Danith's Megane R26 2.0t

[Danith]

Right well I sold my tidy 330ci as it was just too 'nice' and civilised.
Nicest car I've ever owned but it had nothing about it. Was just typically German - well built, decent equipment, punchy and understated.

I don't particularly think it deserved the 'sport' tag but there you go.

So after many wasted hours of deliberation, talking to owners and the like. It was a toss up between an fn2 gt (I'm a huge fan of the glorious n/a k20) or an R26 megane.

Both reliable (as much as a 10 year old hot hatch can be), quick, plenty about and most importantly fun, but able to be civilised.

After looking around for a month or two and seeing what was about I went to see this one down in warwick.

R26 57 plate in mercury silver (pick of he colours for me) totally standard, fully stamped up service history with loads of receipts (including the all important belts, water pump etc done by Fred @ BTM at 44k). 63k and last service by renault at 60k. Recent new calipers and handbrake cables. Window regs replaced as well as track rod ends and ballache joint/hub bearings.

Michelin pilots all round in the correct size (235 40 18) were a great indication of how well its been looked after (he had it 4 years - 30k+, lad works as a mechanical engineer for Aston Martin)

Anyway, the test drive did all the talking. Everything works as it should, drove brilliantly and steering was tight as a nuns chuff). Bought it there and then and drove it home yesterday.

Absolutely love it. Once I got over the Frenchness of it (cheap plastics, flimsy build compared to bmw) I took it 110 miles home without a hiccup.
I cant believe how civilised it is on a motorway!! And the mpg is absolutely brilliant (maybe my 330 was just a guzzler and I didnt notice).
Stuck the cruise on and it was no less comfy than my 330 if I'm honest.

Took it off the motorway and the way it takes corners and roundabouts is astonishing - its like you're being pulled around the bends!! Brembo brakes arent bad too! Turbo is great too - no Where near as savage and ridiculous as the mazda mps.

So yeah, love it. Will take some time getting used to the cheap plastics but the recaros help the interior.

Plans are keep it polished/waxed. Intake maybe and probably an RS tuning remap.
R26r spoiler and maybe some pro race 1.2s

 

[Danith]

 

[ForceIndia]

Nice. Enjoyed mine a lot. Stage 1 rs tuning is the sweet spot. Get a short shift on (easy to fit, massive improvement), and if you can find one, the lowered recaros sub frame.

 

[Danith]

Nice. Enjoyed mine a lot. Stage 1 rs tuning is the sweet spot. Get a short shift on (easy to fit, massive improvement), and if you can find one, the lowered recaros sub frame.
View attachment 164760

Yeah the lad who does the short shift kits is near me in St Helens. Gonna go see him soon. The throw is fairly long in this

 

[Danith]

Well it handled the M60/Didsbury road car park commute as good as the bmw.
Little blip at the lights too, jesus this thing moves. Looking forward to the Remap/short shift!
The window ledge (?) is a perfect height too for a lean! Just need a double din/speaker upgrade to help the rush hr along

 

[Danith]

And so the list gets bigger. My Mrs is gonna kill me.
Plans:
Shortshift off Lee Boardman
Backbox (or mid box) chop with some larger tailpipes (for looks)
Modified airbox
Larger intercooler
Unicorn developments remap
Braided lines
Decent pads (got mintex at mo - dunno if any good? were crap on my ep3!)
Eibach or Cooksports (whichever doesn't ruin ride the most)
Lots and lots of polishing/waxing
Maybe some Pro race 2 once lowered
R26.R spoiler
Leather door cards
Double DIN
Some interior carbon dipping

Any tips on the above welcome!

 

[Danith]

Renault parts! Not like Honda, cheap as chips! Modded back box is like £40, catback for an ep3 is £200+! Remap £300, Civic £750. Intake - £50, Civic, £300.

 

[Gavin.]

You bought one then, Enjoying it?

 

[Danith]

You bought one then, Enjoying it?

Yeah mate its great fun and super civilised too.

Replied to you on the rsmegane forum before

 

[Danith]

Off to demon tweeks tomorrow to trial fit a helmet for the aintree track day. Got a sale on goodridge parts too so might as well pick up some braided lines for 60 quid.

Looking forward to taking on some back roads.
Just drove back from a restaurant in withington and took the longer route
The way this thing corners and powers through is immense

 

[imprezaworks]

How do you find it as a comparison to the civic

 

[Danith]

How do you find it as a comparison to the civic

Civic is miles better in terms of feel, noise and the engine and box feel engineered rather than plastic

R26 is comfier, about ten leagues ahead handling wise, definitely faster, great brakes, nice seats.

Guess I cant tell as I've done a fair bit to the civic. Out the box the renault pisses all over it, despite feeling cheap.

Don't think many cars will have a nicer feeling gearbox and engine at this price range than the hondas. Shame about the weird steering and twitchy rear on ep3.

Even my mrs says the meg is fairly 'nice'. She despises the honda tho cos of the ride and noise and drama.
Not telling her about the lowering springs and remap ive got planned

 

[imprezaworks]

Lol fair comparison mate.

 

[Mr Burns]

Probably one of the best all-rounders on the road at the moment, although I don't think they're as exciting to drive as people suggest. Great as a daily road car though with plenty of poke.

 

[Danith]

Probably one of the best all-rounders on the road at the moment, although I don't think they're as exciting to drive as people suggest. Great as daily road car though with plenty of poke.

Yeah its no gtr, awesome all rounder tho. Loads of room. Cheap.

 

[Danith]

Full day today cleaning. Rinse, glue and tar removal (was a lot, silver shows it up well), then fallout removal, snow foam, wash, clay (synthetic) - was a lot of contaminents on bootlid, megs paintwork cleaner, megs stage 2 polish, granite sealant, hydrophobic glass cleaner, megs tyre gel, viper wheel sealant, autosol polished up the tailpipes.

Will wax it next time. I'm knackered!

Been well washed but definitely needed a decontamination!

Bought a modded airbox and itg panel filter for it too.

Mounts sorting first and a slightly leaky fuel pipe.

Oh and I tried to wet sand the hazy headlight on driver's side but made it a million times worse!

Know someone with a spare tho so job for another day.

 

[imprezaworks]

Very nice mate looks mint

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Looks good mate

 

[Danith]

Cheers yeah glad I didnt buy one on higher miles. Bit of stone chipping on front bottom (lolz) of rear arches/quarters like the clios.
Has come up well tho. Side strips look darker in photos, they're only marginally darker.
Can't wait to get mounts and short shift done.

 

[Danith]

First bill on the R26. Oem mounts (3 main ones) all replaced and a leaky fuel line too. No cabin vibration, better gear change, much nicer feel and no petrol fume induced headache. All set for snowdon next week.

Got some bits on order too but not Turned up yet.

Before

After

Mounts really didnt look that bad but the difference is 'night and day' as they say on the forums

Got some F1 stickers for above repeaters too but they look gash so taking them off.

Little addition to rear will stay tho

 

[Danith]

And so it begins........

 

[Danith]

An hour with a polishing wheel thing, t cut, toothpaste (yes I tried it, it was s**t!) and ag srp.

Followed by carbon ceramic glass sealant on all glass and waxed with collinite ready for a drive to snowdon tomorrow/tuesday

No pics of car, but headlight came up a treat

 

[Danith]

Back from 275 miles round trip from snowdon/north wales. Car was faultless and my god what a car to take on the b roads!!!! Definitely made the right choice. Pics to come but got back and this was waiting for me couldnt resist, came up at a decent price

 

[Danith]

Its great. Effortless. Now I see what people dislike about Vtec!
Still love Vtec though.

These are just so nimble and grippy. The turbo delivery is strong but not daft like the mazda. Fairly subtle.

Never had a car feel so at home as this did on the b roads around snowdon. And then when I got on the m56 its a simple flick of a switch and I'm sat off at 70 on cruise! 275 miles and still got just under a third of a tank of momentum left too.

Got loads of photos on the dslr to load up. Here are a few off my xperia z3

 

[imprezaworks]

Noice

 

[Danith]

Best of the DSLR shots - it't not obvious in the flesh but the side mouldings need respraying looking at the pics. Will get em done when spoiler is sprayed up in silver

 

[ADS_V6]

car looks great

 

[JB21]

Looking really nice Dan.

 

[Danith]

More goodies arrived today

Right need to go back to work tomorrow and pay all this off!!

Front plate is 100mm to fit the recess better. Smallest size available whilst still being legal/mot friendly

 

[Danith]

Few more improvements this weekend.
Air con was making a weird hollow noise when on so had it regassed and works a treat again now with no weird noises

Also, was going to go with a double din head unit as I'd lose the top display I thought.
But managed to get this alpine iDE-178BT head unit complete with (£80!!!!) adaptor to allow me to use steering controls AND keep the top display.
Miles better than an ott double din screen and as you'd expect from alpine, great sound quality and microphone quality for hands free etc.

Looks the part too with megane facia surround.

Feels like its a bit more up to date now. Radio signal still a bit shitty as it gets worse over time so think a new aerial is needed.

 

[Danith]

H&R springs ordered today. Should all be getting fitted in a week and a bit.

Ordered some stickers I'd seen for the keycard cos I can't help myself

 

[Danith]

Rapid delivery! Springs are here

 

[Danith]

Productive day today! Civic pads replaced and then nipped over to rainford to see a lad off the megane pages (@JB21 he went to school with you he says, Lee Boardman?)

Anyway, Lee took out my oem gear selector and modded it for me there and then, shift is miles better, so much shorter and the way it should have been!

While the airbox was out he also modded that for me to give a bit more noise. Does sound good but the sound of his with the full induction kits is addictive and mine sounded like a little fart in comparison. Subtle but noticeable on mine now with the itg panel. Does the job nicely for a day to day car

Also took delivery of some 19mm spacers so fitted them too earlier on. Really transforms the look of the rear.

Before

After

These pics don't really show it, will get better ones tomorrow after a wash/wax

 

[imprezaworks]

Awesone looks loads better

 

[Danith]

Cant wait to get the springs and everything fitted next sat

Still need to sort the spoiler out too

 

[Gally]

Sitting well mate. Suits Sliver.

 

[Danith]

Sitting well mate. Suits Sliver.

Ta yeah I was inundated with offers for LY and black but silver is my prefererd choice for a day to day car. Don't want to draw too much attention from traffic light heroes and it looks nice and clean

 

[JB21]

Yeah went to school with Lee, top fella and really genuine guy. He needs to get that meg on track as it's a beast.

 

[TRH_Racing]

Where did you get the spacers from buddy ?

 

[Danith]

Where did you get the spacers from buddy ?

Off a lad on the facebook pages. Think they're KTEC ones with extended bolts - which are just BIMECC's
www.cmwheels.co.uk sell them cheaper- used them for my 330ci and they're great quality