Megane 225 Cup Or EP3 CTR: Opinions Please

[rjk]

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

 

[rjk]

Fox, your first post in the thread said you hate the civic, yet later you argue that it is an excellent car? Would you explain this please mate?

Any megane 225 owners here with an opinion on the matter?

I admit that until I have drive. A meg225cup it's going to be a moot point.

 

[rjk]

I don't care much for 0-60 btw guys, just a car that handles well and gets the adrenaline going.

A car that offers great feedback and provides a serious driving experience overall is more important than how many seconds it takes to get to 60

 

[rjk]

post specific thread about a specific era civic and a specific era megane with specific upgrades and options.

come back to a thread about Impreza WRX [specifically not the STI] and the inevitable "get an S-Type" from 'Old Man' Gibbo

LOL

 

[rjk]

Is the Megane only available in 3 door?

the standard 225 is, but that is the one that has been slated.
as far as i understand, the 'hardcore' versions like the cup/trophy/f1/r26 are 3 door only.

The EP3 is reliable and VTEC is addictive, but you have to buy it knowing that really what you buy is what you're stuck with. I love thrashing mine, but going to my wife's comaparatively quiet, better riding and far better built Leon Cupra, I slightly regret not waiting and being able to afford the LCR.

I do like the leon, but its a little put of my price range at the moment. in fairness, most meganes with the right kit on them are a lot more than the civic anyway. I am open to suggestions to other cars in this class of course. but £5k is around the top end of the limit.

EP3 fuel economy is rubbish too

expecting between 25-30 am I being optimistic?

 

[rjk]

Rant@Andrew Moore

you are an admin Gibbo - Please ban Andrew Moore.
or remove his motors access.

No, that's realistic day to day MPG IMO. My driving is mainly A-road, but with a bit of a thrash thrown in for good measure. I could probabyl better 30, but CBA.

thanks for the feedback danza. glad my expectations are about right then.
what I have read so far suggests a similar story from the megane camp.

What you get for the ST?

long story, would rather not talk about it tbh

 

[rjk]

Lots of the Ph1 models are complete dogs these days as people buy them for £4k and underestimate the running costs so they degrade fast, hence buying one of these will cost you in the longer run. Make sure its a decent tidy one in the first place and you'll be set.

that's why i was looking at anything with a cup upgrade tbh, i havent seen one person mention that they have a non cup 225 and are happy with it.

Probably being blind but whats the budget? Go for a Ph2 if you can afford it, but you're better off buying a decent Cupped 225 rather than a dog for an R26.

£5k max at the moment. but obviously I would be able to get a civic for a lot less than that. a megane is going to stretch that budget for a good example.

if i like the megane, i have thought about getting a civic then possibly moving to an r26 or similar at some point in the future when i have more funds.

If you are interested this is mine.

lovely looking car, is yours a Trophy?

 

[rjk]

Have you driven both of them? They are completely different sorts of hot hatch.

I drove the R26 while I had the DC5, and while very quick point to point, the drive felt a bit dull, I was sat way too high, the interior was horrible and the engine lacked character. But I am a VTEC fanboy. Saying that, an Evo engine has way more soul and that's also a 4 pot turbo. Cheeky remap might sort it out I guess? But I had a similar feeling in the LCR, the fun is over way too quickly, power delivery feels like a derv.

not yet, looking to drive a cupped 225 as soon as I get a free, dry day to do it.
the seating looks high, even with the seat in my current 1.6 megane, it feels too high and its as low as it will go. as i mentioned, whilst comfortable, it doesnt feel too sporty. The RS version may change my opinion.

if i like the megane, the other option of course is to get a civic now as they are cheaper to buy then save some money and get a good example R26 when i can afford that outlay.