Renualt Megane RS
Performance hatches are only about the numbers when the numbers are wrong. The hot-hatch is not defined in kilowatts or 0-100 times. Hot-hatchiness is defined in the seat of your pants and the grin fixed in rictus across your toothy maw.
Renault builds quirky products. From the credit card like keyless entry fob, to the inexplicable “steering wheel” audio controls, that are tucked invisibly behind the wheel on a kind of column stalk thingy, that is both weird to use and provides you with endless fun as you find new buttons on it every time you investigate it. One of the sheer joys on this system is finally managing to answer a call that comes through on the built in Bluetooth system. Sheer triumph and joy I tell you!
The old RS was powerful and kinda cool. It didn’t quite tip me into the blissful arena though. Even in special F1 Team R26 guise. And the looks were a little pedestrian, disregarding the old Megane’s overall oddball looks. Let’s start with the new one then. Looks? Oh yes! Even better than my old champion, VW’s awesome Scirocco, the looks which have now faded to pedestrian for me.
The new RS is just gorgeous from every angle. Put simply, it looks the part without falling into the trap of ugly. All bulging muscles in an expensive suit really. Pardon the hackneyed analogy, but if the suit fits… Oh dear
Performance? 184kw from a 25% new engine, short shift slick gearbox, precise steering and loads of feel. Nimble taught handling. The 0-100 time of 6,1 seconds feels faster with 340 Nm of torque, 80% of which is available from only 1900 RPM! Decent fuel economy is achievable if you ever drove it timidly. Around 8,4l claimed, and I do believe that is easily achievable by someone with enough restraint and discipline. Let me know if you know of anyone who fits that bill.
To sum it up, the car is a good place to be in, the fun factor is there in abundance. If you are looking for a hot-hatch that remains sophisticated in appearance, works as a daily driver, and at R349 900 is a bit of a bargain, Renault has even climbed up the customer satisfaction logs due to a determined effort towards service of late.
