Clio 200 on Top Gear

[Jonny1*2]

Apologies if this is a repost.

http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/home/latestnews/ObjectId/5596/Default.aspx?WT.mc_id=RSEN0809TS01

Didn't the 200 beat the 182 on the 5th gear track? On the TopGear track it ran a 1:34secs whereas the 182 did it in 1:33.8 secs :S Not much evolution there after all hey? unless the track was wet for the 200, but it doesn't say.

 

[.GAZ.]

Was hoping for a video!

 

[Bux]

Sort of a repost, but here is the video of the 200 in the hands of the stig:
http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/st...p#/uk/videos-by-category?VideoCategory=BestOf

 

[Paul.]

so the 182 was quicker round their track than the 200???:S

 

[Jay Payne]

Sort of a repost, but here is the video of the 200 in the hands of the stig:
http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/st...p#/uk/videos-by-category?VideoCategory=BestOf

Understeery pig isnt it



Yea altho Fifth gear showed the 200 being faster it was actally slower on the day. It was all scripted beforehand

 

[Bux]

Understeery pig isnt it

The Stig was particularly impressed with how the Cup chassis never understeered

Say what?

 

[Jay Payne]

Watch the video, understeer everywhere towards the end of the lap

 

[Bux]

Watch the video, understeer everywhere towards the end of the lap

Yeah I know, but I was just quoting that the stig claims there was no understeer

 

[Gorms]

If every car was faster than the previous model it would be crazy. Mk9 Clio 0-60 3 seconds I think they have done well to make the car as fast as the 182 with all the extra stuff you get with new cars these days.

Paul

 

[theduck]

So its just as quick, but safer?

 

[stuart1989]

So its just as quick, but safer?

slower & gayer, much gayer.

 

[ForceIndia]

Just shows that modern tyres, fancy suspension, epic brakes, and more power can't make up for putting on weight.

 

[Gorms]

I'm willing to say better build, better driving possition, more reliable (only time will tell) and above all they are new.

Paul

 

[theduck]

0.2 seconds is down to the driver on the day imo.

So...

Just as quick and safer?

Thats good progress imo. Shame 200 looks like a pig

 

[ForceIndia]

I'm willing to say better build, better driving possition, more reliable (only time will tell) and above all they are new.

Paul

Driving position, yes. The rest no.

 

[Jingo]

lol does he keep dropping something? keeps bending down.

 

[ForceIndia]

0.2 seconds is down to the driver on the day imo.

So...

Just as quick and safer?

Thats good progress imo. Shame 200 looks like a pig

I don't agree. Most performance cars get quicker as they evolve. Focus st, focus rs, golf gti etc. Whilst getting safer.

 

[Gorms]

If they still made the 182 I would have a trophy but unfortunatly they don't. Next best thing was the 200. Oh well, let the hate continue.

Paul

 

[ForceIndia]

Hardly hate! I just don't blindly accept that a cars better as it's newer.

 

[theduck]

I don't agree. Most performance cars get quicker as they evolve. Focus st, focus rs, golf gti etc. Whilst getting safer.

Focus ST is now in a different market segment to the original. Golf GTi got worse before it got better.

I would love to see faster hot clios, but I dont think there will be a big step forward anytime soon simply because the market doesnt demand it. If you want a faster hot renault then you buy a megane. If you want something faster again then you pretty much have to look above hot hatches (current Focus RS excluded)

 

[Gorms]

No one said it was a better car. Some aspect might be improved. As For the golf comment?? Mk4 gti 2.0 and the 8v/16v mk3 were all slower than the mk2 gti and handled no where near aswell. I think Renault have done well to keep to satefy and stupid eu rules and maintained the proformance to a similar level.

Paul

 

[ForceIndia]

Again, I don't agree. The cooper s feels far quicker than the Clio. I've yet to drive a 197 that felt like it had near 200hp. But regardless of speed, the sense of energy and fun was sorely lacking IMO. I've yet to spank a 200, so couldn't say.

 

[ForceIndia]

No one said it was a better car. Some aspect might be improved. As For the golf comment?? Mk4 gti 2.0 and the 8v/16v mk3 were all slower than the mk2 gti and handled no where near aswell. I think Renault have done well to keep to satefy and stupid eu rules and maintained the proformance to a similar level.

Paul

Missing the point. The golfs you speak of were designed at a time when high insurance was killing off the hot hatch. Over the same time period, the hot clio's have remained on a par, all those around them (in general) have got quicker.

 

[theduck]

Those around them have in general moved in to different market segments. Mainly being the new larger hot hatch segment. For renault this gap is filled by the megane. This is why the clio has not progressed in the same way as the focus or astras or golfs.

 

[Gorms]

But the clios all have one thing in common which you won't find with most of the otheres, the are still working with a 2000cc lump. The point was all cars should get better and that clearly isn't true. Issurance had nothing to do with it, it's rules, regulations and manufacturing cost that deem the proformance of a car. Like said before the Clio is one of the quickest of simular shape and sized new cars. It's not doing too bad to be honest, embrace it don't dislike it.

Paul

 

[Mr Burns]

Stu, I think you're right... And let's face it, who do you know that drives their car on the limit?? Who gives a f**k what the figures are! I'd never go back to my 182Cup, my 197 is everything my previous Clios were and then some! I've driven my car and the 200 on track and they're excellent. If I wanted something better, I'd buy something better, and it wouldn't be a 182!

 

[theduck]

When am I wrong? lol

 

[Gorms]

You were spot on.

Paul

 

[Mr Burns]

When am I wrong? lol

Good point, but at least you were right this time

 

[Jonny1*2]

lol i wondered how heated this was going to get. I know it's a power circuit but just expected the better brake/suspension to make a bit of a difference really.

Did someone say that the fifth gear vid was doctored?

 

[GM_182]

I don't agree. Most performance cars get quicker as they evolve. Focus st, focus rs, golf gti etc. Whilst getting safer.

The Golf's got slower past the MKII's. The MK1 Focus RS isn't as quick as an Escort Cosworth. I'd say it's pretty 50:50 on the performance side of things. I'm not going to argue a case for safety its a no brainer.

 

[Cunney]

If every car was faster than the previous model it would be crazy. Mk9 Clio 0-60 3 seconds I think they have done well to make the car as fast as the 182 with all the extra stuff you get with new cars these days.

Paul

Yeh agreed, you're getting more for your money with the 200, which is obviously an improvement if the speed is kept the same. Plus pretty sure Renault want to keep the clio's in that insurance group 16 bracket.

 

[CupKingKirk]

172 cup would be at least 5 seconds quicker

 

[Louism]

There hasnt been many bad aspects of the 200, the main issue of the 197 was you had to rag the hell out of it in low gears, they had addressed that with the 200, im not saying its perfect but they are clearly getting better. As evo says EVOLUTION.
Everyone loves it. except for warren 4 ofcourse.
I do agree that the cooper s does feel fast and it is exciting, but i drove them both and went for the clio hands down.

 

[Louism]

Yeh agreed, you're getting more for your money with the 200, which is obviously an improvement if the speed is kept the same. Plus pretty sure Renault want to keep the clio's in that insurance group 16 bracket.

i can see the clios hovering around 200bhp from now on

 

[Cunney]

There hasnt been many bad aspects of the 200, the main issue of the 197 was you had to rag the hell out of it in low gears, they had addressed that with the 200, im not saying its perfect but they are clearly getting better. As evo says EVOLUTION.
Everyone loves it. except for warren 4 ofcourse.
I do agree that the cooper s does feel fast and it is exciting, but i drove them both and went for the clio hands down.

Surely though if the 200 is about the same speed as a 182 then the power in lower revs must affect the power at higher revs?

I personally love the moment when the vvt gives you a smile @ 5k Allows you to manage the power better aswell, plus i'd imagine it's ideal for fuel consumption, lower revs much less bhp being drilled out.

 

[Louism]

in a straight line im sure they are the same, its the chasis which is fab. 5th gear said it was the chasis that shone through when they raced the 182 and the 200. The 182 is a fab car. Another thing i love about the 200 is that it looks different from the normal clios. I felt the 182 and the 172 lacked that head turning ability.

As stated tho, the 182 is very light, i remember the top gear review of it, clarkson started by saying how crappy and plasticy it was then said "but i dont care" and it panned to him throwing it all over the place, that car is still fab.

 

[Cunney]

You reckon you can ever throw and test a car to its limits like they do on their track compared to a real road? Always feel I'm not getting the most out of my clio due to the fact it aint doing cartwheels and smoking round every corner.

But I suppose when they've got a 50 metre wide track it's going to look like talented driving regardless of how wide they're going etc... what you reckon?

 

[Louism]

Defo, you can never get the most from it, thats why the min cooper s is so good, makes you feel like you are, its like a go-kart, however the clio is cheaper and a better performer

 

[Cunney]

Want to push it to see what it can do but you've always got it in the back of your mind that if you push it too much it's your pride and joy that's going to be fooked :\