182 in EVO magazine again this month.

[NickTTRS]

There is a feature on the trackday car of the year which includes the 182 and a nice little Renaultsport advertisement feature which includes all the current cars.

 

[CocoPops]

and....?

what does it say?!? Good/Bad?

 

[NickTTRS]

Go and buy your own copy (just teasing!). It is quite a big feature with different catagories. The 182 is pitted against the Elise111R, Exige and VXR220 in the best car for Road and Track. Basically it says that all the drivers who test the 182 on the road agree it is fantastic but some of them have reservations about it on the track. However "Take the little clio by the scruff of the neck and commit yourself to a more aggressive style and the 182 comes alive. Turn-in on the brakes and with the weight over the nose the front tyres now bite, while those at the rear begin to slide. Now you can use the brilliant chassis balance and fine steering while the clio c***s an inside rear wheel as you pick up the throttle good and early."

The car comes up against some pretty serious stuff and it is the only FWD car on the test but holds its own once again. The only downside seemed to be that for the purist trackday enthusiast the 182 may not be the best choice purely down to it being FWD when RWD is what you would really want. Even so it is another good showing.

 

[CocoPops]

See Id read that as the Clio is the best FWD affordable road/track car.

I know Ill prolly get flamed for that comment, but why was the CTR not included? People often say its better, yet it didnt even get a look in there.

As for comparing Exige/Elise/VX220/182, the 182 is cheaper than all of them, yet has more advantages as far as Im concered. Thats not say to say I wouldnt swap the 182 for an Exige, but even little things like having rear seats is enough to make you think twice.

 

[jon_r]

Its trackday car of the year, therefore they only choose cars released within the last year.

 

[CocoPops]

Yes, and the 182 is no more of an update than the 04 CTR model or is it?

Also as far as Im aware, the Elise/Exige/VX are all over a year old?

 

[NickTTRS]

I just think it says a lot about the 182 that it is pitted against such cars in the first place. There is also a little analysis with a graph showing the lap data of the Exige vs 182. "As you would expect from something weighing 300kg less , the Exige carries higher corner speed, but then once back on the throttle the Clio actually holds its own well (i.e. the speed traces stay parallel). The trace also shows just how well sorted the Clio is, particularly for a front-driver"

 

[jon_r]

The Elise 111R, Exige and VX220R (I presume) are all new models this year.

CTR was an update. Clio 182 is classed as a new model.

 

[homerjay]

would of been nice to see a couple of other FWD cars in there though