Thursday, April 11, 2013

Driven – Renault Megane GT Line dCi 130 – Am I a hot hatch?


The Renault Megane GT Line should visit a shrink in order to find out what it is and what it should do because the answer to the question asked above isn’t so obvious.



Is it new?
No. In fact the version I tested is based on the third generation and this is being produced since 2008.

Is it cheap?
Sort of, the cheapest version of the Megane GT Line costs just over 15,000 euros but in order to get the one pictured below you should a few more papers until the number will gather at almost 24,000 euros.

Is it “green”?
Not really, I mean sure, it has a diesel engine, and leaf eaters like diesels but in terms of CO2 emissions is as “green” as a Golf TDI or Focus TDCi. Fuel consumption will make you think it’s green because as heavy as your right foot will be, the car won’t burn more than 8.5 liters of fuel / 100 km, in the city and if you’re concerned that your road won’t see a petrol station anytime soon, you can drive it at 80 – 90 km/h, in sixth gear, and the trip computer will show you an average of just over 3.0 liters burned every 100 km.

Is it quiet?
Despite being a diesel, the Renault Megane GT Line is very quiet and the noise entering the cabin won’t make you look for your angry pills in the glove compartment.

Is it safe?
Euro NCAP thinks it is and they have awarded the car with an over-all five-star safety rating. Well, two stars for pedestrian safety, so if you’re on foot and you see a third-gen Megane coming towards you, run and look for a Volvo. Than jump on its bonnet if it’s new. That will trigger the pedestrian airbag.

Is it practical?
No, the Megane GT Line isn’t practical and there isn’t enough room in the back for two adults, except if they are midgets (no offence).

Is it comfortable?
It’s as comfortable as a car riding on a sport chassis can be. You will feel every bump on the road but from the driver’s position you will quickly ignore them.

Is it gadget friendly?
Sort of, it comes with TomTom navi, with a Bose premium sound system, it has Bluetooth for your phone, USB for your memory stick and AUX to connect your mobile device or portable MP3 player. And that’s it.

Is it fast, does it handle well and how good are its brakes?
The Megane GT Line it will trick you in believing it’s fast but when you will push the gas pedal harder you will find out that you don’t have enough revs, because it’s a diesel. It has 130 HP and 320 Nm of torque, which are enough for an everyday commute.
The handling is superb, mainly thanks to its Renaultsport chassis so this car will make you want to see how fast you can go around that corner. Until under steer will appear and be sure that it will because it’s front-wheel drive. The brakes aren’t brilliant but they will eventually stop the car.

Do women think it’s cool?
Unless “they are” my wife, no, because she thinks every car is cool. In fact, they won’t notice the difference between this one and a regular Megane and if you start talking about its chassis, you won’t end up anywhere.

Will my neighbors be jealous if I buy it?
No exactly, because they will think it’s a regular Megane, and that’s not something to be jealous of.

Will I be ashamed driving it?
You will be happy driving it because you will sit close to the road in bucket seats wrapped in leather and you will hold a leather-wrapped semi-sports steering wheel in your hands. And that’s a good compromise to driving a regular diesel with 130 HP and a fuel consumption which will make petrol stations hate you.

Do I need a road to drive it?
Definitely because it’s riding close to the ground, it has large alloy wheels and front-wheel drive. You don’t get a low-range gearbox either.

What else do I need to know about it?
You don’t have enough legroom on the rear seats, you don’t get enough cupholders in the front, the rain-sensing wipers are useless, so don’t order this option, the dashboard design has some common elements to other cars in Renault’s lineup and this may feel cheap compared to your leather upholstery and you don’t have a support for your mobile phone. Oh, and, Renault, please add an automatic transmission. Preferably the new EDC. And some white stripes on this color, they would pay a tribute to the old Gordini models.
Original text here.




















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