evo Track Battle: Renault Megane 265 Trophy v Subaru BRZ

It's Subaru BRZ versus Renaultsport Megane 265 Trophy, rear-drive versus
front-drive, in our latest evo track test video. Evo's Editor sits in with Editor-at-large John Barker as they take to the evo track. Who's your money on blue or yellow?

[elgi]

The people at Renault Sport just don't mess around with the RS models. I've driven the Clio RS R27 model, and the handling and level of grip through corners is just unbelievable.

[samphillips]

Toyota fan boys can't take it :') The fact is that the Megane is built for the track and the GT86 isn't, and it has more horsepower, get over it and stop crying..

[netmatrix]

Almost everyone here cannot accept the fact that the Megane is simply a better real world car than the GT86! Its a fact! Its proven in many time trials, track races and illegal street races! Face it guys. It is probably the best hatch from out of the box money can buy right now. The GT86 just isn't.

And many who support GT86/ BRZ are actually for nostalgia reasons. GT86/ BRZ is underpowered and shod with skate tires. It needs a turbo and better tires. It would be another beast altogether. If they do that, they could not sell it to you cheap like you expected it to be. Then there would be comparisons with the Supra.

Remember when toyota made Supra, Celica, Trueno/ Levin, they were making history. Nowdays they are making people movers. LFA stinks with tech, but its not worthwhile the hype. Even its creator died in one. Not doing a good job there. All in all Toyota forgot how to build cars. With new found wealth they hired marketeers to hype everyone into believing this is better. NO!

Look at Renault. They made crap cars up till mid 2000 on exception for 5 and Clio along the way. Look 5 years back, something changed. Their cars are unlike anything on the road. Their cars actually work. They look great. The GT86/ BRZ next to it is.... Meh.

[den_]

Regardless whether its auto or manual, the RS is just heads and shoulders better than the 86/brz is every aspect. Everytime I see an 86/BRZ around I always feel sorry for those who ordered one from all the hype. Because in reality its just not a good car.

[sammaes]

A lot of frustration because the mégane RS isn't for sale in the US I think.

[miguelitolitolito]

honestly i liked the video. it gave me great insight to the way both cars handle because of the full laps and good in-car camera angles.

[Silidons]

stupidest review ever.  the renault costs $47k for one (BRZ limited is $28k) and you can just see that this guy does not know how to drive a RWD car.  it is much easier for an average driver to be quicker around a track with a FWD car because you feel more confident through the corners because you don't know what you're doing...

[lophilip]

I can appreciate the journalist and driver being honest and not fall into the hype.

[Blakeoffire]

Great vid guys - nice to see Mr. Barker behind the wheel in one of them! Was sort-of expecting the Megane to be more thrilling after everything I've read about it in the evo pages... Shame about the BRZ not really living up to its fanfare on the track though... I'm more curious about how a manual version will cope on the roads. Cheers the vid ;)

[abi_wasabi.]

Well, you've made a very good point. With the Megane being an established enthusiast hot hatch that delivers they may not have anything to prove, but I guess it wouldn't hurt for them to make sure they continue generating sales. This is a brand new entry to the market that's going to be attracting buyers from their dealerships. I may have reached too far with a bought review on behalf of Renault, but its plausible. I just don't understand how they dislike the car so much. Auto or not.

[danesebruno]

Why on earth would you compare it to an AUTOMATIC BRZ?
WTF is wrong with you guys? it doesn't even have a double clutch tranny, it just has a slushie torque converter! JESUS CHRIST

[MrAnders]

Yes I was a bit surprised to hear about the comments on the BRZ. THey have been praised buy many motor magazines as being a basic super balanced rear wheel drive, with a lot of connection through the steering wheel. With a turbo and maybe 65 more horses and a slight adjustement to the supspension with the added power i think the Gt86/BRZ could reallly run head to head with a lot of super cars..

[adam]

a Renault Diesel van of some sort would have been a fairer track battle for the brz

[KagetsukiRei]

Because the paddles are just controls for the sequential "manual mode" in the AT version. It's not like it has a clutch and it also rev matches and will delay shifts if you are too far from a power band. In otherwords it is absolutely not an MT and doesn't give you near the type of control you'd want on a track to do things like drop down into a lower gear for a quick burst of torque to kick the back out.

[mavezy]

Megane 265 Trophy is a brilliant car, good job again Renault.

[antcleigh]

Try watching the video at 0:41 and 2:16
This has an identical external shot of both cars coming off tower corner into the straight.
The body roll in the BRZ is clearly more significant and in the time taken for the BRZ to sort itself out the Megane is already accelerating away. Its the same situation on most of the corners. The Megane is faster through, quicker on the exit due to the better suspension, and faster in the straight.

[ComaComaComaComaComaChameleon]

EVO is proud to present the next battle: Bull vs. Horse. They both have 4 legs and a tail... and that's about it.

[bobdevo]

1. It is a single clutch, so it's not as quick as a manual; but more importantly
2. the auto trans has both 5th and 6th gears as overdrive (which explains superior mileage for auto), the manual has a 6-speed close ratio trans set up to keep the engine in the power band, with only 6th as an overdrive gear.

[antcleigh]

Yes, thats what I said, they got an automatic car from Subaru for their tests. I certainly didnt imply the tests used different cars and I am not sure why anybody might have assumed that.
I just checked the weights. Subaru web site, 1202kg manual (1224kg Auto), Renault website 1320kg. The Renault is without driver, it isnt clear if the brz is or isn't.
So its either 118kg or 193kg assuming 75kg for the driver.

[Rooooko]

This renualt is kicking the ass of every track battles in all the videos. It keeps shocking every body every pro racing driver. Its the best am buying it