The Megane RS 250 Cup Is A Fiesty Piece Of Hot Hatch Magic For £7000

There haven't been many bad Renault Sport-tweaked Meganes in history. The last model started way back in 2010, and it's now something of a smiles-per-gallon steal
The Megane RS 250 Cup Is A Fiesty Piece Of Hot Hatch Magic For £7000

The Grand Tour’s decision to wreck what looked like a very tidy Renault Sport Megane in a video released on Thursday did the obvious: it sent us to the classifieds, and we have some good news for you.

Although most of us have always condensed Renault Sport into one word, we’re told by the company that it’s technically two. It’s two on the badge, too, unless it’s just written as R.S, like on the Megane. With the housekeeping out of the way, let us remind you of the last hot Megane’s start in life.

The Megane RS 250 Cup Is A Fiesty Piece Of Hot Hatch Magic For £7000

The year was 2010 and the legendary, sports car-slaying Megane R26.R was still achingly fresh in the memory. Along came a more mature, level-headed Megane to replace it, but this 247bhp slice of adulting came in two guises.

Sport trim got you more equipment, softer springs and a more rounded hot hatch character. It was the one to buy for everyday living. Then there was the cheaper but massively upgraded Cup. Sure, you lost the keyless start, electric leather seats and climate control, but you still had Bluetooth, air-conditioning and parking sensors, among other stuff.

The Megane RS 250 Cup Is A Fiesty Piece Of Hot Hatch Magic For £7000

You saved £1000 for giving up a few frills, but that wasn’t all. The Brembo brakes were upgraded with grooved discs, the Dunlop tyres were swapped for Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, the dampers were bespoke, the springs were 35 per cent and 38 per cent stiffer front and rear, the anti-roll bars were thicker and you got a mechanical limited-slip differential. It was a no-brainer: the Cup was the one you wanted.

After all, the Cup chassis mods cost £1950 to add to the Sport model, so getting them all for a £1000 discount and the removal of some unnecessary tech was a total laugh-out-loud bargain. New, the 2010 Renault Sport Megane 250 Cup cost £21,995.

The Megane RS 250 Cup Is A Fiesty Piece Of Hot Hatch Magic For £7000

For that you got a 247bhp four-cylinder with a big ol’ turbo on it that didn’t really wake up until after 3000rpm, but drive it right and the manual-only car would hit 62mph in just 6.1 seconds; still quick enough by front-driven hatch standards today.

You had a 251lb ft midrange with which to muscle the car along winding A-roads and if you find enough space on a runway or autobahn, it’ll hit 156mph – a solitary mile per hour faster than most German super-saloons will reach. Still, pub bragging rights, etc…

The Megane RS 250 Cup Is A Fiesty Piece Of Hot Hatch Magic For £7000

We found this white one for sale in County Durham in the north east of England, and it’s the cheapest we could find that hasn’t been written off previously. It’s in the correct Cup spec and sits on the lighter, more forgiving and generally better 18-inch wheels – although we can’t see whether it still has the proper Michelin boots on.

It has been optioned-up with climate control, and while there’s some noticeable wear on the gearbox map plate on top of the gear lever, it looks fairly tidy otherwise. A very modest 68,000 miles rest on its shoulders so it shouldn’t be tired unless it has spent its life being thrashed from cold around northern suburbs.

The Megane RS 250 Cup Is A Fiesty Piece Of Hot Hatch Magic For £7000

If you buy it you’ll get a fresh MOT, the seller says, and the last one had no advisories. On the negative side, the advert says nothing about a service history, and critics said this iteration of the Megane didn’t make enough of the right kind of noise, but that could be sorted easily enough.

Overall this is a fantastic fun all-rounder that the likes of The Grand Tour should be leaving well alone so that enthusiasts can enjoy them instead. We’re a bit tempted. Anyone else?

Comments

JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

Genuinely that cheap? I think it might be quite a dog when examined thoroughly. The no service history especially on a Renault is very weird aswell.

11/26/2017 - 10:11 |
64 | 4

You can buy one in Croatia, LHD for 6k€

11/26/2017 - 11:01 |
10 | 10

It’s a 7 year old car and being French, depreciation absolutely kills it. Early Peugeor RCZs are fetching about £5k now, for reference.

11/26/2017 - 11:57 |
18 | 0

Cars in the UK are generally cheaper than in the rest of Europe, but in return you will get ripped off by the insurance instead. It’s a double-edged sword.

11/26/2017 - 13:50 |
20 | 0

Actually same stuff in Poland, you’ll see a lot of cheap hot hatches, cause only people that could afford them are taking a lease

11/26/2017 - 19:49 |
0 | 0
Bryan Maschke

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

oh shit, nices teil!

11/30/2017 - 18:40 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Keep the Grand Tour away from it before they crash it

11/26/2017 - 13:07 |
14 | 0
CS55

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

😂😂😂

11/26/2017 - 14:00 |
0 | 0
CS55

[DELETED]

11/26/2017 - 14:00 |
4 | 2
P1eased0nteatme

In reply to by CS55

So you’ll take a car in a totally different segment over this? There’s really no point comparing them. They’re quite different animals.

11/26/2017 - 15:07 |
6 | 0
Jakob

In reply to by CS55

Of course it’s cheaper because it’s a whole market segment lower than the Mégane. And it has a worse interior. And it’s 100 bhp weaker. And a full second slower to 100. And 50 km/h slower in the end. What a stupid comparision.

11/26/2017 - 15:21 |
0 | 0
Ian MacDonald

Don’t tell Amazon about this.

11/26/2017 - 14:58 |
2 | 0
Soni Redx (MD Squad Leader) (Subie Squad Leader)

For this you don’t get the pillows like how Aston Martin gave you..

11/26/2017 - 22:07 |
2 | 0
DriftMaster 1

Didn’t a stunt man roll that?

12/04/2017 - 07:42 |
0 | 0

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