In the UK, very few, but in France, loads. I've never worked that one out ...

Guess it must be our weather or road conditions.

 

Diesel.

 

The French don't seem so "in" to their cars though, do they? They will drive any old, stutering piece of rusting French rubbish. They are so nationalistic when it comes to buying cars.

 

Something we should of done if it wasnt for Rover etc producing 'some' overpriced tat, some jewels though.

 

Yes, the 197 is the new version (now a 200). Same old story as with pretty much all hot hatches these days, the new version is more 'refined' to make it appeal to a wider audience, but the character is all gone.

The old car had amazing steering and general feedback, plus the engine, although not in in the Honda V-Tec league, still had the same spirit - noisy and mental, but great fun to thrash.

The new car is better built (by Reno standards at least), but the steering is dead and although it corners like it's on rails, there's no feel. The worst thing is the drive train though - Reno engineered out the rough edges that made the 182 version of the motor fun and also made the gearing so low (to make sure it still had the same 0-60 even with an extra 200kg) that you were always looking for a 7th and 8th gear to stop the annoying buzzing.

As I said to the dealer after my test drive, "trully disappointing, they've ruined it".

By comparisson, the Meg R26 is somewhere inbetween. Not as 'raw' as the old Clio, but heaps better than the new one. They all fall apart though, so go buy a Type R or a Focus ST.

PS. Steve, if you do buy an R26, steer clear of the Liquid Yellow paint. Looks great, but there were countless tales of paint matching disasters after accidents.

 

i'd take a punt on an R26.R over the focus or Honda. The former being the darts player of hot hatches, the latter being an all show and no go opposite of it's predecessor

 

Some approved dealers are listing them at 20k and deals are available for fair bit less less if you drive a hard bargain! At 20K they are probably are cars like mine in the more standard colours (black, white, silver) and with the cage/toyo's but without the titanium exhaust (which is about 10kg lighter, sounds great but does not add any power).

I have also noticed that most of the car magazines have been returning their 'press cars' to Renault this month. I suspect that means there will be some serious 58 plate R26R bargains around in a month or 2, I wouldn't be surprised to see

 

I would love one but cant really use another two seater.
The whole idea for me is to have a fun hatch with four seats if the company barge has to go.
Im off to view a couple this w/e and see if we can get to like one.
The thing of paying over 10k for a six year old Integra is something I just cannot get my head around.
For 12K - an 08 or 58 plate R26 with all the toys and 11k miles.

 

All sound thinking in my book Steve, good luck finding the right one (I replied to your post on RS re my thoughts on the R26/R26R debate - very little in it in reality imo and you gain a lot of practicality with the R26)!

I'm looking forward to seeing you at a trackday soon in it!

 

The thing about Hot Renaults is that they all have some bizarre design 'quirks' that mean that it'll take a ridiculous amount of time to do basic maintenance.

Case-in-point:

Clio 172/ 182/ 197 - A cambelt and auxiliary belt change takes SIX HOURS! The whole front of the car has to be dismantled to get at the belt(s)! At a main dealer, a 72k mile service is