CAR WARRIORS: 2014 RENAULT MEGANE RS

Friday, August 1, 2014

2014 RENAULT MEGANE RS

The Renault Mégane RS has consistently been the benchmark  for focused handling in the hot hatchback market over the past few years. Sharp responses mean it should be on any hot hatch buyer’s shortlist, even though the standard Mégane’s star has faded.

The current Renaultsport Mégane has been facelifted in line with the regular model, with a new nose and tweaked interior. As part of the update, the stripped-out Cup model has been dropped,  so you only have the standard £26,930 car to choose from – although you can purchase the Cup suspension package for an extra £1,350.

However, if you're after something a little more extreme there's now the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy. It comes with an extra 10bhp, the Cup chassis and a titanium Akrapovic exhaust as standard, plus the option of Ohlins damper and semi-slick Michelin tyres. An even more extreme Megane Renaultsport 275 Trophy-R model (the current holder of the Nurburgring front-wheel drive lap record at 7 minutes 54 seconds) is also available. Weighing 101kg less than the Trophy it replaces the back seats with a roll cage, adds fixed racing seats and has the option of a much smaller lithium-ion battery.

Our choice: Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy The Renault Mégane RS is based on the three-door Mégane Coupé, but unlike the conservative looking SEAT Leon Cupra, the Renault gets some extra touches to mark it out from the standard car.

For starters, it benefits from body-coloured plastic wheelarch extensions and deeper sills and bumpers.

Up front, the Mégane’s new face resembles the Renault Clio supermini, although the RS model’s lower grille treatment remains unchanged. The Renaultsport Mégane gets 18-inch alloys in black or silver, while a choice of three 19-inch wheel designs is also available as a £1,000 option - these include red pinstripe, silver stripes or diamond cut rims.

Overall, the Renault Mégane RS looks sporty, but its raised rear gives it a hunched appearance, and some of the detailing is a little fussy. Inside, Renault has given the Renaultsport Mégane the most basic of updates found on the interior of the the standard car. This focuses on the dashtop display, which features a larger screen for the infotainment system.

Elsewhere, the centre console is unchanged, while the RS adds racy red seatbelts, figure-hugging optional Recaro sports seats and red detailing on the dashboard and gearlever. Everything in the Renaultsport Mégane seems fairly well put together, but there are lots of hard plastics, and the layout is starting to feel dated when compared to rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and the SEAT Leon.

Go for the 275 Trophy or 275 Trophy-R model and you get unique decals on the outside and a numbered plaque on the door sills. Inside, the Trophy gets figure hugging leather and Alcantara Recaros, while the Trophy-R gets deep fixed racing buckets seats.

The sporty looks of the Renault Mégane RS are backed up intense driving experience. Fire up the 2.0-litre turbo engine and there’s a purposeful thrum from the exhaust - blip the throttle, and the needle sweeps around the rev counter. The six-speed gearbox that Renault fits to the Renaultsport Mégane needs a bit of a firm hand, but it never baulks, and overall it was nearly as fast as the ultra-quick SEAT Leon Cupra.

Renault-Megane-RS-2014-interior

The Renaultsport Mégane gets plenty of mid-range power for overtaking, but its stiff Cup chassis that comes as an extra in excess of £1,000 plus extremely firm suspension set-up dominate the driving experience. You can feel every bump and undulation in the road through the seat, while the sharp steering is communicative, with lots of feedback through the wheel.

It's unlikely you'll be able to feel the extra 10bhp you get in the 275 Trophy model, but order the optional Ohlins dampers (£2,000) and the wheels flow beautifuuly with the road surface while body control is simultaneously improved. It's an expensive box to tick, but worth it if you plan to take the car on track. The Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres provide endless grip and help you to adjust the car's line mid-corner with little lifts of the throttle, while the Akrapovic exhaust give the engine a much throtier note.

The Trophy-R is the most extreme hatchback currently on sale, and the lack of weight makes it feel noticeably nimbler. It's expensive though, at £36,430, and only 30 examples will ever be sold in the UK.

The Renault Mégane is a well established car and has been around for a while. It bucks the perception that Renault reliability is an issue for buyers and the RS model is no exception. Indeed, it came 20th in our Driver Power 2013 satisfaction survey, and ranked 42nd out of 100 for reliability.

The only issues you might have are likely to be with electronics, although software updates should help to rectify any problems. Renault’s four-year warranty and breakdown assistance is offered on the hot Mégane, so that should give you added peace of mind.

As this car has been around for some time, it hasn’t been tested under Euro NCAP’s new, stricter conditions – although it did earn a five-star rating in the safety body’s old-style tests. There are six airbags, plus the RS model features big Brembo brakes that will provide consistent stopping power, even when slowing from high speed.

Like the standard Mégane, the RS car's boot opening is high and narrow with a 344-litre loading capacity.

The Renaultsport Mégane gets split-folding rear seats as standard, but even when they're folded, the 991-litre boot is still far from the class best. Its back seat space is adequate, and the optional Recaro front seats don’t cut into legroom too badly. However, rear passengers will still feel cramped with tinted windows and small rear glass.

Up front, the figure-hugging seats found in the Mégane RS are firm but not uncomfortable. However, the cabin doesn’t have as many storage cubbies as the found in some of its rivals, plus the door bins and glovebox are smaller, and the centre console space is taken up by the joystick that controls the infotainment system.

The Mégane RS gets split-folding rear seats as standard, but the 991-litre maximum still trails the class leaders. Back seat space is adequate, and the optional Recaro front seats don’t cut into legroom too badly. However, Back seat passengers will still feel cramped with tinted windows and small rear glass.

At almost £30,000 the Renault Mégane RS is only £15 cheaper than the manual version of the SEAT Leon Cupra. The French car doesn't get an automatic gearbox option and while it gets TomTom sat-nav and stop-start technology, the latter doesn't cut in as often as any of its rivals from the Volkswagen group. Combine this with its thirsty 2.0-litre engine and that’s why the Renaultsport Mégane achieves a claimed 34.0mpg on a combined cycle.

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KNOWING ABOUT YOUR POWER-TRAIN WARRANITY

A powertrain warranty is a form of assurance offered by the manufacturer of an automobile. When a consumer purchases a vehicle, at the time of sale, he or she will be given a powertrain warranty, which will cover all or part of the powertrain of the underlying automobile. When a mechanical problem occurs to the powertrain the costs associated with repair or replacement are covered in the powertrain warranty—the manufacturer or dealer whole sold the automobile will pay to have the car fixed. That being said, what parts are covered and the extent of the repayment associated with fixing the car will vary greatly based on the powertrain warranty offered.

Depending on the manufacturer, a powertrain warranty will provide different forms of coverage based on interpretative differences; for example, one manufacturer’s definition of an engine can be referred to as a ‘long block’, meaning the engine, as well as everything attached to it cannot be removed. Another definition of an engine can be a “short block” meaning only part of the engine—typically the piece below cylinder head—cannot be removed. As a result, the coverage abilities will vary between these two warranties if the engine proved to be faulty.

In addition to the engine, the type of automobile will necessitate different variables within the powertrain warranty. For example, if you purchased a manual transmission vehicle, the warranty may exclude repairs or replacements for important pieces, such as the clutch—an extended warranty for a manual transmission will typically only provide coverage for the driveshaft and the axles.

A powertrain warranty will last for a certain number of years or for a maximum number of miles. In most instances, the powertrain warranty will last longer than a typical car warranty; the basic powertrain warranty is offered as a 10 year or 100,000 mile warranty, or whichever comes first.

Other Warranites Usually available to car buyers:

Basic: Also known as "bumper-to-bumper" coverage, this is the general coverage that would pay to repair defects in factory-installed parts. Tires are not typically included because they're usually covered under a separate tire manufacturer warranty.

Corrosion: Covers rust that causes holes in sheet metal in parts such as the doors or side panels.

Roadside assistance: Provides help with towing and tire-changing if the car breaks down while traveling.

It's best to check with dealers for specifics, but here is a list of seven top auto companies that offer among the best car warranties, despite the fact that many are rated safe cars by independent research firms.

Car Insurance Tips

Find out what’s covered and what isn’t. Get your quote in writing and confirm the accuracy of each vehicle and driver you are insuring, as well as the coverages you requested. Ask about free, value-added features, such as emergency roadside assistance. Check to see if repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own your car, and find out what kind of payment options are available.

To see if you’re getting credit where credit is due, it's a good idea to find out all the discounts available to you. Some simple ways to save money on your auto insurance include maintaining a clean driving record, being a good student and the inclusion of certain safety features when buying a new car can save you money on your policy.

Your state sets forth the minimum liability coverage you must maintain, as mentioned above. But these are just the legal minimums and might not give you the coverage you need. You'll have to decide what you want to buy beyond these minimums. Keep in mind that you are looking to find the balance between having adequate coverage and overpaying.

According to Consumer Reports, a general guideline for adequate bodily injury liability limits is $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, plus $100,000 for property damage. These amounts are what your insurer will pay to someone you are in an accident with. For uninsured motorist coverage, you should get the same amount as for bodily injury liability, as this covers your medical costs when someone who is not insured hits you.

Auto insurance tip #1
Understand why you need auto insurance
In short, you need car insurance to protect your car, yourself and your passengers. You also protect any assets, like your home and savings, as well as comply with state law.

Auto insurance tip #2
Know your current coverages-but be willing to adjust
Use your current coverages and limits as a starting point; you can refer to your declarations page for this information. Then, adjust your coverages as necessary to match your lifestyle-which might be different than it was when you first bought the policy.

For example, if your teenager starts driving next month, you might consider adding him or her to your policy now. Or, if you just bought a new car, you might choose loan/lease payoff coverage, so that if your car is stolen or declared a total loss, you'll have help paying off your loan or lease.

Auto insurance tip #3
Decide what you want to protect, then choose your coverages

Auto insurance tip #4
Use deductibles to your advantage
Your deductible is what you agree to pay out of pocket when you use your car insurance. In general, the higher you set your deductible, the less you'll pay for your policy. And conversely, if you set your deductible low, you'll pay more for your policy, but less when you have a claim.

Auto insurance tip #5
Know that certain things affect your rate
Insurance companies evaluate a variety of things when they calculate your rate, from your driving record to where you live and how many miles you drive on average. Keep this in mind when you see your rate.

More alternatives:

Raise your comprehensive and collision deductibles to at least $1,000, which lowers your premiums and prevents you from filing small claims that could jeopardize a claims-free discount. Add some more money to your emergency fund so you’ll have the cash to pay the deductible if anyone in your family does have an accident.

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage entirely on older cars that are worth little more than the deductible. You may be paying more in premiums than you could ever get back from the insurer, even if the car is totaled.

Tell your insurer if your child goes away to college. If your child goes to school more than 100 miles away and does not use the car, you can usually get a big break on your premiums but still have coverage when he or she comes home for vacation.

Ask about other discounts for teenage drivers. Some insurers offer discounts for driver-safety programs, cutting costs if the kids take a special class, watch a DVD, or read a driver-safety book and take a test. Ask your insurer what your kid needs to do to qualify.

Make the most of multi-policy discounts. You’ll usually get a break on your auto insurance and your homeowners insurance if you keep both policies with the same company. You may get an additional discount if you include an umbrella policy, which provides extra liability coverage beyond your auto-insurance limits and can be particularly valuable when you have a teenage driver.

Some insurers offer much better deals than others for teenage drivers, so it’s important to compare costs. The insurance company that offered the best rate for you and your spouse may have some of the highest rates when you add a teenage boy to the policy - and it’s almost always better to add the child to your policy rather than have him get his own policy.

You can get price quotes from several online insurance companies like Progressive or AllState or get personalized service from an independent insurance agent who works with many companies. You may not want to switch from a longtime insurer just to save a few dollars, however, because your current company may be less likely to raise your rate or drop you if your child has an accident. If you stay with the insurance company you currently have there more room for forgiveness and benefits of such various programs. Also keep in mind that if you have been getting a multi-policy discount, your homeowners-insurance rate might rise if you take your auto-insurance business elsewhere.

One thing you don’t want to do in an attempt to reduce your premiums is skimp on liability coverage. recommends liability limits of at least $250,000 per person, $500,000 per accident and $100,000 for property damage or a policy with a “combined single limit” of $500,000, when available, which does not limit the coverage to $250,000 per person involved in the accident. Young drivers are more likely to have accidents, and lowering your liability limits could leave you on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in expenses if your child does hit another car or injure someone.

CAR WARRIORS

Friday, August 1, 2014

2014 RENAULT MEGANE RS

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