Skip advert
Advertisement

Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup

Richard Meaden's new long termer - a Cup-spec Renaultsport Megane 250 hot hatch - has arrived. Full gallery and report

The arrival of a new long-termer is always a special moment, never more so than when you’ve been able to specify the exact colour, trim and options it has. So you can imagine my growing sense of anticipation as the delivery date for ‘my’ new Mégane 250 Cup grew near.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Like most manufacturers, Renault has an excellent online configurator, so I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, but still I was surprised by how menacing the Mégane looked when I first clapped eyes on it.

Some elements of the specification chose themselves, such as the cloth Recaro seats (£860) and the Cup chassis package (complete with stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, a limited-slip differential and Brembo brakes – plus a £1000 saving over the slightly more luxurious non-Cup car). Others, such as the 19in Speedline rims with 235/35 ContiSportContact 5 tyres (£500) and the Pearl Black paint (£405) were the product of a more tortured decision process. I hope you agree the end result is pretty stunning.

I also ticked the boxes for the LED daytime running lights (£150) and the Renaultsport Monitor (£300), which is like a less glitzy version of the Nissan GT-R’s dynamic display. Amongst many other things, it allows you to choose between a handful of different throttle maps, time yourself around a circuit and conduct standing-start performance figuring. All harmless fun, really. The main downside is you can’t have it in conjunction with sat-nav. Still, at least I’ll know how many lateral G I’m pulling while getting horribly lost…

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

First impressions are of a Renault that’s better built and more classily designed than the previous Mégane. At £25,865 as tested that’s no less than you’d expect, but there’s no doubt the detailing is neater, creating a more ‘premium’ impression. It turns heads, too, but not in the look-at-me manner of Ford’s Focus RS, which is just too brash for my liking.

The interior is also a cut above the Ford’s. The Recaros look and, more importantly, feel extremely supportive, although you have to be careful not to trap certain parts of the male anatomy on the hard edge of the seat cushion. They haven’t been christened the Nutcracker Seats for nothing.

HN10 FGD arrived with almost exactly 1000 miles on its digital odometer, but it feels like it needs a thousand more before it’ll be truly run-in. The gearshift is tight, the clutch bites sharp and early, which can make for a few abrupt take-offs if I’ve been driving something else, and the engine feels like it needs a bit of spirited use.

I know some of you will feel the 19in rims are a controversial choice, but aside from the fact that I like the way they look, I genuinely thought it would be useful to see if they compromise the dynamics, as I’m sure some of you might be tempted by them too.

By the time you read this, the Mégane and I will have done a Renaultsport trackday at Spa-Francorchamps, together with staff writer Stephen Dobie and his Clio 200 Cup. Findings and pictures next month.

Running Costs

Date acquiredMay 2010
Total mileage1515
Costs this month£0
Mileage this month514
MPG this month26.1
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best fast estate cars 2025 – performance cars with space and pace
Best fast estates
Best cars

Best fast estate cars 2025 – performance cars with space and pace

For do-it-all transport, nothing nails the brief like a fast estate. These are the very best, from familiar names to hardcore specials
29 Nov 2024
Used Porsche 911 (997, 2004-2012): review, history, specs and buying guide
Porsche 911 997.1
Features

Used Porsche 911 (997, 2004-2012): review, history, specs and buying guide

The 997 might be the ultimate goldilocks 911, blending modern technology, performance and reliability with a slender footprint, feelsome steering and …
29 Nov 2024
Audi RS4 Edition 25 years 2025 review – a fitting farewell to the BMW M3 fighter?
Audi RS4 Edition 25 years interior
Reviews

Audi RS4 Edition 25 years 2025 review – a fitting farewell to the BMW M3 fighter?

Audi's flamboyant fairwell to the RS4 is the edition 25 Years, with Competition suspension and a boost to 463bhp
29 Nov 2024