Un-official GTPlanet BBC Topgear UK ThreadTV

[Moglet]

That Megane is the most pointless car in the world. It has no luxuries in it (as proven by the windows and rollcage) and is designed purely for acceleration, cornering and road handling, correct?

So why not just get a Caterham instead?

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

That Megane is the most pointless car in the world. It has no luxuries in it (as proven by the windows and rollcage) and is designed purely for acceleration, cornering and road handling, correct?

Well they just took out the things that normally break on Megane's so they did make it more reliable

 

[Moglet]

Well they just took out the things that normally break on Megane's so they did make it more reliable

I can't say anything though, I've got a Fiat.

 

[Sureboss]

"Carbotanium? It's a good job they didn't call it Titbon." - James May

Ditto 👍

 

[Bram Turismo]

"Carbotanium? It's a good job they didn't call it Titbon." - James May

James nearly killed me with that line. It's been since the Vietnam episode that I've heard a line that funny!

 

[McLaren]

Didn't think that someone else would think the same as I.

Your avvy.

That Megane is the most pointless car in the world. It has no luxuries in it (as proven by the windows and rollcage) and is designed purely for acceleration, cornering and road handling, correct?

So why not just get a Caterham instead?

Perhaps they have no desire to own a Caterham, or they don't like the looks, or they like how the Renaultd drives, etc., etc.

There's too many factors as to why someone would pick a Renault over the Caterham.

 

[Moglet]

Your avvy.

Perhaps they have no desire to own a Caterham, or they don't like the looks, or they like how the Renaultd drives, etc., etc.

There's too many factors as to why someone would pick a Renault over the Caterham.

The Caterham was just an example, I was more trying to make the point that if you wanted a car that was designed purely for going fast on twisty roads or accelerating quickly, you can get something soooo much better for the same, or less, money. It doesn't even seem like a car that you would buy with your heart over your head either.

Still, whatever floats your boat.

 

[McLaren]

The Caterham was just an example, I was more trying to make the point that if you wanted a car that was designed purely for going fast on twisty roads or accelerating quickly, you can get something soooo much better for the same, or less, money. It doesn't even seem like a car that you would buy with your heart over your head either.

Still, whatever floats your boat.

Understandable.

 

[YSSMAN]

It was a solid test though, one that they haven't done in what feels like a long while. I know I'd have a hard time choosing between the R26.R and the RS as well, but then I got to thinking about it, and I realized how nice it would be to have a stereo. Although, the new 250 BHP Reanult Sport Megane looks pretty killer. Yeah, I'd have that.

 

[Sage]

As if it weren’t possible for me to dislike Usain Bolt even more…

Some of that machinery in the Evo spot was fabulous though.

 

[Scaff]

That Megane is the most pointless car in the world. It has no luxuries in it (as proven by the windows and rollcage) and is designed purely for acceleration, cornering and road handling, correct?

So why not just get a Caterham instead?

You could say this.....

"no luxuries in it (as proven by the windows and rollcage) and is designed purely for acceleration, cornering and road handling"

about the Porsche 911 GT3, and an entry level Caterham would be even cheaper than that to buy as well.

You do however get a car that you could drive in winter with the likes of the 911 and Megane and that is a lot more challenging in a Caterham (and please keep in mind these comments are being made by a huge Caterham fan).

I'm personally glad that Renault make cars like this, that a lot of people find no point to at all, more manufacturers should dedicate a small part of the production run to cars purely for enthusiasts.

They are two very different cars and both have a place in the motoring world, but chances are the Megane will be bought as a second car and the Ford as a main car.

The one bit that did make me chuckle was JC going on about the Ford's 'amazing' front diff system, which Ford call the Revo-knuckle, and Renualt first came up with around five years ago.

‘We were a bit miffed when Ford came up with the name Revo-Knuckle for the suspension on the Focus RS, as we introduced our system on the Megane RS five years ago but without a catchy name so fewer people have heard about it,’ jokes Steve.

Source - http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=19901


Regards

Scaff

 

[Moglet]

You could say this.....

"no luxuries in it (as proven by the windows and rollcage) and is designed purely for acceleration, cornering and road handling"

about the Porsche 911 GT3, and an entry level Caterham would be even cheaper than that to buy as well.

You do however get a car that you could drive in winter with the likes of the 911 and Megane and that is a lot more challenging in a Caterham (and please keep in mind these comments are being made by a huge Caterham fan).

You could say it about a lot of cars, yes, but why did they do it to a Megane? They've stripped it out and tuned it etc. and it's still only a little bit quicker than the Focus which has all of the luxuries! A stripped out Porsche or Ferrari at least makes sense, they've taken a stupidly quick car and focused it down to be even more precise and quick. With the Megane Renault have taken an average powered, average handling car and made it into a sports car that can only just beat off bigger and heavier machines (and even then it's running on road legal semi slicks)

It just seems a very bizarre model to release. Plus it looks absolutely hideous, at least the Focus looks menacing and sporty.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

You could say it about a lot of cars, yes, but why did they do it to a Megane? They've stripped it out and tuned it etc. and it's still only a little bit quicker than the Focus which has all of the luxuries! A stripped out Porsche or Ferrari at least makes sense, they've taken a stupidly quick car and focused it down to be even more precise and quick. With the Megane Renault have taken an average powered, average handling car and made it into a sports car that can only just beat off bigger and heavier machines (and even then it's running on road legal semi slicks)

It just seems a very bizarre model to release. Plus it looks absolutely hideous, at least the Focus looks menacing and sporty.

your forgetting the focus has around 70bhp more and alot more torque which makes a difference.

 

[Famine]

You do however get a car that you could drive in winter

With those tyres?

Incidentally, those tyres, along with several other flavours of trackday rubber are to be (effectively) banned from 2012. Get your 888s while you can!

 

[Alex.]

Spoiler

Lol you thought this was a spoiler

I'm yet to see the last 2 episodes. ;-;

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

A stripped out Porsche or Ferrari at least makes sense, they've taken a stupidly quick car and focused it down to be even more precise and quick. With the Megane Renault have taken an average powered, average handling car and made it into a sports car that can only just beat off bigger and heavier machines (and even then it's running on road legal semi slicks)

It could be the cheap man's sports car (track car) for those who can't afford Ferraris.


Plus the Megane has proper doors and a roof.

 

[Jondot]

Plus the Megane has proper doors and a roof.

And windows made of cling film.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

You could say it about a lot of cars, yes, but why did they do it to a Megane? They've stripped it out and tuned it etc. and it's still only a little bit quicker than the Focus which has all of the luxuries! A stripped out Porsche or Ferrari at least makes sense, they've taken a stupidly quick car and focused it down to be even more precise and quick. With the Megane Renault have taken an average powered, average handling car and made it into a sports car that can only just beat off bigger and heavier machines (and even then it's running on road legal semi slicks)

It just seems a very bizarre model to release. Plus it looks absolutely hideous, at least the Focus looks menacing and sporty.

You seem to be forgetting that the R26.R is old stuff. The new Megane RS (and RXX.R if it arrives) will be much more of a match for the brand-spanking new Focus RS!

 

[McLaren]

You could say it about a lot of cars, yes, but why did they do it to a Megane? They've stripped it out and tuned it etc. and it's still only a little bit quicker than the Focus which has all of the luxuries! A stripped out Porsche or Ferrari at least makes sense, they've taken a stupidly quick car and focused it down to be even more precise and quick.

Well, let's rewind here a bit. You say why strip out the Megane when the fully loaded Focus is still right with it. And then you bring up Ferrari & Porsche stripping out cars & how that makes some sense.
But, in actuality, do the Porsche & Ferrari really make any more sense? See, when you talk about the what's the purpose of stripping out a Megane, we can actually apply that to Ferrari & Porsche.
I'm going to take this sentence from your post & switch it to show how you're giving Renault some criticism while letting Ferrari/Porshe off the hook.

"They've stripped it out and tuned it etc. and it's still only a little bit quicker than the Focus which has all of the luxuries!"

Switch Ferrari/Porsche with the Megane.

"They've stripped it out and tuned it etc. and it's still only a little bit quicker than the Gallardo LP560-4 which has all of the luxuries!"

So, do the Ferrari 430S or 997 GT2 really make any more sense than the Megane when Lamborghini is offering a fully loaded car that can keep next to them?

 

[Pebb]

Episode 5 - Preview

Source: Top Gear Website

Filming’s almost wrapped here at the studio for five – and it looks like a bit of a change from the Radio Times listing.

The ice racing remains – a terrifying challenge for Jeremy, Richard and James involving three 1500-quid rear-drive sportscars and an on-track tussle that really doesn’t end well for James.

But the telly boys have bumped the film of the BMW Z4 and the airport truck racing in favour of a test of Jaguar’s new 500bhp XFR and a new invention by Jeremy that’s guaranteed to save the planet. Almost.

This week’s celeb is, for once, a girl – actress Sienna Miller. Stig took a bit of a shine to say the least and her lap was, well, you’ll have to wait for Sunday for that.

 

[Delphic Reason]

Finally, the ice race.

I've been waiting all season for this.

 

[Moglet]

So, do the Ferrari 430S or 997 GT2 really make any more sense than the Megane when Lamborghini is offering a fully loaded car that can keep next to them?

When you consider the type of people that buy them, yes. Generally anyone who can afford these types of cars can afford to buy the fully loaded one and also a stripped out one for weekends so don't have to worry about making a decision. That is the audience they are aimed at.

The Megane isn't aimed at the same audience, it's aimed at the every day driver who wants a quick, nimble car. If you had enough money to buy, say, a Focus and a Megane, would you buy both or would you get one car that's much better for the combined price? The chances are you'd go for the single better car unless your heart was dead set on the Megane.

But I just can't see the Megane as being a car you buy with your heart.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

But I just can't see the Megane as being a car you buy with your heart.

you mean head

 

[Moglet]

you mean head

No, I mean heart. I was already suggesting that you wouldn't buy it with your head when the Focus was available, so the only reason to buy it would be if you really wanted it 'with your heart'. Which I can't see being the case.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

No, I mean heart. I was already suggesting that you wouldn't buy it with your head when the Focus was available, so the only reason to buy it would be if you really wanted it 'with your heart'. Which I can't see being the case.

you said you cant see someone buying it with thier heart which would imply they would buy it with thier head. so surely you mean if someone was buying the car with thier head they would go for the focus but if they were buying with thier heart they would get the megane.

 

[Moglet]

you said you cant see someone buying it with thier heart which would imply they would buy it with thier head. so surely you mean if someone was buying the car with thier head they would go for the focus but if they were buying with thier heart they would get the megane.

No. It's not an either or situation. I can't see them buying it with either.
Anyway I'm getting waaaaay off topic so I'll shut up now.

 

[TheCracker]

You could say it about a lot of cars, yes, but why did they do it to a Megane? They've stripped it out and tuned it etc. and it's still only a little bit quicker than the Focus which has all of the luxuries! A stripped out Porsche or Ferrari at least makes sense, they've taken a stupidly quick car and focused it down to be even more precise and quick. With the Megane Renault have taken an average powered, average handling car and made it into a sports car that can only just beat off bigger and heavier machines (and even then it's running on road legal semi slicks)

It might only be a little bit quicker around a track than the Focus, but it's also quicker than, or almost as quick as, many cars that cost a lot more: Merc C63 AMG, Evo X FQ-300, BMW 335i, Nissan 350Z. It's also within a second or so of a Boxter S, Audi RS6 or Supercharged VXR8.

As much as i love it, i could'nt see myself buying one either. You take the practicality of a hatchback away and you are left with a two seater sports car. If i wanted a quick sports car i could use on a daily basis, even in poor weather, and still have fun on a trackday i'd buy an Elise.

 

[McLaren]

When you consider the type of people that buy them, yes. Generally anyone who can afford these types of cars can afford to buy the fully loaded one and also a stripped out one for weekends so don't have to worry about making a decision. That is the audience they are aimed at.

We're not talking about prices. You reasoned the Megane was senseless because it's stripped out & only still lightly faster than a fully loaded car. By that reasoning, the 430S/GT2 are pointless because the LP560-4 is fully loaded & right behind them.

 

[Moglet]

We're not talking about prices.

I am!

 

[McLaren]

I am!

You weren't previously.