The question has been asked many times on here "What's the best, Mk1 Focus RS or Mk2 Focus ST" but what happens if you chuck a Renault Megane Sport 225 in to the equation. What's the best in terms of performance, ownership experience, reliability, cost to run and driving experience and what would give you the most enjoyment for your money on say a £7k budget?

I'm not in the market to buy any of these but if i had that money these are probably what i would consider.

 

Exactly what i thought when i was after another hot hatch after the CTR, but i also added in the MPS and ED30, as an all rounder the MPS was cleary the winner for me.

 

Ive had an st and a megane r26, both were remapped with big intercoolers and a couple of other usual bits. The st was great, i loved that car it just did everything so well, shouldnt of sold it. I hated the megane and sold it after a month, it was badly made, kept breaking and devolping faults, felt fragile, tourque steer'ed really badly. Would like to try an mk1 frs as ive heard there good and there getting cheap now, keep being silly and looking at cossies though

 

Everyday car - ST
Weekend car - RS
Jurys out on the Renault as I know its a good car but I can't get over the huge rear end...

 

With 7k you can get a good spec ST and have some spare for a remap etc.
Mate had the megane ad hated it.

 

My brother in law had all 3 started with a mk1 frs and then p/x for a mk2 ST, he heard great things about the renault so bought that and it lasted 3 weeks before he got rid and went back to the mk2 ST3 as he compaired the renault to a astra

 

I have a Focus RS as a daily driver - since Feb this year.

The other cars on your list were considered along with a few others, focus wins on road presence, individuality and it doesn't have as many fly by wire gizmo's.

That said my concern over the car is quite a lot of bespoke parts on it - but thanks to Steve B I'm less concerned now.

 

Even having a new option, it's the same result as it's always been for me... MK1 FRS.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Mate im in this very predicatement at the mo, and I think for my needs/wants a Mk2 Focus ST modded to around 300bhp is going to the best answer to this question .

 

ST for the win !! for struggled after the cossie and frs shows it Lets face it until the mk2 frs turned up the last rs that ever had real presence was a 3door

 

dude if your ever in basingstoke or at a show where i am have a blast in mine

 

I assume you're fishing... but if not, then I disagree that an Escort Cosworth fades into the sea of mundane cars on the road?!


Cheers,
Grant

 

Such a shame I use to live in Frimley,college town which is in Camberley, just off the M3

 

Grant i love history and i love the rs brand BUT look back the rs name rs mk1 rs 2000 just brilliant at the time the mk2 rs 2000 again brilliant then the r3 500/3dr and the rs200 but the escort was just a saff with a body kit dont me wrong the escort is lovely but not as ground breaking as the rest ive mentioned

 

Jay, I take it yours isn't standard or if it is, it won't be for long?

 

no nath its been to nms lol come and have a go

 

225 R26.....all day long.

 

mk1 focus rs i hear they respond well to tuning. my 205 gti6. Suppose it is 230bhp lol can take a 300bhp st down never mind in the bends. To big and heavy i say.

 

To be honest i wasn't too familiar with what the R26 offered that the standard Megane 225 didn't so i did a bit of Googling and found a few articles but this one was probably one of the best:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...26-428046.html

After reading the above it sounds like the original car was a let down and the revised R26 was an awesome bit of kit. Maybe this is the car that all the other Megane 225 owners should have waited for and it may have avoided some of the doom and gloom stories (hindsight - it's a wonderful thing lol).
So, going back to my original question but now with a slight amendment to the model of Megane, how would the R26 do in the company of the 2 Focuses?

 

http://www.zeperfs.com/en/duel1552-1020.htm

http://www.zeperfs.com/en/duel1552-1328.htm

http://www.zeperfs.com/en/duel1552-1388.htm

 

I don't think the megane is as good an all rounder as the focai, its not as good looking in my opinion, it hasnt got the road presence of the mk1 rs and it is as comfortable and as capable as the mk2 st...
They go quite well, maybe even abit better as standard than the mk1 rs? But then the RS and ST come alive after so mild tuning...

 

I just find Renaults are very fragile and the build quality isnt that great either

 

MK1 RS without question, it gives you a buzz no other car does.

I now have moved on from a 380 bhp MK1 to a 430bhp MK2 RS, after a week of ownership i miss the MK1