RenaultSport Megane 265 Trophy -- Fifth Gear Web TV

It's officially the fastest front wheel drive car around the Nurburgring's Nordschleife circuit, beating the older Megane R26R by a full 9 seconds. And as it comes with a RenaultSport badge on it, we can probably assume it'll be brilliant at handling as well as being blisteringly quick. To test out this new 261bhp Megane, we went to the closest place to home with brilliant roads and inspiring views -- Wales.

[@simonhitchcock9851]

This is my actual car, just watched it and spotted the reg plate, megane trophy 265 number 04 of 50 :-)

[@dannykennion8738]

Still got it?

[@simonhitchcock9851]

@@dannykennion8738 recently sold it, 10 year old car and only 40 odd thousand on the clock when sold, I miss it, but don’t have the time to enjoy it or a good place to store it, lol

[@jamescoxson6773]

@@simonhitchcock9851 I’m currently looking at buying this

[@simonhitchcock9851]

@@jamescoxson6773 I sold it about 7 months ago, I miss it lol,

[@jamescoxson6773]

@@simonhitchcock9851 does it have the cup chassis?

[@L3g4cyTT]

Funny how haters assumes because its a Renault its going to break down.... There clearly dont know what there talking about

[@BlusterBunny]

"The only other complaint about the engince is this, a beep on the red light. I know its on the red light, i can hear it bouncing off the limiter" Well, if its bouncing off the rev limiter, you are shifting too late. You fail !

[@TheAxeman33]

~ I have a Renault Megane. I am so so chuffed with it. It's handling is impeccable .. The service I get from my local Renault dealer is second to none .. I have had horrendous experiences with Rover and Ford in the past .. Never ever again. My friends 3 year old Ford Focus had to have welding work done to it to get it through it's first MOT (Ministry of Transport Mechanical and bodywork check at 3 years old). Disgraceful .. Oh .. My second last Laguna had 184,000 trouble free miles on it. Fab!

[@santclause1]

@eecak1973. i had problem with civic type r. got trading standards involved and got my 14k back. and fucking what? every car has problems. i got 200cup after civic. 2 years later it,s been the most reliable car i,ve had. don,t matter if you got KIA-BMW every car has-will get problems. atleast if bought from a proper main dealer you have got more comeback.

[@L3g4cyTT]

I work on Renault's every day, There latest generation of cars are head and shoulders above previous models in terms of build quality and reliability. I'm by no means a Renault fan boy its just fact

[@cheukinator]

Good to know as I'm looking to get one of these soon. Anything to look out for? Common faults or things that should have been done?

[@markbaker3391]

@@cheukinator Had one for about 4 yrs now. Had to change the front anti roll bar links and the dreaded hub assembly on one side which isn't cheap if you change the whole thing. The driving experience of this car easily outweighs any of these issues tho! Hope you do get one, you won't regret it 😁😁

[@cheukinator]

@@markbaker3391 cheers for your input Mark. How much did the anti roll bar and hub assembly cost you to fix? I put down a reserve on a 2012 rs 265 but later found out it wasn't a cup model so cancelled. Will find one hopefully!

[@markbaker3391]

@@cheukinator No worries! The two issues were dealt with by two different garages (non Renault Dealers) Anti Roll bar links were just over £100 plus labour, thought it better to change both at the same time! Hub assembly was just over £500 inc. labour but I also supplied a separate ball joint ( they have 3 on each side) Definitely go for the cup, the diff makes all the difference 😀👍

[@cheukinator]

@@markbaker3391 I will keep a copy of this conversation so I can get my garage to check the things you have mentioned when I finally find one. Yep, read great things about the lsd and you've confirmed it. I was getting 25mpg in my type r ep3, is the megane similar to that?

[@stephenpencheff6625]

my 250 is a little weapon handles better than all of my 5 previous Subaru WRX cars I owned. Its just a sharp nimble quick agile car the LSD in awesome love my Renault Megane RS 250👍👍

[@runrabbitrunracing]

My Clio 182 has been pretty bullet proof over last 60k miles needing two new year dampers, a replacement exhaust when the original rusted and developing the odd rattle....other than that it just gets serviced and driven hard. Was owned by a BTCC champion for it's first 3 years so prob. had a hard life then too.

[@asbost01]

Excellent review. This guy should get a slot on the show. Peach of a car too.....VERY nice.

[@geraintwilliams9325]

You couldnt have chosen a beter road! I drive on that road everyday and love it :)

[@sunn1e]

@nightmare1983 also u can say you can get a used car with ALOT more power and stuff in it, its all about personal choice and at the end of the day there is always going to be someone who wants a quick car but it has to be a hatch and that means there is only a few cars to choose from, also wile on the subject insurence costs are alot diffrent between them

[@yassirbelarabi1686]

That awkward moment when you realize that Trophy-R is actually the car that replaces R26.R, not the Trophy 265 lol

[@AidanXD10]

i really love the look of the megane rs

[@derbigpr500]

In fact, even the stock Megane's bodyshell is so stiff it makes pretty much all other hatchbacks feel soft. Even the Golf, which most people would assume is the stiffest, but no, climbing up to a high curb on the side of the road, you can hear the rubber seals aroudn doors sqeaking sometimes, because the body is flexing so much. Happens even more in the Passat while we're at it.

[@172wills]

Couldn't of chose a better road. Stunning road and scenery.

[@drazenig]

Love the RS's ... my meg 225 has always put a smile on my face and never stopped with over 165k km on the clock. Quickest FWD on Nurburgring!! Awesome! There's the new benchmark. The old benchmark was the R26.R

[@rbhoulton]

@BlusterBunny You can adjust the warning beep to sound anywhere you like prior to the limiter in 50rpm increments. He needs to RTFM.

[@ThisIsMTH]

Never seen that lad before but I quite like him. Decent personality.

[@santclause1]

Alot of 250 cup,s was really about 260- 265bhp. so god knows what this trophy 265 really is maybe 285? either way it,s alot better than that OVERPOWERED OVERWEIGHT OVERPRICED OVERATED focus RS.

[@mustsilm]

Why do you compare Sciroco with Megane? Golf and Megane are in the same class. Sciroco is more of a retroesque car what competes in different marget.

[@gw7624]

derbigpr500 The 265 is *not* faster than a 1-M. "A properly engineered FWD can be faster and more fun to drive than a RWD car." Generally speaking, a balanced RWD car will be quicker and more fun than a FWD car. If that wasn't the case, the premium manufacturers would all adopt FWD platforms.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

Holy shit...that car is wicked on so many levels.

[@clio2rsminicup]

You are an English and it's a great racing car (except for you apparenlty & stop with your deceptive excuse, a great racing car is a great racing car, FWD, AWD or 4x4, the chronos of this Megane 3RS on all roads & tracks proof that where it's better than more AWD or 4x4) BUT French ^^ The History between England & France since 1066 ^^ & the education in England about the French & France explain for the most part your hate and/or your lack of objectivity and realism about this French racing car

[@soundseeker63]

Might have something to do with them constantly finishing near the bottom of the table in owner satisfaction surveys. I'm not saying will actually break down on you, but everyone I know who has owned a Renault has been able to list a catalog of niggles and faults with it.

[@derbigpr500]

No, FWD is not better for the track. But Megane RS is better for a track than most, if not all, RWD, FWD or AWD cars anywhere near its price range. Its faster than 370z, M135i, even faster than 1M, despite having far less power, and yes, being FWD. A properly engineered FWD can be faster and more fun to drive than a RWD car. Ask anyone who's ever driven the Megane RS, and he will confirm. And what does bodyshell stiffness have to do with this argument? Its more than stiff enough.

[@clio2rsminicup]

... And for 2014 you can add now dice WTCC : French Rules Because in 2014 Citroën Racing and LOEB will arrive in the WTCC ... TO WIN like usually of course for the French racing builders! :-)

[@derbigpr500]

Yea, especially when new Megane III is the most reliable car in class, matching the ratings of BMW 1, and that is according to GERMAN statistics from ADAC.

[@clio2rsminicup]

yes, yes, of course you don't hate this great racing car just because it's French... But OMG you are an English! LOL

[@lewis72]

Haha, and you're fitting the stereotypical French arrogant mindset. I said from the beginning why I didn't like this car, yet you decidied it was for other reasons. I can't stand FWD cars, they understeer, torquesteer and lift-off oversteer. Not one of those is a desirable attribute. Does France make the best car in the world? No. Does UK make the best car in the world? Maybe. Does Germany make the best car in the world? Probably. THAT is being honest, not "roastbeef-mind".

[@lewis72]

An English what ??? "English" is an adjective. I'm about to go on holiday to France as my sister lives there with her French husband & three children, so don't give me that! French cars generally are rubbish. They have nothing to compete with Mercedes, Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, BMW... just little shopping cars with powerful engines in them, which is why I don't like them. I'll stick with my E39 M5.

[@drea177cha5er]

awesome - and awesome review as always

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

They are right lol.. that's even funnier.. if you don't own one.

[@lewis72]

Can't you have a discussion without resorting to abusive comments? Maybe I should call you a "frog-eating, soap-dodging, bad breathed surrender monkey"? Just where is the Renault F1 team based??? England. Most F1 teams are in England because England has the best facilities and the best engineers. I don't play videogames. Jaguar, Aston Martin Landrover made near Birmingham & Liverpool. Bentely made in Crewe Rolls Royce made in Goodwood McLaren made in Woking Lotus made near Norwich

[@eecak1973]

@redhamasri why do people still have an old time tought that renault will break down? Mainly because my friend nearly died in a new Renault Megane in 2005,when it suddenly lost all power while driving through a road tunnel. The Articulated lorry behind crossed over to the far lane to avoid an accident. The car then started and drove fine for a while before stopping again. The main dealer changed the onboard computer twice but never fixed the problem. A court case got car price refunded.

[@NathanSijpkes]

The are more faster fwd cars that did the lap times faster on the ring then this,, look Jcviggen volvo 850 T-5R 7:58

[@redhamasri]

@eecak1973 why do people still have an old time tought that renault will break down.....maybe that was long time ago!! but as far as my own expraince it did not happen! my frist was laguna hatch 2004 V6 3.0 and that things run so smoth...for 3 years...until i change it and got me megane sport 2009 and the same thig continue...and now i went a tep up and got me laguna coupe 4 month ago and so far i got 0 prabloumes with it...so is that luck or renault did the job right?

[@rbhoulton]

@159conor Sorry but the 147GTA isn't in the same league as the Megane. I've owned both.

[@TheBigBlue19]

Bring it across the pond!

[@derbigpr500]

Thats why Megane 3 was proclaimed the most reliable car in its class by the GERMAN experts in DEKRA organization.

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

The luckiest Renault owner in the world? I work on an awful lot of them.. the main problems seem to stem from the wiring, the cheap buggers didn't put enough length in the loom causing the connectors to pull apart and let water Ingress occur!

[@RenaultSport133]

this guy is a great reviewer

[@Mosibfu1]

i agree, i have a 98 megane, 302000km on it, drive on gas, drive like a nut.. and still drives like a charm.. i have to agree on 1 thing tho.. theres 1 broken switch in the entire car.. so the right rear window doesnt close.. just a switch tho.. so wear and tear...

[@EpicHotCheese]

Enjoy taking back to the dealer/garage for repairs, it's a Renault. Trust me, I owned two Renault and it isn't pretty when it comes to reliability.

[@musguelha14]

I have a Megane sice the June of 2005 and it never broke down, once. Nothing. Just put some diesel in it, do the scheduled revisions and it keeps on going. 136000km on the clock already.

[@wsbygt]

MINI Cooper S Works or MINI John Cooper Works Coupé. Against these two any front wheel drive street car would loose.

[@FungusLabel]

Of course LSD alone won't. But the whole car is setup perfectly (power, weight, transmission, chasis etc...). And why would you buy a car like this if not for track times? If you want to go fast in straight line just put a LS-something engine in any RWD car rotfl. You don't have to like this car, but don't say crap that it's shitty, just because you don't like looks, gosh.

[@wsbygt]

@scoot24925 First be polite and second maybe I could teach you, one or two things about cars that dont come out on games and magazines.

[@lewis72]

Re. body stiffness. The stiffer the body, the higher the 1st torsional natural frequency is and the smaller the displacements (think twanging a long ruler Vs a short ruler) These vibrations not only make the door seals squeak but they feed into the shock absorbers. This, in turn, disturbs the performance of the shock absorbers from absorbing road-wheel vibrations. Theoretically, you're best tuning the suspension on a rigid shell as there's no inteference.

[@Alexandra-Rex]

The Scirocco is so much better looking though :P

[@marunia256]

try nissan dealer, renault-nissan its one company.

[@clio2rsminicup]

The typical deceptive roasbeef vision ^^ funny little clown LOL

[@lewis72]

...furthermore, mechanical LSD will not stop understeer. I still stand by my reasons for not liking it; it's not all about fast track times.

[@Meatlooaf]

according to ADAC (german institute) french cars among the most reliable in the world.

[@Resnicanin]

manual AC? good, why???? it isn't made for a TLBALK

[@rbhoulton]

@wsbygt Maybe when the JCW's come start coming with LSD....until then I don't think so.

[@KingStivan]

@ 3:14 i make that same face too when i want to fart !!

[@bign3ck]

they do break down, often. After 3-5 years it will be a nightmare to own.

[@TheMoodyedge]

then the civic type r blew this out the water. .....

[@Kav3h]

I like how this guy reviews cars, why is he not on the normal show?

[@AlexToma]

the 2nd Renault id want ,after Laguna .

[@lewis72]

You obviously didn't read my comments very well then. Try again.

[@nightmare1983]

very very nice and specialized machine..... ...sadly, a 2012 BMW 328 ( 4 cyl turbo, 245hp, 0-62 5.9sec ) its 29k pounds....just 1 more than this renault.....

[@robinmarples5198]

But no chance to kepp up with the Renault on track, or on road, and far from as thrilling

[@scoot24925]

@OneOfaKind949 no,that's renaultsport 100% engineering

[@lewis72]

I imagine that you're another FWD shopping-car lover then?

[@scoot24925]

amazing car,supercar killer on b-roads,just like the r26.r

[@ftwelsh]

Do you guys have met the HD?? make better videos !!

[@lewis72]

Well, I guess you're now going to prove to me that FWD is better for the track than RWD and that a hatchback gives the stiffest bodyshell. Good luck with that.

[@petelane8662]

It works mate

[@KHGuitarFreak1988]

Oh dear. Another English vs. French argument... XD

[@MinaBassilious]

I love hot Renaults... - Mina

[@TopRated123]

fifthgearuk? Is there a us version or something?

[@TrophyMNE]

3 peoples drive Scirocco R

[@royalrenk]

i wish they could send some here in the USA :(

[@cam0shade]

nice

[@sarikaya205]

You should drive it like Chris Harris.

[@camaroman101]

@royalrenk same here, i love euro hothatches

[@TopRated123]

Fwd cars suck

[@OneOfaKind949]

That's Nissan engineering for you.

[@DrInstructor]

@ royalrenk - I can send you one...

[@eecak1973]

It will still break down after the first week and every week after that (;~/

[@mircea5013]

Actually, no. Renault sport makes much better engines than vw, for instance. Like the golf, with its 2.0 tfsi with shitload of problems. Also, this generation was actually quite reliable overall, it only the Renault sport models.

[@AidanXD10]

he sounds like david walliams

[@randomhandle20003]

Il est tres noir.

[@PedroNovaes82]

@royalrenk come to europe :P

[@chimaeraSPK]

7000 rpm...beep. lol.

[@Bensch23]

@L3g4cyTT so right :D

[@AlumarsX]

I love this car. Want one badly. Europe gets the best toys.

[@petelane8662]

Axel, i have a have a 2013 Rs 265 and i love it….. bought i new and NEVER had anything wrong with it (Don’t listen to the haters and the rest) Smiles for miles when i drive her and blows away more cars than you think…!

[@sendark001]

get this guy on TV

[@scoot24925]

@wsbygt o rly?

[@grechjames]

job done.

[@ambrosius1111]

song 0:30??

[@dilawer321]

HAHAHAHAHA

[@jrdxx]

is Dark Vader

[@ThaDutchDK1989]

indeed

[@flavioF40]

Renault Sport rulez!

[@lewis72]

I am an English what? How can a FWD hatchback be a "great racing car"? It can't, it's just a fast shopping car.

[@bigjammz5701]

8minute lap on the ring. Faster than anything other than a hatch in its price range? Affordable fast car for British roads. Nothing on a b road is over taking even a rs250 especially after they run 300bhp after a remap. You sound saulty almost like your hating on it because your wife made you buy a slow shopping car, but you wanted this.

[@lewis72]

@@bigjammz5701 I'm not salty at all. I just can't stand FWD hatchbacks unless they're regular shopping cars, which is what they were designed as in the first place. I have an E39 M5, which although isn't quite as fast as this round the 'ring, is quicker in acceleration but has a 155mph limiter on it.

[@bigjammz5701]

@@lewis72 mate there for drivers who don't have the confidence to do what they can in this in a RWD car. Many factors come into this, I want an m135i I can afford one but they want to quote me 7000 a year insurance, on any FWD hatch below 300bhp my insurance in 1500/2000 so I'd say there more for younger drivers who want something that can be virtually unbeatable in the back lanes but also a nice daily.

[@lewis72]

@@bigjammz5701 My insurance for the M5 was £234, fully comp. 😆 That said, I had a Lotus Elise back in 2005. Not really my cup of tea but I'd rather have that than a hot-hatch (I had a 306 XDTD at the same time, which was a great car).

[@bigjammz5701]

@@lewis72 not a good daily no space for any kids, I just don't understand your issue with FWD hatchbacks there great fun can have the back end out if you want no problem. But at the end of the day not everyone wants something that take skill to control

[@lewis72]

I hate this car. Not because it's a Renault or because it's French. I hate it because it's a FWD, four-cylinder transverse-engined hatchback. Not the format I'd get excited about.

[@lewis72]

What ARE you on about? Can you honestly say that France makes the best car in the world? Even the best FWD car in the world? I doubt it.

[@TerenceChan89]

Better intake + exhaust + reprogrammed ECU = 350bhp, imagine that!

[@rayverN17yo]

HD ffs!!

[@KYTOBOY]

Good car, shitty interior ( interior of 1992 cars )