Showing blog posts for Renaultsport

Now, despite the onset of middle-age spread (it seemed to start when I was about 13) and feeling that I’m too old to go clubbing, I’m not really in the middle-aged bracket just yet, I’m only 32. This said however I’ve had an itch for the last 6 months, an urge I’m sure not too dissimilar to the “turning 45 and need an MX-5” urge, but it’s not a little 2-seater convertible I want, no it’s something altogether different…

I’ve been lucky over the last few years and have been privileged enough to have owned or driven some of the very best cars on the planet. A highlight on the ownership list, an E46 M3 in Laguna Seca blue, a car that I wish that I’d never sold and on the driven list, the Ferrari California at Maranello and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 at Silverstone. However, it’s not any of these supercars I want either…

No, what I’ve been craving is a hot hatch. Why? I have no idea, but I’ve found myself drawn to my local Vauxhall and Ford dealerships browsing VXRs and Focus RSs on a regular basis. The arrival of a new baby in March though hampered my research and as I result I thought that the solution to the price/performance/practicality equation was an Arden Blue Astra VXR. Great looks, good performance and familiar, my dad always owned Astras when I was a child, so without knowing the market I was searching for the right VXR, not an easy task in Northumberland where even SRi spec cars are rare.

The search didn’t prove fruitful but I was determined to get the car – the hot hatch itch needed scratching very quickly – that was until on Wednesday last week when I passed Benfield Renault in Newcastle and on the ramp out front was a hot hatch that I don’t think I’d ever seen before and…it was yellow! A quick u-turn later and having pushed the bus stop seen from The Inbetweeners to the back of my mind I was on the forecourt peering through the windows.

It turns out it was the new Renaultsport Megane, a car I’d never read anything about due to my new arrival. A quick explanation of what the car actually was and the difference in the various Renaultsport Megane models and I was up to speed. This was a Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup – the most “stripped out” version of the car. The guys at Benfield were extremely forthcoming and I was out for a test drive within minutes. Being the Cup, I was expecting an uncomfortable ride, however as we prowled through town it was surprisingly comfortable over the bumps and the interior way better than I’d expected. We then reached the dual carriageway, my first opportunity to squeeze the “go” pedal and I was shocked by how quickly the Megane took off and how planted on the road it was. My research into hot hatches was clearly flawed – this car should have been my number 1 choice from the beginning. I needed something to compare it with though, so Benfield put me into the Renaultsport Clio 200, not as quick but what an amazing engine note. The Clio was definitely a “boy-racer” car and not a car for someone with a young family (in my opinion), but the Megane felt much more of a “man-racer”. Something I could use every day and when I needed to fight off the onset of middle-aged-ness I could slip back into “boy-racer” mode with. I had decided. The Megane it was. 250 Cup in sport yellow, 18-inch black 5-spoke alloys with red Brembo callipers, perfect.

This was my first experience with Renault and first with Benfield and I have to say it has been a good one so far thanks to Anthony and Rikki who made the deal happen and accommodated my every request.

I will endeavour to regularly produce updates on my adventures with the Megane as I intend to put plenty of miles on the clock over the coming months!