#MEGANE TROPHY PLUS#
Where does your extra money go? The Trophy brings performance upgrades such as the stiffened Cup chassis (usually a £1,500 option), reworked suspension with firmer springs and dampers, plus a limited-slip differential. At almost £32,000, it’s not the cheapest hot hatch on the market, especially if you consider the entry-level RenaultSport Mégane costs £27,835. 300 Trophy, which is the latest model and only reached dealers in April. The car we’ll be running over the next six months is the range-topping Mégane R.S. The firm has a record for developing fast, affordable and entertaining performance cars, so to see if that still holds true, amid an influx of new rivals from Honda and Hyundai, I’ve just been handed the keys to the very latest one: the Mégane R.S. When Renault launches a new hot hatch people tend to take notice, especially if it’s painted bright yellow, like our new fleet car. But whether I’d have one over a Honda Civic Type R is another matter altogether. That makes it easier to swallow and the upgrades are strong value for money – which means that it’s definitely the model I’d go for. to the Trophy will only set you back around £50 extra per month. To anyone, £4,000 is a lot of cash, but on a monthly PCP deal stepping up from the regular R.S. So why can’t it just stay in that mode until I decide that I want to change it? As far as I’m concerned, the Trophy is at its most exciting and entertaining in Sport mode, which is why I drive pretty much everywhere in it. The second gripe quickly follows the Trophy always defaults to Comfort mode every time you start it up, regardless of what setting it was in previously. I have no idea why, or what the relevance is, but it’s becoming annoying I’ve been told there is a way of turning it off but I haven’t yet discovered how. Every time the car is switched on or off you’re greeted or waved away with an irritating jingle, which sounds like a roaring lion. While mechanically the Trophy hasn’t put a foot wrong there are a few niggles that are beginning to irk me. They are too small to hold 95 per cent of the bottles or cups I tried and when I managed to find one that did fit, if it was too tall it would prevent me from being able to change gear properly. They have a very simple job to do, but whoever designed the ones in the Mégane failed miserably. Another regular annoyance was a surprising one: the cup-holders. Instead, I found myself using it to connect my smartphone and fire up Apple CarPlay every single time I got in the car. Smaller niggles include the infotainment system even after six months, I’m still unable to navigate the labyrinth of menus and sub-menus.
#MEGANE TROPHY MANUAL#
Of course, the Mégane wasn’t without its niggles if we’re being kind, you could call the six-speed manual gearbox a bit clunky, but if we’re honest, it wouldn’t feel out of place in a van. Doing so also made the remaining 200 miles of the M1 left to tackle more bearable. It’s the reason why I found myself actively taking detours on the way to and from my hometown of Newcastle, usually via the North Pennines, to drive the Mégane on the roads where it belongs.
It’s a theme that has been a part of this model’s make-up for decades.
The ride can be bruising at times – particularly for passengers.īut on the right day, on the right road, there are few hot hatches that will delight and surprise you as much as the Mégane. Nor is it any more at home grinding its way through bustling city centres. Numerous similar journeys since, and I can still say with confidence that it’s not a car designed to tackle long motorway slogs. I was one of the first to raise the point after an arduous 400-mile round trip to Chester within days of taking delivery. The quality of the ride (or lack of it) in the Mégane Renaultsport was a topic that failed to subside since the car arrived. Our fleet car was one that has really divided opinion: wonderful to drive, woeful to be driven in. And what better way to bid farewell than a family reunion? But more on that later. Your passengers might not agree, but just tell them to bring a cushion.Īfter six months and almost 10,000 miles, it’s time to hand back the keys to the Renault Mégane R.S. The Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy is not without its faults, but as a package it delivers one of the most entertaining hot hatch experiences around.
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