[haakon]

I have the 1.4MA in Australia too, and I find the ride to be pretty firm. Living in Hobart especially with sketchy old roads, I wouldn't go firmer and i wouldn't go to 18 inch wheels either from the 17s on it.

Maybe your suspension is just a bit tired? I bought mine brand new... These are the OEM factory shocks - Alfa fit Sachs from the factory and by 80-120K Kms theyre pretty much done, and by 50K kms i reckon you'd notice a difference refreshing them. 315 740 - Shock Absorber

But, I have some Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs on my Renault Megane which lowered it a modest amount but kept it riding decently. I dont know many places in Australia with good enough roads to warrant going for much firmer than the stock G suspension!

 

[haakon]

I hear you on the turbo lag though. Its pretty "leisurely" in normal mode! I'd love to be able to mix and match the DNA settings - Normal steering and gearbox shift logic (mine is the TCT auto) and Dynamic engine map.

 

[haakon]

I purchased this car off a retired 85 year old doctor, only owner. He has done only 44000kms, in 7 years, 2015 model. I have the QV line, and have the sport suspension, and don't find it too stiff at all, in fact it feels very comfortable and floaty, similar to the Audi A3 8v that I had. The suspension is in perfect condition. Problem is, when I'm pushing the car , at 7/10, the the car ride height is too high, and there is far too much body roll, and I wouldn't mind some more body control, yet retain comfort. I'm hoping that these KW V1's, adjusted at the right height, ie not too low, that I can achieve more of a BMW like handling, albiet FWD, basically I want the car to flow and roll with the corners and bumps, rather than going rolly polly as it does now.

Wow. I don’t even have the sport suspension, just the rock stock TCT 170. No Brembos, 17 inch wheels. It feels pretty firm to me and in no way floaty! Mind you, it’s only got 20K on the odometer…

I find it planted and supple. It’s eats dodgy country back roads at warp speed and I’m struggling to see how firmer suspension would be better!

 

[haakon]

Perhaps comparing it to a beemer is a bad idea… The Italians have a similar approach to handling as the French - body roll and supple (which is perceived as soft by the uninitiated) is their thing.

Those used to brittle hard Teutonic setups might mistake this for wallow - it’s not.

One memorable drive in an old Peugeot 406 I had back in the day through some back roads near Daylesford racing a VX Clubsport. I had a 2 litre manual, he had an LS. On the straight he obviously caught me up quickly, but as the road was rough, pot holed and twisty the standard Pug 4 pot roared around the bends sucking up the bumps as he was skipping and bouncing all over the shop.

Do not confuse supple for wallow

 

[haakon]

Honestly I don’t think you’ll do much about the turbo lag. At the end of the day, it’s a heavily boosted 1.4… All of the manufacturers doing the small capacity turbo thing in pursuit of economy and emissions are the same. I once had a Reno Clio with their 900cc 3 cylinder engine running 28psi of boost from stock - was a hilarious engine, super fun. But laggy as hell.

If you want response, go NA. Or at least a bigger engine running less boost. Physics is what it is…

 

[haakon]

I'm thinking of adding a supercharger that will be in use at all time, whereby the turbo will come on boost from 3-6.5K RPMS. I used to have an Audi A1 1.4 twin charged, and it had 0 lag.

Honestly - sell it and buy a 1.7.

In the meantime, just learn to drive it. I find simply flooring it and learning when to get back off the throttle as the boost kicks in gets around most of the drivebility issues with the lag. And also jsut driving it for what it is. Leave it in Normal for most daily use and just chilling.

And stick it in Dynamic for the back road work and give it a tickle. Trying to make it do something it’s not designed or marketed for will only cause frustration.

Life is short. Enjoy it for what it is, or flog it off and get something better suited to your wants.

 

[haakon]

Megane IV Sport. In a manual.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2019-renault-megane-r-s-280-manual/SSE-AD-12264222

 

[haakon]

What I forgot: since you live in Australia it is probabl very hot sometimes, so a bigger intercooler helps reducing the lag when it is hot!

I’m way down south in Hobart, and it’s winter here. It’s still a laggy bugger

 

[haakon]

A really good way to hate the turbo lag even more is take a Tesla for a drive…

 

[haakon]

The damage is already done now you’ve drilled holes in your car, but that reverse camera is awful. You should have bought one of these

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