I agree, I owned one for 4 years and the only issue was a with the front suspension which got cost me 600.... equivalent to 150 quid a year...which isn’t bad I think...two tanks of petrol...and it was worth every penny!!!
I have owned a 2012 265 cup for 2 weeks now. I’ve had a wrx, golf gti and v8 Holden.. the Renault is fucking ridiculous. This car will break traction in 3rd gear at 90kmh if you boot it, handling is like a go cart. Drive it sedately and expect really good fuel consumption. Hard to do though as it’s just so eager to go quick all the time.
@@Paul-mq5yn still bumping along. Bit of repairs here and there, biggest ones were front control arm bushes upper and lower, rear wheel bearings, chews tyres, into my second set already,due for second timing belt replacement at 13000kms very soon, 2 air filters in a year plus numerous oil changes. Admittedly I do a lot of miles, 35000kms a year avg. I bought it with 65000 on the clock and have just ticked over 118000, acquired it in May 2021. Good chance clutch will go sometime soon too I reckon. All in all great fun great car, pretty reliable, never actually broken down or anything, just be prepared to pay for the privilege of driving it.
I opted for the standard seats which are well capable and comfortable.....I wanted comfort over support. I've done 5k in the car and have got used to the firm ride that much I don't notice it anymore. It's an amazing car...just wish the badge snobs would give it a chance!
If you mind the recaro seats, you can get the normal leather seats, which are supremelly comfortable and still do a good job of holding you in the seat. And if you mind the hard suspension, the normal chassis without the Cup package is better on the road. It will actually handle better on bumpy roads and it will be pretty comfortable, the Cup will only have an advantage and will be slightly faster on the track.
Don't forget that this is a hot hatch we are talking about and they have to be both: "in your face" driving machines and comfortable at the same time. So he is right because a Megane RS is a purebred hot hatch.
torque steer is not that your steering wheel "wobbles around in your hand", that's just a side effect of torque steer. Torque steer is differential torque at the 2 front wheels because of the different length drive shafts. So one wheel has more torque then the other, and the car wants to steer to one side (the side of less torque). That, is torque steer. And they cannot fix that with suspension. they can only mittigate the effect and side effects.
Looks we have the Four Horsemen covered now: The powerful Vauxhall Astra VXR, the well-rounded Ford Focus ST, the classy Volkswagen Golf GTi, and the super-responsive Renaultsport Megane Cup. This could be the hot hatch golden age!
We already know what would happen. Megane is over 20 seconds per lap faster around Nurburgring than S3. Its the fastest hatch. Its even faster than BMW 1M around track.
This is very good if you want a hardcore street racer that you can use every day, but if you want a true hot hatch go for the Astra VXR/OPC and, if you don't like the looks of that or you just think it is too dangerous, the Golf GTI is the car for you. If you want a fast hot hatch with great driving feel and with five doors, go for the Focus ST.
nissan gtr is a great car, but only if your in the mood for sport driving all the time. its a sports car, most people get it confused with a grand tourer car. it's not really relaxing to drive on long drives, but it does have room enough in the back seats for 2 average size adults. its a good car, its just mostly for weekend cruises for fun.
I couldn't agree more with you. People see the skoda badge and instantly write it off as a bad car but skoda is one of the best car makers in the world now thanks to the help from vw.
With PS4S (19s) the ride is happy as larry. Road trip hundreds of kms all day. The super stiff RE050A fitted when new might have been a bit more jarring.
Kusqen I had mine for 6 years and loved it every single day. didn't have to do anything at all besides refilling the liquids ;). oh no not true, had to change 1 fuse!! was my every day car, long short whatever distance. even had 3 children seats in the back - everything is possible!
You mentioned that the car does not have sufficient head room at the back, but did not mention it lacks the off-road capability of a Land Rover nor the harvesting capabilities of any combine harvester on the market. (hint)
it is true, also the new gtrs are suppose to be two seaters but they stuck two seats in the back that is not even useable.....if you are over 6'8....or 5'5
This Renault actually holds its value very well, come resale time. -Mat Watson, 2012 Yooka: Renaults are meant to depreciate faster, not hold their value! #YookaLaylee
It's good for people who take their cars to the track often. I do, but I don't have enough money for one of these and you must have held a licence - in QLD, Aus- for 4 years before being allowed to drive turbocharged cars above 125kw/tonne. Also they have a very different feel to something like a c30 T5 or an older Golf R32 because the 4 cyl cars often weigh less.
I personally think it's a great little car, my uncle had one and he was taking it to Leeds to get it tuned up and it was decently quick on the way there, but after being tuned, it was rapid!!!
Each to there own. But again, comparing an old M3 with this is a bit silly. They don't really compete. What I mean is to have a new car that has all the new hardware, doesn't cost the earth, can be driven everyday (if you can put up with the extremely hard suspension) and still remains hardcore for track use. If I were to have a dedicated track car I would get a second hand Lotus Exige/Elise S or something like that. But this is good for an all in one package that is oriented to track days.
I'm looking at buying one but what should i look out for in these RS 250 and 265? the ripped bucket seats? if its been tracked? serviced on time etc? and is the 265 much better aside from a bit more power?
Car makers should get rid of the 3 doors hatches and start to make only 5 door hatches... A good hatchback should be fun to drive and functional at the same time, the subaru sti is a good example of it, also the audi RS3 have 5 doors, im not saying this car is bad, it is not, its very fun to drive and a very good car, but it loses its purpose when they (car makers) make cars like these with only 3 doors.
One of the best cars out there are meganes a have a 2003 one with the big ass and its great best car I have had. Great mpg great to drive and not a thing wrong with it. If you take care of them they will last a long time.
Je sais - but I was joking with that accent. I actually have a very good french accent see. Watch my review of the Peugeot 208 on CarBuyer, I employ it there.
...but if I were to have a car, which I'd often take to the track, it wouldn't be a front wheel drive hatch back. Why not get an E46 M3 and save about half the price of one of these?
'Inside it's pretty similar to the normal megane so it's built with good quality materials' isnt it the opposite? Renault is a cheaper brand, I thought they use mostly cheaper hardtouch plastics in the interior, no?
Why is almost every affordable hatch designed with backends like that, rear lights sits way to high up, the rear bumper is very tall and the window is are to small.
OK, I see what you mean but the Megane is too much of a compromise for me. I've owned an Elise and it's an awful daily driver. I prefered my 306 XTDT !! I have an E39 M5 now and other than fuel consumption, can't see why anyone would want a rock-hard hatchback.
It's what I read in an article.. it basically said that Renault is the worst popular brand in reliability and now even behind Skoda. (And yes, it was recent)
the French pulled out in the late 80s I think what happen was that reliability went down like crazy, like FIAT from Italy the french cars got bad stigmas and no one bought them I mean no one, so they had to bail
but BMW aint the best either. In relation to Manuel Fera's comment sometimes it depends on the luck of the draw. You may end up with a super reliable car which is usually unreliable or a unreliable car which is usually reliable e.g. family relative had a a newish Camry in which the engine seized (whilst still under warranty I think).
What...0-60 in 6 seconds and it can't even top out at 155? I would forgive all that if it at least looked good, but honestly it's not a looker now is it?
Jokes on you, young version of Matt, the Meg RS turned out to be the most reliable abuse friendly turbocharged hot hatch of it's generation.
I agree, I owned one for 4 years and the only issue was a with the front suspension which got cost me 600.... equivalent to 150 quid a year...which isn’t bad I think...two tanks of petrol...and it was worth every penny!!!
instaBlaster
I agree, im replacing preety much whole fron suspension bit by bit to cure a bad knock it has, other than that not a single issue
Good point. I will be sure to include this in future;-)
Hello sir, 8 years later... How are you now!?
@@sooofancier10 years !
Renault Megane RS Best Hot Hatchback EVER made PERIOD
I have owned a 2012 265 cup for 2 weeks now.
I’ve had a wrx, golf gti and v8 Holden.. the Renault is fucking ridiculous.
This car will break traction in 3rd gear at 90kmh if you boot it, handling is like a go cart.
Drive it sedately and expect really good fuel consumption. Hard to do though as it’s just so eager to go quick all the time.
whats the verdict a year on? Have you still got it? I'm toying with the idea of selling a fg xr6t and getting one.
@@Paul-mq5yn still bumping along. Bit of repairs here and there, biggest ones were front control arm bushes upper and lower, rear wheel bearings, chews tyres, into my second set already,due for second timing belt replacement at 13000kms very soon, 2 air filters in a year plus numerous oil changes.
Admittedly I do a lot of miles, 35000kms a year avg.
I bought it with 65000 on the clock and have just ticked over 118000, acquired it in May 2021.
Good chance clutch will go sometime soon too I reckon.
All in all great fun great car, pretty reliable, never actually broken down or anything, just be prepared to pay for the privilege of driving it.
One of the best reviews yet... and a very, very exciting car...
I opted for the standard seats which are well capable and comfortable.....I wanted comfort over support. I've done 5k in the car and have got used to the firm ride that much I don't notice it anymore. It's an amazing car...just wish the badge snobs would give it a chance!
I spend my money watching Mat's reviews. Worth every penny.
If you mind the recaro seats, you can get the normal leather seats, which are supremelly comfortable and still do a good job of holding you in the seat. And if you mind the hard suspension, the normal chassis without the Cup package is better on the road. It will actually handle better on bumpy roads and it will be pretty comfortable, the Cup will only have an advantage and will be slightly faster on the track.
Megane RS is a great car if you compare it to the rivals- the best for sportiness
Don't forget that this is a hot hatch we are talking about and they have to be both: "in your face" driving machines and comfortable at the same time. So he is right because a Megane RS is a purebred hot hatch.
According to ADAC and TUV, Renaults have been quite reliable over the past couple of years.
I would also like to say I like your reviews, keep up the good work.
torque steer is not that your steering wheel "wobbles around in your hand", that's just a side effect of torque steer.
Torque steer is differential torque at the 2 front wheels because of the different length drive shafts.
So one wheel has more torque then the other, and the car wants to steer to one side (the side of less torque).
That, is torque steer.
And they cannot fix that with suspension. they can only mittigate the effect and side effects.
Looks we have the Four Horsemen covered now: The powerful Vauxhall Astra VXR, the well-rounded Ford Focus ST, the classy Volkswagen Golf GTi, and the super-responsive Renaultsport Megane Cup. This could be the hot hatch golden age!
I've been waiting for this review, awesome work!
We already know what would happen. Megane is over 20 seconds per lap faster around Nurburgring than S3. Its the fastest hatch. Its even faster than BMW 1M around track.
I drive a mk6 GTI, test drove the megane, blazing fast.
Mine is about to arrive in 2 weeks, excited!!
Is it still reliable?
that tacky rock music makes my neck bleed
loving the new video quality
This is very good if you want a hardcore street racer that you can use every day, but if you want a true hot hatch go for the Astra VXR/OPC and, if you don't like the looks of that or you just think it is too dangerous, the Golf GTI is the car for you. If you want a fast hot hatch with great driving feel and with five doors, go for the Focus ST.
another classic renault,love this car,its a beast
nissan gtr is a great car, but only if your in the mood for sport driving all the time. its a sports car, most people get it confused with a grand tourer car. it's not really relaxing to drive on long drives, but it does have room enough in the back seats for 2 average size adults. its a good car, its just mostly for weekend cruises for fun.
Golf R,Scirocco R,Megane rs265,Focus RS,Toyota Scion,which one would be the best for reliability and fun?
I couldn't agree more with you. People see the skoda badge and instantly write it off as a bad car but skoda is one of the best car makers in the world now thanks to the help from vw.
With PS4S (19s) the ride is happy as larry. Road trip hundreds of kms all day.
The super stiff RE050A fitted when new might have been a bit more jarring.
I've got one......LOVE IT!!
still love it ?
Kusqen I had mine for 6 years and loved it every single day. didn't have to do anything at all besides refilling the liquids ;). oh no not true, had to change 1 fuse!!
was my every day car, long short whatever distance. even had 3 children seats in the back - everything is possible!
@@KuSQ3N Renault reliability isn't as terrible as people say it is
@@clockman5472 so true
You mentioned that the car does not have sufficient head room at the back, but did not mention it lacks the off-road capability of a Land Rover nor the harvesting capabilities of any combine harvester on the market. (hint)
I love his a&f wardrobe
unless its got ST on the back don't think this guys interested TBH
it is true, also the new gtrs are suppose to be two seaters but they stuck two seats in the back that is not even useable.....if you are over 6'8....or 5'5
2:31 Matt flashing his muscles haha. Epic car!!
The mk3 megane still gives bang for buck and can give modern day hot hatches a run for their money
awesome review, must have this car when it comes down to something I can afford. on my OCD radar :)
This Renault actually holds its value very well, come resale time. -Mat Watson, 2012
Yooka: Renaults are meant to depreciate faster, not hold their value!
#YookaLaylee
2:32 trying to give everyone the gun show!
Anyway what a car the 265 is!
It's good for people who take their cars to the track often. I do, but I don't have enough money for one of these and you must have held a licence - in QLD, Aus- for 4 years before being allowed to drive turbocharged cars above 125kw/tonne. Also they have a very different feel to something like a c30 T5 or an older Golf R32 because the 4 cyl cars often weigh less.
I personally think it's a great little car, my uncle had one and he was taking it to Leeds to get it tuned up and it was decently quick on the way there, but after being tuned, it was rapid!!!
Each to there own. But again, comparing an old M3 with this is a bit silly. They don't really compete. What I mean is to have a new car that has all the new hardware, doesn't cost the earth, can be driven everyday (if you can put up with the extremely hard suspension) and still remains hardcore for track use. If I were to have a dedicated track car I would get a second hand Lotus Exige/Elise S or something like that. But this is good for an all in one package that is oriented to track days.
SO much truth, you get an upvote sir!
looks like someone got a new camera with all those focus pulls
Ha ha did he just tried to say 'C'est très bon monsieur'? I'd had to listen to it twice to even barely understand a word
We do, most renault dealers even have it on the showroom floor....
I'm looking at buying one but what should i look out for in these RS 250 and 265? the ripped bucket seats? if its been tracked? serviced on time etc? and is the 265 much better aside from a bit more power?
How would you compare this car to a Mazda 3 mps 2012, fun wise and a overall daily driver?
Car makers should get rid of the 3 doors hatches and start to make only 5 door hatches... A good hatchback should be fun to drive and functional at the same time, the subaru sti is a good example of it, also the audi RS3 have 5 doors, im not saying this car is bad, it is not, its very fun to drive and a very good car, but it loses its purpose when they (car makers) make cars like these with only 3 doors.
Great review mate.This car is on par with the GTC VXR :)
One of the best cars out there are meganes a have a 2003 one with the big ass and its great best car I have had. Great mpg great to drive and not a thing wrong with it. If you take care of them they will last a long time.
Je sais - but I was joking with that accent. I actually have a very good french accent see. Watch my review of the Peugeot 208 on CarBuyer, I employ it there.
This car is insane off road
Whaaaaaat🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
CarBuyer should have a place on TV, TopGear is too good, so I suggest replacing Fifth Gear. Maybe in a few months CarBuyer episodes will be on Dave
true, in europe car needs to be spacious inside and small on the outside because of the narrow streets :)
...but if I were to have a car, which I'd often take to the track, it wouldn't be a front wheel drive hatch back. Why not get an E46 M3 and save about half the price of one of these?
New camera or software? :)
I laughed 0:37 , you're a funny guy you that ?
It doesn't make a very good noise; it's a 4 cylinder engine.
I5, I6 & V8 sound wonderful.
I can't see the point of a rock-hard hot hatch.
'Vaxhall Astra VXR review' 3:43 you spelt it wrong :O.
'Inside it's pretty similar to the normal megane so it's built with good quality materials' isnt it the opposite? Renault is a cheaper brand, I thought they use mostly cheaper hardtouch plastics in the interior, no?
+Amateur Detailing nope
They look cheap but are soft and high quality. This generation of Megane is actually pretty reliable...
The megane mk3 is very very good. Great materials inside and outside, and its very reliable.
Why is almost every affordable hatch designed with backends like that, rear lights sits way to high up, the rear bumper is very tall and the window is are to small.
Can I hold the wheel like that on my driving test?
OK, I see what you mean but the Megane is too much of a compromise for me. I've owned an Elise and it's an awful daily driver. I prefered my 306 XTDT !! I have an E39 M5 now and other than fuel consumption, can't see why anyone would want a rock-hard hatchback.
Can you guys review the Fiat 500 Abarth?
It reminds me a bit of the newer Volkswagen Scirocco.
Too bad the backseat isn't so great.
Buy an MPV if you want practicality. The rear seats are good enough for teenage girls.
Just not as good looking ,well made and interior not a patch , I think it's just what value , driving experience v quailty
Rear splitter?
That's a defuser?
it looks great, it drives great, hell dare I say if it was my money I would have one over a golf gti?
Why it's not available in the U.S? =[
PLEASE AGAIN CITROEN C3 PICASSO FACELIFT REVIEW IT WIRTH BLACK PACK AND PANORAMIC ROOF
Are that there automatic gearbox
I love the expression on 3:31, brilliant haha
It's what I read in an article.. it basically said that Renault is the worst popular brand in reliability and now even behind Skoda. (And yes, it was recent)
WHERE'S REBECCA?
The best Megane.
A class!
the French pulled out in the late 80s I think
what happen was that reliability went down like crazy, like FIAT from Italy the french cars got bad stigmas and no one bought them
I mean no one, so they had to bail
3:02 - 3:04 I love the capitons!!!
Can anyone please tell me where this set is located?? Please thumbs up so carbuyer can see or please anyone else who knows answer
that not the trophy version??!
You must live in the 70's or 80's then if you're making such ignorant remarks. Skoda is among the best in recent reliability surveys.
Could you or somebody race it againt S3 to see what happens?
any one have an idea on the price of these cars?
but BMW aint the best either. In relation to Manuel Fera's comment sometimes it depends on the luck of the draw. You may end up with a super reliable car which is usually unreliable or a unreliable car which is usually reliable e.g. family relative had a a newish Camry in which the engine seized (whilst still under warranty I think).
All the reasons why I'd have an 09 RS
What song in the backround of this video?
If I have to believe Honda, there new civic type r is going to beat this car around the nurburgring.Good luck.
Keep in mind European cars apart Mercedes Benz/Volvos aren't all that reliable in the first place so it drastically skews reliability ratings.
Wish we got this car here in new zealand
Iiiiiit's MATT!!! :-D
He reminds me of Tiff Needell here
2:03 love it!!!
It's more the Hyundai Veloster that looks like this Megane 265 ;)
i think the reversing view has to be a joke. why not a window right around.
Its a misconception Renault aint reliable..Its not a Peugeot
True. Renault is not really that reliable...and the interior is dreary and low quality.
Firemarioflower thats What stupid people think
anyone got problems with this car ?
my parents has this , it kick asses .
how about peugeot 308 sportium
hahaha that's not how we pronounce "c'est très bon monsieur" but we got it.
2:34 nice sound. =)
want one of these as well
I love the wheels.
What...0-60 in 6 seconds and it can't even top out at 155? I would forgive all that if it at least looked good, but honestly it's not a looker now is it?
+Brian Westfield it most defentely is a looker ;)
No car beats my badass Skoda Octavia Combi :D