[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/a-quick-blast-in-a-renault-megane-renaultsport-265-cup\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/a-quick-blast-in-a-renault-megane-renaultsport-265-cup\/","headline":"A quick blast in\u2026 a Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup","name":"A quick blast in\u2026 a Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup","description":"If you\u2019re going to hit some twisty British back lanes on a cold, crisp and dry driving day, then there are far worse options than this Arctic White Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup. It\u2019s the Cup chassis, so it\u2019s stiffer, gets better brakes, a limited slip differential, and a little button on the dashboard that really opens up the turbo taps! Yours from \u00a324,245. Hot hatch fans will already have heard of the Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup; one of the […]","datePublished":"2013-03-11","dateModified":"2013-03-11","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Renaultsport-Megane.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Renaultsport-Megane.jpg","height":"577","width":"577"},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/a-quick-blast-in-a-renault-megane-renaultsport-265-cup\/","about":["Cars","Sports \/ Performance & Prestige cars","Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":825,"keywords":["Renault","Renault Megane","test drives"],"articleBody":"If you\u2019re going to hit some twisty British back lanes on a cold, crisp and dry driving day, then there are far worse options than this Arctic White Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup. It\u2019s the Cup chassis, so it\u2019s stiffer, gets better brakes, a limited slip differential, and a little button on the dashboard that really opens up the turbo taps! Yours from \u00a324,245.Hot hatch fans will already have heard of the Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup; one of the finest affordable fast cars on the market. But, more recently it\u2019s come up against cheaper (by around \u00a33 \u2013 4k) competition from the new Ford Focus ST. The Megane is a little faster, a touch more hardcore-edged than the Focus, but it is dearer. Let me tell you now that they are both great cars, and this isn\u2019t a face-to-face review between the two \u2013 if you\u2019re in the market for a pocket rocket then you should definitely drive them both, even though the Renault is much closer to replacement than the ST. So, more about the 265.This is the Cup chassis, which I personally would go for all day long. I mean, who doesn\u2019t want stiffer springs and dampers, a firmer front anti-roll bar, grooved brake discs (for better hard-driving performance) and a limited slip differential? I do! If you like to feel hardcore every time you drive then the 265 Cup will be right up your street. Or should I say track day?Close the driver\u2019s door and it feels light, nestle into the gorgeous Carbon Grey Recaro bucket seat and it feels tight, clasp the leather-bound sports steering wheel and it feels right. Locked and loaded and ready to rock, without even hitting the start button. And that\u2019s after you\u2019ve drooled at its fat \u2018n\u2019 low body over vicious-looking 18-inch \u2018Tibor\u2019 matt-black alloys. If the standard Megane looks a little bit \u2018meh\u2019, the Renaultsport variant looks a lot \u2018wahey!\u2019Finger the 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine into life and there\u2019s a reassuring thrum; pootle around town and nothing much happens. Yes, it feels stiff and flat around roundabouts with a nice point \u2018n\u2019 go front end, and the low-down torque of the turbo\u2019d engine and easy-shift 6-speed manual gearbox mean it\u2019s easy to drive. Even the clutch is gentle. The Brembo brakes are sharp and very powerful mind and the merest dab in town will have the old lady behind you starring wide-eye\u2019d at your fast approaching rear bumper. So strong. But, you\u2019ll want these mighty anchors when you start to cane the Cup on the back lanes.Turn the DSC system off and the engine pops from 247bhp to 261bhp via a higher turbo boost map. The throttle response sharpens, and there\u2019s a bit more bark from the back box. OK, so no 2-litre turbocharged engine is ever going to have that much character, like a high-screaming naturally aspirated engine, but turbos are way more efficient and make awesome torque nice and early in the revs, where an N\/A motor needs to be constantly thrashed. That\u2019s fine until you see the fuel bills. I drove the 265 Cup HARD and still saw 30mpg on the dash read out. A Civic Type-R would\u2019ve hit 20mpg. That\u2019s why the next Civic Type-R will be turbocharged. So, the engine here isn\u2019t that \u2018interesting\u2019, but it charges harder than a (Red) bull and will take you to 62mph in just 6 seconds. It\u2019ll light those 235mm Michelin Pilot Sport 2 front tyres up with ease, too…I wasn\u2019t that mad on the gearbox and gearshifter. The \u2018box, while nicely arranged for ratios, didn\u2019t always feel as precise as I like, and while the jazzy gold stitching on the shifter looked cool, it started to dig into my palm after a while. This would annoy me if I owned the car. However, I loved the Cup chassis, the Brembo brakes and the pinpoint steering.This car is very firm, but still rides the bumps well, and when you toss it into a corner it\u2019s flatter than a steamrolled pancake. If she did push her nose a bit, a gentle lift off the gas popped the rear end round \u2013 in a predictable fashion \u2013 and that nose was instantly back on track. Now, those big Brembo brakes are pure braking porn, but under full haul up I wasn\u2019t totally happy with the 265\u2019s stability, in that it did get squirmy. Saying that, it\u2019s a car that talks to you \u2013 yes, cheesy sounding, I know \u2013 but it always does the same thing in the same situation. Predictable then, if a little wild.So, mean-looking, bloody rapid, and a little saucy and squirmy in rally-style situations. For me, that makes the Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup seriously good for a bit of hot hatch-style hoonery. A definite test drive recommendation. By Dan Anslow "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Sports Performance Prestige Cars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A quick blast in\u2026 a Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/a-quick-blast-in-a-renault-megane-renaultsport-265-cup\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]