2008 Best Car Series: Holden Commodore vs Renaultsport Megane R26

[YSSMAN]

One more to throw on the fire...

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The Holden Commodore (includes all variants and the Ute)

VS

The Renaultsport Megane R26

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The easy answer would be the Commodore, but its important to think of more than that on occasion. Lets look at the pesky Frenchman... Its "cheap," it certainly is "fast" (the R26.R holds the 'Ring record for its class), and it can easily serve double-duty as a track car and a daily driver. Its quirky, cool, weird, and otherwise different, and I like it too damn much for having never seen one in person.

The problem is that the Commodore is a damn-good car by every sense of measurement. GM spent the money to make it that way so they can send it everywhere, and by that measurement, it has fit the bill more than easily. There are some distinct drawbacks, however. Its too heavy, its not quite fuel-efficent, and it isn't exactly "daring" in the looks department either.

Its a car difficult to ignore, and consequently, I'm voting for it. I wanted to vote for the Frenchman, but to serve the purposes of the competition, its going elsewhere.

 

[Tornado]

A thoughie, this one. On the one hand, the Renault is a totally awesome vehicle through and through, and the leader of the segment.

On the other hand, the Commodore is sold in some markets as the Chevrolet Lumina (though I guess all of those things YSSMAN talked about are important too).

 

[zed300]

Renaultamn ugly!!! as all of them are!!! but fast!!!
Holden:Big and bold!!! 4 doors and 5 seats!!! but fast!!!(V8)

I am an Aussie guess where my vote goes???

 

[Prosthetic]

I wonder who nd 4 holden spd is going to vote for...

 

[JCE]

Is this even a question? Commodore FTMFW!

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

I wonder who nd 4 holden spd is going to vote for...

Duh, the Renault you silly billy...................................I mean the Commodore. It's a car that can be the best of the best family cars, can be a workhorse through the week and playhorse on the weekend, and can also be the baddest uber sedan around. Of course it is very aggressive looking, but at the same time it's not overdone and in that sense is very "Australian". Just a few more things to consider:
The sound of a muscular V8
0-100km/hr in low 4sec
Top Speed (if unlimited, and rough guess as it is limited meaning nobody except maybe Holden knows the true top speed)- ~300km/hr.
Over $100k cheaper than sedans that can only extract similar performance.
It also happens to be one of the last remaining true muscle cars, when people still consider Camaro and Mustang and Challenger to be "not muscle cars but pony cars".

 

[Casio]

0-100km/hr in low 4sec

lol. What?

What Commodore will do 0-100 in low 4s?

Over $100k cheaper than sedans that can only extract similar performance.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

lol. What?

What Commodore will do 0-100 in low 4s?

The W427 will do low 4s, Wheels Magazine can't drive for 🤬 as they can only get a similar time to the standard GTS which has 100hp less!

The Lancer is hardly in the same class, that's worse than comparing a BMW M6 to a Nissan GT-R because they're both large coupés.

Edit: The Lancer is also smaller than a Camry.

 

[Leonidae]

Renault. just because french made something ugly and ridiculously fast for a first time after 80's.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Renault. just because french made something ugly and ridiculously fast for a first time after 80's.

The French have never stopped making ugly cars though. Your vote doesn't surprise me, the Commodore's V8 is a pushrod. (The V6 was DOHC you know?)

 

[Rotary Junkie]

The W427 will do low 4s, Wheels Magazine can't drive for 🤬 as they can only get a similar time to the standard GTS which has 100hp less!

The Lancer is hardly in the same class, that's worse than comparing a BMW M6 to a Nissan GT-R because they're both large coupés.

Edit: The Lancer is also smaller than a Camry.

The Lancer also weighs more than a Camry I bet. It weighs more than a 2008 Mustang GT at least...

Perhaps the reason Wheels hasn't gotten much quicker 0-62 times is because the car can't hook all that well?

Also, isn't the total production of the W427 EXTREMELY low volume? And therefore the dealers may well mark it up noticeably, and then used it will command massive money simply because of the scarcity of them, making the bang-for-the-buck much worse.

I vote for the Megane. It may be ugly, it may be slower than the hot Commodores, but it does something at least I can't do quite as well with something used then worked to the gills: Be a well rounded, OEM-quality FWD hatch that performs massively well.

The Commodore, even the W427, can be equaled with just about any newish RWD sedan, and in fact, even some quite old ones (Fox-chassis Ford LTD + 2003/2004 Cobra suspension and a hot 5.0 with some boost) in every single aspect for less than the list price.

It's got nothing that other well done sedans don't. *coughFALCONcough* The Renault at least murders just about every FWD out there save the new Cobalt SS.

 

[BayConRong]

what are the performance specs of the two? it might be a little easier to decide

though i'll vote against the frenchy any day. they probably gave up in the middle of designing it. the good ones surrendered and quite before they could be criticized.

 

[homeforsummer]

The Megane. By all intents and purposes the best hot hatch available (Evo certainly think so), certainly the fastest in R26.R form, the design still looks unusual and hasn't dated since it's launch, the quality and reliability has come a long way since Renaults of old, and the price is even pretty good.

Much as I respect the Holden, it means nothing to me. I'm sure it'll be available as a Vauxhall in the near future so at least we can get hold of them in the UK, but as I mentioned in another thread, I find it a bit ugly and I prefer clever engineering and a bit of flair to the "sledgehammer" approach to fast cars.

 

[Muzaffar]

Voted for the Renault (again) simply because its different. Its not really your average hatchback and to disagree with everyone, it does look good despite its quirky and odd shape. The Commodore is just...... lacking. Not to say I hate it or it sucks or anything, I agree that its a good car but I don't see much about it. It looks like every Commodore model before it, and nothing more than a heavy powered RWD sedan. I mean at least the French are more different.... The Commodore just doesn't do it for me I guess.....

Prepares to get flamed by nd 4 holden spd

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

The Lancer also weighs more than a Camry I bet. It weighs more than a 2008 Mustang GT at least...

Perhaps the reason Wheels hasn't gotten much quicker 0-62 times is because the car can't hook all that well?

Also, isn't the total production of the W427 EXTREMELY low volume? And therefore the dealers may well mark it up noticeably, and then used it will command massive money simply because of the scarcity of them, making the bang-for-the-buck much worse.

I vote for the Megane. It may be ugly, it may be slower than the hot Commodores, but it does something at least I can't do quite as well with something used then worked to the gills: Be a well rounded, OEM-quality FWD hatch that performs massively well.

The Commodore, even the W427, can be equaled with just about any newish RWD sedan, and in fact, even some quite old ones (Fox-chassis Ford LTD + 2003/2004 Cobra suspension and a hot 5.0 with some boost) in every single aspect for less than the list price.

It's got nothing that other well done sedans don't. *coughFALCONcough* The Renault at least murders just about every FWD out there save the new Cobalt SS.

I've never heard of dealer mark-ups in Australia. The bang for buck still stands against every other sedan that competes (bar Falcon). Eg. You will get an SS for a V6 Euro, and the W427 is far far cheaper than any other 500hp Euro. Americans and Japanese don't have any sedans in that bracket to speak of. And no, the fox-chassis will not beat a Commodore, except on the drag strip where you would still need a number of modifications which this thread is hardly about.
Oh, and any Commodore bar the W427 will only go down in price as a usedie. I'd like to see you match it for less than the price, and keep in mind this thread is about new cars, otherwise I could buy a VX SS and fit a supercharger for ~$25k or less in $AUD and have a 100% lethal car.

 

[zed300]

There is only a few cars in the world, that can be compared to the Holden Commodore R8--Ford Falcon F6 Typhoon(not a V8 but the Xr8 is slower)--BMW M5--AMG SL55--all have 4 doors and 5 seats and are capable of fitting luggage in the boot(trunk) for all passengers,and most important 0-100kph(62mph)in under 5.5secs top speed over 270kph(165mph).The 2 Euros are not within the average wage earners reach, but here in Aus over 30%(conservative)of the market is a variation of the 2 Aussies, meaning they are VERY attainable to the average Joe. The Hot Hatch well I don't think I could possibly list all of them, making my decision is easy. But hey each to thier own!!

 

[Danny]

I voted Megane. Although this seems a bit unfair to me, all variants of the Commodore taking on one specific model in the Megane lineup...

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

I voted Megane. Although this seems a bit unfair to me, all variants of the Commodore taking on one specific model in the Megane lineup...

Ye, I guess all models should have their entire line-up included.

 

[Greycap]

The 2 Euros are not within the average wage earners reach, but here in Aus over 30%(conservative)of the market is a variation of the 2 Aussies, meaning they are VERY attainable to the average Joe.

Don't forget that it's the V6 base models of the Commodore that form the majority of the sales volume, not the V8 top dogs. Buying an Audi A6 or a BMW 525 is no more impossible for the Average Joe than buying a 3.6 V6 Commodore but that's what is usually overlooked in comparisons like this.

 

[Jay]

Don't forget that it's the V6 base models of the Commodore that form the majority of the sales volume

I agree with this, but

Buying an Audi A6 or a BMW 525 is no more impossible for the Average Joe than buying a 3.6 V6 Commodore but that's what is usually overlooked in comparisons like this.

I can't agree with this

Base V6 Commodore starts at $36,790

Base E60 525i: $96,910
Base A6 2.0TFSi: $75,900

 

[Leonidae]

oh yes, the lovely import tax..

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

See, we could have an HSV GTS for $20k less than the price of a 525i, no contest what you'd really choose based on performance, looks of course are preference. We do however know that an SS Commodore pulls the same numbers on the skid pan as a 6cyl 5-Series, and with better tyres, stiffer suspension and Magnetic Ride Control the GTS will do better, so it wins on everything in performance.

Edit: So what's the price of a BMW 525i in Europe and we'll convert the currency.

 

[Jay]

oh yes, the lovely import tax..

Well not really import tax, more 'luxury' tax, we get cheaper smaller imports fairly cheap.

 

[Greycap]

The BMW 525i costs 54,600€ in Finland, the A6 2.0 TFSI goes for 46,400€. Take about 25% to 30% off those prices to get the German figures without taxes. As a fun fact the last time (in 2003) the Opel Omega was sold here it was priced at slightly below 40,000€ and the prices have increased since.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Well I thought that 1 pound was worth $2.00AUD so something's not right there. Not to mention Americans get the Commodore cheaper than what we do. There is a good video from Top Gear showing the difference:'

If you don't want to endure the music skip to 1'20 where they show the VXR8 vs the Euros of the same price, and how they compare on price in the same market is probably what matters right?



That is a huge performance difference for the price, and you still got enough comforts to keep you happy.

 

[Joey D]

Hot hatches will almost always get me vote, plus I would have to believe the Megane is the better car here. It's sporty, it's practical everyday, and I don't really mind the look of it anymore. If they sold it in the states as something other than a Nissan Versa I would consider it.

I don't like the Commodore based on what I've seen with the Pontiac G8. The car feels cheap inside and out, doesn't come with an impressive option list, and isn't what I would go for if I had the money. This is all a real shame too since the performance isn't half bad and it looks alright. I can think of other things I would rather spend $30K on if I was in the market for family saloon car.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

How can you call a hatch back practical? My criteria go by:
Can I fit in the back seat?
How big is the boot?
Is the cabin ergonomic for the driver?
Above criterion for what price?

I can't speak for the Renault cabin, or anything really , but from other hatchbacks I've been in no hatch could ever be practical, just cheap and fuel efficient.

Edit: BTW, why would you discard a car just for a slightly less than average interior (your opinion, not mine).

 

[Joey D]

Hatches are practical, that's why I consider them that. If I can fit people in my rear seats then any car must be able to, the Megane is bigger than the Cooper so I'm guessing it's more comfortable in the back...unless of course you are hauling fat people around.

The boot in a hatch is practical too, you can typically flip the rear seats down and get all sorts of cargo space. I don't know if you watch Top Gear but Clarkson had the set of drawers that he used to judge the space inside the car. I believe the Megane did just find (I know it was some Renault).

The cabin is probably fairly ergonomical too, most hatches I've been in are laid out quite nicely. I think my car has one of the best laid out interiors out of any car I've been in.

Most hatches come at a resonable price, save for my car which I will admit is quite pricey, and defiantly overprice when compared to the competition.

And I will disregard a car for a poor interior because that is where I will be spending a good chunk of my life. I drive at least 20,000 miles per year and sometimes I'm in the car for up to 8 hours at a time with only bathroom and fuel stops (hahaha fuel stops). If the cabin isn't a nice place to be I don't like the car.

 

[Jim Prower]

Renault. nd 4 holden spd has left a forza2.0-like taste in my mouth for the Commodore...and while the Commodore (As G8) can easilly beat the Charger in every concievable way...the interior is a bit disappointing. Especially after sitting in both a Malibu and a Genesis and getting my socks knocked off.

 

[exigeracer]

Edit: BTW, why would you discard a car just for a slightly less than average interior (your opinion, not mine).

It's natural creature habit. People buy iPods because of the visceral attraction to using one, people are naturally drawn to appliances that are made to look pretty although don't work very well, they come out of a design interaction satisfied with the way something operated, regardless of how well or unintuitive the experience was. It's called design. You're letting your inner bias judge things if you feel that no car needs a pretty, functional or well-made interior. Major design theorists who based their entire studies solely on functionality and performance have been mocked now that the notion of function being the end-all story over form has been completely discredited.