Megane 225 Cup Or EP3 CTR: Opinions Please

rjk

rjk

rjk

Caporegime
Joined
8 Aug 2007
Posts
25,380
Hi Guys

currently 'between cars' at the moment, sold my Fiesta ST and currently looking at alternatives. The aim is to have a new car by february when i am due to renew my insurance.

at the moment I am driving around in a 1.6 03 megane which whilst not setting the world on fire, is cheap to run and comfortable enough. this is a stop gap until i find something i like.

my current shortlist includes the EP3 civic [looking at facelift 04+ models with sub 80k] and the megane 225 [looking at cup/trophy models as i hear the cup pack is a must]

now I know they are very different and having driven 2 civic ep3s now I feel confident that the car suits my driving style, I LOVE the gearbox and the driving position, they are renowned for being reliable and having ok economy [for a performance hatch] if driven off vtec. a dead cert to all intents and purposes.

now I was dead set on an EP3 until getting my 1.6 megane as a stopgap vehicle. I quite like the styling of the megane 225 and find that in spite of my hatred of french cars, its actually not a bad place to be, certainly a step up from the 'basic in comparison' civic interior

now I dont like the driving position too much, although it is comfortable, it is far from the go-kart approach that the civic has.

Gibbo has pointed out the tuning potential of the 2.0 turbo charged engine where as the NA 2.0 in the civic would be best left alone.

I am confused, yet to drive an RS megane so it is difficult for me to have a proper opinion.

has anybody driven both, or even own one of them?

what are they like to live with on a daily basis?

running costs are a moot point as they are in the same bands for all of the expenses.

what would you go for if it was your money?

Cheers

rjk
 
I would probably go to buy the Civic and have my mind set on it. And then just as I got to the dealer/seller I'd probs drive off and get the Megane.
 
225. Renault is a Honda only with less bolts :p

Saying that I have never driven one, though its little brothers 182 and 200 are awesome to drive. I prefer them to the Civic.
 
Matt82 said:
megane for me, civic is too common
Click to expand...

I dont think I will ever understand why people would use this is a reason to decide between two cars of this type. It's the sort of logic that would lead you to pick the worst car you can just so nobody else was stupid enough to buy one.
 
Driven a few Type-R's both generations.

The Type-R is the more thrilling car to drive on the edge/limits and the vtec nature is addictive and can make you feel like your going faster than you actually are at times, but it is very much a car that needs to be driven hard to get the enjoyment from it. Only weakness I can think off is the gearbox so sure it feels spot on with zero crunching etc. Engine and rest of car pretty bullit proof. Very limited tuning potential though and expensive too.

The megane without a doubt if a CUP I'd say has better brakes and is easier to live with and is more enjoyable without the need to drive it as hard, but at the same time it does not have the addictive high revving vtec engine which when your on it is very addictive and awarding. But the megane benefit is turbo rush feeling which always makes a car feel more powerful than it is and of course way more torque and mid-range power. The megane you could just place in 3rd or 4th gear and have easy accessible power, whereas the type r will constantly need you to stir it's box but that is also the enjoyment sometimes, but at times it can also be annoying.

Then when you do get bored of the power in megane more comes easy and it's a nicer place to be when your just pottering around.

I'd say both have similar handling/grip levels, maybe slightly in the meganes favour as it has wider tyres. What I will say is on track days the Clios/Meganes always seem the most capable hot hatches.
 
Been in Meganes of similar age and I find them horrid ( so plasticy ). Never been in a top spec so they could be completely different; therefore my point is a smidge invalid :).

I've owned my EP3 for nearly 2 years and I absolutely love it. It hits the sweet spot from being too raw DC2 to too cushy FN2.

It's hardcore and practical. I'm keeping mine for as long as I can, I wouldn't be able to find a similar car that is as fast and practical as the EP3. The next step up which are obviously Subaru's and Evo's your going to be paying double for Tax and Maintenance / Repairs.

If you get bored keeping it in the VTEC, Best mod would be a KPRO for £700 or reflash for £400 ( shut your face AD ). Estimated around 20bhp Peak and up to 20bhp across the midrange. Completely different car after this, Subaru's don't really get away now.

VTEC lowered from 5800 to 5200rpm
Rev limiter changed from 8100 to 8600rpm ( Hit 60 in 2nd )

KPRO improvements at the wheel. Get the Civic not a fat ass Megane :)

kpro.jpg
 
Last edited:
go and drive a megane, and then see if you can drive a civic again afterwards.

FWIW my money would be on the civic, it's reliability would be a big factor for me, cba with things that constantly go wrong and the fact when you're driving about normally you just get a 2L hatchback that's quite economical
 
The WRX's do 0-60 in around 5.7seconds. I would say my Civic would hit 60 late 5's. 6 bang on now. I only weigh 9 stone, only takes a fat porker in a Subaru and I'd have the advantage.
 
Johnnytoxic said:
The WRX's do 0-60 in around 5.7seconds. I would say my Civic would hit 60 late 5's. 6 bang on now. I only weigh 9 stone, only takes a fat porker in a Subaru and I'd have the advantage.
Click to expand...

Why you say 'Subaru's' you're implying fast cars our for a race... so WRX STi's, not WRX's out for a cruise.
 
Mate my Cupra can surprise the average WRX. The majority of Impreza drivers do believe they have a 400HP WRX STI even when they don't.


[TW]Fox;20807817 said:
With a jet engine strapped to it perhaps. As standard, not so much.
Click to expand...

Exactly, any Impreza driver who knows their stuff will not be launching their impreza at full chat often enough to ever hit that figure. WRX's have lower gearing also, above 80 they aren't up to much. Hell my non turbo supra would mince a WRX above 80, well until it hit the 112 limiter pmsl.
 
Johnnytoxic said:
If you get bored keeping it in the VTEC, Best mod would be a KPRO for £700 or reflash for £400 ( shut your face AD ). Estimated around 20bhp Peak and up to 20bhp across the midrange. Completely different car after this, Subaru's don't really get away now.
Click to expand...

Best improvement to any car is driver tuition and practise on how to control your car, not an ECU! ;)

A new ECU and map to suit your car and driving style is a good idea if you think the £ vs performance ratio is high enough, but as always the car should be mapped by someone knowing what they are doing, and mapping it specifically to your setup and not with an off the shelf generic map of lolguess.

[TW]Fox;20807817 said:
With a jet engine strapped to it perhaps. As standard, not so much.
Click to expand...

:D:D:D

Even the mighty k-pro with off the shelf map cannot make the Civic head towards supercar 0-60 territory.

Johny is starting to sound like dxb and his mapped 335d time machine :D
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom