Day One Cup Report

[philip]

Got my cup today, bought it as a demonstrator with 3k miles. I added another 250.

First impressions: I love the suspension and had great fun with the torque steer. Its deceptively easy to bounce it off the rev limiter and it took me 30 minutes to get used to the right Rev pitch to change up at 6300. I also loved rediscovering the feeling of non-ABS brakes after 20 years. I had a whale of a time inducing a touch of brake lock just for the fun of it.

Even the expected rattles were here: passenger seat, and at 5100 exactly a rattle from around the light hight adjuster knob. with the windows down I also get a whistling noise at about 6000.

So the cars everything I expected: a ton of fun. The very few weak spots that I will be correcting soon are a flat spot around 3000, and I could definitely do with a bit more grunt. maybe another 10-15% torque.

All in all, Ive had a lot more fun in this than in previous cars costing 5 times more. Fantastic value, great car. Best way ever to spend 10 grand.

 

[zoog]

are you going to correct the flatspot with the ECU upgrade, Philip?

agree with everything you say, although i havent got bored with the acceleration yet, so not aching for more grunt yet!

I downloaded Top Gears test of the Cup re Cooper S today which was very lukewarm towards the Cup, they were seduced by the plastic chrome over-designed interior of the Cooper, but also they couldnt get on with the ABSless brakes recording 50ft longer to stop from 60 in the Cup !

 

[philip]

yes, Im booked to have a unichip fitted end of May (and minor exhaust/IK for fun) and I hope to improve things a bit on lower-rev torque. On the Cooper S, I am sure its a great car, I had a cooper for 8 months and the chassis is fantastic, but really I dont see how the two cars can be compared when the cup is more powerful and yet weighs 200Kg less. Numbers just dont add up. If you intend taking your cup on circuit, youll be very pleased you havent got ABS interfering with your driving. As I said in my post, I actually enjoy the cup because it is raw (not raw enough, but thatll change soon). The Mini has lovely design, but its just not comparable. I dont care what magazines say, I had my choice of cars, picked the cup, and for me it wins hands down

 

[pete172]

glad you are enjoying it.

got my cup last friday and have just finished running it in. the acceleration is amazing, think there is something wrong with it though as there are no rattles yet.

 

[Dash]

Quote: Originally posted by pete172 on 19 April 2003


" think there is something wrong with it though as there are no rattles yet."

Theres nothing in it to rattle

 

[paddymph]

hehe, the rattles WILL come out sooner or later!

 

[Simon172]

mines done 28,000 miles and doesnt have any rattles that iv noticed? the seat started to squeek a bit, but then i adjusted it, wiggled it around a bit and now it doesnt at all?

 

[philip]

Ive come across a very useful website (unfortunately French) specialising in the Mk1/2/cup and they list all the known problems/rattles and often the Renault troubleshooting codes etc. Thats why I know "my rattles" are normal and that I should expect a few more. Adds character, thats what I say ... also now I know when I hit 5000 and 6000 just by listening to the type of rattle I get (in addition to the engine note) - good fun!

 

[zoog]

the engine note is actually very good from 5000 upwards, sounds hard and race-car like. As addictive as the acceleration, which is like a scalded cat in mine now Im over 1000 miles......