Renault R26.R For Sale

Skip to content Skip to navigation Skip to search Homepage Accessibility help Access keys help Change Country United Kingdom Australia United States Top Gear Account Login Register Top Gear Site search Search topgear.com for Go Site Navigation Home News Car News First Drives Formula One Latest from the Top Gear TV Show Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS on track Most powerful road-going Porsche ever built hits SilverstoneMore Cars Car Reviews Car Chooser Galleries Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport driven Still one of the greatest cars in the (real) world and now cheaper to runMore The Show The Top Gear blog Series Guide Latest from Clarkson Latest from Hammond Latest from May Latest from The Stig Who is the Stig? Top Gear over Christmas: more details! We’ve got two new episodes for you, including a rather special festive journey...More Videos Full Video Archive Road Tests The Stig Star In A Reasonably-Priced Car The Big Films Exclusive Online Extras Series 15, episode 3... Rubens rags the Liana Stig-beating F1 ace blitzes TG track in old Reasonably Priced CarMore Games Online Games Cool Wall A Reasonably Brilliant Driving Game How quickly can you get round the test track in the Kia cee’d?More Shop Top Gear Magazine Top Gear Live Top Gear on Amazon Tickets to Top Gear New look mag out now The Top Gear Awards 2010, plus free supercar calendar More Renault Megane 225 Breadcrumbs Home Cars Renault Megane 225 Road Test Car details navigation Home Our reviews Photos Cars for sale Renault Megane 225 RenaultSport R26.R £22,990 Driven October 2008 Additional Info This is hardcore. Around me is a lattice-work of roll cage, and I'm clamped tight into my deep bucket seat by a race harness. If I wiggle hard enough, the whole car rocks - it's that light. I strain against the straps, reach out and prod the start button. The R26.R thrums into life. It's an important letter, 'R'. That little suffix turns the standard R26 (already a scorching hatch) into a pared-down, more intense version of itself. Essentially, it's the same car - same engine, same chassis, same differential. But Renault has thrown out any unnecessary bits and pieces, like the rear seats, the radio and other electrical things. Also gone is the passenger airbag (that'll please the missus), as well as 'most of the soundproofing'. Earplugs ready, then. Overall, it's lost 123kg, or 19 stone - the exact equivalent of a darts player. So, unless you've got Bobby George along for a ride, it's quicker too. And did I mention the tailgate and rear windows are polycarbonate? And that the bonnet is carbon-fibre? From the depths of the bucket seat, though, it feels like more than just a stripped-out R26. It's got a whole new character. Not intimidating, just different. It's very driveable, and I can't help weaving about for the first few miles like Alonso on a warm-up lap. Best to get some heat into the special, cut-slick Toyos, eh? When they're hot and sticky, I try a little poke at the throttle. And God, it's whooshy. The turbo gets blowing instantly, and the boost seems relentless. You get 90 per cent of its torque from 2,000 to 6,000rpm, and it feels like a never-ending rush. Then you get the sound from the titanium exhaust - a sort of white noise that resonates around the barren cabin. This thing is intense, and I feel a little whooping is in order. The whoops quickly turn to manly 'yeahs!' when I reach a bend. The R26.R is a massively satisfying thing to throw into a corner. Forget skill - it'll just go where you point it, and let you get away with stupid things after that. Even the most clumsy, violent input won't unsettle it, and you feel like it's here to play along, not fight you. Whatever you do, you can really feel the diff working, helping the tyres dig deep into the tarmac. It's got new suspension too, which helps it to make the most of its less portly frame, including all-new springs and re-sorted dampers. Then, of course, there's the Nurburgring thing. Back in June, it lapped it in eight minutes, 17 seconds - the fastest ever time for a front-wheel-drive production car. And on UK roads, you can see why. It's just so forgiving, so taut, so bloody eager. You could imagine it hammering through Flugplatz, right on the limit, with a mere amateur at the wheel. The grooved brakes are excellent too, being bigger and, er, groovier than the R26's drilled discs. And when you back off, it pops like rapid rifle fire as unburned fuel gets shot down the blue titanium exhausts. Breathe. I slow down and grab a moment's rest in a lay-by. Gravel gets spat around the arches as I roll to a stop. Yes, it's hardcore. And it's pretty impractical. But you do get a cargo net to strap in your Tesco bags, small children, girlfriend, etc. So you could probably use it as an everyday car, but that'd miss the point. Track days are where it's really at. Now share it More More Renault Megane 225 cars we've driven... Renault Megane 225 F1June 2006 Advertisement Find your next car now Over 200,000 used and new cars available Search Renault Megane 225 for sale Advertisement Cars for sale: Renault Megane 225 Powered by Auto Trader Used car New car You can also search for a new Renault Megane 225. Postcode Pop your postcode in here (or leave it and search for cars near the Top Gear office. Errr?) Price Go Related stuff News Renault releases new Megane 225 Special edition gets the Cup chassis upgrade and plenty of other goodies Renault brings F1 to the road See more news Videos There are no related videos for this car. 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Open Car Bar Car Chooser Compare Car Bar fullx Click to add cars to the Car Bar Close Help Advertisement || Autocar - News and reviews from the original car experts Skip to content Home Car Reviews News Blogs Videos Forums Cars for sale 6 issues for £1 Renault Mégane R26R review More Pics Email Print Your say Comments: 12 Join the discussion Renault Megane 2.0T Renaultsport R26-R First Drive Test date 24 July 2008 Price as tested £23,314 Megane R26R gets Toyo cup tyres as standard What is it? Without a single hint of a doubt, the most hardcore hot hatchback the world has seen. It’s called the Renaultsport Megane R26R, it weighs 123kg less than the standard (and already quite lithe) Megane R26, and during its development set a record time at the Nurburgring for a front-wheel drive car. What makes this feat yet more amazing, and also impressively relevant, is that the R26R has not an ounce more power – or torque – than the car on which it is based. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces exactly the same 227bhp and 228lb ft as the regular R26’s, and although its six-speed gearbox features a shorter-shifting lever, the ratios and internals are entirely standard. As is the limited-slip differential. Arguably the most important part of the R26R’s lethal arsenal is its tyres. For the first time ever on a hot hatchback, Renaultsport is going to offer the R26R with optional Toyo track tyres. >> See more pics of the Renault Megane R26R What’s it like? The Toyos work a treat; they give an increase in dry grip needed to make the stopwatch sing but they don’t wear out on the road. They work well in the wet, too. The only issue is that they don’t cope brilliantly with standing water, where they still have a tendency to aquaplane quite suddenly. Comfort-wise, it is actually more refined than the regular R26 over a rough road, and therefore more comfortable to travel in. How so? Several reasons. One, the spring rates front and rear are just over 10 per cent softer than normal (mainly because the kerbweight is that much less); the dampers are also of a much higher specification, providing compliance and control where those fitted to the normal R26 do not; lastly, the tyres themselves (the Toyos) also provide better ride quality. So where the R26 tends to get a little thumpy over really nasty surface scars and occasionally sends a shiver back through its steering column, the R26R glides more serenely, its suspension flowing over surfaces that flummox the regular car’s chassis. What you also notice is the extra road noise generated by the R26R over rough surfaces, simply because there is less sound-deadening in the car everywhere. It’s not a ridiculous increase but with the optional titanium exhaust fitted there is perhaps 15 per cent more noise generally. As for the noise from the exhaust itself, it is sensational, amplifying the car’s turbocharged engine to a point where you sometimes feel like you’re on board a miniature Group C Le Mans car. The best way to describe what the R26R feels like on a track is as an extension of your own self-belief. As each mile passes that self-belief grows because, in short, the R26R seems to have an answer for pretty much any question you ask of it. For starters, the level of grip it develops through any given corner is quite spooky compared with normal cars and will – with the Toyo tyres fitted – be so alien to most drivers that they won’t get close to the car’s limits to begin with. That’s one key improvement. Spend more time and do a few more laps with the car, however, and what you’ll eventually realise is that the lack of weight manifests itself in just about every aspect of the R26R’s behaviour. This, more than anything, makes it feel so different to the already sharp R26. Not only does it accelerate far harder but it changes direction more crisply, stops better, steers more sweetly, even changes gear with more precision. Should I buy one? In total there will be just 450 R26Rs made at Renaultsport’s ex-Alpine factory in Dieppe, and of these some 230 will be sold by Renault UK. If you can get your hands on one, it’s absolutely worth the money. As a genuine driver’s car the Renault Megane R26R has few rivals, and not just in the world of hot hatchbacks but at any level, at any budget. Steve Sutcliffe Your say Comments: 12 Join the discussion Car reviews home Ads by Google Advertisement FIND A CAR REVIEW Select a car AC Alfa Romeo Alpina Ariel Artega Ascari Aston Martin Audi Austin Bentley BMW Bristol Brooke Bugatti Cadillac Callaway Campagna Caparo Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Citroën Corvette Dacia Daewoo Daihatsu Datsun DMS Dodge ECC Elfin Farbio Ferrari Fiat Ford Ginetta Gumpert Holden Honda Hummer Hyundai IFR Infiniti Invicta Iveco Jaguar Jeep Jensen Jetstream Ken Okuyama Kia Koenigsegg KTM Lamborghini Lancia Land Rover Leading Edge Lexus Lotus Marcos Marlin Maserati Mastretta Maybach Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz MG MG Motor Mini Mitsubishi Mitsuoka Monteverdi Morgan Morris NAC Nissan Noble Opel Pagani Peugeot Porsche Proton Qpod Radical Reliant Renault Roewe Rolls-Royce Rover Saab Saturn Seat Shelby Skoda Smart Spyker Ssangyong SSC Subaru Superformance Suzuki Tata Tesla Think Toyota Triumph TVR Vauxhall Veritas Volkswagen Volvo Westfield Zenvo Prices & specs Now read this... Mégane racer hints at hotter RS 08/12/2010 10:30:00 Renault's new Twingo warm hatch 26/11/2010 00:01:00 Renault: ‘150-mile EVs by 2015’ 24/11/2010 00:01:00 Renault plans electric hot hatch 16/11/2010 00:01:00 Wallpaper Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 Video Paris motor show: Renault concepts view Watch as we do 227mph in a Bugatti Veyron Watch as we do 227mph in a Bugatti Veyron Advertisement Post this page to: del.icio.us Digg Facebook StumbleUpon Reddit Site links Home Car reviews News Blogs & Features Videos Forums Prices and specs Cars for sale All about Autocar About Autocar Contact us Terms and conditions Privacy policy Send to a friend Newsfeeds Subscribe to our news with our RSS feeds Advertise To advertise with Autocar contact us Buy our magazines Discover our titles at themagazineshop.com Great motoring sites What Car? Autosport Evecars NEW ISSUE OUT NOW FAST, EASY & SECURESUBSCRIBE NOW>> Autocar.co.uk is brought to you by Haymarket Consumer Media Autocar is part of Haymarket Cars and Aftermarket About Haymarket | International licensing | © Haymarket Media Group 2010 Fulfill your potential at Haymarket Careers > || LOGIN REGISTER NEWSLETTER Home NEWS REVIEWS PRODUCTS COMPARE CARS VIDEOS BUYING USED CARS NEW CARS MOTORSHOWS COMPETITIONS 6 ISSUES FOR £1 Search Car Reviews: You're in - Car Reviews: First Drives Renault Megane R26.R Tuning arm helps hatch go out with a bang. Auto Express Car Reviews By Ross PinnockNovember 2008 Rating: If you thought the old Renault Mégane was dead and buried, think again! Although the new car is arriving in showrooms,the French firm has asked its Renaultsport division to give the outgoing model a fitting send-off - and this is the result!The R26.R is based on the turbocharged Mégane R26, and it promises to be one of the fastest front-wheel-drive hatchbacks money can buy.A quick glance is enough to tell you that this is no ordinary hot hatch. The R26.R comes with a bare carbon fibre bonnet to reduce weight, whilethe rear windows are now made of plastic and the back seats have been tossed in the bin, along with the radio and air-conditioning.This diet has seen the weight drop off, and the 123kg saving makes an enormous difference. Strap yourself into the figure-hugging seats, and the noise from the turbocharged engine reverberates around the stripped-out cabin. With the optional roll cage fitted, it feels like a no-frillsracing carfrom behind the wheel.The engine and gearbox are both unchanged, but a clever limited-slip differential provides incredible traction. And grip from the cut-slick tyres is also astonishing.On the track you can carry amazing speed through bends and get back on the power far earlier than you think possible. Body roll is almost absent and the brakes resist fade well.Of course, there is a trade- off for all this performance -and in the case of the Mégane it's comfort. The suspension struggles to iron out even the smallest of bumps.With the two-seater cabin's restrictive harnesses and lack of refinement, the R26.R is unashamedly compromised on the road. But if you want a street-legal car that can deliver trackday thrills, the hot Mégane is the best in the business. With only 230 models coming to UK dealers, it will be rare, too.Rival: Vauxhall Astra VXR Nürburgring Limited-run Astra is more common than the Mégane, and not as focused. View it as a styling exercise, rather than a tuned hot hatch. For an alternative review of the latest Renault Megane visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk What Next COMPARE CAR LOANS COMPARE CAR INSURANCE For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift! < Previous Next > 0 Comment Be the first to comment on this article You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join. Email: Password: Sponsored Results Manufacturers Index Renault Renault Megane Social Bookmarks Link to this article: For more details about purchasing this feature and/or images for editorial usage, please contact the Dennis Syndication team on pictures@dennis.co.uk Email a Friend Print this Pictures - Advertisement - Sponsored Results FIRST OPINION Cross a touring car with a hot hatch, and this is what you get. The Mégane's immense performance, agile handling and strong brakes deliver a dizzying experience. It's awesome on track and still usable on the road. The R26.R is Renaultsport's most extreme car - and by far its best.  AT A GLANCE Price: £23,815 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 230bhp Torque: 309Nm 0-62mph: 6.0 seconds Econ/CO2: 33.2mpg/199g/km Standard equipment: Limited-slip diff, carbon fibre bonnet, bucket seats with racing harnesses, polycarbonate rear windows On sale: Now - Advertisement - Company Website | Media Information | Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Subs Info | Voucher Codes | SitemapOur Other Websites: The First Post | Custom PC | Evo | IT Pro | IT Pro India | MacUser | Men's Fitness | Micro Mart | PC Pro | bit-tech | Know Your Mobile | Octane | Expert Reviews | Channel Pro | Know Your Cell | Know Your Mobile India | iGizmo | Digital SLR Photography | Den of Geek | The Week | Computer Shopper | Dennis Communications | Magazines | Mobile Phone Deals | Competitions | Health & Fitness | CarBuyer © 2010 Dennis Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.Licensed by Felden || Text Size Cart (0 items) Mynxx Optima Geneva Helvetica Lucida Georgia Trebuchet Palatino R26R 300BHP Hybrid turbo upgrade BDM Renault R26R Tuning & Upgrades Here at Backdraft Motorsport we like to take special cars with lots of potential and tweek them to make them perfect. Renault have made a great attempt at building a track focused road car but the budget has limited some really important areas. On track the car really suffers with the ability to keep going strong. Our range of upgrades below addresses these short falls to make it the car it should be! 'My car feels great, pulls very strongly now right through the whole range in all gears. Brakes are simply fantastic! 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Forgot your username? No account yet? Register Contact Us Unit L2, MK Two Business Centre, 1-6 Barton Road Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK2 3HU Telephone: 01908 821216 Fax: 01908 821217 > Contact Us Online A Milton Keynes Website | Sitemap © Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved Terms & Conditions Terms & Conditions || Login | Register PistonHeads » Gassing Station » General Gassing » General GassingRenault R26R SearchMy Stuff What's New:3:12:24:72 My ProfileMy PreferencesMy Mates RSS Feed 2 3 ... 5 6 Reply to Topic Author Discussion Chipper Original Poster 454 posts 57 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 I'm really tempted to order a R26R. It's basically going to be a weekend car and occasional trackday vehicle.In my deluded eyes i'm seeing this as Renault's gt3, and compared to most cars it should be relatively cheap to run. It looks great in the Racing Blue with red wheels too! http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/roadcars/meganer26r/...Now the only thing what's holding me back is the fact i could buy a used 225 Megane for half the price. I could then strip it down ,add a roll cage and the toyo tyres and with some bigger brakes i would have something similar to the R26R and yet be saving myself about £8000.But at the end of the day its not going to be an R26R and if its as good as Steve Sutcliffe says i'll probably want to keep this car till it becomes a bit of a classic , which i think in time it might."As a genuine driver’s car the Renault Megane R26R has few rivals, and not just in the world of hot hatchbacks but at any level, at any budget." Steve Sutcliffehttp://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Re... jamiebae 2,999 posts 51 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 If you've got £20k plus to spend on a weekend car, even if it has to be new, there are other things I'd be looking at first - Caterham 7, Westfield, even a new Elise isn't very much more than the Megane. I know where my money would go, but then if you prefer FWD (apparently some people do!) then the Renaut is pretty much top of the tree. Truckosaurus 2,499 posts 124 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 There's a R26R on the Autotrader website, 750miles @ £17k, there's 5 of the 8k difference to a cooking R26 gone. Chipper Original Poster 454 posts 57 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 jamiebae said: If you've got £20k plus to spend on a weekend car, even if it has to be new, there are other things I'd be looking at first - Caterham 7, Westfield, even a new Elise isn't very much more than the Megane. I know where my money would go, but then if you prefer FWD (apparently some people do!) then the Renaut is pretty much top of the tree.I'm 6"4, so Crate's ,Elise and generally those types of cars are just not feasible for me. I've also just come out of an Atom so i actually want something that is warm and dry.I've considered a used CSL but at the money i'm talking at ( around £21000 ) i'd have to spend quite a bit more and i've got all the added costs of servicing , tyres and warranty to add on, and those little bills start to add up and then it takes the novelty off having a weekend car, well at least it does for me.Another thing i'm worried about is that I don't think i'll be able to get a test drive in one of these R26R either , so it really will be a leap of faith in Sutcliffe review. I hope he aint got shares in Renault! jamiebae 2,999 posts 51 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Well one reason for picking the R26R over the normal version with mods is the R26R will always be fairly rare and desirable, whereas the R26 with cage, buckets and stickies will always be a modded R26 and will be valued accordingly by the market. Advertisement Chipper Original Poster 454 posts 57 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Truckosaurus said: There's a R26R on the Autotrader website, 750miles @ £17k, there's 5 of the 8k difference to a cooking R26 gone.Thats an impressive one as its not launched till next month and the R26R doesnt come with a stero either LukeBird 13,503 posts 49 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 I'd love one! If you're looking for something more practical than an Atom, but still with a large performance bias, it seems the best compromise! Lunar Grey or Pearlescent White with Black rims for me! Mr Trophy 3,577 posts 43 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 How about a Clio Trophy? Chipper Original Poster 454 posts 57 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Mr Trophy said: How about a Clio Trophy?I'm really set on this Megane or nothing at the moment. Pwig 10,621 posts 110 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Black or White with Black wheels IMO. matt3001 845 posts 37 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 The standard R26 is a pretty complete car in its own right, and quite a bit cheaper pbirkett 4,108 posts 112 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Or you could go for a DC2 ITR and have, oh, i dunno, £15K to spend on petrol... Might not be as outright fast but I bet it aint far off, it'll sound better and will almost certainly be more reliable despite being "old" (at least it will if my old Clio 182 was anything to go by!!).And no, I'm not kidding. Pwig 10,621 posts 110 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Isn't that like going out with a gorgeous birds ugly sister because she was a cheaper date? ewenm 17,186 posts 85 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 I don't see why you'd buy a hot hatch as a weekend toy. Isn't the point of a hot hatch to be good as a daily car as well as fun? I'd go for something less practical and less compromised myself. pbirkett 4,108 posts 112 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Pwig said: Isn't that like going out with a gorgeous birds ugly sister because she was a cheaper date?Oh yeah, the Megane is just sooooo good looking isn't it Sorry I'm obviously missing your point. Chipper Original Poster 454 posts 57 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 ewenm said: I don't see why you'd buy a hot hatch as a weekend toy. Isn't the point of a hot hatch to be good as a daily car as well as fun? I'd go for something less practical and less compromised myself.Hmmmmmmm , it has hardly any soundproofing due to weight saving , has only two seats which are competition seats with a carbon fibre shell with full harness, the tailgate and rear side windows are in polycarbonate , it has no stero and comes with a great big roll cage + toyo track tyres!I'd say its slightly compromised myself !Edited by Chipper on Sunday 14th September 19:57 ewenm 17,186 posts 85 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Chipper said: ewenm said: I don't see why you'd buy a hot hatch as a weekend toy. Isn't the point of a hot hatch to be good as a daily car as well as fun? I'd go for something less practical and less compromised myself.Hmmmmmmm , it has hardly any soundproofing due to weight saving , has only two seats which are competition seats with a carbon fibre shell with full harness, the tailgate and rear side windows are in polycarbonate , it has no stero and comes with a great big roll cage + toyo track tyres!IMO i don't think it gets near practical and less compromised unless you're comparing it to an Atom! But (to me) the starting point is compromised. Why start with a family hatchback and make it more track-worthy when there are cars developed from the ground up for the purpose? Caterham (my bias ) for example. NWMark 201 posts 56 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 Chipper said: "As a genuine driver’s car the Renault Megane R26R has few rivals, and not just in the world of hot hatchbacks but at any level, at any budget." Steve SutcliffeHe would say that though, given he had quite a bit of input into the development of the car. rsstman 1,918 posts 27 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 ewenm said: Chipper said: ewenm said: I don't see why you'd buy a hot hatch as a weekend toy. Isn't the point of a hot hatch to be good as a daily car as well as fun? I'd go for something less practical and less compromised myself.Hmmmmmmm , it has hardly any soundproofing due to weight saving , has only two seats which are competition seats with a carbon fibre shell with full harness, the tailgate and rear side windows are in polycarbonate , it has no stero and comes with a great big roll cage + toyo track tyres!IMO i don't think it gets near practical and less compromised unless you're comparing it to an Atom! But (to me) the starting point is compromised. Why start with a family hatchback and make it more track-worthy when there are cars developed from the ground up for the purpose? Caterham (my bias ) for example.are you saying that a car that was originally a everyday hatchback cant be modified to be nearly as quick and probably as fun a say a caterham? surely a touring car or rally car will tell you that you are wrong? just because something was designed in a particular way it doesnt mean that the same result cant be achieved elsewhere. ewenm 17,186 posts 85 months [report] [news]  Sunday 14th September 2008 rsstman said: ewenm said: Chipper said: ewenm said: I don't see why you'd buy a hot hatch as a weekend toy. Isn't the point of a hot hatch to be good as a daily car as well as fun? I'd go for something less practical and less compromised myself.Hmmmmmmm , it has hardly any soundproofing due to weight saving , has only two seats which are competition seats with a carbon fibre shell with full harness, the tailgate and rear side windows are in polycarbonate , it has no stero and comes with a great big roll cage + toyo track tyres!IMO i don't think it gets near practical and less compromised unless you're comparing it to an Atom! But (to me) the starting point is compromised. Why start with a family hatchback and make it more track-worthy when there are cars developed from the ground up for the purpose? Caterham (my bias ) for example.are you saying that a car that was originally a everyday hatchback cant be modified to be nearly as quick and probably as fun a say a caterham? surely a touring car or rally car will tell you that you are wrong? just because something was designed in a particular way it doesnt mean that the same result cant be achieved elsewhere.For road cars (which is what the R26R is and what is being discussed here) yes, a fwd hot hatch will always be a compromise compared to a rwd sports car. How "fun" is measured will be different for everyone though. 2 3 ... 5 6 Reply to Topic Gassing Station | General Gassing | General Gassing What's New | My Stuff | Top of Page Terms and Conditions | Posting Rules Term and Conditions Hosted by Carrenza Copyright PistonHeads® 1998-2010