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Launched within close proximity to each other, the Renault Megane CC and the Peugeot 307 CC seem natural competitors but drive the two cars back to back and you'll be left in no doubt which is the superior offering. With smarter styling to boot, Renault's Megane CC is the top of the folding tin top crop. There isn't a bad model in the range and used buyers will find a wide choice of cars with something bound to suit.
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What you get
Despite sharing a strong family resemblance with the Megane hatch, in fact only the front headlamps, grille and bumper section and front bonnet are shared with its more practical sibling - though inside, the dashboard and the front seats are identical to those in Megane II. Designed by Renault's Corporate Design Department, the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet is a very sleek car when the roof is down. With the roof up, the silhouette is unconventional, the low dome of the roof and the long rear bootlid taking a little getting used to. The absence of door pillars or side trim strips contribute to the elegant lines and a lot of care has gone into constructing a roof that not only looks good but works well too. Peugeot experienced a lot of teething troubles with the 206CC roof and Renault are looking to avoid similar glitches. The mating surfaces around its opening panels - critical in a cabriolet - have been the object of special care.
The stiffness of the body has been designed to keep the cabin space intact in the event of a rollover with the aid of strengthened windscreen pillars, body sides and sills, and by two fixed hoops installed as standard. The third-generation Renault System for Restraint and Protection and the six airbags, including the two anti-submarining airbags beneath the cushions of the front seats, provide occupants with optimum protection. In addition, the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet can be equipped with two automatic safety hoops which deploy whenever an imminent rollover is detected.
Luggage space is a class-leading 490 litres with the roof in place, but take this figure with a pinch of salt. Much of this is earmarked for the roof cassette and with the roof folded down, you'll only get a meagre 190 litres to play with. Equipment levels are respectable for a mid-range cabriolet. The electric door mirrors, the four electric windows, with one-touch opening, the anti-draught nets and safety hoops, covered with soft foam, contribute to operating comfort. There are several stowage spaces, including a refrigerated 17-litre glove box which is automatically locked whenever the doors are locked, to protect its contents from theft.
Passenger accommodation comes in the shape of four proper seats and interior space which is considerable for a car of this ilk. In the front, the lowered position of the seats ensures comfortable headroom in coupe configuration. The slope of the windscreen has been designed to provide the front seat passengers with maximum space and to reduce what designers dub "cap effect". This is the feeling that the windscreen header rail is intruding on your peripheral vision, masking the view of the road ahead, especially on typically undulating country roads. In the back, the headroom, the knee clearance and the available width are among the best in the class. In addition, access to the back seats is made easier by the position-memory of the front seat slides and seat backs.
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What to look for
Renault have tightened up their quality control to very good effect over the past few years and the Megane now feels as well screwed together as many more expensive German rivals. No major faults have yet to be reported although if you are in the market for a Coupe Cabriolet, do make sure that the folding roof mechanism is in A1 order. Some owners have managed to damage the motors by failing to follow the manufacturer's recommended instructions when lowering the hood.
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Replacement parts
(Based on a 2004 Megane CC 1.6VVT) A new clutch will be about £150 and a full exhaust system, excluding the catalyst, should be around £220. Brake pads are about £40 a set, an alternator is close to £135, and a starter motor should be just under £125. A replacement radiator (with aircon) is about £150.
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On the road
Whichever Megane CC you choose, you'll find a car that's a good deal lighter on its feet than its key rival. If you're at all interesting in driving, however, there's really only one choice to go for and that's the 2.0-litre turbocharged car. Packing 165bhp from the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine lurking beneath its stubby bonnet, the Megane CC 2.0T is usefully quick off the mark. Yes, your acceleration will be blunted by the fact that you're lugging a whole heap of electric motors up the Queen's highway with you but nevertheless a sprint to 60mph in 8.6 seconds is not to be sniffed at for a vehicle of this ilk. Do it with the hood down and you'd swear it was even quicker, the turbocharger whooshing purposefully as it comes on stream. Given its head, this Megane will run on to a top speed of 136mph.Crucially (for Renault) the Megane manages to pip its 180bhp Peugeot 307CC rival in the sprinting stakes and also manages to offer superior fuel consumption and emissions figures to boot. Factor in a price saving of around £1,500 and it looks an open and shut case in favour of the Megane.
The 2.0T engine is one that Renault have spread liberally across their range and with good reason. Found in Meganes, Lagunas, Espaces, Scenics and even the Vel Satis executive cruiser, it's a very impressive installation. The Megane features a strut to help reduce vibrations and a revised manifold to give a sporting engine note on the overrun. Fitted to the Megane CC, it emits 189g/km of carbon dioxide and can return combined fuel consumption figure of 35.7mpg. As you might expect from a turbocharged engine, the throttle response is a little elastic but get used to it and it's possible to take advantage of that surge of torque when the turbo comes on stream to effect some devastating overtaking manoeuvres. Although still far from an outright sportster, the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0T nevertheless proves an entertaining steer, the thicker rear anti roll bar keeping things flat through corners and the firmer springs and dampers providing decent body control and feedback.
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Overall
If you need four seats and folding hard top on a reasonable budget, nothing gets close to the Megane CC. Although serious drivers may well give it the cold shoulder, its talents are a good deal broader than you may well expect. We'd choose either the 2.0T petrol car or the 1.9dCi diesel. Whichever model you choose, you're not going to make a bad pick. It's just down to you to make sure the example you choose is up to scratch.
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