Megane 225 Trophy #449, Extensive spec, £7599

[Whiteley]

2005 Renaultsport Mégane 225 Trophy.

With regret, I’m putting my Mégane Trophy up for sale. I need something capable of towing my Trackday Clio about and simply can’t justify running three cars.

With just 159 Trophy’s registered in the UK, and 500 in total across Europe, this #449 example really is a rare car.

“Following on from early reviews of the original ‘Full Fat’ Megane 225 being on the tame side, Renaultsport introduced the Trophy in 2005 with the all new Cup chassis. This uprated the spring rates (25% front and 77% rear) as well as re-tuning the front and rear damper rates to suit. The chassis was developed entirely for the pleasure of driving and benefits from unique components and settings. Improved body support results in lower roll angles, less pitching during acceleration and also less nosedive under braking. Cornering potential and overall road handling on all types of surface has also been improved thanks to revised front suspension set-up with greater turn authority and significantly reduced understeer.

Another boon for the car, particularly for trackday drivers, is that the Trophy’s electronic stability programme (ESP) system can now be switched off completely above 35mph. Although the system will still intervene should the car veer off lines under heavy braking, its intervention threshold has been set higher and its operation made less intrusive. Apart from the technical changes, the Trophy was identified by its then unique colour of Nimbus Grey and anthracite alloy wheels and added climate control.

Inside the Trophy featured new sports front seats with part leather trim and blue weave cloth, plus blue seatbelts and stitching on the gearknob, gaiter and steering wheel. Carbon fibre inserts appeared in the centre console and door handle surround, while a numbered plaque featured in the lower part of the dashboard to emphasise the cars exclusivity”.

• Taxed until 30/06/2011
• MOT'd until 06/07/2011
• 45,000 miles (will increase by ~40 miles per day to and from work)
• Extensive service history
• Both keycards present and working
• 2 Former keepers

Standard Trophy specification which includes:

• Automatic climate control
• Heat reflecting windscreen
• Cruise control with speed limiter
• Keyless entry and starting (recently replaced drivers door lock button)
• Electric front windows with one-touch operation and anti-pinch provision
• Tyre pressure monitor
• Electrochrome rear view mirror
• Front foglights
• Integrated, F1-style fuel filler cap
• Sports front seats with part leather/part cloth upholstery in dark carbon and blue
• Blue seatbelts and stitching on gearknob, gaiter and steering wheel
• Carbon fibre centre console, door handle surrounds and gear lever base
• Leather trimmed wheel, gear lever knob and handbrake grip
• Three-spoke leather steering wheel, adjustable for height and reach
• Drilled chrome pedals and footrest
• Three "comma" type rear head restraints
• ABS with EBD
• Driver and front passenger two-stage adaptive airbags
• Front lateral airbags & front anti-submarining airbags
• Front and rear curtain airbags
• Insurance approved (Thatcham category 1) alarm
• Renault Anti-Intruder Device
• Isofix child seat mountings on front passenger and rear outer seats
• Height adjustable front head restraints

Previous to myself, the car was owned from new (First registered 06/07/2005) by a family in Worcestershire until 29/09/2009. The car then moved to Aylesbury until I bought the car on 06/03/2010 as the former owner gained use of a company car.

The car was 100% standard specification when I purchased it, and it’s worth pointing out at this stage that the Trophy had 2 options from new; Xenon headlights and Cabasse Auditorium 6cd stereo upgrade. This example benefits from both options which makes the car rarer yet again. I spent a good while searching for this car as the Xenons in particular were very important to me. I had a Clio 182 beforehand which had Xenons and I didn’t want to go back to halogen units.

Since purchasing the car, I’ve spent a considerable amount of money on maintaining and upgrading the spec. I’ve purchased the following in my ownership of #449:

• OE spec NGK PFR7Z-TG Spark plugs (07/03/2010)
• Brand new set of Renault Injectors (21/04/2010)
• Forge Motorsport black silicone boost hose kit (05/05/2010)
• 5yr/72k Major service, which included a Cambelt kit and Auxillary belt kit, carried out by Birchdown, a reputable Renaultsport specialist garage (24/06/2010)
• Replacement drivers side door lock button (24/06/2010)
• Forge motorsport uprated Intercooler (25/07/2010)
• RS Tuning Stage 1 Remap, 260bhp & 290lbft (27/07/2010)
• RS Tuning Stage 2 Remap, 260bhp & 325lbft (06/11/2010)
• Another trip to Birchdown to fit the following (15/11/2010)
  [list:023efeca61]
• Genuine Renault drilled front and rear brake discs and rear pads
• Ferodo Racing DS2500 front brake pads
• Genuine replacement set of 4 engine mounts
• Goodridge stainless steel braided brake lines F+R
• Castrol EPX75w-80 Gearbox oil

[/list:u:023efeca61]As can be seen from the above, the car has had in excess of £3000 spent on it since March of last year. With all the serviceable parts recently being changed, the car will need very little spending on it in the near future. This is worth bearing in mind when the cost of a replacement set of disks alone is getting on for £500, not to mention all the other parts. It really has been maintained regardless of cost.

RS Tuning are well known as being the company to use when it comes to tuning these Méganes, and the car really is a pleasure to drive with its current map; perhaps as it should have been from the Factory. The 4-pot Brembo front Calipers combined with DS2500 pads, braided lines and Dot 5.1 fluid make for superb stopping power at any given opportunity, whilst still being silent and performing from cold as you’d expect a standard setup to. The Forge intercooler is an essential upgrade for the Stage 2 map, and as you can see above, was fitted even prior to the car having a Stage 1 remap for added peace of mind.

When I bought the car it had 4 nearly new 225/40/18 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3’s fitted. Whilst these are slightly narrower than the original 235/40’s, it wasn’t enough of a concern to bin 4 good tyres so it remained as it was. I recently changed the front pair to correctly sized 235/40/18 Uniroyal Rainsport 2’s which made a world of difference in our recent bad weather. These have been on less than a month. The rears still have a good amount of life left.

There is a vast amount of service history with the car, with invoices for parts and services. Oil and filter services carried out as follows:

• 13/06/2006 @ 8,500 miles
• 12/01/2007 @ 12,848 miles
• 20/06/2008 @ 20,552 miles
• 15/10/2009 @ 30,559 miles
• 24/06/2010 @ 38,465 miles
• 15/11/2010 @ 43,729 miles

MOT’s carried out on the following dates (all certificates present):

• 20/06/2008 @ 20,552 miles
• 01/07/2009 @ 28,518 miles
• 01/07/2010 @ 38,950 miles (Expires 06/07/2011)

As with most cars, it does have a couple of negative points. The front bumper is missing a small amount of paint around the N/S fog light surround where it looks to have grazed a high kerb at some point in its life. I bought the car like this and it’s not particularly bothered me, it certainly doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb. The rear bumper is also scratched on the O/S, not particularly visible but it is there. With both bumpers painted/touched in, the bodywork would be 100% as there are no other scratches/dents that I’m aware of.

The original registration for the car is ‘VU05 TCX’, feel free to HPI it, I’ve nothing to hide. I bought a personalised plate specific to the car back in April so the car is currently on ‘T3 PHY’. I’d be willing to leave this on the car for £350 above the asking price, if not I’ll keep it and sell separately.

So there we have it; a genuinely quick, reliable car with no expense spared throughout its life. It’s a joy to drive and now’s your chance to own a great example of one of the greatest handling FWD hatches ever made.

£7599.

Feel free to contact me for any more information:
whiteley182@googlemail.com
07716598383

[Daz.]

I'd snap your hand off if I had the money

[schakal]

i like this one , they made those last of clios look a bit
like the meggy .seems renault finally got the message :P

[Whiteley]

I'd snap your hand off if I had the money

Save up, crack on!

[jamiecrookston83]

Your going to regret selling it mate. Always liked the trophy's. Its stunning.
Good luck with the sale. I hope it goes to a good home

[Whiteley]

Thanks

Open to sensible offers and part-ex suggestions too.

[Daz.]

Thanks

Open to sensible offers and part-ex suggestions too.

172 and a fiver.

(I'm deeming that sensible!)

[Whiteley]

Thanks

Open to sensible offers and part-ex suggestions too.

172 and £5k.

(I'm deeming that sensible!)

Done!

[Daz.]

That was easy!

Ok erm, shall I come to yours or you come to mine? :D

[Whiteley]

Anyone for £7300?