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Clio 16v - best hot hatch of its time



  Clio 182


Id put money on a standard for standard, a Valver stuffing a 205 1.6/1.9 on the road and track. There not that much lighter plus the valver looks 100x better.
 


Quote: Originally posted by Dan_mk1 on 26 January 2005

Id put money on a standard for standard, a Valver stuffing a 205 1.6/1.9 on the road and track. There not that much lighter plus the valver looks 100x better.
Ah well guess well never find out whos right, i do think the exact opposite of you as far as this is concerned but thats just my opinion, some ppl would agree with me and others with you. So lets just leave it at this b4 some disgruntled 205 or valver owner decides to repsond to these posts and ecelates it into a post war lol
 
  LY 200


Quote: Originally posted by Dan_mk1 on 26 January 2005


Quote: Originally posted by Le_Smithier on 26 January 2005



You having a giraffe!? 205s look rubbish imho, the Rallye is the only one that looks remotely cool. A valver would batter a GTi in every department.
Agreed that just doesnt look in anyway sporty/different or like a performance edition of the 205 range!!!

Looks like the type of car ya nan could drive down the shops and not look out of place in where as a valver she deffo would!!!
 


Quote: Originally posted by JayR on 26 January 2005


Quote: Originally posted by Dan_mk1 on 26 January 2005


Quote: Originally posted by Le_Smithier on 26 January 2005



You having a giraffe!? 205s look rubbish imho, the Rallye is the only one that looks remotely cool. A valver would batter a GTi in every department.
Agreed that just doesnt look in anyway sporty/different or like a performance edition of the Clio range!!! - he said 205 GTI, were not talking about 172s looking like 1.2s here m8

Looks like the type of car ya nan could drive down the shops and not look out of place in where as a valver she deffo would!!! - okay, now your being silly!
 
  Clio 182


Quote: Originally posted by Adamf on 26 January 2005
Quote: Originally posted by Dan_mk1 on 26 January 2005
A valver would batter a GTi in every department.[/QUOTE]B0ll0cks!!!!!!! Every department? No way!


How is the 205 better?

Looks, Valver wins hands down IMHO
0-60 = Valver
0-100 = Valver
Comfort = Valver
Handling = Undecided, although ive lost count the amount of 205s ive seen stacked in fields.
Safety = Valver
Need i go on? economy, electrics etc etc
 
  LY 200


Quote: Originally posted by TheJesus on 26 January 2005


Quote: Originally posted by JayR on 26 January 2005


Quote: Originally posted by Dan_mk1 on 26 January 2005


Quote: Originally posted by Le_Smithier on 26 January 2005



You having a giraffe!? 205s look rubbish imho, the Rallye is the only one that looks remotely cool. A valver would batter a GTi in every department.
Agreed that just doesnt look in anyway sporty/different or like a performance edition of the Clio range!!! - he said 205 GTI, were not talking about 172s looking like 1.2s here m8 - im saying the valver looks totally different to 1.2 clios mate (it stands out as a performance car) the 205 GTI clearly doesnt!!! Where do i say about 172 looking like 1.2s???;)

Looks like the type of car ya nan could drive down the shops and not look out of place in where as a valver she deffo would!!! - okay, now your being silly! - hows that silly?? you could see someone older in a 1.1 205 or a 1.2 clio couldnt you so whats the difference??

All im saying is a 205 GTI doesnt stand out as a whole lot different car to the basic 205 range as far as looks go where as a valver has totally different looks to the basic clio range of its time!!!
 
  Clio 182


Quote: Originally posted by Le_Smithier on 26 January 2005
<FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #407db6">Just out of curiosity have you ever owned a 205 gti Dan_mk1?


No i havnt fella, a few mates have em and my uncle used have one. I just think theyre overated.
 
  German Barge


i have to admit, i have a soft spot for the 205 GTi, and i have a bloke near me that basically collects them and does them up to standard mintness... and they do look spot on (black with nicely refurbed wheels)

I would have one, if i ever had the balls...

Mi16 engine in, play around with some cams and strip it...yes please....

BUT...i bought a valver, and willified it...so its hard to say...

you can always improve on both, so buying standard for standard i cant judge, as i went for looks, and personal taste, and i have wanted a 449 blue valver since i was 15...so...

p.s. - this looks nice....

another thing to consider is how the 205 was used for rallying so much, and also the fact that the 16v, and the GTi are both french - so lets just say they were probably competing against each other then, as well as now.....

http://img164.exs.cx/img164/6787/tech00024qa.jpg
 
  BMW 320d Sport


Id say the valver was the best. Remember a hot hatch is not just all about the handling. Its a whole package - fast enough to outrun most shopping cars, nimble around corners, practical as an everyday car, has to be a top of the line small car, affordable insurance, a relatively large engine compared to the body size/weight, plus the all important pride of ownership. A Sunny GTI-R might be fast, but by God, its a hideous car, and not even in a brutal/evil-looking way like the front of an Evo 4 before everyone got used to what they looked like. And lets be honest, early 90s Sunnys were NEVER seen on our roads until they were imported in the late 90s from Japan, same as all these early Scoobies you see. No-one really bought them new at the time.

OK a 205 GTi is supposedly stiff competition for a valver, and I cant deny that it seems to be well liked by a lot of people, but someone mentioned about how it has been hyped up more than it should have been whereas the valver hasnt, and I think that just about covers it. From what Ive heard, and I freely admit Ive never owned one, 205s have a real tendency for lift-off oversteer at the slightest provocation. Is that good handling or is it a design f**k-up that luckily people seem to enjoy in this age of traction control and airbags? Id say the latter.

My old Scirocco will lift-off oversteer all you want - yes its fun, but is it the quickest way of getting around? No. Is it good handling? No. So I drive a car everyday that will swap ends round a roundabout fairly easily, and I can say that without a doubt, that slows me down because I know that if I go into a roundabout, or a bend, with a bit too much speed, I darent lift-off or brake, because the back end will get out of shape, therefore I have to drive slower.

My valver wont do that and it never has done. If you get it out of shape down a country lane, its cos you really ARE going far too fast. But at least you can have confidence in how it handles, which is better than any amount of lift-off oversteer on demand.

So I say the valver wins it. At the end of the day I just think its a prettier car. Ive never liked the 205 GTis looks, and I think the valver just looked mental in its day as a factory car. Even today you dont see small hatches like that with wide arches and a bloody great power bulge on the bonnet.
 


if u put the pulsar in with the these lot id rather have a pulsar any day of the week im a clio owner atm but im afrid jap is the way forward

sorry
 


Quote: Originally posted by randy16v on 27 January 2005

if u put the pulsar in with the these lot id rather have a pulsar any day of the week im a clio owner atm but im afrid jap is the way forward

sorry
hmm, dont see how an early 90s Jap car is a step forward... sideways maybe
 
  Street Triple R


Quote: Originally posted by randy16v on 27 January 2005

if u put the pulsar in with the these lot id rather have a pulsar any day of the week im a clio owner atm but im afrid jap is the way forward

sorry
Jap can be the way forward yeh....not the Pulsar though...horrible thing
 


Quote: Originally posted by Andyvalver on 26 January 2005

I reckon the Valver is probably the best of its time. There aint anythin out there that it cant give a run for its money down some twistys. The 1.6 205gti is supposed to be great and the 1.9 is not supposed to handle as well. The best handling of the 2 therfore is a little down on power to the valver. So if the valver lost anythin in the twistys it would gane it in the straights. The williams is based on the Valver anyway and everybody loves that. The Clio 16v is very underestimated by alot of people out there. They usually only find out out good it is when they get there ass whooped by one.



Soooooo True.......
 
  tiTTy & SV650


Honda CRX, some car! I nearly bought a 1.6 non Vtech when I bought my 205gti but it didnt have any history and sills looked a bit rotten!

The standard ones pre 92k plate I think are 1.6 16v which push out 130bhp but the V-techs came after that, need I say more?!

Very comfy and cool interiors too, Id have one!
 


id say the and ive driven all the best hot hatches of the 80s

pug 205 gti 1.6, the 1.9 is good, best enjoyed with a 1.6 box

renault 5 gt turbo (easily the most fun ive ever had in any car ever)

the 90s

williams (fantastic car, every thing a hot hatch should be, and a exciting and very promising ownership prospect), although personally i prefered the renault 5 (why i owned one for 4 years, still got it!) is the sound, the cheekyness, the character and the 80s ness of it, red carpets, bright red dials, over the top seats, and the massive acceleration, admittantly it wasnt bone stock but it was very fast.
 


so what about the fiesta rst?
has that been ruled out?
(my mate had a fiesta rs1800 & he reckoned that that handled really badly)

also,in 1991 you could just about get an escort rs turbo, as some of the very late H reg ones are 1991, what about those?
muy mate had one & it handled really well, i even had a go driving it.
 
  LY 200


I said about the RST but its been overlooked!!!

Most of the peeps posting are locked in 205 heaven to even take note of anything better!!!;)
 
  Massey6465 & saxo1.1


I had a 1989 xr2 with a factory Turbo technics conversion,doesnt quite count but still bloody good.!
 
  megane coupe F7R


The fiesta rst is as quick as a Valver for sure. Dunno about the handling though. I raced one a while back down a private strip;) we both seem to be flat out at 130mph.
 
  FF 182, K5 GSX-R1000


All the hot hatches mentioned were eclipsed in 92 tho- the Escort Cosworth was born!

Most fun car i have driven without a shadow of a doubt tho is a 205 GTI. The 1.9 handles better once your used to it than the softened 1.6. but a 1.6 gearbox is needed.
 


Quote: Originally posted by Tucks on 27 January 2005

I had a 1989 xr2 with a factory Turbo technics conversion,doesnt quite count but still bloody good.!
fooking rare car mate,
i bet it was black, as they all seem to be !
 


On a track the FRST would be fine with a Valver but out on some bumpy back roads not a chance of staying with one - or any decent french cars if there are bumps as it just doesnt absorb them well. The Valver is as standard the best of its time IMO.

In 1991 The Valver was pretty much the quickest once run in. The 1.9 205 Gti wasnt any faster than a RS1800 but built worse with less predicable handling.

I would say you could swap the Valver for the R5 in the test and still get the same result.

From my 1990 Autocar hot hatch test:

1} R5 GTT- Quickest and Handled best but build wasnt great.

2} Fiesta RST - Built good, loads of grip but suspension too harsh

3} 1.9 205 Gti - Good Handling but showing its age

4} Uno Turbo OK - but just not as good as the rest.

I actually like most cars - never owned a Uno as they are too much like a box on wheels and rust even quicker than a Fiesta! Liked my 205 but too brittle and not quick enough. Never owned a Valver just the Williams but driven one. Superb wee cars and stood the test of time IMO.

* Oh and on the S2 Escort RST - not as fast as the Fiesta, handling was not hot hatch like as it was identical to the same age XR3i (which was pants)- too soft and wallowy - any of the above would leave it on a tighter bend without some suspension mods - great base for modding mind you!
 
  LY 200


007 just noticed youve got a fez turbo (rather powerful one st that :D).

How do you find the reliability mate??

I do about 10k a year but 3 working weeks a year i have to 700 miles per week, i have always thought any type of turbo wouldnt be good on this kind milage for fuel reasons and the fact its a turb, whats you opinion on this??

You got any pics of yours??
 


Gotta say, ive got a phase 2 GTi 1.6. like has been said it aint the quickest and mine is by no means in cracking condition but standard v standard id have it over a valver i reckon. Gotta love the feel through the wheel, much better thn the valver which is pretty darn good. go kart handling as said is very addictive, its easy to get it drifting and hold it. Brakes are very very strong, there seems to be no inertia what so ever, you turn the wheel and it goes. bit like a williams i suppose.
 
  e60 M5 -172- dciheid


my mate had a 206 gti 1.9 and i thought the handling was amazing, he totalled it though which was a shame as he had a few tasty mods in it.



His replacement choice was an AX gt - now that was a scary wee beast
 
  Massey6465 & saxo1.1


Quote: Originally posted by cat171 on 27 January 2005


Quote: Originally posted by Tucks on 27 January 2005

I had a 1989 xr2 with a factory Turbo technics conversion,doesnt quite count but still bloody good.!
fooking rare car mate,
i bet it was black, as they all seem to be !



Yep it was Black! I think there was only a handfull of cars that came with the conversion from brand new.Great car to surprise people with! Loudest turbo whistle ive heard.lol
 


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