Renault R26.R

B

Blacklines

Member
 Warwickshire
Being a RWD fan and diehard opponent of all FWD cars I was not initially at all excited when my girlfriend decided she wanted an R26.R.

A few Youtube videos, and magazine reviews later I had a little more interest.

After a very exciting day spent in a Caparo I returned home in the Megane and was suprised to find it a thrilling drive albeit a tad slower than the T1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGfKhQQlduw

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R26.R is an awesome piece of kit.

Read in evo mag that it's not sold very well in the UK though and that Renault UK have handed back a large number of their allocation. Not helping 2nd hand values I'd have thought, but main problem is I'd have the similarly-priced (before Renault discount!) Focus RS over the R26.R any day of the week.
 
a11y said:
R26.R is an awesome piece of kit.

Read in evo mag that it's not sold very well in the UK though and that Renault UK have handed back a large number of their allocation. Not helping 2nd hand values I'd have thought, but main problem is I'd have the similarly-priced (before Renault discount!) Focus RS over the R26.R any day of the week.
Click to expand...

It has not sold well in the UK at all. The plan was to sell 230 in the UK. Only 159 found homes. My outlook is that 1. it meant I bagged a steal and 2. there are so few that eventually it will become a collectable car. (Appreciate it has a fair way to fall yet!)

Although the performance is similar I think the RS and the R26.R will appeal to vastly different markets. I was not in the market for a near £30k hot hatch heavy weight. I was in the market for a semi skimmed leaner meaner toy. 2nd/3rd car well suited to the track and Ring trips. Also my girlfriend is going to start doing trackdays and this is way better suited to that than the Focus.

I'm not trying to defend my position just explain why the Megane was better suited to my needs.
:thumbsup:
 
Ah, didn't realise from the above that you'd actually bought one! Thought it was a loaner or something when you mentioned your O/H was wanting one. Good choice and you're so lucky to have a girlfriend with a real interest in cars - my wife hates being roof-down in my Z4 :(

I'm just a little bit anti-Renault after owning a Clio 172 for 3 years. Awesome car for handling/performance, absolute POS when it came to reliability. I'd have another though despite that as long as I had a "back-up" car :lol:
 
Thanks for that. Yes my gf is a keeper!

I've just come back from a quick blat in the Renault. Without doubt it is one of the best (no - make that most fun), cars I have ever driven.

As for the Caparo - well my ultimate garage would have one but I struggle to think when and where I could use it to its maximum potential.
 
Blacklines,

I have a 2006 Z4 Coupe for over 2 years. Absolutely love it but wouldn’t mind a change….. :roll:


Anyway, due to some strange tax law here in the Republic of Ireland, the Renault R26R is exempt from import tax (I think because it doesn’t have any rear seats, :rofl: it is defined as a commercial vehicle versus say a Focus RS).

Therefore, unlike the UK, the price difference between a R26R and a Focus RS is more than 50%!!!! (the R26R is cheaper & therefore more attractive)

Anyway, there is a white R26R for sale here in Ireland (link attached).
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Megane/Renaults/200915192457529/advert?channel=CARS

Would you recommend the R26R over a Z4 Coupe? Could I drive the R26R everyday or is it really only a track day car? (BTW, I am a big car enthusiast but am not a regular Track day person).
Is the R26R essentially a track day car and not using it on the track would be missing the point? Lookswise, the Z4Coupe is so much better looking but everyone talks about how great the R26R is.....

Thanks

Matt
 
Not sure I've change a Z4 coupe for an R26.R, but if you do fancy the change then it's a damn good car by all accounts. The ride quality is supposedly pretty good, be interesting to hear what an owner has to says.

I wonder if the Mugen version of the FN2 Civic Type R will fall under the same classification for Ireland: there's no rear seats in that either! EVO magazine tested one this month and highly rated it, but they're anticipating a price of ~£30k if it makes production.

(I wondered if - having a username of "Breadvan_Matt" you might've been an EP3 owner in the past and therefore might be a Honda fan? :D)
 
Hi A11y
My Breadvan_Matt username refers to my previous car ( a Z3 M coupe) which is often referred to as the BMW Breadvan….., sorry I have never owned a Honda and I actually don't know what an EP3 is!! :)

All passenger cars are subject to registration / import tax in Ireland (anything from 18% upwards of the cost of the car upwards, depending on CO2 emissions). A good friend of mine works for Renault Ireland and he explained to me that the R26R managed to dodge this because of its lack of back seats. :rofl:

So based on this the Honda Civic Type R Mugen would be similar but I haven't seen any of these for sale here so I can't confirm.

I am actually surprised this R26R in ireland hasnt sold yet..... considering an Focus RS would cost close to €45k!! (by the time you have added on the registration taxes) :o
 
The Type R Mugen hasnt been slated for production yet. But from the article it's very much a case of when not if...
 
Breadvan_Matt said:
Hi A11y
My Breadvan_Matt username refers to my previous car ( a Z3 M coupe) which is often referred to as the BMW Breadvan….., sorry I have never owned a Honda and I actually don't know what an EP3 is!! :)
Click to expand...
Ah, an EP3 is the previous model (up to 06-plate) Honda Civic Type R – it too has the reputation of being called a breadvan too because of its looks. I put 2 and 2 together and got 9... :oops:

Hadn’t heard that about the ZM Coupe before though :D
 
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