RENAULT MEGANE RS 300 TROPHY. Short blog review.

When I first saw the Renault Mégane RS at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show it excited me. From time to time I come away from an International Motor Show (after viewing and sitting inside a car) thinking I really hope it drives as well as it looks.

So, when offered the chance to drive one I was happy to oblige.

This Trophy version has the Cup Chassis and an extra 20 bhp more than the entry model Mégane RS.

I have a slight soft spot for Renault RS models. They appeal to for a number of reasons…. the main one being that Renault go “all out” on their RS models. This car is in that region and doesn’t disappoint.

It has stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bar, a limited-slip differential, hydraulic compression stops, ceramic bearing in the turbo, Dual Valve Exhaust system and 300 bhp. The exterior also looks pretty menacing too.

Inside, I was greeted with a rather nice looking (and comfy) Recaro RS sport front seats, an Alcantara steering wheel and aluminium pedals.

The Mégane RS has Renault’s 4Control four-wheel steering as standard. The actuators can turn the rear wheels up to 2.7 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels or 1 degree in the same direction at faster speeds.

I found this feature very interesting. Attacking the hairpin corner on the Millbrook Test Circuit felt as if I had put too much steering input and that the rear of the car was rotating around. After a couple of minutes behind the wheel I soon got used to the feeling and started to really enjoy it. I know that the 4 Control four-wheel steering on the Megane RS has had its critics…I just pointed the car to which part of the corner I wanted to cover (either with an early or late turn-in) and then relied on the limited slip differential and the fanatics levels of grip exiting the corner. When I’m Karting this is exactly how I like my kart to feel. I can attack the corner with confidence while straightening the steering wheel and applying the power early keeping my momentum. Even in my virtual reality world of my PS4, I use this driving style playing Gran Trurismo and F1 games. I do wonder if it all stems from driving my old Alfa Romeo Spider (916) which has a small element of passive rear wheel steer making it a “pointy” and positive steering car.

By driving like this, the car can feel rewarding especially when I hooked it up through a series of fast corners. At slower speeds I found the suspension to be on the harder side to the point that you feel every bump or road surface change. At speed though the suspension completely changes and the slow speed unforgiving harshness fades. It transforms into a very stable enjoyable car to drive.

The 1.8 litre turbocharged engine pulls really well through the rev range. (It should do it has 300 BHP). When changing gear I had to be precise with the gear-lever or I would fluff my gear changes….but I enjoyed the short throw which made the whole driving experience more intense.

I had selected the Race mode which had my assistant in the passenger seat and I trying to work out if the rather “bassy” pops and bangs were from the rear of the car or from some sort of construction work somewhere else on the test circuit? We soon realised it was from us. The exhaust system has a nice fruity sound to it but in Sport mode the pops and bangs were rather loud.

I really enjoyed my time with the Renault Mégane RS 300 Trophy. It has that Renault Sport raw racing car feel to it which I just wanted to explore more and more.

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