Clio v's the World

[rory182]

Here's my views, I'm happy with my purchase, 22 months and 25k miles of 182 ownership.

the RS Clios are easy to drive fast, if you are in the right gear and approaching the power band u can surprise a lot of much dearer and supposedly faster cars.

Likewise if you're miles away from the powerband i.e. in the wrong gear u can get pissed all over.

as was mentioned in another thread, there's only so fast you can go round a bend before aerodynamics come into it.

I enjoy mine, agree with comments that the handling isn't entirely sorted on them. My 205gti had better out the box handling but lacked the outright speed that the clio gives me (can go into bends 20mph faster than in the pug and s**t myself!). Wouldnt mind trying a trophy, but I'm used to the handling and know how to drive it fast.

I don't think I'd ever need anything quicker, it's a good compromise the clio as you can boot the hell out of it and return 30mpg+ on long journeys. Parts are cheap, lots of toys etc etc.

I cant think of anything else I'd want to replace the car with, bar saving some money and getting a gti-6.

There's a lot of doubters it'd seem, from all the v's threads but the clio is really quite impressive.

At the end of the day RWD car drivers have the last laugh, forget ur Focus RS, R32, Golf Gti, LCR etc etc I want RWD and to then learn to drive properly. :approve:

FWD is easy

 

[Martin]

aerodynamics? I would have thought weight, grip and suspension setup would limit you before aerodynamics come into it?

 

[rory182]

yes there's only so fast you can go round a bend before u need a formula 1 car to go faster...

regardless of tyres suspension and grip there's a limit, after which aerodynamics are required. u are agreeing with my comment, just I didnt explain it.

 

[Martin]

oh yeah I get ya.... you thinking of fitting a nosecone and alloy wing? lol

 

[Renaultsport21]

Parts are cheap, lots of toys etc etc.

Not if You live in Australia , but i agree with everything else you said

Cheers,
Trev

 

[rory182]

If you live in Aus you can fit racing slicks and enjoy the nice hot sticky tarmac, if you live in the West of Scotland Michelin PE2s are an expensive but essential piece of kit.

Welcome to CS Renaultsport21, noticed it was ur first post.

 

[tameracingdriver]

Great post rory! I agree!!

 

[paul_h172]

agree with u rory, the clio has a nice balance between performance and fuel economy, etc etc

 

[chiefsilverback]

I'm in agreement too, people start to think that their car is the best car ever! The LCR guys get the cars REVO'd or Jabba'd and then overtake a 911 Turbo and sing about it, not taking into account that the guy they over took was driving a £90,000 911 Turbo and not a £15,000 FWD family hatchback.

That's all our cars are, cheap, mass produced hatchbacks (except for the Trophy ). I've had an LCR for 12 months and I'll aim to drive the Trophy for 12 months and then look to move on RWD or 4WD is where I want to go, Evo, Scooby, 350Z, Z4 etc...

I won't waste money 'modding' a car because I don't see the point, it is what it is and no matter how much money I spend it may be as fast as a Porsche/Ferrari/TVR, but it will never be one!

To finish off this was written by a guy explaining why is was worth spending probably £20,000 getting 380 some odd horses out of an LCR:

"when the sky is blue, the roads are dry and the spirits high - you`ll know exactly what I mean!!"

In those conditions I'd rather be in a drop top, 2 seat, mid engined, RWD sports car, than a cheap 5 door Spanish family hatch!!!!

 

[Rich]

Sounds a fair evaluation. With regards to handling the 182 does not feel like it wants to bite you all the time and have the fine line between tarmac and ditch that my old 205 GTi used to seem to live on. You can't however jump in and drive it as fast and committed round bends the way you could with a 205. I know which one I would choose everyday of the week now.

 

[benhwolves]

good posts, have to agree with the above. Talking of RWD, was out in my mates M3 Cab the other week down the back roads, now that was quick and handled like a cart - bloody scary tho!

 

[Neil G]

I'm in agreement too, people start to think that their car is the best car ever! The LCR guys get the cars REVO'd or Jabba'd and then overtake a 911 Turbo and sing about it, not taking into account that the guy they over took was driving a £90,000 911 Turbo and not a £15,000 FWD family hatchback.

That's all our cars are, cheap, mass produced hatchbacks (except for the Trophy ). I've had an LCR for 12 months and I'll aim to drive the Trophy for 12 months and then look to move on RWD or 4WD is where I want to go, Evo, Scooby, 350Z, Z4 etc...

I won't waste money 'modding' a car because I don't see the point, it is what it is and no matter how much money I spend it may be as fast as a Porsche/Ferrari/TVR, but it will never be one!

To finish off this was written by a guy explaining why is was worth spending probably £20,000 getting 380 some odd horses out of an LCR:

"when the sky is blue, the roads are dry and the spirits high - you`ll know exactly what I mean!!"

In those conditions I'd rather be in a drop top, 2 seat, mid engined, RWD sports car, than a cheap 5 door Spanish family hatch!!!!

Agree with you

Always make me laugh when people bang on about 'pissing over' and 'wasting' evos, Subarus, Porsches etc, etc...like you say, the car is still what it is at the end of the day no matter how much money you pour into it.

 

[Ally]

Have to agree with the above. At the moment, IMO there's not another car out there with a similar blend of performance, practicality, affordability, toy count and fun-factor as a RS Clio. I've had a bad experience with mine recently (dealer related) and seriously considered selling up and moving on, but since then I've had some great drives in it and I'm enjoying driving it all over again

I can honestly say there's not another car that's similar age, price, performance, etc. Although I really like that white 306 Rallye that someone on here's just bought...

Ally

 

[Ali]

Rory's so moist. Shame he couldn't keep up at the last scotland road trip!

 

[_Kenny_]

Good points there, for the cash/fun/toys the 172/182 is a great wee car imo

 

[rory182]

keep up?! lmao i get sent to the front

 

[Ian_182]

I was really happy with my 182.Good balance of power and handling...

ian

 

[Ali]

Sarcasm is a wonderful quality.

 

[Jay]

Well chuffed with my 182, the more miles I put on the better it gets!

 

[kully]

Sarcasm is a wonderful quality.

also the lowest form of wit...........but still very funny. LOL

 

[rory182]

Sarcasm is a wonderful quality.

 

[Tom Rigbanks]

Good post, but i think this forum is a little blinkered in reality. This type of thread appears on all 'one make' forums. Its the rose tinted spectacles view. The view that one car make is the 'best in its class'.

Ive owned alot of cars and they all have their good points and bad points. The clio has lots of grip, but to say it handles well is a misnomer. The fact is these cars can never 'handle well' because they have a big heavy 2 litre engine in the front of the car, that instantly makes the car 'handle badly'.

The whole set up of the car is designed to counteract this 'problem' that the rs designers were lumbered with. The solution, extremely stiff front end and a puppy dog loose rear, gives the car some pretty bad handling characteristics from a race cars point of view.

Sure they grip well, but if you want to drive a car with 'good handling' (lets call it balance, its correct term) then you should drive cars like a Boxster, any fastish BMW (engine always behind the front axle so technically mid engined) or other mid engines sports car. Because the engine is where it should be the car is starting from the correct lay out. Because of this the engineers can get minute chassis adjustments to perfect the balance.

All ive read on this forum since joining is that the RS clio handles well. It doesnt. It grips well, but the two are completely different.

My take on this is that if you think a FWD clio can 'out handle' a mid engine sports car, then your a bad driver (ie can't drive a mid engine sports car) or youre too young to have the experience to know better. Fact is that all the BMW's ive driven have been sublime handling cars (great balance). They certainly would keep any rs clio honest in the bends (even the lower spec ones).

Over a single lap a clio may be able to stay with more superior machines on track, but youd have to ring its neck. The result, you cook your front tyres due to the nice understeer inherent in the car and the brakes will fade and the front disks get a pounding for the same reason. 10 laps later and the sports car will still have its starting balance, but the clio will be on a one way street to 'understeersville' and 'brake fade city' as the balanc deteriorates, because the car is SO reliant on its front tyre grip. Without it the car becomes useless.

I love my 172 as its cheap, and point to point its fast. But lets not kid ourselves that it can hope to match more exotic machinery (when driven by a driver worth his salt). Road driving is not the same as track driving and is more a test of driver luck and bravery than car characteristics.

Dont beleive everything you read either, there is a list as long as your arm of small fwd cars that could match a rs clio for pace. I chose a 172 based on price and id previouslty owned a 16v along time ago. I looked at many others that where just as good, but in the end the clio won based on nostalgia.

 

[Tyson-182]

I totally agree with all the above!! Great thread.

Tyson.

 

[sharkaroo]

Basically no matter what car you've got or what you do to it theres always someone out there with one better than yours!!

 

[rory182]

Good post, but i think this forum is a little blinkered in reality. This type of thread appears on all 'one make' forums. Its the rose tinted spectacles view. The view that one car make is the 'best in its class'.

Ive owned alot of cars and they all have their good points and bad points. The clio has lots of grip, but to say it handles well is a misnomer. The fact is these cars can never 'handle well' because they have a big heavy 2 litre engine in the front of the car, that instantly makes the car 'handle badly'.

The whole set up of the car is designed to counteract this 'problem' that the rs designers were lumbered with. The solution, extremely stiff front end and a puppy dog loose rear, gives the car some pretty bad handling characteristics from a race cars point of view.

Sure they grip well, but if you want to drive a car with 'good handling' (lets call it balance, its correct term) then you should drive cars like a Boxster, any fastish BMW (engine always behind the front axle so technically mid engined) or other mid engines sports car. Because the engine is where it should be the car is starting from the correct lay out. Because of this the engineers can get minute chassis adjustments to perfect the balance.

All ive read on this forum since joining is that the RS clio handles well. It doesnt. It grips well, but the two are completely different.

My take on this is that if you think a FWD clio can 'out handle' a mid engine sports car, then your a bad driver (ie can't drive a mid engine sports car) or youre too young to have the experience to know better. Fact is that all the BMW's ive driven have been sublime handling cars (great balance). They certainly would keep any rs clio honest in the bends (even the lower spec ones).

Over a single lap a clio may be able to stay with more superior machines on track, but youd have to ring its neck. The result, you cook your front tyres due to the nice understeer inherent in the car and the brakes will fade and the front disks get a pounding for the same reason. 10 laps later and the sports car will still have its starting balance, but the clio will be on a one way street to 'understeersville' and 'brake fade city' as the balanc deteriorates, because the car is SO reliant on its front tyre grip. Without it the car becomes useless.

I love my 172 as its cheap, and point to point its fast. But lets not kid ourselves that it can hope to match more exotic machinery (when driven by a driver worth his salt). Road driving is not the same as track driving and is more a test of driver luck and bravery than car characteristics.

Dont beleive everything you read either, there is a list as long as your arm of small fwd cars that could match a rs clio for pace. I chose a 172 based on price and id previouslty owned a 16v along time ago. I looked at many others that where just as good, but in the end the clio won based on nostalgia.

agreed! shame in reality most people who drive big RWD cars do so because they can afford to, not because they know how to...

Dude at knockhill on Sunday in his 993 Turbo was the exception! Engines in the wrong place but I still want one :evil:

 

[Neil G]

Don't do any track stuff so the Clio is more than enough fun for me.

 

[rory182]

Neil, get yourself an Elanor like in your avatar