RS Megane MK4

Personally I think it looks great. Especially with the logo.

And this is why we employ you on this forum, to make sound decisions for colour coordinating (just take my bloody caliper dilemma, for example!) :grinning:

Definitely looks better with the writing, would have to see the whole car really - maybe red bullets would also make a nice touch. I reckon there's some underlying red/yellow trauma from my childhood affecting my response!
 
And this is why we employ you on this forum, to make sound decisions for colour coordinating (just take my bloody caliper dilemma, for example!) :grinning:

Definitely looks better with the writing, would have to see the whole car really - maybe red bullets would also make a nice touch. I reckon there's some underlying red/yellow trauma from my childhood affecting my response!

Hence the Noddy comment! :smiley:

Or Andy Pandy...

All horses for courses though eh mate, one mans trash is another mans treasure and all that...
 
Hence the Noddy comment! :smiley:

Or Andy Pandy...

All horses for courses though eh mate, one mans trash is another mans treasure and all that...

Exactly, the world would be boring if we all drove around on bronze OZ's... no, wait... it wouldn't :tongueout:
 
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So @Christopher if you had a Golf Club Sport what box would it be

The Clubsport S? It only comes in manual, since it's a proper driver's car and VW know this. Renault take note. Saves around 15-20kgs over the heavier DSG gearbox too.

You can have the regular Clubsport in both manual and DSG, but obviously I'd go manual again.

I looked at Golf R Estates last year, but they're only available with a DSG, weirdly. So no.
 
The Clubsport S? It only comes in manual, since it's a proper driver's car and VW know this. Renault take note. Saves around 15-20kgs over the heavier DSG gearbox too.

You can have the regular Clubsport in both manual and DSG, but obviously I'd go manual again.

I looked at Golf R Estates last year, but they're only available with a DSG, weirdly. So no.
So a 458 Speciale or a GT3 RS are not drives cars????
 
So a 458 Speciale or a GT3 RS are not drives cars????

Ferrari have offered semi-auto or double clutch gearboxes since the mid-90's, to link their F1 campaign to their road cars. Fair enough I guess. Their boxes are meant to be insanely quick as well (my main issue with Renault's EDC) as Ferrari like to see themselves as a race team that also make road cars. I'm not sure that's a good strategy going off the last ten years in F1. :tearsofjoy: Ferrari also have a habit of doing whatever the hell they want because plebs will hoover it up. Ferrari aftershave, anyone?

Porsche have just announced the Gen2 991 GT3... which after people moaning about the PDK-only Gen 1, they now offer a manual option! That was pretty much the only downside in specialist reviews was "...it'd be nice to at least have the option of a manual for the purist" We all know that a dual clutch is faster, but where's the interaction? Where's the satisfaction from completely nailing heel and toe into third, chucking it in and then left foot braking around? (another thing Renault's EDC gearboxes/management don't like, they just cut ignition!)

Porsche listened and then we had the manual 911R and later the 991.2 GT3 and GT3RS manuals. A great example of a manufacturer really knowing their customer base...

Over to you, Renault. I'd love a manual RS Megane Sport Tourer in Oyster Grey. Perfect daily. :sunglasses: I'm not saying that it should be manual only, just that we should be given the option.
 
Ferrari have offered semi-auto or double clutch gearboxes since the mid-90's, to link their F1 campaign to their road cars. Fair enough I guess. Their boxes are meant to be insanely quick as well (my main issue with Renault's EDC) as Ferrari like to see themselves as a race team that also make road cars. I'm not sure that's a good strategy going off the last ten years in F1. :tearsofjoy: Ferrari also have a habit of doing whatever the hell they want because plebs will hoover it up. Ferrari aftershave, anyone?

Porsche have just announced the Gen2 991 GT3... which after people moaning about the PDK-only Gen 1, they now offer a manual option! That was pretty much the only downside in specialist reviews was "...it'd be nice to at least have the option of a manual for the purist" We all know that a dual clutch is faster, but where's the interaction? Where's the satisfaction from completely nailing heel and toe into third, chucking it in and then left foot braking around? (another thing Renault's EDC gearboxes/management don't like, they just cut ignition!)

Porsche listened and then we had the manual 911R and later the 991.2 GT3 and GT3RS manuals. A great example of a manufacturer really knowing their customer base...

Over to you, Renault. I'd love a manual RS Megane Sport Tourer in Oyster Grey. Perfect daily. :sunglasses: I'm not saying that it should be manual only, just that we should be given the option.
No never go back to a manual ever
 
Ferrari have offered semi-auto or double clutch gearboxes since the mid-90's, to link their F1 campaign to their road cars. Fair enough I guess. Their boxes are meant to be insanely quick as well (my main issue with Renault's EDC) as Ferrari like to see themselves as a race team that also make road cars. I'm not sure that's a good strategy going off the last ten years in F1. :tearsofjoy: Ferrari also have a habit of doing whatever the hell they want because plebs will hoover it up. Ferrari aftershave, anyone?

Porsche have just announced the Gen2 991 GT3... which after people moaning about the PDK-only Gen 1, they now offer a manual option! That was pretty much the only downside in specialist reviews was "...it'd be nice to at least have the option of a manual for the purist" We all know that a dual clutch is faster, but where's the interaction? Where's the satisfaction from completely nailing heel and toe into third, chucking it in and then left foot braking around? (another thing Renault's EDC gearboxes/management don't like, they just cut ignition!)

Porsche listened and then we had the manual 911R and later the 991.2 GT3 and GT3RS manuals. A great example of a manufacturer really knowing their customer base...

Over to you, Renault. I'd love a manual RS Megane Sport Tourer in Oyster Grey. Perfect daily. :sunglasses: I'm not saying that it should be manual only, just that we should be given the option.

Some people are just stuck in the dark ages! :smiley: Time has moved on. The obsession with interaction by some of the motoring world baffles me to be honest. We used to have to turn our cars over by hand. Would you rather that too? Would you still rather send post instead of email? :smiley: Heel and toe is something for people to boast about on the Pistonheads forum I guess but in the real world, it's an outdated skill that machines can do much better than us now.

Not only is it faster, there's no doubt that you DO feel more connected to the car. Taking the time and thought to think about what gear you're in, what gear you need, oh now I need to come off the gas and push the clutch and then move the lever around and select a cog, off the clutch, back on the gas...eventually... Where as in a paddle shift car it's just woosh, next, woosh, next, woosh. All flat shifting. It's a far more immersive experience. And as for downshifts, throttle blips are awesome and perfectly matched every time. Never miss a gear, always perfect. Fair enough, you may enjoy doing that yourself but personally I'd rather be focused on making progress and getting the best lines and nailing my braking points. You can do all that better without worrying about gears. Oh and left foot braking is MUCH better with two pedals. No question.

I've driven back to back manual and paddle shift versions of the same cars from BMW, Porsche and Lotus. Even taking into account the "auto" software on the Lotus is terrible, the paddle shift versions all gave a more connected experience every time.

As for the Porsche example, for the GT3, it's a option. Not a change back. And the 911R, firstly, none of us on here can afford one, secondly the vast majority of them will end up in a collection and not getting driven at all. Porsche will do whatever they need to for marketing purposes. Including going back on their 911 will always have the engine at the rear stance. Nothing is sacred over there and the only reason there is a manual option is to gain a few more sales from the folk who want to arse about with gears.

Dismissing modern technology because you like doing things the old and slower way and taking yourself away from actually driving because you're focusing on selecting cogs... I mean, you're entitled to your opinion but, honestly, it's old hat and we can do it better now. The interaction you're craving takes away from the base driving experience and the focus on what you're actually trying to do, concentrate on driving fast.

However, what I do agree with is that we should be given an option. If you really need to swap your own cogs, fair enough, you should be able to do that. And hopefully you still will for some time, however, it's all a moot point anyway because in your life time all cars will be electric and just go/stop.

Don't fight the change mate, it's pointless!
 
Is you M3 an SMG?

I'm not saying that it should be binned, just that we should be given an option.

It's hurt the Clio 4 in the specialist press, it's hurt the GT3/GT3RS sales too, hence Porsche now offering a manual option.

Regarding LFB, every car is two pedal. You shouldn't even be near the clutch, so that's moot really. My point was most modern dual clutch cars I've driven don't even let you LFB, they cut ignition or fuel and freak out, 200 EDC/220 Trophy included.

I used the 911R as an example because it's the epitome of a driver's car. Around a track, a Gen1 991 RS would murder it, but the interaction that the R driver has with the car is what I find so engaging about driving my little 200. It does nothing for you and it expects you to drive well. When you do, nothing beats that feeling.

All IMO.
 
Is you M3 an SMG?

I'm not saying that it should be binned, just that we should be given an option.

It's hurt the Clio 4 in the specialist press, it's hurt the GT3/GT3RS sales too, hence Porsche now offering a manual option.

Regarding LFB, every car is two pedal. You shouldn't even be near the clutch, so that's moot really. My point was most modern dual clutch cars I've driven don't even let you LFB, they cut ignition or fuel and freak out, 200 EDC/220 Trophy included.

I used the 911R as an example because it's the epitome of a driver's car. Around a track, a Gen1 991 RS would murder it, but the interaction that the R driver has with the car is what I find so engaging about driving my little 200. It does nothing for you and it expects you to drive well. When you do, nothing beats that feeling.

All IMO.

Good reply mate. Yeah the CS is SMG, and I absolutely love it. Was the first car I've driven with paddle shift and to be honest I prefer it to the newer DCT options, it still feels mechanical and punchy. I was adamant I didn't want SMG when I was looking but the PERFECT car came up apart from the colour and the gearbox so I figured I'd have a look. Was totally sold on the SMG within ten mins and now will never look back.

Didn't know about new DCT cutting ignition if you try to left foot brake. That's just daft safety nannying. Shame. It's a really fun go-kart experience in mine.

Not sure about the 911R being the be all and end all though. It's still a back of a spoon ugly 911 at the end of the day! Plus the reviews we read are all massively manipulated by Porsche. They play the market very well, but it doesn't mean what we read is the truth. Wouldn't mind a GT3 though, but I certainly wouldn't spec the manual! The Exige V6 really rammed it home for me to be honest. Spent a good hour in the auto (and it's admittedly NOT great) and straight into a good hour with the manual. I was expecting the manual to be the better experience with it being as driver focused a car as you can get. Enjoyed the paddle shift experience so much more. But then could I add all that weight? :smiley:

Bottom line for me is, I get the interaction thing, but the interaction is with the gearbox, not with the actual driving. I want to feel fully immersed in the experience, not connected to the gearbox. And as much as I do agree, it's great getting a perfect h&t downshift coming up to a corner, I get a lot more out of feeling like I'm fully in tune with the car.
 
Good reply mate. Yeah the CS is SMG, and I absolutely love it. Was the first car I've driven with paddle shift and to be honest I prefer it to the newer DCT options, it still feels mechanical and punchy. I was adamant I didn't want SMG when I was looking but the PERFECT car came up apart from the colour and the gearbox so I figured I'd have a look. Was totally sold on the SMG within ten mins and now will never look back.

Didn't know about new DCT cutting ignition if you try to left foot brake. That's just daft safety nannying. Shame. It's a really fun go-kart experience in mine.

Not sure about the 911R being the be all and end all though. It's still a back of a spoon ugly 911 at the end of the day! Plus the reviews we read are all massively manipulated by Porsche. They play the market very well, but it doesn't mean what we read is the truth. Wouldn't mind a GT3 though, but I certainly wouldn't spec the manual! The Exige V6 really rammed it home for me to be honest. Spent a good hour in the auto (and it's admittedly NOT great) and straight into a good hour with the manual. I was expecting the manual to be the better experience with it being as driver focused a car as you can get. Enjoyed the paddle shift experience so much more. But then could I add all that weight? :smiley:

Bottom line for me is, I get the interaction thing, but the interaction is with the gearbox, not with the actual driving. I want to feel fully immersed in the experience, not connected to the gearbox. And as much as I do agree, it's great getting a perfect h&t downshift coming up to a corner, I get a lot more out of feeling like I'm fully in tune with the car.

I don't think M Cars do it with the DCT, but the Clio's EDC definitely does, which is annoying, especially on a front drive car where you really could do with manipulating the balance with your left foot!

Agreed on the SMG though, I kind of like the more brutal semi-auto feeling to the seamless dual clutches.

It's our differing opinions on gearboxes that demonstrates why two equally massive car nerds should be offered a DCT/manual option on our new cars! :sunglasses:
 
I wouldn't have my Merc daily (not AMG) any other way than auto. I've probably used the paddles twice to change gear in 3.5 years of ownership & there's just no pleasure in using them with the nature of the engine. However I have a friend who has had a series of 911s & Caymans who now says he really likes the PDK box & wouldn't go back now. It was certainly impressive when he took me for a spin. I like the manual on my Clio as I think it suits the revvy nature of the engine & also it's a different experience to the Merc, but I am not stuck in the past & am open to a paddle shift on my next sporty car. I do think it's good when manufacturers give us the choice. It interested me that Noble have recently started offering a paddle shift box on the M600 which to me was one of the last analogue supercars. Always a favourite of mine if the lottery came up, but I'm not sure I have the balls for all that power & no ESP safety net!
 
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I don't think M Cars do it with the DCT, but the Clio's EDC definitely does, which is annoying, especially on a front drive car where you really could do with manipulating the balance with your left foot!

Agreed on the SMG though, I kind of like the more brutal semi-auto feeling to the seamless dual clutches.

It's our differing opinions on gearboxes that demonstrates why two equally massive car nerds should be offered a DCT/manual option on our new cars! :sunglasses:

Agree entirely mate. I'm not against change, I'm against not having a choice!

It's a good point about the Clio EDC though, it might have been better received if they got the software absolutely spot on prior to release. The Lotus is a similar issue, their auto is so pedestrian between the pull of the paddle and the gear slotting home.
 
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Iam 56 this year driven manual cars most of my life so iam not from the PlayStation era.But for me the convenience of the EDC box is perfect especially when you hit Brussels on a bad Friday night hit the Auto bliss then on track race mod on the paddles.The only manual I'd have is a 330 P3 FERRARI but that's dreaming.
 
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