When was the last time you woke up at 4am in the morning and thought – “I should go for a drive..”. For me, well.. there has never been such an occasion. Not because I don’t enjoy driving but because nothing has been exciting enough to urge this feeling out of myself. In the interest of perfection, cars these days have become a lot more plain. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve not gotten boring, but they’ve grown into something a lot less dramatic or engaging.
Manufacturers sometimes focus so much on their competitor – that they end up copying themselves. But Renaultsport hasn’t fallen into the same pit, they’ve always been different and nothing has changed. The new Megane RS265 is probably one of the few cars out there that is interesting enough to get one out of bed before dusk for a quickie.
The Megane’s immaturity gives it a character that can’t be denied. One’s first impression would be shattered as soon as they step inside the cabin as this quarter-of-a-million metal shell seems dull. The dash is made out of plastic and panels seem to creak about in the car despite only clocking 8000kms. Theres very little to redeem the less than inspiring cockpit and the only luxurious trait is the digital read-out cluster – and maybe the digital clock.
Seating position takes time to get used to – perhaps due to positioning of the foot pedals against the steering wheel. The instrument cluster is also tilted at almost 45 degrees. The Recaro seats are more comfortable in the Megane than the ones on the Golf Rs, supportive and firm with a touch of comfort. The interior is very basic, and although it is lacking in luxury, I prefer to see as ‘less-distracting from the joy of driving’.
The flaws are all forgiven once you stop nosing on the quality of the dash and get driving. Hot hatches are all about everyday usability and when the moment is right – it’ll have the capability to tickle your funny bone and amaze you. And that is exactly what the Megane RS265 is about. Pure, unadulterated driving pleasure with more than enough room for your daily commute.
The heart of the Megane RS265 derives from a 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine – producing 265bhp and 360nm. However, most of the time on normal mode, the car runs 250bhp to the wheels until the ESP is switched to Sports, where an extra 15bhp is squeezed through boosting the turbos. At the same time, Sports mode will enable a later intervention from the ESP allowing more playfulness from the car.
The power-band is relatively linear; nevertheless you can still expect a bit of lag until the boost kicks in just over 2000rpm. The torque is pretty impressive, keeping the car light on its feet all the time. The RS265 will speed up to 230km/h relatively quickly – till it feels a little out of breath above it but it is more than enough to worry the likes of Porsche Caymans when the urge is up!
However, its not the power that gets you, but its the driving experience. The Megane has one of the most interactive chassis I’ve ever driven, the kind that urges you to drive hard, but helps you out in the process. Upon hard cornering, you can feel the transitioning of weight, which aids in the perpetual confidence between the car and the driver. Couple that with the sharp steering feedback and positive throttle and brake feel – its the perfect recipe for a genuine sports car.
Oh – did I mention that the exhausts crackles and pops in Sports mode?
Braking power comes from a Brembo 4-pot system – which are relatively fade-free. They are perfectly matched with the car’s performance, especially when canned on a hill-run or on track; with decent pedal feedback and grabby bite from the rotors. Although they are not as progressive, once you are used to it, it’ll be easy enough to run on a daily basis.
Is the price justified? When you take into account its closest rival in Malaysia – the Scirocco R which is almost 30 grand more, it looks like a bargain. But then again, considering its manual-only option and its resale value, i’d say only driving purists will find joy in owning the RS.
So, yes, the RenaultSport Megane RS265 is in a niche market, especially here in Malaysia. But it’s a car that thrives in that niche without a single doubt. If it was my money – I would take the Megane RS265 in a heart beat. Simply because anyone with a right leg and two hands can drive a DSG GTI. The RS265 remains pure and exclusive to the discerning.
My short time with the RS265 left me aching for more, and until the blue moon comes when the opportunity arise to own a 911 GT3 RS, this is possibly one of the best car I’ve ever driven.
