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The other distinction is that the EDC box in the Clio is a dry clutch dual clutch transmission and these are even more susceptible to wear than their wet clutch counterparts because the clutch plates get much hotter much faster while “slipping” and the traffic crawl makes this a killer. The Meg IV RS are a wet clutch design so better (arguably) for crawling in traffic like an “auto” with a torque converter

Sold!! 👍

You do know that belts is a taboo topic on this forum, right...? 😜

And most importantly, remember, they look absolutely sensational! So good, in fact, you don't even need to park them between the lines...

That's the epitome of the "head over heart" talking there I suspect. There are horror stories of folks buying Toyot@s, but they still have a bankable reputation for reliability. Perception? Maybe... At the other end of the spectrum are the likes of Alfas, Range Rovers and so on. No doubt in the past they really earned this infamy, but I suspect not so much in modern cars. Perception again? Maybe... I'd take a punt on a Giulia Veloce as a weekend fun car I reckon just because they are so drop dead gorgeous and have great driver dynamics for that purpose. Probably be a pretty decent daily as well for the shorter commutes. It's unlikely I would select it as the interstate barnstormer, but then lots of other vehicles will probably do that job better anyway.

I have to agree with @Pokinacha here. You owe it to yourself to at least consider the Giulia Veloce. Some very nice detail changes to the newer ones bringing in line with the Germans and you will seriously love both how it drives and how it looks. And with the ZF 8 Speed auto that sits behind lots of different types of machinery from Beemers to RAMs, that bit won't give you grief. I am not sold on pretty much any dual clutch transmissions now after having had a few of them. The ZF loses little of the performance of the DCT, but has none of the foibles or longevity concerns. Bullet proof! Oh, and RWD, which adds a touch of yeehah to weekend runs too. I mean, look at this thing...

Welcome to the forum and congrats on an awesome looking Clio. Keep an eye on the social thread as there is a small but enthusiastic group of Renault lovers in Brisbane. You might struggle to get an all Clio group for a cruise but a wider group with a smattering of Megs too is almost a certainty. There is a short notice drive thread too so you can post up a run if you are planning a leave pass and others will likely join in if you like.

This is a pretty good way to do it. I bought a new vehicle once in Victoria (just worked out that way as vehicle availability and a great deal meant I bought it from Warrnambool). As the plan was to have it in Queensland, I bought it unregistered in Victoria, but had a VicRoads permit to drive (cost about $17 from memory) which was a piece of paper that needed to be taped to the windscreen. The stipulation was I had to get back to Queensland by an appropriately direct route. OK... 😆 They also never said the had to be readable on the windscreen by the way... OK... I flew down to Victoria, hired a cheap car one way to Warrnambool and picked up my new vehicle before scooting up the road to Mildura to see friends and stop for an overnight stay. Next morning at first light I headed off at warp factor 9 having "run in" the new car between Warrnambool and Mildura. A quick 1650km journey and later that same day I was home. I always wondered what the traffic monitoring camera operators thought as they watched my unplated vehicle do 17 hours of driving in a day ripping through the camera points without a care in the world. Epic first drive of the new vehicle... 😎

Well done! One of the best spec and definitely the best colour ever! Any more details on the car? She looks amazing in the photos (such that we can tell).

Sounds like a cheap fix... well done. Truly one of the best model Megs in definitely the best colour for them!

I'd agree with this. Having tried both PSC2 and PS4S tyres (in 19s), I rate the PS4S tyres very highly as a performance road tyre. They have at least 95% of the grip when warm compared to the PCS2s (and probably 200% of the grip when cold), and last waaaay longer than the PSC2 tyres. I know there are other brands and models of tyre that are really good, but the Michelins are hard to beat.

There is a definitive list on the forum here somewhere of what was and was not included in the very confusing list of model attributes that is the Megane 3 specifications. So very French in that way - I’m not skilled at the search and link but someone not doubt will be able to post that. I’m pretty sure all Trophy variants of the Meg 3 265 had the Recaros, 19 inch wheels and the xenon lights. If it’s missing these it was likely a specced up Cup and not a Trophy. Wheels could have been changed to 18s (I agree with @Matt205 by the way, go 19s as the steering performance benefits outweigh the small comfort penalty and always use top quality tyres) and as for the Recaros you will kick yourself if you have the chance to get them and don’t. They are simply brilliant. There’s a good reason they are increasing in value... Exhaust note is muted with factory hardware unless the Akrapovic is fitted (not available on any 265s) but a centre res delete adds extra noise and crackles without costing much or giving too much drone. Other than that, happy hunting and good luck with your search as the Meg 3 is the performance bargain of a generation in Australia for what you get fir the money compared with pretty much anything else out there.

What he said 👍

It would be worth calling Qld Transport as they would be able to talk you through the process and would likely email the correct form to you. I agree with @PerthRS that it should be no issue with the power to weight ratio limit (which in Qld is 130 kW per Tonne as noted). I was reading about this point last year when looking at what I could "get away with" as a car for our daughter to be driving as a learner and then on her P plates, and can't recall now exactly where I read it. There is a moderately powered vehicle process for pre 2010 with a 125kW per Tonne limit, so you still should be OK with a 225. Meg 3 no good in either though (as I discovered - was my first choice when looking for our daughter. Darn it...) If you read this link there is a link in there to the required application but if that isn't complete, I'd just call them https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing/applying/provisional/restrictions#:~:text=a maximum power-to-weight ratio of 125kW%2Ft

Prices in Brisbane are not quite as reasonable as Sydney I think but order of cost is true plus relative to a set of tyres the belt will last considerably longer than the tyres before needing replacement too... 👍

Thanks Matt I stand corrected on the R Link. Agreed about the negative belt disease. If the car is a keeper, it's not a huge financial impost to change the belt which means it's good again for years to come, and they are amazing performance cars for the price. Few if any alternatives in the price range. That's what I was trying to say (apologies if it didn't come across that way). It could still be an awesome car to buy.

The issue with the belts on these vehicles are two fold, and it is a risk thing: 1. It is a separate item in the service book so the car can have a great service history otherwise apart from the belt change, so it may still be a great thing to buy. 2. Preventative belt change is a risk mitigation thing. From the risk perspective, there are many stories of cars that have been operated well beyond the recommended interval for the belt replacement (both in terms of time and or kms) with no adverse impact. The risk is, however, if the belt fails, you have lunched your engine. Catastrophe. Try and avoid this one, I'd suggest. Without being overly dramatic about it, I'd use the absence of evidence of a change as a bargaining chip on price, but for peace of mind, suggest get it done quickly thereafter (if you buy the car). Just because previous owners have lived on borrowed time with the belt, do you want to try? Check the rest of the history and see if the services were done on time/distance and the record is clear aside from the belt. If so, you might have a ripper deal in a low km RB8 which is a cracker of a car. As these vehicles become lower in resale value, the desire for many owners to drop a couple of grand on new belt and ancillaries could be very low (water pump should be done at the same time) which usually also coincides with a service, often major. So it is possible for a car in the low $20ks or thereabouts to suddenly have a service bill of circa $3k and not have a single thing outwardly wrong with it, and becomes the trigger for the owner to sell. Might still be a great car, well looked after and loved, but not viable for some to drop the cash to keep it. My two bob's worth, but good luck with the search. Arguably the best spec in a Meg 3 the RB8 as it has the Xenon lights plus the Satnav, R Link 2 etc... and the leather Recaros. Nice one!!

Yes it was. It was an attempt to strip out some stuff from the higher specced cars to bring a lower price point, basing it on the French Police version, which also eliminated the push button start and there was also a separate button to turn off the stop/start mechanism I believe and dial rather than climate control aircon I understand (all based on the French Police requirements, which were lower spec). In Europe they may well have had different mixes of the Cup versus Sport suspension acrtoss the models whereas in Australia we received only the Cup suspension (excepy for the French Police blue ones discussed above). For what it is worth to the OP, you definitely will want the Perfohub and LSD as it makes the Meg the special vehicle it is. As for the Trophy R, it is the special of the special, as it has the composite springs and the Ohlins suspension, as well as the Akrapovic exhaust, no sound deadening and two seats of course (which also means no rear airbags and the like reducing the overall weight). Oh and one last thing, if you are looking at a 265 or 275, there's not much between them and they all response rather nicely to a little bit of a tune... 👍

I can believe this. Plus if you happen to buy a LY Meg, it’s really hard to be incognito. And of course there is no “I’m sorry officer it wasn’t me. It was one of the other 6 white/silver/grey/black Golf/Polos immediately near me” defence... 🤔

That is a pretty subjective question for sure as one person’s fun could be meh to another and great roads will be fun at any speed in a great car. That said, I found the Meg to be a very fine road driving compromise with substantial urge from low to mid range giving satisfaction at both above and below legal speeds. Plus the sublime handling means twisties are great fun at all speeds (and the more wicked you take the corners, the more wickedly exciting the fun). The turbo urge is a big part and the LSD another. Great balance and huge fun even at legal speeds, but also if you nudge above that. Restraint will help you keep your points - go full stick on the track.

Quick mods, capture this moment - @speedfiend41 being the voice of reason... 😱 Back to the OP. The biggest differences between the cars are age and price between a 250 and a 275 (kinda obvious, because they span the gap of selling new from pre 2012 to 2017 ishh) That said, there are compelling reasons for a pre-facelift (250 or 265). Firstly, only the pre facelift has bi-xenon lighting options in some variants - typically the higher specced ones that also have the Recaros and some other fruity bits. The lights on the facelift ones are woeful. And I mean woeful... Secondly, being a bit older, if there is a good service history, a pre facelift 265 is a remarkable value proposition, with low km examples often selling for significantly below $20k. There is a higher km example 250 AGP on the forum here for a little above $10k. BTW, the 265 is a 250 until the Sport button is pushed, removing the auto-stop function and releasing the extra ponies. Many earlier versions will already have a tune or a piggy back device, all of which add greatly to the performance and driveability of the cars, which if looked after tend to be bullet proof. So it doesn't really matter 250 or 265, as a tune cures any minor difference between them. All except a very few blue Sport versions have the Cup chassis with perfohub and LSD. You need one of the LSD versions (luckily they almost certainly will be) unless you like wrestling with your steering as a sport. For my money, I'd pick an 8:08 pre fasce lift as a first choice (these have all the fruit except reversing camera) but include the bi-xenons, RS monitor, full leather Recaros and are a limited run of 100 Australia only vehicles that were made in pearl white or Liquid Yellow. Look awesome in each, but especially LY, which is pretty much the hero colour for the Meg 3. The 250 is not available in LY, but a canary yellow flat colour which, if you had bought just before LY came out, you would probably have already shot yourself by now, so maybe available in deceased estates...? Second choice would be an AGP, which had similar fruit to the 8:08 but was based on the 250 (I think). Also limited to 100 examples, and was available in black or white IIRC. Not sure if they were available in other colours. Third choice would be an RB8, which was the last of the line of the 265s and had ALL the fruit - leather Recaros, full RS Link 2 with reverse camera and RS Monitor, and come only in a really dark blue (virtually black if not in sunlight), but a well- kept example of this is a stunning car if you love washing cars. When clean, they look amazing!! Price no option, then go for a 275 Cup Premium. You will not get decent headlights (ever - in the facelift) and you will need to search aftermarket for bulbs if you prefer your lighting not provided by candles, but you will get potentially warranty remaining (many had 5 years), low km (depending on how often driven but generally lower cos newer), and they are remarkable value for a near new performance vehicle. Go for a Premium (they ALL have Cup suspension), which also has the panoramic (fixed) glass roof, as many hire companies ran the standard Cup models, and you maybe don't want an ex hire car as your pride and joy. Maybe you do, but I wouldn't. Oh and all the higher spec Megs have 19 inch rims. Some folks complain about ride harshness compared with the 18s on most lower specced ones. I never found this an issue, and loved the "connected to the tarmac" feeling you get from the 19s and the Meg steering. Oh, and good rubber is a must. Michelin PS4S highly recommended, but so are lots of others at better price points. Don't get Chinese crap brands, though, and you will be rewarded with an amazing handling car. I hope that helps, but any Meg is a wicked piece of road going yeehah, and you are almost certain to donate some points and funds to the State coffers in one. Don't say you weren't warned!! Failing that, you could follow the various voices of reason, and get a Clio 3 (197 or 200 as suggested by others) which is like a Meg, but at a much lower speed (in most instances). Sorry Clio fans, but having had both, that was my take on it. Having the Meg first spoiled my Clio experience. Oh and you sit on a Clio compared to zipping a Meg up around you. Depends what you like there... To the OP, I hope that helps, and if you get a chance to drive a Meg, take it through some of your favourite twisty roads, don't back off, pick a line, hang on and smile... They are remarkable things to drive. Good luck with your search. Oh and if I have offended anyone (or maybe everyone...) here, tongue was intended to be in cheek, but with some serious points for the young lad to consider with his Meg purchase.

Hey @RedFrog welcome to the forum, congrats on the new Rat Shit and a great intro post. You will definitely fit in around here. Like some others here, i managed to bypass the RWD Alfa thing - partly because they seemed to rust away faster than I could save up for them, and partly because watching mates with them suffer financial and emotional pain I thought better them than me... I recently bought a 147 for my daughter to learn on and so she can say for ever more her first car was an Alfa. Cruel, I know... I loved the rationale upon which the Meg arrived, so enjoy. I look forward to more posts from you! 👍

I can vouch for this... 😳

Yep, the RS18 is what he would have meant. The RS16 was the teaser Unicorn, Clio with the f4RT running gear... Magically appeared for a little while and then we were told we couldn't have one... To the OP, if the intended use is a daily driver with occasional track days, the Clio IV is a great compromise. Some on here have modded them significantly and reports are good as to handling all that.

What are you saying? It's straight out of the Naughty But Nice catalogue... 😝 Agreed the car looks to be well cared for. The 200 with the Recaros (listed as a 197) could be hard to go past as well. a lot of value in that spec.