Had one with 210,000km and it was tight as a drum. Tracked it and it was totally reliable. No rattles from the interior, minimal signs of wear. Honestly just brilliant
same and I drive my modified RS 250 Cup Trophee like its supposed to be. Not had an issue with it, no rattles, no mech or electrical issues. Only real issues are a crazing headlamp cover and there was water leakage in the tail light. I think a lot of problems mentioned relate to the non RS Meganes. These things are pretty solid - and I can fit more luggage in the boot than the Hyundai Kona rental I had. Mine is NOT for sale and never will be...
I have an RS275. Fantastic car, can highly recommend. Ive had very few issues with it over the 4 years I've owned it. I had 10x more issues with the volkswagens ive owned in the past.
I rocked up to Hertz at Sydney airport about 5 years ago and they upgraded me to a 265 Cup. Had the most epic weekend ever tearing up the roads around Peats Ridge, Kulnura and through the back roads to Cessnock and Newy. Have wanted one of my own ever since!
250 cup with recaro seat, 220 000km, no problems with engine, gearbox or electronic. Front suspencion it’s a litle bit weak and needs reapair. Best drivers car, bmw don’t have chance on B roud.
Many people; The French are crazy! Nobody would copy them! Their engineering is strange! Many people; wow, this metric system that the French created is so logical, this should be the international standard except for a few countries that are too stubborn for their own good.
Owned my 2013 RS265 Cup+ since 2021 and its the most fun and reliable car I've ever owned. I've been a home mechanic for over 30 years and the servicing is done by the French car specialist, Dodson Auto Garage. As long as you keep ahead with preventative maintenance and stock parts identified as common issues/perishables (brakes, ball joints etc) the Megane will not disappoint. The Megane doesn't have any unique problems that other cars do not share. Overall, I love my Megane.
I have owned one for 8 years, 2nd owner. 2012 Megane RS 265 Trophy. Haven’t heard of 95% of these issues, maybe I’m just the lucky one. Would highly recommend for anyone looking
Nope ReDriven just inflate the rarity of the issue with comments like "heaps of reports", "plenty of complaints" and never quantify or cite their sources. Or they argue that they had experience with one or two of them and believe that is a statistically significant sample size. This is how ReDriven makes entertaining videos but makes people believe they are credible.
@@RaindancerAU 100% mate. People forget these guys are making vids to make money ! So they put a controversial headline and go on like a pork chop just to get you to watch and then ask you to like....all in the name of ringing the register, not so much on fact or honesty. In this case its over done on many of the so called issues...just look at some of the positive feedback in the comments. Had mine over 2 years zero issues...sure there are some quirks, like all Euros, good maintenance, a experienced Megane / Renault mechanic and look after the car, simple.
I own one, and I am kinda good home mechanic. I love it as it is rock solid for what it's . The only thing is French design it really difficult to do maintenance, mod, etc you need to take apart a lot of components to get access to the place that you need to repair or replace. Items that will break down are engine mount, AC compressor, bushings. But it is fun to drive and not that difficult to work on technically, just the layout is annoying 😂
Yup French really do like to complicate things for no reason 😀 I had a Clio 3 RS same model year amazing fun but working on it was kinda frustrating I remember that I had to strip entire trim in the trunk to get access to emergency tank release because electric motor for fuel tank cap broke.. 😂
It’s just what you’re used to. I’ve owned and maintained these things (and a couple of dozen of other Renaults ) and it’s all intuitive and logical to me!! No problems :) I go to work on Japanese stuff and logic of their assembly does my head in… Very weird approach to things.
Mine is 10 years old now - I would struggle to part with it - its been a fantastic car. I try look after it and do a lot of the easy maintenance at home to keep costs down. So far nothing has gone wrong with mine bar one lose door handle - which took an hour and $5 worth of washers and a few screws/nuts from bunnings. Out in the mountains or on track this car is something else! Timing belt is costly ($1500) to change but thats once every 4-5 years.
Extra advice from a long time owner: get the car inspected before purchase by your local French car specialist as you will be establishing a relationship with them. It's not a bad thing, as they will save you money in the longer run (>2 years) as they will flag items with you that your regular dealership/general mechanic will ordinarily skim over.and basically have you on a preventative maintenance plan. Services will be cheaper and you'll have a car that performs without fault ever. Also, cars that get driven harder (ie. enjoyed on open roads) tend to be better despite what the kilometres show as more often than not, the owners love their car. Plus, the engine on well used examples tend to be stronger than those with low kilometres and babied. There will likely come a time that this is not true, but given the attitude towards Renaults that they're a niche enthusiast vehicle compared to some of the more regular VW product, the cars are by far and away more looked after! Oh and if you're after a Liquid Yellow one that you think could use a touch up, Renault has changed the paint mixture no less than 4 times over the period of the car being available so getting a match to the colour code on your car can be a real pain My only criticism is that there was never a proper RS wagon released of these which would've been thoroughly epic. Addresses all the practicality "issues" and gives you all of the goodness.
Great review. As an owner of one of these i agree with most of what was said. For me, its a special car and i think is well worth spending time and money on it. If it were just "a car" to get from A to B, like an appliance, id have a different attitude. But its so rewarding and capable. Sure, its a bit cheap on the inside, but i don't mind, adds to the raw feel. Its also in a sweet spot of technology. Lots of analog feel with just the right amount of digital convenience.
Good review - re the door handles that WILL break at some point - when you say cheap out - it's $90 versus $1600 - yes you read that correctly. $90 for some non OEM door handles versus $1600 for the entire door card because Renault won't sell you the door "garnishes" (that's what they call the door handle) separately from the door card which is highway robbery. I love my 265, but I definitely cheaped out when my mate broke the door handle. Mechanical maintenance? Err no that I spend money on. Edit: Just rewatched this. Aircon compressors shouldn't be 2.5k. I had mine done for 1.5k installed from a specialist Renault mechanic. He keeps them in stock they are so common a failure.
Pretty spot on, after 8 years ownership I would have said my RS265 cup was bullet proof, after 9 years of ownership I may whistle a different tune. I have spent 7g recently fixing most of the issues, timing belt plus all the other things you should change when you change that, and the damn puter killing itself and driving in limp mode all the time grrrrrrrrrr. But now it is sweet again, apart from that effing door handle. It still does make me laugh when I jack up on the front jack point and the rear is equally as high off the ground, that is 1 stiff chassis 😊
Loved this car, had a RS 250 and never had an issue and recently went for a RS 280 Cup...Fantastic cars for the driving and handling characteristics...Just immense on the twisties! Oh and the seat bolsters, 100% correct...It is a pain as I have to climb in carefully so as to not ruin them...
I had a 250 Cup back home in sydney. I hosted a RS meet just before I left Australia to move to france. I was hoping to see a lot of these beautiful cars on the road here but they are so rare to see here because people keep them as weekend cars, they are special now since these aren't being made anymore and Rs in now alpine. People sell them for an arm and a leg. I should have kept mine from Australia and shipped it here and get it switch to left hand drive. Plus mine had all included options. I miss that car.. Every one here drives regular clios as their daily driver, not even the rs ones. Whenever my wife and I see an RS on the road we just stare at it or do a double take and we make sure that we show it to each other as to not miss it. They are seen on Sydney roads more than they are seen here on french roads
Owned once since 2012, now done 145,000km, great fun ,on my third gearbox mount, second engine mount and 4th compressor. Car has been modified since warranty expired. Great fun on track, hill climbs and motorkhanas.
@@mang77mang, engine mount on drivers side weep fluid and drip onto the body work and remove the paint, easy to spot - you won't notice any difference in car behaviour if it fails. Gearbox mount is easy to spot, you will be able to feel whole engine and gear box rock back and forth under acceleration and deceleration, what usually happens is the bolt that holds the gear box to the chassis breaks - replace it with a stronger bolt, standard bolt is 8.8 grade, stronger one is 12.5 I think. I have also had the gearbox bracket fracture away from the chassis - I then bought a replacement bracket. In Australia the upgrade bolt cost me $2.50 from United Fasteners, the gear box bracket is around the $200 mark.
I have been hanging for this video. I love this car sooooo much and daily drive mine. I think the gearbox is rifle bolt slick. Such a great car. It is going to become a monthly driver soon though as the new daily is arriving. This is just the most fun toy. I love it!
“French sized speakers”…? They’re standard 5.25 inch drivers with adapters readily available to fit any aftermarket you like. With another sort of adapter 6 inch speakers fit fine for better sound. You make it sound like speakers are hard in these, not even slightly true. The door design is good too for audio with a solid inner skin.
@@TheDJCARNIVAL literally every ReDriven video is "European cars will make you broke, Japanese cars are good" to pander to Aussie bloke mentality and for entertainment value, which is fine but they also script everything so heavily to give the illusion of credibility.
The biggest maintenance cost of these are * Engine timing belt, waterpump and serpetine belt replacement $1700 - 2000 aud * Flywheel & clutch replacement $1500 - 3000 aud The timing belt interval is suited to be changed 4 years min to 6 years. Often the water pump and serpetine belt are replaced in the same service due to simplicity and cost effectiveness. It is the key negotiating point when checking these cars. Good idea to rotate and align the tyres on these every 2-3rd service interval because they wear out relatively faster from the high factory wheel offset and camber. If the car is passing through city traffic commonly, find one with 18s they help alot with comfort over undulated roads. Otherwise can fit aftermarket 18 x 8.5 wheels. Due to their pcd: 5 x 114.3 it makes it some easier to find wheels but high offset can limit selections. To minimise the probability of door handles breaking, you can grab the edge of the door's bottle holders and widow lips. Besides that good idea to not yank the door close.
Best car i ever owned. I had bmw 335i, vw golf mk7gti, wrx sti. Megane rs is the only car makes me smile every time I drive. Only a few minor issues upset me at first but it is solid as rock after fixed. I would only sell it for upgrade to Trophy version which comes with Akrapovic, ohlins damper and Recaro seats.
Lol, yes , don't buy them, leave them for us who truely understand the car. 5 years and 100K driven, the only issue is a defective hatch release button.
I just sold an i30n to get into one of these and I love LOVE love fucking LOVE love FUCKING FUCK love this fucking car! Imagine dating a porn star and that’s a megane RS. Please don’t break… RIP
A few things: there is a technique you can apply to ‘pivot’ over the side bolster of the Recaro’s and avoid painful incidents (and probably reduce wear). Newbies however… I did manage to get a rolled up queen size IKEA mattress in it, minus passenger. I don’t really agree it doesn’t feel like a fwd, particularly with traction in the wet and occasional torque steer, but that would apply with almost any high power fwd. Fun car but quite focused. A tip - ask your Mrs (or Mr) if they like it, or will put up with it, before buying.
You reckon the old ones are crap ha the new ones are worst I have a 2021 rs 300 trophy bought new first service replaced rear shocks after 7000 klm dss battery failed leaving me stranded fuel pump failed next tow truck again next was bearing in the gearbox replaced 6 weeks off the road battery in the keycard was next followed by another battery tyres are a disgrace worn out in 8000klm this car has limped to 20000 klms there not great be very aware when buying one
I have two Citroens and I can say no nation of car makers are more wankers than the French! Impractical as hell for the sake of their weird idea of aesthetics. My c4 vts is the best car I’ve owned for no practical reasons whatsoever
I bought a new 265 Trophy+ in 2013 - and LOVED IT - never missed a beat, got it serviced at renault, and not a problem, ever, only sold to buy a house... Love it... I may get another one as apart from a mx5 I can't think of another car as sexy and fun... (you summary was spot on, I sold mine after 12 years of deep love - the tyre and brake bill were not cheap and 2 license bans not fun, but it is was the most in-love with a car I've ever had - I've owned 30+ cars, and this was the magic one) - I don't think I'll get another one (like going out with my ex's sister) - I really kept my nice (maybe it was one of those unicorn cars!!)- so maybe a mx5 as something different next time...
Here in Europe they're so popular that there are aftermarket parts that solve most if not all mechanical issues, for example, I've been track-thrashing my Megane for 5 years now, OEM ball joints would last me one season but 3 years ago I've found reinforced motorsport set and didn't have to worry about them ever since. Installing a short shifter is also a good idea, stock linkages have a bit of give to them and that's why shifting doesn't feel that good with a stock shifter. Apart from that, she's been really good to me.
Fellow Megane 3 RS owner here. I don't like the lack of precision when changing gears, I don't mind the throw. Is there any specific kit you would recommend? Also, does the motorsport ball joints change the ride of the car? Which one did you go for?
@@SViip I have a CAE shifter and the guy who installed it for me checked for/fixed any play along the shifter cables as well. Whether it changed anything - hard to say, the guy who did this for me is a Renault Sport specialist and said that it's a good idea to give the cables a deeper look. I've seen people have different short shifters and they all worked fine, so as long a you stray from the cheaper ones you'll be fine. K-tecracing and pure-motorsport sell a lot of "battle proven" parts and accessories for Renault Sport cars, might as well check there. As for the ball joints, I've bought them in my local motorsport parts shop and they claimed it to be a Renault Sport made part that Renault used in their factory race cars. Whether it's true or not - once again, hard to say, but they work as advertised. Are they still available? I have no idea, I've bought two sets and one is still sitting on a shelf, so I've lost the track on that topic. I'd say the ride is exactly the same, those work exactly like genuine ball joints but are made of better materials I guess. What increased the vibrations inside a bit were aftermarket wishbone bushings, stock ones are too soft for semislicks/slicks and your alignment goes to shit the moment you start pulling some G's, I went with PU bushes initially, but because I still wanted to retain suspension travel (I still daily this car and the tracks I go to aren't completely smooth) it was impossible to set up dampers without suspension being too bouncy or too crashy, PU bushes in Megane's wishbones act like a non-linear spring and that's pretty much impossible to factor in during the suspension setup. Now I'm using pure-motorsport's bearing kit instead and the difference is night and day, suspension deals with everyday bumps almost as good as the stock Cup suspension and I can still put on some semislicks and chase some BMW M3s on the track. The front end gained a whole new level of "pointyness", steering feel is better, the alignment is kept in check at all times so on stock rims with no spacers there's close to 0 torque steer (PerfoHub finally doing its job on sticky rubber) and all that for a bit more NVH. For me this bearing kit is a great deal all things considered. But yeah, I digressed a bit, sorry not sorry 😅
@@arekb5951 Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my qustions and it's interesting to read you input! Unfortunately there are no Renault specialists in Sweden but I will try to find someone who's up for the job anyway!
@@SViip I’ve got the 4ch short shifter that goes on the gearbox and the coolerworx short shifter - so a double. The 4ch is good bang for buck but a right pain to install. The coolerworx is great but costly - takes longer to install but less of a pain. I rate the double short shift and have had no issues.
I remember seeing one of these for the first time, in sexy yellow, next to me at the lights back in the day. Phoar! Like something from another planet. So good!
I love that relationship analogy. As an R26 F1 edition owner, I get it. Owning an RS Renault Megan is the type of relationship you know isn't long term, often problematic and you can't you see yourself growing old with them but the s*x/ drive is too damn good!
i do own one myself (rs265 cup) and i havent had a single problem since the 1.5 years i've owned it. apart from this thing going through tires rather quick. whoever wants to buy one, should really consider atleast the cup chassis. as this is what makes the renault such a great handling car. when you go over the limit and the LSD kicks in and magically finds another boatload of grip really is a miracle everytime. its just amazing how it finds such grip. few things to note: - usually around the 100k km mark, lower control arm rubbers will have gone/should be replaced. - if you want to buy one where the belt hasnt been changed yet, keep in mind that it will cost around $1000 to get it replaced. - the engine note does sound rather dull for such a car. but ive got my mid silencer deleted and it makes it a million times better without sounding like a racer with constant pops/bangs - the engine itself is rather bullet proof. you see plenty of them with around 250kkm - if you see one with a sunroof, its a unicorn. as its a very rare option. - with a full steering lock, you will hear a knocking sound coming from the inside tire. its not the balljoints! its just the tire skidding across the pavement due to your wheel angle. they all have it! due to circumstances i have to sell mine unfortunately :(
@@jacktomis1743 Yes very after having a wrx with always something going wrong. Megane is great Keep on top of servicing with a good mechanic. Then All is good
Great video, very nice car! I think Kia Pro_cee'd GT is a copy of the this generation Megane, rear 3/4 view looks very similar. If you're going to copy a hot hatch, might as well copy one of the best!
Believe me or not it is a poor man GT3 ! the best drivers car you can get in this price range! If you like analogue and raw and racing this is the car !
These cars are amazing to own I have the 265 model myself and apart from general wear and tear these particular cars are built like tanks and as long as you stick to the cars service routines and listen to mot advisories and fix them straight away they keep going amazing cars
12:25 I'm french and "tripotage" doesn't mean handling but more like touching someone's body... The correct word would be "comportement" btw. Nice video netherless !
Honestly couldn't say if I'd go for this or an i30N. Something tells me that you've hypothetically had the issue with the Ikea corner table before with a Megane Adam lol 😂. After the the safety overview and the what's it like to drive sections being done in French I was expecting Hullsy to do his part in French as well lol 😂. 2 ideas I had for a video that you guys could do if you want are the top 5 most reliable European cars under $Xk and top 5 reliable American made cars under $Xk. Great work as always guys and like always have a great weekend and look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.
That feeling when you attack every single corner on the road with utmost confidence, step back on the gas as you accelerate on the straight, all mixed in with intake noise and exhaust pops and bangs. You make me miss my RS250 Adam. Mine too was a very complicated and somewhat toxic relationship and I decided to part way after only a year because of the bone breaking drive and potentially the car turning into an endless money pit
The dual axis strut works so well, Honda copied it for the last couple of CTR. The cheap Hyundai i30N engineers were CBF. But yeah the poise the car has belting around a corner at any speed undisturbed by undulations but lively feel at the same time.
Absolute weapon. Owned one for 5 years and couldn't wait to get into the car every day. No reliability issues, but I was religious with servicing. Maintenance was expensive though, but that's performance cars for you.
17:23 fun fact: French car speakers are specified to play only Je t'aime by Serge Gainsbourg. If you play anything other than that in a French car, well sacré bleu!!!!
As an owner, here are a few things that I'd like to add: - The infotainment setup changes within spec and generation. Overall the trim grades are well documented. Do your research. Note also that the centre console cup holder is removed in many trim grades for infotainment controls. - ECU (mounted in engine bay) failures are somewhat common. RS250s and early 265s had a duct to cool the ECU. The ones without the duct tend to fail. ECU can be refurbished for $1250 in QLD. The problem got worse with RS275s. - Parking sensors and camera are again spec dependent. - The cup holder ahead of the gear stick is useless. Overall it's an awesome car but I agree with the closing words. Only buy if you are willing to track maintenance meticulously, and perform work yourself as necessary (or to save $$)
At 12:25, handling, it says "tripotage" hahaha That made me laugh so much. Tripoter in French means that you fiddle something, like a computer, or a woman of course.. Hahaha Handling = tenue de route. Anyway, thank you so much for your video. It's very well made. Keep it up!
Haven't had gearbox problems with mine and I'm running 350hp at the moment. One major problem I had was a failed turbo pressure sensor. Gave no engine code or anything. But the car would die at idle. Was overfuelling to compensate for the faulty sensor. Eventually figured the problem out months later after going top to bottom on the car.
Yeah, fine - but what does the guy in the background with the dog think? And how much did Adam pay him and his mutt to give the video a distracting edge? Very art-tois.
The door handles get fixed with bigger washers around the bolts holding them. Otherwise you'd have to get a new door card that would break again and it would be 350$ each side. 40$ fix at the dealer in my country with the washers, feels more solid now, the washers are basicly free, the labor costs, there are youtube tutorials too. My AC radiator corroded and I had to change it due to leaking, 250$ a new genuine one. That was all, I have a 2016 265 for 5 years. No serious issues.
Owned a ‘14 RS265 Cup facelift since 2016 and having come from a ‘11 Mini Cooper S cabriolet and this car is just amazing - just hit 114k and AC playing up so expect some $ here however no other issues other than regular maintenance with specialist doing timing belt saved $ over expensive dealer fit - anyone that loves driving will find these so entertaining- yes ride very firm but corner carving is amazing - I use Michelin PS4s - to replace this car would be like a death in the family I’m so attached and a new liquid yellow RS Trophy now >70k sigh 😔🏎 🇫🇷
@@johndb1224 bought mine Jan 12 as well! Mine was an August 11 build, arrived in Australia in October and was a dealer demo for a few months before I snapped it up. Still only the one compressor for me though.
Just came here to say I've just added a Pre-FL RS265 Trophy+ with Xenon,Recaro,yellow belts and LSD. The hype about this car is so real. It's that good.
Great video Adam 😊 I requested this a while back...I dont drive manual is the only reason I didn't get one of these...I ended up with a Scirocco R but I think that Megane RS is possibly the sexiest hatch...The Audi TTS was the other one I was interested in. Jim has some cool cars in the workshop I noticed the Volvo C30....has it had the polestar treatment and the BMW E82 in some other recent videos... Adam have you done a list of the cars you have owned??
Mate this review is not it. They are super reliable. This is the first video that pops up when you type in Renault RS and your video title is rubbish. This is hurting the value of these amazing cars.
Can't imagine the price on them is falling due to our video. Plus, the information in the video is directly from owners, forums and specialist mechanics with first-hand experience. Don't shoot the messenger.
I've got a 2011 250 Cup with 105 on the clock. The handling is to die for and the power is enough for FWD. I love the way the turbo comes on, it's a pleasant enough yet eternally thrilling amount of violence. I've had to replace the compressor once, and it leaked coolant at one point because the hose under the oil filter cracked but that was an easy fix. It would suck as a daily but as a weekender it's hard to beat. I've owned it for around 6 or 7 years and might never sell it. I'd get an EV as a daily if I needed one (trains FTW 😂).
Oh yeah, and it really dislikes some brands of fuel like Ampol and some others... No idea why, but it's always happy with BP and Metro in my area. It's to the point where it will take 3 attempts to start on Ampol fuel, whereas BP it starts perfectly.
JUST A HEADS UP, STAY AWAY FROM FINAL PRODUCTION LAST FEW MONTHS 275 CUP PREMIUM THESE HAD THE DOGSHIT BEARINGS IN THE GEARBOX 275 TROPHY AND TROPHY R IM FAIRLY SURE ARE SAFE I LEARNT THIS LESSON, GOT GEARBOX REPLACED FOR FREE THROUGH RENAULT WITH A REVISED VERSION OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY Sorry for caps but its important to know apart 8 years of ownership and its been perfect apart from this annoying defect
I literally just repaired the interior door handle (the big one), had to epoxy it. It is too close to the front and the door being so heavy, it's prone to breaking. I'm 60kg so it's not because I'm too heavy handed. The engine is solid, I had a bad turbo intake tube clamp after 10 000km, I was loosing intake pressure (900mb instead of 1400mb), not a big deal but it shows some hardware are cheap. If you live in a place with bad road, your dampers will die every 20 000 km (play on the rod!). I have the cup suspensions and they are too hard for the road, I advise switching to sport version instead when you need to replace them (about to). the only diseases this car has is the inferior pivot ball joint that has to be changed once every 60 / 80 000km, symptom is wheel play, imprecise direction, renault will ask you to change the whole pivot for 500€, the ball joint is 40 € on RS specialized websites, second one, top engine mount broken after 40 000km, transmission was laying on the chassis, the big bolt broken in half, still bad hardware. Another small issue, if using stock brake pads on track, heavy braking might cook them and leave a film of material that will make your brakes noisy (low pitch vibration). Grooved disks seems to have this issue more (cup version), maybe it's better to switch to more sport focused pads for track or learn the track more before going hot to avoid over braking.
Just buy one the best performance man or woman can get for value for money !!!! i just sold my Megane RS Trophy 300 to buy a 275 Trophy its my fourth RS Megane i have owned yes i do engage into a relationship with my MEGS but do you blame me once you get behind the wheel and experience these French beauties there is no turning back.
@@johndb1224 Good question after owning a RS250 RS265 and the RS300 I have come to the conclusion the mark 3 chassis with the 6 speed manual is a real drivers dream I must say my RS300 was a blast 💥 to drive it was an automatic EDC may be I just missed the Manual.
Oh what a great story ! Saids much for the Meg 3 series, good on you man, enjoy ! I have a 265 Cup Premium, GTI and Golf R previously but the Meg is just on another level to the GTI altogether - and the R? Boring...
The reason why i feel mk3 is more attractive than mk4:. First off the extreme throttle map in mk3 is irreplaceable, the race mode in mk4 feels a bit laggy. Secondly, The 4 wheel control in mk4 seems a bit artificial albeit make you feel more nimble and agile. Mk4 has better sound isolation and you will hear less tyre road noise.
Hi Adam. What are your thoughts on a Megane RS vs an A45 AMG (not the latest gen, but the previous you reviewed)? The AMG is faster but how do its handling dynamics feel in comparison? Have a Megane RS 280 cup. It's fun but I could do with a nicer more comfy interior and the adaptive dampers to make long trips more bearable...
Test drove both a few years back and the A45 is immense and a rocketship (also an immense price which was one of the reasons for not going with it!!!) I went for the RS 280 Cup as I find the handling just on a different level and it is unique and has its own French charm and quirks, yes the ride is firm always especially the Cup though the Sport version is suppossed to be a lot softer but you miss out on the LSD which is a must. I also owned the old RS 250 Cup like the one reviewed by Adam, it is also quiet a stiff chassis and certainly not as forgiving as the adaptive ride on A45. Yes the ride on the RS 280 Cup can be a bit stiff but I still found it much better around the corners compared to the first gen A45 and it just looks absolutely fantastic. I will not be letting my RS 280 Cup go as these are the last of the RS's. On the NEW AMG A45 S 4matic, it is beyond a beast both in terms of outrageous power and with the 4 wheel drive system it handles with the best as it has been updated but the price is also massive....
You really need to stop judging the cars from what read on the internet. Your reviews are always the same... "once upon a time, I read that the reability...". That type of judging worth zero.
yep rs250 monaco...door sensors both went, reverse gear sensor...and now its sitting in the driveway. 120,000km and blown motor. Gokart for the roads though...awesome around corners. Not bad on a drag either....using the clutch well will get away pretty quick...4-50,000kms of smiles....soooo worth it.
Owned and loved my rs 265 cup for 2.5 years. Cost me a lot of money in extra repairs.. maybe 8k on everything except the engine itself, which was solid and fast. Ac compressor, rear wheel bearings, front and rear struts, front upper control arm, bushes various, door handles ripping off, coolant tank, timing chain every 65k, chews brakes and tyres, plug fouling one one cylinder in particular, oil leak from gearbox oil filling point.. I was prepared for a fun car which will likely cost a bit to run, just not that much. Bought a Tesla since. Best decision ever and I love my hot hatches so yeah.. I know right?
Had one with 210,000km and it was tight as a drum. Tracked it and it was totally reliable. No rattles from the interior, minimal signs of wear. Honestly just brilliant
Same same except for the tracking (wished i had) biggest regret was selling it. Tight as a drum sums it up well.
The highly strung motor with higher km’s scared me off.
Great to know! I’ll put them back on my list.
It was a joy to drive.
same and I drive my modified RS 250 Cup Trophee like its supposed to be. Not had an issue with it, no rattles, no mech or electrical issues. Only real issues are a crazing headlamp cover and there was water leakage in the tail light. I think a lot of problems mentioned relate to the non RS Meganes. These things are pretty solid - and I can fit more luggage in the boot than the Hyundai Kona rental I had. Mine is NOT for sale and never will be...
I have one with 100 000 km great car ❤
I know someone with a megane 2 rs r26 with the f4rt but with 225hp and it have 560 000km 🤯🤯
Some say that Adam has not yet returned the car back to Dave
I have an RS275. Fantastic car, can highly recommend. Ive had very few issues with it over the 4 years I've owned it. I had 10x more issues with the volkswagens ive owned in the past.
There’s a reason for that 😂
fuckin A, just wrote off my mk5 jetta (shit tyres, being a dick, just had some very bad luck, angry driving...) this is the news i want to hear.
I thought VWs were reliable. ** Cough **
I rocked up to Hertz at Sydney airport about 5 years ago and they upgraded me to a 265 Cup. Had the most epic weekend ever tearing up the roads around Peats Ridge, Kulnura and through the back roads to Cessnock and Newy.
Have wanted one of my own ever since!
Ah yes, I had a weekend with a French beauty while backpacking back in the late 90s. Best to leave it as a sweat memory mate.
@@ravingmad765 why?
250 cup with recaro seat, 220 000km, no problems with engine, gearbox or electronic. Front suspencion it’s a litle bit weak and needs reapair. Best drivers car, bmw don’t have chance on B roud.
Many people; The French are crazy! Nobody would copy them! Their engineering is strange!
Many people; wow, this metric system that the French created is so logical, this should be the international standard except for a few countries that are too stubborn for their own good.
Have a trophy since over 6 years and its 100% relaible and an absolut beast at slalom and hillclimb amateur races. ❤
Owned my 2013 RS265 Cup+ since 2021 and its the most fun and reliable car I've ever owned. I've been a home mechanic for over 30 years and the servicing is done by the French car specialist, Dodson Auto Garage. As long as you keep ahead with preventative maintenance and stock parts identified as common issues/perishables (brakes, ball joints etc) the Megane will not disappoint. The Megane doesn't have any unique problems that other cars do not share. Overall, I love my Megane.
Exactly my experience with a 2010 non cup version that was dealer maintained.
I had a beautiful Citroen DS3 but things just kept breaking :( I did drive it pretty hard tho
Drive me hard, tho
I have owned one for 8 years, 2nd owner. 2012 Megane RS 265 Trophy. Haven’t heard of 95% of these issues, maybe I’m just the lucky one. Would highly recommend for anyone looking
same
I had one for four years and ZERO issues. Cracking car.
Nope ReDriven just inflate the rarity of the issue with comments like "heaps of reports", "plenty of complaints" and never quantify or cite their sources.
Or they argue that they had experience with one or two of them and believe that is a statistically significant sample size.
This is how ReDriven makes entertaining videos but makes people believe they are credible.
@@RaindancerAU 100% mate. People forget these guys are making vids to make money ! So they put a controversial headline and go on like a pork chop just to get you to watch and then ask you to like....all in the name of ringing the register, not so much on fact or honesty. In this case its over done on many of the so called issues...just look at some of the positive feedback in the comments. Had mine over 2 years zero issues...sure there are some quirks, like all Euros, good maintenance, a experienced Megane / Renault mechanic and look after the car, simple.
Cars today are more reliable than they've ever been in history. Only Honda seems to have gone backwards. Renault has improved a lot.
I own one, and I am kinda good home mechanic.
I love it as it is rock solid for what it's . The only thing is French design it really difficult to do maintenance, mod, etc you need to take apart a lot of components to get access to the place that you need to repair or replace.
Items that will break down are engine mount, AC compressor, bushings.
But it is fun to drive and not that difficult to work on technically, just the layout is annoying 😂
Yup French really do like to complicate things for no reason 😀 I had a Clio 3 RS same model year amazing fun but working on it was kinda frustrating I remember that I had to strip entire trim in the trunk to get access to emergency tank release because electric motor for fuel tank cap broke.. 😂
It’s just what you’re used to. I’ve owned and maintained these things (and a couple of dozen of other Renaults ) and it’s all intuitive and logical to me!! No problems :)
I go to work on Japanese stuff and logic of their assembly does my head in… Very weird approach to things.
Q
Mine is 10 years old now - I would struggle to part with it - its been a fantastic car. I try look after it and do a lot of the easy maintenance at home to keep costs down. So far nothing has gone wrong with mine bar one lose door handle - which took an hour and $5 worth of washers and a few screws/nuts from bunnings.
Out in the mountains or on track this car is something else!
Timing belt is costly ($1500) to change but thats once every 4-5 years.
That dog is a good boy!
Great review, AJ. Considered one of these before the i30 sedan n. Think I chose wisely...
Extra advice from a long time owner: get the car inspected before purchase by your local French car specialist as you will be establishing a relationship with them. It's not a bad thing, as they will save you money in the longer run (>2 years) as they will flag items with you that your regular dealership/general mechanic will ordinarily skim over.and basically have you on a preventative maintenance plan. Services will be cheaper and you'll have a car that performs without fault ever.
Also, cars that get driven harder (ie. enjoyed on open roads) tend to be better despite what the kilometres show as more often than not, the owners love their car. Plus, the engine on well used examples tend to be stronger than those with low kilometres and babied. There will likely come a time that this is not true, but given the attitude towards Renaults that they're a niche enthusiast vehicle compared to some of the more regular VW product, the cars are by far and away more looked after!
Oh and if you're after a Liquid Yellow one that you think could use a touch up, Renault has changed the paint mixture no less than 4 times over the period of the car being available so getting a match to the colour code on your car can be a real pain
My only criticism is that there was never a proper RS wagon released of these which would've been thoroughly epic. Addresses all the practicality "issues" and gives you all of the goodness.
Thanks so much for the input!
Great review. As an owner of one of these i agree with most of what was said. For me, its a special car and i think is well worth spending time and money on it. If it were just "a car" to get from A to B, like an appliance, id have a different attitude. But its so rewarding and capable. Sure, its a bit cheap on the inside, but i don't mind, adds to the raw feel. Its also in a sweet spot of technology. Lots of analog feel with just the right amount of digital convenience.
Good review - re the door handles that WILL break at some point - when you say cheap out - it's $90 versus $1600 - yes you read that correctly. $90 for some non OEM door handles versus $1600 for the entire door card because Renault won't sell you the door "garnishes" (that's what they call the door handle) separately from the door card which is highway robbery. I love my 265, but I definitely cheaped out when my mate broke the door handle. Mechanical maintenance? Err no that I spend money on. Edit: Just rewatched this. Aircon compressors shouldn't be 2.5k. I had mine done for 1.5k installed from a specialist Renault mechanic. He keeps them in stock they are so common a failure.
Pretty spot on, after 8 years ownership I would have said my RS265 cup was bullet proof, after 9 years of ownership I may whistle a different tune. I have spent 7g recently fixing most of the issues, timing belt plus all the other things you should change when you change that, and the damn puter killing itself and driving in limp mode all the time grrrrrrrrrr. But now it is sweet again, apart from that effing door handle. It still does make me laugh when I jack up on the front jack point and the rear is equally as high off the ground, that is 1 stiff chassis 😊
Loved this car, had a RS 250 and never had an issue and recently went for a RS 280 Cup...Fantastic cars for the driving and handling characteristics...Just immense on the twisties! Oh and the seat bolsters, 100% correct...It is a pain as I have to climb in carefully so as to not ruin them...
I had a 250 Cup back home in sydney. I hosted a RS meet just before I left Australia to move to france. I was hoping to see a lot of these beautiful cars on the road here but they are so rare to see here because people keep them as weekend cars, they are special now since these aren't being made anymore and Rs in now alpine. People sell them for an arm and a leg. I should have kept mine from Australia and shipped it here and get it switch to left hand drive. Plus mine had all included options. I miss that car..
Every one here drives regular clios as their daily driver, not even the rs ones.
Whenever my wife and I see an RS on the road we just stare at it or do a double take and we make sure that we show it to each other as to not miss it. They are seen on Sydney roads more than they are seen here on french roads
Owned once since 2012, now done 145,000km, great fun ,on my third gearbox mount, second engine mount and 4th compressor. Car has been modified since warranty expired. Great fun on track, hill climbs and motorkhanas.
How do you know when a car needs an engine or gearbox mount? Asking because I am building a track megane
@@mang77mang, engine mount on drivers side weep fluid and drip onto the body work and remove the paint, easy to spot - you won't notice any difference in car behaviour if it fails. Gearbox mount is easy to spot, you will be able to feel whole engine and gear box rock back and forth under acceleration and deceleration, what usually happens is the bolt that holds the gear box to the chassis breaks - replace it with a stronger bolt, standard bolt is 8.8 grade, stronger one is 12.5 I think. I have also had the gearbox bracket fracture away from the chassis - I then bought a replacement bracket. In Australia the upgrade bolt cost me $2.50 from United Fasteners, the gear box bracket is around the $200 mark.
4th air compressor!!!!!!???? That's nutz.
great video! you guys shuld review the bmw m235i... as a 2 door sport car. i believe it's the best money-value sport car
I have been hanging for this video. I love this car sooooo much and daily drive mine. I think the gearbox is rifle bolt slick. Such a great car. It is going to become a monthly driver soon though as the new daily is arriving. This is just the most fun toy. I love it!
Yeah the gearbox on mine is not as he described, feels lovely on mine
What? French can do proper gearbox? On Clio 3 it was so horrible it ruined the drive almost every single time.
That was a sexy French narration segment right there ;)
“French sized speakers”…? They’re standard 5.25 inch drivers with adapters readily available to fit any aftermarket you like. With another sort of adapter 6 inch speakers fit fine for better sound.
You make it sound like speakers are hard in these, not even slightly true. The door design is good too for audio with a solid inner skin.
Feels like this guy has gone in overly sharp on purpose to get more hits on the video. Stabdard speakers are shit but easily changed out.
@@TheDJCARNIVAL literally every ReDriven video is "European cars will make you broke, Japanese cars are good" to pander to Aussie bloke mentality and for entertainment value, which is fine but they also script everything so heavily to give the illusion of credibility.
The biggest maintenance cost of these are
* Engine timing belt, waterpump and serpetine belt replacement $1700 - 2000 aud
* Flywheel & clutch replacement $1500 - 3000 aud
The timing belt interval is suited to be changed 4 years min to 6 years. Often the water pump and serpetine belt are replaced in the same service due to simplicity and cost effectiveness.
It is the key negotiating point when checking these cars.
Good idea to rotate and align the tyres on these every 2-3rd service interval because they wear out relatively faster from the high factory wheel offset and camber.
If the car is passing through city traffic commonly, find one with 18s they help alot with comfort over undulated roads. Otherwise can fit aftermarket 18 x 8.5 wheels. Due to their pcd: 5 x 114.3 it makes it some easier to find wheels but high offset can limit selections.
To minimise the probability of door handles breaking, you can grab the edge of the door's bottle holders and widow lips. Besides that good idea to not yank the door close.
1700 for timing belt u been robbed brake service is dear
Love your videos. Been waiting for this one in particular!!
One of the best cars ever!! Love it!!
“Living under a baguette”!😂😂👍🇦🇺🇬🇧🏁
Best car i ever owned. I had bmw 335i, vw golf mk7gti, wrx sti. Megane rs is the only car makes me smile every time I drive. Only a few minor issues upset me at first but it is solid as rock after fixed. I would only sell it for upgrade to Trophy version which comes with Akrapovic, ohlins damper and Recaro seats.
Lol, yes , don't buy them, leave them for us who truely understand the car.
5 years and 100K driven, the only issue is a defective hatch release button.
P.s. when your car drive so good, who cares the interior material. ...... Go get a Lexus if that's what you after.
I just sold an i30n to get into one of these and I love LOVE love fucking LOVE love FUCKING FUCK love this fucking car! Imagine dating a porn star and that’s a megane RS. Please don’t break… RIP
Well said but many i30n fan boys dont believe it
Fun. As. Hell.
275 Akrapovic owner. AMA
Seppos don't know what they've missed out on.
This is great work. Waiting for your review on a used renault duster 🎉🎉. Thank you so much
This car is the must reliable performance car i experienced.
A few things: there is a technique you can apply to ‘pivot’ over the side bolster of the Recaro’s and avoid painful incidents (and probably reduce wear). Newbies however… I did manage to get a rolled up queen size IKEA mattress in it, minus passenger. I don’t really agree it doesn’t feel like a fwd, particularly with traction in the wet and occasional torque steer, but that would apply with almost any high power fwd. Fun car but quite focused. A tip - ask your Mrs (or Mr) if they like it, or will put up with it, before buying.
You reckon the old ones are crap ha the new ones are worst I have a 2021 rs 300 trophy bought new first service replaced rear shocks after 7000 klm dss battery failed leaving me stranded fuel pump failed next tow truck again next was bearing in the gearbox replaced 6 weeks off the road battery in the keycard was next followed by another battery tyres are a disgrace worn out in 8000klm this car has limped to 20000 klms there not great be very aware when buying one
Isn't it a shame there not available any more 😪😪
You can still buy a RS300 trophy. Brand new at least for 2023. After that no more
Yep shame they only door 4 doors now, 4 door will never be a proper hh imo
3:47 ‘I’m a bit of a wanker when it comes to stuff like that’…. If only all car reviewers were as honest as you mate.
If only!
I have two Citroens and I can say no nation of car makers are more wankers than the French! Impractical as hell for the sake of their weird idea of aesthetics. My c4 vts is the best car I’ve owned for no practical reasons whatsoever
Great idea about the shirts. When are you getting a shirt for the shopping cart trolleys?
Look up K-Tec Racing in the UK. They sell EVERYTHING to make these and other Renaultsport products even better...
I didn't know you guys got a special version called the megarn!!
I bought a new 265 Trophy+ in 2013 - and LOVED IT - never missed a beat, got it serviced at renault, and not a problem, ever, only sold to buy a house... Love it... I may get another one as apart from a mx5 I can't think of another car as sexy and fun... (you summary was spot on, I sold mine after 12 years of deep love - the tyre and brake bill were not cheap and 2 license bans not fun, but it is was the most in-love with a car I've ever had - I've owned 30+ cars, and this was the magic one) - I don't think I'll get another one (like going out with my ex's sister) - I really kept my nice (maybe it was one of those unicorn cars!!)- so maybe a mx5 as something different next time...
oh and the corners - yeah, I DID hunt for them... and one of the reasons I bought it...
Oh - Mine had reversing camera - it must be an option for some models...
Here in Europe they're so popular that there are aftermarket parts that solve most if not all mechanical issues, for example, I've been track-thrashing my Megane for 5 years now, OEM ball joints would last me one season but 3 years ago I've found reinforced motorsport set and didn't have to worry about them ever since. Installing a short shifter is also a good idea, stock linkages have a bit of give to them and that's why shifting doesn't feel that good with a stock shifter. Apart from that, she's been really good to me.
Fellow Megane 3 RS owner here. I don't like the lack of precision when changing gears, I don't mind the throw. Is there any specific kit you would recommend?
Also, does the motorsport ball joints change the ride of the car? Which one did you go for?
@@SViip I have a CAE shifter and the guy who installed it for me checked for/fixed any play along the shifter cables as well. Whether it changed anything - hard to say, the guy who did this for me is a Renault Sport specialist and said that it's a good idea to give the cables a deeper look. I've seen people have different short shifters and they all worked fine, so as long a you stray from the cheaper ones you'll be fine. K-tecracing and pure-motorsport sell a lot of "battle proven" parts and accessories for Renault Sport cars, might as well check there.
As for the ball joints, I've bought them in my local motorsport parts shop and they claimed it to be a Renault Sport made part that Renault used in their factory race cars. Whether it's true or not - once again, hard to say, but they work as advertised. Are they still available? I have no idea, I've bought two sets and one is still sitting on a shelf, so I've lost the track on that topic.
I'd say the ride is exactly the same, those work exactly like genuine ball joints but are made of better materials I guess.
What increased the vibrations inside a bit were aftermarket wishbone bushings, stock ones are too soft for semislicks/slicks and your alignment goes to shit the moment you start pulling some G's, I went with PU bushes initially, but because I still wanted to retain suspension travel (I still daily this car and the tracks I go to aren't completely smooth) it was impossible to set up dampers without suspension being too bouncy or too crashy, PU bushes in Megane's wishbones act like a non-linear spring and that's pretty much impossible to factor in during the suspension setup. Now I'm using pure-motorsport's bearing kit instead and the difference is night and day, suspension deals with everyday bumps almost as good as the stock Cup suspension and I can still put on some semislicks and chase some BMW M3s on the track. The front end gained a whole new level of "pointyness", steering feel is better, the alignment is kept in check at all times so on stock rims with no spacers there's close to 0 torque steer (PerfoHub finally doing its job on sticky rubber) and all that for a bit more NVH. For me this bearing kit is a great deal all things considered. But yeah, I digressed a bit, sorry not sorry 😅
@@arekb5951 Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my qustions and it's interesting to read you input! Unfortunately there are no Renault specialists in Sweden but I will try to find someone who's up for the job anyway!
@@SViip I’ve got the 4ch short shifter that goes on the gearbox and the coolerworx short shifter - so a double. The 4ch is good bang for buck but a right pain to install. The coolerworx is great but costly - takes longer to install but less of a pain. I rate the double short shift and have had no issues.
Can you recommend me websites where i can find good aftermarket parts?
I got mesmerised by the guy playing ball with his dog. Sry AJ. Love the Megane in black, 2014+ and revamps.
Anyone else just watching the guy play fetch with his dog in the background?
I remember seeing one of these for the first time, in sexy yellow, next to me at the lights back in the day. Phoar! Like something from another planet. So good!
I love that relationship analogy. As an R26 F1 edition owner, I get it. Owning an RS Renault Megan is the type of relationship you know isn't long term, often problematic and you can't you see yourself growing old with them but the s*x/ drive is too damn good!
i do own one myself (rs265 cup) and i havent had a single problem since the 1.5 years i've owned it. apart from this thing going through tires rather quick.
whoever wants to buy one, should really consider atleast the cup chassis. as this is what makes the renault such a great handling car. when you go over the limit and the LSD kicks in and magically finds another boatload of grip really is a miracle everytime. its just amazing how it finds such grip.
few things to note:
- usually around the 100k km mark, lower control arm rubbers will have gone/should be replaced.
- if you want to buy one where the belt hasnt been changed yet, keep in mind that it will cost around $1000 to get it replaced.
- the engine note does sound rather dull for such a car. but ive got my mid silencer deleted and it makes it a million times better without sounding like a racer with constant pops/bangs
- the engine itself is rather bullet proof. you see plenty of them with around 250kkm
- if you see one with a sunroof, its a unicorn. as its a very rare option.
- with a full steering lock, you will hear a knocking sound coming from the inside tire. its not the balljoints! its just the tire skidding across the pavement due to your wheel angle. they all have it!
due to circumstances i have to sell mine unfortunately :(
Love my megane RS265. Been 100% reliable so far.
still been good to you?
@@jacktomis1743 Yes very after having a wrx with always something going wrong. Megane is great Keep on top of servicing with a good mechanic. Then All is good
Great video, very nice car!
I think Kia Pro_cee'd GT is a copy of the this generation Megane, rear 3/4 view looks very similar. If you're going to copy a hot hatch, might as well copy one of the best!
Believe me or not it is a poor man GT3 ! the best drivers car you can get in this price range! If you like analogue and raw and racing this is the car !
+100 Street cred for owning more than one of these. Brilliant little baguettes 🥖
These cars are amazing to own I have the 265 model myself and apart from general wear and tear these particular cars are built like tanks and as long as you stick to the cars service routines and listen to mot advisories and fix them straight away they keep going amazing cars
12:25 I'm french and "tripotage" doesn't mean handling but more like touching someone's body... The correct word would be "comportement" btw. Nice video netherless !
Honestly couldn't say if I'd go for this or an i30N.
Something tells me that you've hypothetically had the issue with the Ikea corner table before with a Megane Adam lol 😂.
After the the safety overview and the what's it like to drive sections being done in French I was expecting Hullsy to do his part in French as well lol 😂.
2 ideas I had for a video that you guys could do if you want are the top 5 most reliable European cars under $Xk and top 5 reliable American made cars under $Xk.
Great work as always guys and like always have a great weekend and look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.
😂😂 "seemingly made of cheese" 😂😂😂
That feeling when you attack every single corner on the road with utmost confidence, step back on the gas as you accelerate on the straight, all mixed in with intake noise and exhaust pops and bangs. You make me miss my RS250 Adam. Mine too was a very complicated and somewhat toxic relationship and I decided to part way after only a year because of the bone breaking drive and potentially the car turning into an endless money pit
The dual axis strut works so well, Honda copied it for the last couple of CTR. The cheap Hyundai i30N engineers were CBF. But yeah the poise the car has belting around a corner at any speed undisturbed by undulations but lively feel at the same time.
It would be hilarious if you did one of these ‘should you buy’ videos but it was an 8 seconds long video of Adam saying No, no you shouldn’t 😂
That would be the Holden Cruze and Captiva videos. Perhaps some special edits with a spoiler warning? 😂😂
@@TheStigHCE09 Surely a Jeep or an old Volvo?
Absolute weapon. Owned one for 5 years and couldn't wait to get into the car every day.
No reliability issues, but I was religious with servicing. Maintenance was expensive though, but that's performance cars for you.
Can not vouch for the Megane RS but I had a Renault Megane 1.5CDi for 10 years. Regularly serviced and ran like a dream.
17:23 fun fact: French car speakers are specified to play only Je t'aime by Serge Gainsbourg. If you play anything other than that in a French car, well sacré bleu!!!!
As an owner, here are a few things that I'd like to add:
- The infotainment setup changes within spec and generation. Overall the trim grades are well documented. Do your research. Note also that the centre console cup holder is removed in many trim grades for infotainment controls.
- ECU (mounted in engine bay) failures are somewhat common. RS250s and early 265s had a duct to cool the ECU. The ones without the duct tend to fail. ECU can be refurbished for $1250 in QLD. The problem got worse with RS275s.
- Parking sensors and camera are again spec dependent.
- The cup holder ahead of the gear stick is useless.
Overall it's an awesome car but I agree with the closing words. Only buy if you are willing to track maintenance meticulously, and perform work yourself as necessary (or to save $$)
At 12:25, handling, it says "tripotage" hahaha
That made me laugh so much.
Tripoter in French means that you fiddle something, like a computer, or a woman of course.. Hahaha
Handling = tenue de route.
Anyway, thank you so much for your video. It's very well made. Keep it up!
Haven't had gearbox problems with mine and I'm running 350hp at the moment. One major problem I had was a failed turbo pressure sensor. Gave no engine code or anything. But the car would die at idle. Was overfuelling to compensate for the faulty sensor. Eventually figured the problem out months later after going top to bottom on the car.
Yeah, fine - but what does the guy in the background with the dog think? And how much did Adam pay him and his mutt to give the video a distracting edge? Very art-tois.
I honestly can't get enough of these reviews. Really informative, unbiased and entertaining
Thanks for the kind words!
The door handles get fixed with bigger washers around the bolts holding them. Otherwise you'd have to get a new door card that would break again and it would be 350$ each side. 40$ fix at the dealer in my country with the washers, feels more solid now, the washers are basicly free, the labor costs, there are youtube tutorials too. My AC radiator corroded and I had to change it due to leaking, 250$ a new genuine one. That was all, I have a 2016 265 for 5 years. No serious issues.
Mines at 240k kms and motor pulls hard and no rattles and I go track regularly have had no major fails
Owned a ‘14 RS265 Cup facelift since 2016 and having come from a ‘11 Mini Cooper S cabriolet and this car is just amazing - just hit 114k and AC playing up so expect some $ here however no other issues other than regular maintenance with specialist doing timing belt saved $ over expensive dealer fit - anyone that loves driving will find these so entertaining- yes ride very firm but corner carving is amazing - I use Michelin PS4s - to replace this car would be like a death in the family I’m so attached and a new liquid yellow RS Trophy now >70k sigh 😔🏎 🇫🇷
I had to replace the compressor on my 2011 RS250 Cup Trophee. Most of the time AC issues are due to the compressor dying.
@@RaindancerAU , I am on my 4th compressor, I bought the car new in Jan 2012.
@@johndb1224 bought mine Jan 12 as well! Mine was an August 11 build, arrived in Australia in October and was a dealer demo for a few months before I snapped it up. Still only the one compressor for me though.
Just came here to say I've just added a Pre-FL RS265 Trophy+ with Xenon,Recaro,yellow belts and LSD. The hype about this car is so real. It's that good.
12:27 If you listen to the « Handling » French translation it says « tripotage » 😂. This is not exactly correct but rather extremely funny. Thank you
i'd rather pre update
Great video Adam 😊 I requested this a while back...I dont drive manual is the only reason I didn't get one of these...I ended up with a Scirocco R but I think that Megane RS is possibly the sexiest hatch...The Audi TTS was the other one I was interested in.
Jim has some cool cars in the workshop I noticed the Volvo C30....has it had the polestar treatment and the BMW E82 in some other recent videos...
Adam have you done a list of the cars you have owned??
Have had one 3 years best car I have ever owned driven hard daily not a thing has went wrong
8:20 Why do I get the feeling that this hypothetical isn't very so.
RS250 for two years, mechanically sound
Would love a video on the New Mk4s and the EDC as I am looking to maybe buy one currently
Mine has 169k on the clock 2012 R.S trophy but this thing is solid apart of some of the maintenance that is fine
didn't most of the Renault Clio rs and megane rs have a torsion beam rear suspension like the civic type-r !! no one really talks about it ??
Mate this review is not it. They are super reliable. This is the first video that pops up when you type in Renault RS and your video title is rubbish. This is hurting the value of these amazing cars.
Can't imagine the price on them is falling due to our video.
Plus, the information in the video is directly from owners, forums and specialist mechanics with first-hand experience. Don't shoot the messenger.
I have owned my 265rs 15plate for 3 years and it hasn't missed a heartbeat, it's a true machine
I've got a 2011 250 Cup with 105 on the clock. The handling is to die for and the power is enough for FWD. I love the way the turbo comes on, it's a pleasant enough yet eternally thrilling amount of violence. I've had to replace the compressor once, and it leaked coolant at one point because the hose under the oil filter cracked but that was an easy fix. It would suck as a daily but as a weekender it's hard to beat. I've owned it for around 6 or 7 years and might never sell it. I'd get an EV as a daily if I needed one (trains FTW 😂).
Oh yeah, and it really dislikes some brands of fuel like Ampol and some others... No idea why, but it's always happy with BP and Metro in my area. It's to the point where it will take 3 attempts to start on Ampol fuel, whereas BP it starts perfectly.
The ride feels about 5x stiffer if you drive one with the Recaro CS - those Cup seats do amazing things for the ride
Sports cars tend to wear tires, fuel, pads, thats one of their trends!!!
JUST A HEADS UP,
STAY AWAY FROM FINAL PRODUCTION LAST FEW MONTHS 275 CUP PREMIUM
THESE HAD THE DOGSHIT BEARINGS IN THE GEARBOX
275 TROPHY AND TROPHY R IM FAIRLY SURE ARE SAFE
I LEARNT THIS LESSON, GOT GEARBOX REPLACED FOR FREE THROUGH RENAULT WITH A REVISED VERSION OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY
Sorry for caps but its important to know apart 8 years of ownership and its been perfect apart from this annoying defect
I literally just repaired the interior door handle (the big one), had to epoxy it. It is too close to the front and the door being so heavy, it's prone to breaking. I'm 60kg so it's not because I'm too heavy handed. The engine is solid, I had a bad turbo intake tube clamp after 10 000km, I was loosing intake pressure (900mb instead of 1400mb), not a big deal but it shows some hardware are cheap. If you live in a place with bad road, your dampers will die every 20 000 km (play on the rod!). I have the cup suspensions and they are too hard for the road, I advise switching to sport version instead when you need to replace them (about to). the only diseases this car has is the inferior pivot ball joint that has to be changed once every 60 / 80 000km, symptom is wheel play, imprecise direction, renault will ask you to change the whole pivot for 500€, the ball joint is 40 € on RS specialized websites, second one, top engine mount broken after 40 000km, transmission was laying on the chassis, the big bolt broken in half, still bad hardware. Another small issue, if using stock brake pads on track, heavy braking might cook them and leave a film of material that will make your brakes noisy (low pitch vibration). Grooved disks seems to have this issue more (cup version), maybe it's better to switch to more sport focused pads for track or learn the track more before going hot to avoid over braking.
please do a review on the mk 2, the Renault megane 225 and the f1. 🙏
As a previous RS265 Cup owner, this was very very accurate
Just buy one the best performance man or woman can get for value for money !!!! i just sold my Megane RS Trophy 300 to buy a 275 Trophy its my fourth RS Megane i have owned yes i do engage into a relationship with my MEGS but do you blame me once you get behind the wheel and experience these French beauties there is no turning back.
Hi George - why did you go back to the mark 3 over the 4 ?, 2 door better looking ? and a lighter car ?
@@johndb1224 Good question after owning a RS250 RS265 and the RS300 I have come to the conclusion the mark 3 chassis with the 6 speed manual is a real drivers dream I must say my RS300 was a blast 💥 to drive it was an automatic EDC may be I just missed the Manual.
Oh what a great story ! Saids much for the Meg 3 series, good on you man, enjoy ! I have a 265 Cup Premium, GTI and Golf R previously but the Meg is just on another level to the GTI altogether - and the R? Boring...
Megane 3 is more hardcore and track focused than megane 4. Unless you get a trophy Rs300 ‘manual, but still a bit more refined car so to speak.
The reason why i feel mk3 is more attractive than mk4:. First off the extreme throttle map in mk3 is irreplaceable, the race mode in mk4 feels a bit laggy. Secondly, The 4 wheel control in mk4 seems a bit artificial albeit make you feel more nimble and agile. Mk4 has better sound isolation and you will hear less tyre road noise.
Hi Adam. What are your thoughts on a Megane RS vs an A45 AMG (not the latest gen, but the previous you reviewed)? The AMG is faster but how do its handling dynamics feel in comparison?
Have a Megane RS 280 cup. It's fun but I could do with a nicer more comfy interior and the adaptive dampers to make long trips more bearable...
Test drove both a few years back and the A45 is immense and a rocketship (also an immense price which was one of the reasons for not going with it!!!) I went for the RS 280 Cup as I find the handling just on a different level and it is unique and has its own French charm and quirks, yes the ride is firm always especially the Cup though the Sport version is suppossed to be a lot softer but you miss out on the LSD which is a must. I also owned the old RS 250 Cup like the one reviewed by Adam, it is also quiet a stiff chassis and certainly not as forgiving as the adaptive ride on A45. Yes the ride on the RS 280 Cup can be a bit stiff but I still found it much better around the corners compared to the first gen A45 and it just looks absolutely fantastic. I will not be letting my RS 280 Cup go as these are the last of the RS's. On the NEW AMG A45 S 4matic, it is beyond a beast both in terms of outrageous power and with the 4 wheel drive system it handles with the best as it has been updated but the price is also massive....
You really need to stop judging the cars from what read on the internet. Your reviews are always the same... "once upon a time, I read that the reability...". That type of judging worth zero.
he literally said in the video he used to own one
he literally said in the video he used to own one
The funny thing about owning a megane rs is other megane rs owners wave or smile at you😂
Great video as always guys! 👍👍. Can you please review some more older makes and models (perhaps 2000 - 2007 era)?
Cheers from America 🇺🇸
Love your reviews from cars us Americans have never seen.
We have a 2013 Clio rs 260000ks and brilliant
Hi everyone,wanna ask does it hard to find parts for the rs?cheers ✌🏻
Can you please review a 2012 audi s3 manual?
Très beaux modèle ❤😊
yep rs250 monaco...door sensors both went, reverse gear sensor...and now its sitting in the driveway. 120,000km and blown motor. Gokart for the roads though...awesome around corners. Not bad on a drag either....using the clutch well will get away pretty quick...4-50,000kms of smiles....soooo worth it.
Owned and loved my rs 265 cup for 2.5 years. Cost me a lot of money in extra repairs.. maybe 8k on everything except the engine itself, which was solid and fast.
Ac compressor, rear wheel bearings, front and rear struts, front upper control arm, bushes various, door handles ripping off, coolant tank, timing chain every 65k, chews brakes and tyres, plug fouling one one cylinder in particular, oil leak from gearbox oil filling point.. I was prepared for a fun car which will likely cost a bit to run, just not that much. Bought a Tesla since. Best decision ever and I love my hot hatches so yeah.. I know right?