motor

Wutputt · 09-24-2004, 10:01 AM

So here it is, the car I drive. We're talking about a Renault Mégane II dynamique driven by a 1.6 NA petrol engine with 115 horses. So it's not a really fast car

People living in countries were Renault isn't sold will find it probably a very weird looking car, with its strange design, certainly the back end. And most people will find it butt ugly. But I like the way itâ€™s designed. It stands out of the crowd.

All pics are clickable for highres versions.

nightshot (not so good):

Custom pic:

more pics further down this page

TT · 09-24-2004, 10:04 AM

Nice pics, and I am already used to the MÃ©gane II lines since it is quite common in Switzerland

BTW, my mom driving a Grand Espace (latest generation), we have something similar in our family

Thanks also for reading the rules!

gis · 09-24-2004, 10:14 AM

nice pics.never been a fan of this car really,prefered the older megane myself.as ive said b4,they can make a TV add with women shaking there asses as much as they want,but wont change the fact that the rear of this car is ugly.lol

anyway,what does the car drive like?

BADMIHAI · 09-24-2004, 01:09 PM

I actually like the design. I like it very much indeed. Do you have some performance figures for it?

Wutputt · 09-24-2004, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by TT

Thanks also for reading the rules!

That's what they are for

Originally Posted by gis

anyway,what does the car drive like?

It's very comfortable and soundproof. Handling wise, well it isn't sporty at all, it's understeer, understeer, understeer and understeer. But it got quite amazing grip for a car like that (I didn't expected that) so corning speeds can be quite high for a non sportscar (*). And it's stable at the limit..

Since the Frenchies like a comfortable suspension setup there is quite some inital body roll. But when pushing hard there is not very much extra body roll. So it's quite nice to drive, but it isn't sporty. The engine's sound isn't that nice, but it has quite some punch for a 1.6, certainly cause the gear ratios are quite short.

Overall it's a nice car to drive, but if you're looking for a fun handling sporty feeling car you have to shop elsewhere.

* The previous car was a Fiesta 1.4. That car had fun sportier handling characteristics, but the MÃ©gane's corner speeds are approx. 10% to 12% higher.

Wutputt · 09-24-2004, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by BADMIHAI

I actually like the design. I like it very much indeed. Do you have some performance figures for it?

Constrcutor stats:

0-62,5 mph: 10,9s
topspeed: 120 mph

luckily there are sportier more performant versions of the car

bmagni · 09-24-2004, 01:52 PM

lol, i love the title of "weird lookin thing"

in fact its weird but i like it, a friend of mine has one and i have to say the interior is really cool...

Ford Capri 2.8i · 09-24-2004, 02:22 PM

Im quite used to seeing the Megane,(for instance its the most selling car in Spain as far as i know), for instance i remember that the car looked quite weird when its launch about two years ago, but for me nowadays it doesnt look too bad, for instance i like who the Megane RS looks; however, i do prefer the Focus or the Seat Leon much more in terms of beauty

greg.little · 10-04-2004, 02:01 AM

I run the 1.5 Turbo Diesel Estate version of one of these. The back end while not as love it or hate it as the hatch it is none the less distinctive. She is quiet and top end for this size engine is impressive. I tested performance against a 70K mile Opel Astra 1.7DTi and it left no doubt that top end, in gear and standing start drag the Renault was quicker.

Only downside (and I'm glad it is a company car) is reliability. A colleague has already had the main computer changed, another a replacement electric window motor, and I had to get the AA out because I couldn't get the boot to close. Upside is it is more reliable than the Laguna II.

I'm trying to get a petrol loaner when my car gets its 1st service to see what they go like.

Nice photos by the way.

PATo355 · 10-04-2004, 02:22 AM

[quote="Wutputt"]

Originally Posted by TT

Thanks also for reading the rules!

That's what they are for

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

We got our n00b of the year !!! , at last somebody that cares and reads the rules , not quite a n00b with 190 post tho

Lovely car , i simply love the design , its true that stands out of the crowd , it gets much more attention than any other hatch

Congrats !

gottacatchup · 10-04-2004, 11:43 AM

I never understood the back end of this thing. The front looks good but that little, or not so little, bulge looks odd.

Wutputt · 10-05-2004, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by greg.little

Only downside (and I'm glad it is a company car) is reliability. A colleague has already had the main computer changed, another a replacement electric window motor, and I had to get the AA out because I couldn't get the boot to close. Upside is it is more reliable than the Laguna II.

Sounds familiar. We bought one almost right after they were introduced at the dealers. So ours is one of the first lot with the most reliability issues. We had two electrical malfunctions. One was the window that began living its own life. Without pushing the button it went down and again up for no reason whatsoever. The other issue is related to the OBD (on board diagnostic system) system. Euro4 cars have to have an OBD-system that indicates when you're car is polluting to much (problems with the catalyst or air/fuel mixture of the engine). For no reason the OBD-system indicated the car was polluting to much.

Luckily both issues were properly solved by the dealership, and the car hasnâ€™t had any problems since. But that's not really the way it should be, the car shouldn't have any problems. But today's cars, certainly European ones with multiplex wiring, have quite a lot of electrical reliability issues. People I know had an odd problem with their new Merc E class; for no reason the engine switched to emergency mode and after a while it dropped even dead. They had a lot of trouble solving the problem at the dealership, but the car runs fine now.

Ian_yamaue · 10-05-2004, 12:46 PM

Congrats Wutputt, great car, great pics, I like those near construction waste, your photos I guess. Nice idea, nice color too.

Wutputt · 10-05-2004, 02:12 PM

Yes the ones taken near the construction waste were also taken be me

They were demolishing an old building. So in the weekend after I washed the car I drove into the demolishing yard, a nice and quiet place to take some pics.

Ian_yamaue · 10-05-2004, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Wutputt

Yes the ones taken near the construction waste were also taken be me

They were demolishing an old building. So in the weekend after I washed the car I drove into the demolishing yard, a nice and quiet place to take some pics.

Cool! I must say that the result is awesome man, really pro. Congrats.