bit painful for the eager owners. The thing I don't like about the Renault is the interior. The GTI's is so much better and classier.

[pologti18t]

Anyone who is intelligence/observant already knows this, as we had 5 available from Dermot just last week, and if Dermot got some, that means there is a very good chance that several of the other 80 odd VW dealers throughout the country also got some!

That's exactly what I meant..... It's other people stirring the pot stating 9 month to 18month (polo) waits on VW vehicles.

[markwid]

When I factory-ordered the GTI in Nov, I could have taken one of same specs that can be picked up in Dec.

A couple of reasons to do factory order and wait 4-5 months:
1. I wanted the optional Xenon with LED that only kicks in after week 45 build
2. Preferred to have a build date in the new year 2011 - for obvious valuation reasons

I think the situation with Polo and R is a bit more dire. Due to higher than expected demand that has yet to be soaked up, supply is lower thus harder to find the desired specs in stock. If willing to budge on specs, I think more possible to secure one in stock or on its way.

Back on topic - I think RS250 is a real special car and will fit special owners with special needs. In other words, the appeal is narrower. Whereas, GTI is so easy to like and makes sense to a larger pool of buyers.

[sabloke]

Talking about special cars: Renault Australia has prepared four Megane Renault Sport 250 vehicles for the Race Off with a number of CAMS regulation modifications.
Note the minimum amount of mods required: "The 184kW/340Nm hot hatches have been fitted with full six-point roll cages and window nets, racing seats with five-point harnesses and fire extinguishers to ensure the drivers are as safe as possible." Can't wait to see how they go!

Lucky for VW, no need to race anything other than Toerags to help shifting lots and lots of cars.

[Greg Roles]

I reckon the Renaults are a really appealing choice, and I totally get why dubbers are defecting from their MKV's.

[REXman]

To me, I would take the GTI, all day no questions. Love the car a whole lot more than an RS. The looks of the RS in particular, and the loudness, im just not into it these days. It reminds me a very young lads orgasm crossed with a space ship. And the GTI really is just so silky smooth and solid inside.

GTI for me.

[b0son]

Whist wait times are bad, there are at least a few people per week that post their price, and not a single one of them has even been charged RRP, let alone over RRP, so I'm not really sure what you're basing your comment on there.

OTOH, if you compare the RS250 to the R, its natural competitor, its a different story.

I was on the phone willing to put down a deposit on an R in stock at a Sydney dealer... he wanted full retail, wasnt the least bit interested in talking money.

When posters come on here trumpeting the corporate discounts and whatever else they may have gotten off the RRP, its hardly going to provide much incentive for someone to come on here and reveal that they got reamed.

[REXman]

But isn't the RS 250 compared with a GTi more logically!

FWD vs FWD $46k for a stock DSG on road vs $48000 for an optioned RS250?

An R is AWD and mine Alone is worth $68500 rrp on road, and I don't even have Recaros or Sunroof etc.

Not to burst your bubble about the RS it's a great car but (this is a VW site) they are Different cars in more than a few ways.

[b0son]

But isn't the RS 250 compared with a GTi more logically!

I have a GTI, and have driven an RS250 ... they are completely different animals. The RS250 may as well have AWD for the sheer amount of grip it can generate, waaaaay more than the GTI.

FWD vs FWD $46k for a stock DSG on road vs $48000 for an optioned RS250?

what am I missing here... why option the RS250? compare base models of either, and they arent really the same category.

An R is AWD and mine Alone is worth $68500 rrp on road, and I don't even have Recaros or Sunroof etc.

Says a lot for Renault that they can offer something with the RS's performance WITH recaro's, for so much less than VW. TBH, the options pricing offered by VW is absurd at times... we were close to getting a Tiguan, but by the time we'd optioned it up, the Freelander2 was in the ball-park, and a way better machine offroad.

Not to burst your bubble about the RS it's a great car but (this is a VW site) they are Different cars in more than a few ways.

Ultimately, they are performance cars, and performance is how I compare them. On that basis, the RS is better compared to the R than to the GTI.

[Capercat]

I wish Renault launched a DSG-ish RS250

No no no... sick of being stuck behind middle aged women driving 10kms under the speed limit in GTI's