i drove my friends Megan RS last night!!

[T14ARD]

I have had the S3 (hippo) for three months now and still not seeing eye to eye, so my friend let me drive his Megan RS Trophy and Wow momma, that is how I want the S3 to feel and drive live.

The Megan is just to light and planted, the chassis and response is great and now I am not sure if I A) spend the cash and improve the S3
B) sell and get the Megan

Any advice ?

Cheers in advance

Arthur

 

[Terminator x]

Sell up if you're not happy. Life's too short etc.

TX.

 

[leshkin]

Haha, wrong place to ask such blasphemous questions

The way I see it, Megan and S3 are aimed at quite different type of driving. While both are performance focused, Megane is definitely more of a track day weapon, with a more engaging driving experience.

Personally, I love the S3 and after some chassis tweaks the terrible standard suspension can be improved, which is the route I took.

It sounds that you made your mind up already though, so I'm not sure why you asked this question. Could it be that deep down you know that the S3 has something that the Megane is missing?

 

[XFi]

I drive my friends Megane RS 225 all the time and I love it. So much more feel and responsiveness and it's not massively slower than mine at Stage 1 when the Megane is stock minus a exhaust and de-cat. I love the fuel cut limiter too!

 

[T14ARD]

My only thought is that the Megan is a one track pony!

It's fast on a track/ flowing road.

But it's small, cramped, loud and a hard ride, not a great place to be and most importantly French lol ..

Not sure if the amazing classic makes up for all the down falls.

I have now saved the cash for :
H&R ARB
H&R springs
Geo
Remap

But not sure if after all that it would not be as good as the RS, that's why I ask the question.

 

[leshkin]

You've hit the nail on the head there! Stock S3 chassis and power are rather poor, but with those upgrades you'll have a much nicer car. I'm sure it won't be as good as Megane from a handling perspective as its a heavy car, but it will do all of the other things very well while being a fun and engaging to drive. Most of all it is not French

If I were you, I'd go for a coilover kit instead of just springs, as the stock shocks are the biggest letdown there. I love a comfy car, but want it to handle well, so my ST Coilover kit feels great for my needs and wasn't that much more. It's a fast road kit, so don't expect it to outhandle the RS, but it works great on English A/B roads! I hated my S3s stock suspension when I got it, the Coilover kit transformed it no end in both, comfort and handling.
A good remap and a cai will transform the power. I'm at Stg2+ now and the thing flies! But even at Stg1 it was no slouch.

Like you said, its between a very focused RS that does one thing very well and S3 that is a much more rounded package.

 

[S3Alex]

They're just different cars,with different focus.

As Leshkin says,the base S3 is heavy,and wallows considerably,and most of us have tried to improve that with coilovers,ARBs,uprated brakes etc etc,and it does make a huge improvement to what is quite a heavy car.

Audi clearly didn't want the S3 to either be compared to,or compete with cars like the Megane RS,and produced a car which could have been so much better from the start,but still retained the quality and toys we expect.

Having said that,it's fun tailoring the car to what you want.

 

[Carefree69]

I wouldn't touch a Renault with a bargpole, everyone I know who has one has problems with them.

Quality and refinement over speed for me, it's not like you can use the power much anyway.

Also, the interior is made from the kind of cheap plastics that kids toys are made from.

But, you do what you feel is best, horses for courses.

 

[voorhees]

Renault do make drivers cars but fall short in other areas

 

[Sayam]

As if you'd ask that question. If you would genuinely trade up quality for what is basically a yellow **** then be my guest, you'll regret it one day soon.

If you look at the psychology of what you said it's apparent. Joking aside, if you are genuinely considering it then swap cars with your friend for a month. Do what you'd using your A3 but in the Renault. If you still like it, then buy one.

If someone gave me a car with zero suspension and just a welded bar of steel in there, loads of power, noise, etc etc and I drove it for an hour or a day I'd love it too...but everyday?

 

[S3Alex]

If someone gave me a car with zero suspension and just a welded bar of steel in there, loads of power, noise, etc etc and I drove it for an hour or a day I'd love it too...but everyday?

Errrr.....I have actually done that everyday,and have to admit that warts and all,it still put a huge grin on my face....(But it wasn't a Renault).

 

[Sayam]

Errrr.....I have actually done that everyday,and have to admit that warts and all,it still put a huge grin on my face....(But it wasn't a Renault).

Lol, God was having a great day when he put your back together mate thats all I'll say!!

 

[S3Alex]

Lol, God was having a great day when he put your back together mate thats all I'll say!!

I might have agreed back then.....now the S3 has a pretty bone breaking ride.
The Escort had longer suspension travel and rode bumps better but the system was even more expensive than the kW I have now.....

 

[Sayam]

I might have agreed back then.....now the S3 has a pretty bone breaking ride.
The Escort had longer suspension travel and rode bumps better but the system was even more expensive than the kW I have now.....

Honestly don't know how you tolerate it, unless you live in a posh area where the roads are graded for smoothness against a baby's backside.

On roads around here (West Yorkshire) it sounds like your suspension would skip from bump to bump which can't be a good thing?

 

[S3Alex]

It's much better than that and is well damped.
Just very firm.

 

[mjr901]

Jump in a Ed30 Golf or Cupra.

It's FWD that makes it lively.

For the cash, Ed30 without a doubt for me, interior is mint too.

Put a White line anti lift kit on it and stick a 24mm or more rear anti roll bar on it.

The S3 is a lovey car, but the 4wd dampens the whole feisty hot hatch feel.

Pull the fuse on the haldex for a few days in the S3, you'll see what I mean.

Oh, and stay away from the Renault. Build quality is sh1t to say the least and if kerb appeal means anything to you, you may as well drop your trousers on a frosty morning with the Renault and wave your stump around.

 

[nooone]

I'm biased, came from a Polo with more torque than traction.
The S3 needs some work, I would go straight to stage 2+ if you can afford and do the suspension properly (include matched shocks or coilovers) to get it handling right.

With some time and coin, the S3 should be a faster car and a lot more refined, if thats not your thing, have a look at the Peugeot, Ford, Renault and VW FWD's, there are lots of fun FWD's that won't stay close to a modded S3.

 

[s3_trev]

Ive said this so many times now on this forum but I think its relevant here. One of the best things about the s3 is its potential when tuned. If you have the money available to invest in the s3 I believe it can be something very special indeed.

Also its amusing that one of the best things about the s3 (haldex) is actually now being brought up as a negative. Take from that what you will.

 

[S3Alex]

Ive said this so many times now on this forum but I think its relevant here. One of the best things about the s3 is its potential when tuned. If you have the money available to invest in the s3 I believe it can be something very special indeed.

Also its amusing that one of the best things about the s3 (haldex) is actually now being brought up as a negative. Take from that what you will.

The thing is that we all have different preferences in a car.

I've had powerful RWD cars,and a few 4WD cars now(Torsen,Quaife and Haldex equipped)....they all feel and drive very differently,but one thing I can say for myself,is that once over 350-400bhp,I would only be happy with 4WD,as it makes the most of the car,rather than scrabbling for traction,and wondering which ditch the car will head for next,if the road is less than perfect.

Ideally,I'd have torque sensing diffs all round,but I can't....

But that's just my preference.

 

[S.]

if you like it that much change the car. do what makes you happy.

i own my s3 for over 6 years now and i doubt that i will change it for another couple of years. tuning potential is huge...parts market also.
in my opinion no other fwd hot hatch comes near to it. yeah others might be fun to drive out of box but quattro and built quality takes it beyond others.
as said above with quattro you don't get that feeling of acceleration and speed like in fwd cars. there are no wheels spins no torque steer no drama like in r26, opc, ed30.
i know people say it's not a real 4wd and so on but owning it for that long and driving it in every possible condition i've never felt haldex let me down.
and now i'm waiting to see what improvement will hpa haldex competition controler make.

this is just my opinion. im not trying to convenience you to keep the s3.

 

[S3Alex]

if you like it that much change the car. do what makes you happy.

i own my s3 for over 6 years now and i doubt that i will change it for another couple of years. tuning potential is huge...parts market also.
in my opinion no other fwd hot hatch comes near to it. yeah others might be fun to drive out of box but quattro and built quality takes it beyond others.
as said above with quattro you don't get that feeling of acceleration and speed like in fwd cars. there are no wheels spins no torque steer no drama like in r26, opc, ed30.
i know people say it's not a real 4wd and so on but owning it for that long and driving it in every possible condition i've never felt haldex let me down.
and now i'm waiting to see what improvement will hpa haldex competition controler make.

this is just my opinion. im not trying to convenience you to keep the s3.

I think the Haldex controller helps,but doesn't make a huge difference.

I know a torque sensing front diff makes a much bigger change,but with the stock ECU it will fight with TC in wet conditions.
Haldex gets panned for not being "proper",but those doing that have to remember that not only is it the only practical solution for the transverse engine in this car,but it also has a very strong competition history,so whilst it's not as good as a full set of torque sensing diffs,it's not all bad.

 

[S.]

i've read many reviews for hpa gen4 competition controller, and i like it what it does. so i though i'll give it a chance..

 

[S3Alex]

i've read many reviews for hpa gen4 competition controller, and i like it what it does. so i though i'll give it a chance..

Looking at your kit list,you've done everything else,so it's worth a go.

I'm looking at a rear diff as a possibility,and might even see if the latest Haldex system is compatible with the car.

 

[S.]

yeah i've done a quite a few mods
never saw rear diffs for this platform. which system are you looking at? gen4 or gen5?

 

[S3Alex]

yeah i've done a quite a few mods
never saw rear diffs for this platform. which system are you looking at? gen4 or gen5?

I need to speak to Storm...it's a project in my head only,so I won't clutter this thread with it.

 

[Jake 61]

I've had a few fast cars over the years, Ford's, Volvo's, BMW's, Renault's, VW's and finally Audi.
There would need to be something pretty special out there for me to go back the way now. (Faults an' all).
The way I see it, buying a Renault would eventually end with the thought.....
I have made a monumental F*** up in buying this...!

 

[T14ARD]

In my eye's I need to throw circa £2500 to make it the car I want it to be with better handling and a remap.
As she is fast, but she is not stable when giving it the beans around the twisty bits.

I may see about getting a track day in it so I can getter understand of the point where it starts slipping, thus understand the limitations.

That you for all your comments so far.

 

[S3Alex]

In my eye's I need to throw circa £2500 to make it the car I want it to be with better handling and a remap.
As she is fast, but she is not stable when giving it the beans around the twisty bits.

I may see about getting a track day in it so I can getter understand of the point where it starts slipping, thus understand the limitations.

That you for all your comments so far.

I think at least that.

The car is very wallowy,underdamped,and prone to severe understeer in base form.

My solution was:

ARBs
kW v3 coilovers
Superpro bushes and ALK

The ARBs make a huge difference,and a good set of coilovers will help a lot as well.
The other parts I'd only recommend after everything else.

Torque sensing diff
Haldex controller

 

[Samsellars]

Best place to go for a Torque sensing diff and haldex controller?
Just Got Kw's And Anti roll Bars looking at APR 2+ Soon

 

[S3Alex]

Best place to go for a Torque sensing diff and haldex controller?
Just Got Kw's And Anti roll Bars looking at APR 2+ Soon

I can only recommend the place I had mine fitted at.

AMDTuning.

 

[T14ARD]

Have any of you driven the Megan RS? I would be interested to know how you found it?

 

[Samsellars]

Cheers how much did it cost roughly?

 

[S3Alex]

Cheers how much did it cost roughly?

If you mean the Haldex controller and the diff...

They are each about £800 ex VAT and fitting