And I wasn’t disappointed, well maybe just a wee bit. It wasn’t quite as fierce and frenetic as the hyperactive bairn of the family, but by goad it wis quick. Deceptively quick. I use the word deceptive because at no time did I feel I was travelling excessively fast till I looked at the speedo. The suspension is so well damped and the ride so drama-free that the attainment of illegal speeds happens a lot quicker than the physical experience suggests.
For instance, I took the car to a stretch of road which is privately owned and even without going for a record breaking 0 to 60 time it was impressively quick. I’m always wary of doing burn-outs and full-bore blast-offs with press cars when I’m not with company personnel at their own private test tracks, because I don’t want to break them.
The recent Jaguar Race the Runway event was a case in point. I had no qualms whatsoever about trying to emulate the figures and go for competitive sprint times with the XKRS because the Jaguar folks were there and we were doing these full-bore acceleration runs with their approval and active encouragement. Neither would I have the same problem with Renault at an organised event or track day, but cars on the press rota? Nope, I drive well within my own limits and those of the vehicle on appraisal.
Which is why I was so surprised. Without using the maximum potential of the 250 hp Megane, the procedure went as follows, select first gear and ease out the clutch as the right foot is thrust to the floor - Wheeech! Rev limiter – second gear, Rev limiter – third gear, Rev limiter fourth gear. Honestly, it was that quick, the rev counter needle flicking round the yellow faced dial quicker than Road Runner with a coyote on its tail.
There was no smell of burning rubber or tyre screeching. With its limited slip diff, the Michelin Pilots just took a firm grip of the tarmac and launched the Megane into the distance. Overtaking? Think about it, then do it. Job done.
And maybe that’s the one drawback of the car. Because it’s so deceptively quick it could catch folk out who think they are not going as quickly as in fact they are. The wrong time to find out how good the brakes are is when approaching a corner 20 mph too quickly. Fortunately the brakes are up to it, the four pot Brembos gripping the huge 340 mm grooved discs at the front and 290 mm grooved discs at the rear with all the subtlety of a cheetah running head first into a wall.
The secret behind this impressive urge is the F4Rt engine which is French for the four cylinder, 2 litre 16v lump with a turbocharger which resides under the bonnet. Initial pickup is good so the use of the phrase turbocharger lag doesn’t really apply, but because the full 340 Nm of torque is achieved at 5500 rpm, its not a revvy, nippy little buzzbox of an engine. This is more of a relaxed cruiser with an after-burner attached.
Although the engine will rev to 6700 rpm, there is absolutely no point in going there, apart from listening to the gurgle from the exhaust, because the engine performs at its best mid-range, and that’s down to the turbo. Turbo engines will always sound that little bit more relaxed and perform that little bit less frenetically than a high revving, narrow power banded unit with fierce camshafts. For sure these are fun to drive, but not always the most relaxing.
And that’s another area in which the Megane excels. It is quite happy, docile, quiet and comfortable to drive around town at sensible speeds. The six speed gearbox is not stiff, the clutch not snatchy and the steering not too heavy. In fact I would be quite happy to let Lady B drive it.
But if you have had a row with the wife and want to let off steam, take the same car out on to a quiet stretch of road, gie it laldy, and the fight will be forgotten. You might even stop for a bunch of flowers on the way home.
Outwardly, the Megane Reanultsport 250 doesnt look too gaudy. It’s got the obligatory black alloy wheels and large (centrally placed) diameter exhaust with a bit of a body kit round the nose, rump, sills and arches with a wee wing above the rear window and that’s it. Well, nearly.
It’s got yellow seat belts. Trust the French to go a step too far when it comes to fashion! Also, be careful what you specify. The Recaros are a thousand pound extra with side bolsters sharp enough to do a bloke an injury clambering in and out.
If power is seductive, then this is Sophie Marceau. Or put it another way, if the Clio is as pert as a Pippa, then the Megane Renaultsport 250 is as intoxicating as a Beyonce.