Meglio for my 21st

[joehodges154]

Evening all,

One directed mainly at the Meglio boys on here, been reading quite a few progress threads of members taking the plunge and going for a 225 swap, which has never come into mind until recently. I've invested some time into researching it all but I may as well ask a few questions here to people that have done it already.

How much (realistic) budget do I need?
Best place to get the swap done?
Is it actually worth it?

If I knew I was going to be thinking about doing this just a year into ownership I wouldn't have been so picky with mileage! My main excuse is that it'll be a present from me to me. My 21st isn't until next April, have about 5k saved up at the moment so have another 8 months to boost funds. Don't really wanna half-arse it and cheap out, I want it to be the bollocks.

Any opinions and suggestions are more than welcome,

Cheers.

 

[DS197]

Any reason why a MK3 Megane doesn't appeal to you? You'd be able to get a decent one with 5k + selling the Clio.

 

[joehodges154]

Any reason why a MK3 Megane doesn't appeal to you? You'd be able to get a decent one with 5k + selling the Clio.

Just really dislike the look of them, prefer a small car, I know the megane isn't massive by any means, but I just looooooove the way the clio looks.

 

[DS197]

That’s a fair point. I’ll wait for the Meg bois to offer advice based on experience, but I would imagine if you want it done properly you’ll want a rebuild at the very least, and a forged engine ideally.

This would be for both MK2/MK3 engines as the former are getting on quite a bit and the latter have a high percentage that are run (harder) on track. Are you going for the MK2 box or getting someone with fabrication skills to fit the MK3 box?

Happy to be corrected but I’d say if you want a car that won’t need the engine looking at for at least a few years, you’re looking at closer to 10k than 5k. That’s budget looked at.

In regards to places to get the work done, it depends on what you want doing (rebuild/forged/MK3 box). Decide what you want and then go from there. There are now a fair few places that do these. Facebook is probably your best bet to see where others have gone.

Whether or not it was worth it is definitely something I will leave to answer by those who have one. You really need to go out, and if possible drive one to make sure it’s for you.

 

[Beany]

To throw a curve ball, but based on your budget so far… why not supercharge it?

I’m not against a meglio and have seen a lovely example!

but the age of 225 engines along with mileage you’d want to forge it for piece of mind.

 

[suj]

A question, I assume your insurance is high as it is on the Clio (as it's not the lowest of insurance groups), so have you done quotes with the engine conversion? As I assume at 20-21 it won't be cheap?

As DS said if I did put an engine in, i'd probably want to get it refreshed / forged, as last thing you want is pay shit tonne of money for it to shit itself a few weeks down the road to then come out again to forge it.

With most of these things, things end up spiralling out of control, so your £5k will most definitely will be +50 to 100% more.

Also as said have you driven one? As I have and it's great fun with all the torque, but it wasn't a hoon round, just a few pulls, there has been quite a few people who have sold their cars after converting it, they have said it has lost it's "soul", but then there are others like @Sean197 who had a meg one, that he broke and is now in another Clio and will be meg converting it again.

I also would personally get an RS250, but I understand you don't like the looks, but go and have a drive of one, you may change your mind about size, as it's not that much bigger.

 

[burrellbloke]

K-tec sell a supercharger kit fitted for £5k that will run up to 300bhp on a standard engine. I have not seen any reviews of the K-tec kit but it gives you an idea on price. You would have to get a remap on top of that and probably pay for other parts here and there. But SC means your car would still be NA.

 

[suj]

K-tec sell a supercharger kit fitted for £5k that will run up to 300bhp on a standard engine. I have not seen any reviews of the K-tec kit but it gives you an idea on price. You would have to get a remap on top of that and probably pay for other parts here and there. But SC means your car would still be NA.

But that is also a ticking timebomb, could go pop at any point, so you'd ideally need that forged too, so either option is not cheap, just which you prefer.

 

[Beany]

But that is also a ticking timebomb, could go pop at any point, so you'd ideally need that forged too, so either option is not cheap, just which you prefer.

boils down to forging a Clio engine and bolt on parts or forge a meg engine and rip everything out

 

[suj]

boils down to forging a Clio engine and bolt on parts or forge a meg engine and rip everything out

Exactly my point, either way for reliability you want to forge both (or run much lower boost on a Meg engine, doesn't mean it will last lol).

 

[link]

As said, insurance is probably going to be a killer... You'll probably spend £10k and it'll be worth £7k, not the wisest investment so you'd need to be 110% committed. At your age I'd put that money aside for a house or education etc. (I know, I'm an old fart talking)

If you just want a faster / cheaper / turbo car look around plenty of other examples out there albeit not a Mk3 Clio (yes, sacrilege I know)

If it's bang for buck I'd recommend getting a bike, I had an R6 as a first bike and it never stopped me smiling, 0-60 in 3s and a top end of 160mph what's not to like, oh apart from the likelihood of impending death... but that does teach you a lot about the road (and it's other users)

So going back to your questions, I'd budget £5-10k, if your not doing it yourself where's the fun? And is it worth it? Erm... Maybe, a sense of accomplishment isn't a bad thing.

 

[PITA]

YOLO

 

[joehodges154]

That’s a fair point. I’ll wait for the Meg bois to offer advice based on experience, but I would imagine if you want it done properly you’ll want a rebuild at the very least, and a forged engine ideally.

This would be for both MK2/MK3 engines as the former are getting on quite a bit and the latter have a high percentage that are run (harder) on track. Are you going for the MK2 box or getting someone with fabrication skills to fit the MK3 box?

Happy to be corrected but I’d say if you want a car that won’t need the engine looking at for at least a few years, you’re looking at closer to 10k than 5k. That’s budget looked at.

In regards to places to get the work done, it depends on what you want doing (rebuild/forged/MK3 box). Decide what you want and then go from there. There are now a fair few places that do these. Facebook is probably your best bet to see where others have gone.

Whether or not it was worth it is definitely something I will leave to answer by those who have one. You really need to go out, and if possible drive one to make sure it’s for you.

Just personal preference of Clio>Megane, it would be a 225 engine and box yeah. I'm young and have the money just sat there so wanna spend it on something I truely love, my car! & A little search on the internet came up with a few places that could do the swap.

To throw a curve ball, but based on your budget so far… why not supercharge it?

I’m not against a meglio and have seen a lovely example!

but the age of 225 engines along with mileage you’d want to forge it for piece of mind.

Haven't even blinked at a supercharger kit, I assume it'll be bolt on and keeps it NA so screaming it up to 8k will still be an option. Not sure if there is a Supercharge vs Meglio thread on here but I'd love to read the pros and cons. If the supercharger is a little bit cheaper overall, but can still reach my 280ish realistic dream horse figure, it is definitely an option to look at.

A question, I assume your insurance is high as it is on the Clio (as it's not the lowest of insurance groups), so have you done quotes with the engine conversion? As I assume at 20-21 it won't be cheap?

As DS said if I did put an engine in, i'd probably want to get it refreshed / forged, as last thing you want is pay shit tonne of money for it to shit itself a few weeks down the road to then come out again to forge it.

With most of these things, things end up spiralling out of control, so your £5k will most definitely will be +50 to 100% more.

Also as said have you driven one? As I have and it's great fun with all the torque, but it wasn't a hoon round, just a few pulls, there has been quite a few people who have sold their cars after converting it, they have said it has lost it's "soul", but then there are others like @Sean197 who had a meg one, that he broke and is now in another Clio and will be meg converting it again.

I also would personally get an RS250, but I understand you don't like the looks, but go and have a drive of one, you may change your mind about size, as it's not that much bigger.

My insurance isn't actually that bad at the moment considering I'm on 2 years no claims, been quoted just under £900 for next year with 3 years NCB, all mods declared. I haven't driven anything apart from my first car and my Clio now, would be interesting to feel how torque-y the car is and the boost. Definitely a different feeling, but part of me loves the fact it screams to the redline. During my research I was never looking at forging the swap, but if I want it to be the best it can be, and reliable, I guess I'd have to forge the internals. The front end of the Megs are fine, but the back just doesn't do it for me, MK2 MK3 or MK4, nothing like a clio booty.

K-tec sell a supercharger kit fitted for £5k that will run up to 300bhp on a standard engine. I have not seen any reviews of the K-tec kit but it gives you an idea on price. You would have to get a remap on top of that and probably pay for other parts here and there. But SC means your car would still be NA.

Is a kit like this straight bolt on as it comes? Or can I upgrade other things to push it further?

As said, insurance is probably going to be a killer... You'll probably spend £10k and it'll be worth £7k, not the wisest investment so you'd need to be 110% committed. At your age I'd put that money aside for a house or education etc. (I know, I'm an old fart talking)

If you just want a faster / cheaper / turbo car look around plenty of other examples out there albeit not a Mk3 Clio (yes, sacrilege I know)

If it's bang for buck I'd recommend getting a bike, I had an R6 as a first bike and it never stopped me smiling, 0-60 in 3s and a top end of 160mph what's not to like, oh apart from the likelihood of impending death... but that does teach you a lot about the road (and it's other users)

So going back to your questions, I'd budget £5-10k, if your not doing it yourself where's the fun? And is it worth it? Erm... Maybe, a sense of accomplishment isn't a bad thing.

Very wise words, however, I have no intention of ever getting rid of this car, no matter what happens. I have no goals at the moment, so spend spend spend while I can! Bikes on road are not for me unfortunately, motocross I'm all for it, but not on tarmac.

 

[burrellbloke]

Have you had an insurance quote? The only reason I ask is @EthanMenance tried to get a temporary insurance quote to drive my Megane 280 and all of the usual sites declined to give him a quote despite the fact he is 20 with a 2 year NCB.

 

[suj]

Have you had an insurance quote? The only reason I ask is @EthanMenance tried to get a temporary insurance quote to drive my Megane 280 and all of the usual sites declined to give him a quote despite the fact he is 20 with a 2 year NCB.

My thinking as well, insurance isn't so straight forward and you are talking about a standard Meg 280, so a converted Clio might be very limited.
I was getting ridiculous quotes on my E36 due to all my NCB on my Clio and i've been driving a LONG time lol, that is standard engined too.
So do a quote so you know where you stand, or you'll pump loads of money for a car that costs an arm and leg to insure.

Out of curiosity, are all your mods declared currently?

 

[R20BTG]

Do you still live at home? I get that impression from your posts and photographs that's all.
If I still lived at home approaching my 21st, then spunking up to £10k on modifications on a car wouldn't be the top of my list.

 

[RSRowe]

I was busy chucking money into this at 21 cus I wanted 500 bhp



Just go for it lad. I’d defo look at buying one already done tho if you don’t have the space/time to do it. Ideally with a 250 engine.

 

[Big Ben]

Id go for it at 21. This was my car at 21/22. Pains me that I sold it for a sensible life still to this day!
Financially having done the conversion and paying specialists you’ll be well out of pocket going down this route but you’ll know for sure what’s been done.
Cheaper to buy one that’s done but it’s a risk and you don’t get to keep the car you’re in love with. If you’re anywhere near Herts and want a ride in one I’ll be only too happy to take you out. I’ve no regrets about doing mine

 

[EthanMenace]

My thinking as well, insurance isn't so straight forward and you are talking about a standard Meg 280, so a converted Clio might be very limited.
I was getting ridiculous quotes on my E36 due to all my NCB on my Clio and i've been driving a LONG time lol, that is standard engined too.
So do a quote so you know where you stand, or you'll pump loads of money for a car that costs an arm and leg to insure.

Out of curiosity, are all your mods declared currently?

My insurance on my 182 is £1500, I'm probably waiting another 5 years or so before insurance on anything becomes reasonable which is a bit depressing

 

[PITA]

Don’t supercharge it if you plan on using it daily, you’ll need shares in Esso