...does size really matter

[R3OBC]

Well, i may get told off for this, i aint sure! But..............for once, i done something other than washing the car..........i actually DROVE it...........properly!!

Headed off up one of my favourite roads, in the hills! lots of nice bends, dips, nice cambers etc. There was a civic type R heading up this way also.....and on the approach, there are two long straights......The civic hits v-tec..........cheerio! I caught up at my leisure further up the road......and then it got twisty. The road is really good, there are 2 on-camber bends where you can see right along the road for oncoming traffic, which there was none (few sheep spectating), so we both took the best line through them, by now i realise that this guy actually bought his car to drive it also! With it being so twisty, obviously on the exit of the bends, i can pull well in 3rd etc, and he doesnt have much time to get on v-tec, so he pulls a little, but i am able to gather it back!

It was really good, both drivers were average, not loonys like you do see.......both in control, enjoying it.....! Once the Brembo discs and greenstuff pads were warm, the brakes were razor sharp and everyting felt great! Basically there was nothing in it...........having all that power is good for straights, but in the bends, it means nothing! my little 1.2 16v was just as quick as a civic type R! (probably quicker and grippier but you cant go overtaking on corners) Hopefully the guy enjoyed it also..........he didnt acknowledge my flash once i slowed down anyways........maybe he thought he was going to show this 172 behind him the way????

I know i will get mixed views on this but............this story is all about the fact that i just had a really good drive! The car worked very very well! It goes to show that a proper suspension kit, decent rubber and good brakes can really help you to make more of the car. I am not great driver....but even a little 1.2 16v can put a huge smile on my face!! Driving trully is brilliant if you are an enthusiast ......... and even with a small engine, it doesnt mean you are out the game! Make the most of it...........i know Fred does!

......p.s. Fred, need my wheels tomorrow as my toyos have just taken a pounding lol, need my eagles on! Cheers all, Rob one happy Renault owner

 

[MK3COL]

Wicked...was never that fast when I owned it...lol Must be the Cup spoiler! Really glad you get so much out the car dude. Its great to hear someone so enthusiastic. It really went to a good home!

 

[MK3COL]

Oh and I just used it for posing!!! Used to get little kids on the main st takin pics on their phones...thought I was a proper superstar...pmsl GEEEEEK!

 

[Fred@BTM]

poof, i wouldve been past him ages ago!!!!

wheels will be with you tomorrow, they look wicked

 

[R3OBC]

Col people are gonna talk about us LOL LOL!! Mate its the removal of that spoiler and Remus exhaust and induction kit thats opened the car up LOL!! Oh, and the removal of Pi.............u want a shot of it again??? LOL

 

[Jim172CUP]

best thing to give me trouble was..........

an astra diesel van, bloody thing shifted big time, i had to get into 5th to get past it!!! this was on a twistish b road and he was cutting corners so i only over took when we got to a nice straight bit. surprised me.

 

[R3OBC]

Cheers Fred!!! Hey, im never gonna be as hardcore as you!! But it has to be said, i seriosuly liked ur car at FCS!!! See ya tomorrow mate!

 

[Ben H]

It was driving my parents then new 1.2 Dynamique in summer 2004 that convinced me that a 172 was for me. I thought if the 1.2 could be that good down our local lanes, then what was the proper bo model going to be like?

I had a Coup 20VT at the time, which had (although I dont agree) been called one of the best FWD chassis ever by one magazine.

 

[R3OBC]

Jim, you should have seen this dude in a BASE MODEL 205 on harrogate back roads today! AWESOME!! even in the wet, we thought he was gonna loose it but it just went round!! i was pissing myself in the passenger seat of the van, i seriously couldnt breath!! The days of having a £100 car to throw about! awesome effort! (we were in our works van with 15s, toyo proxes (Rs and Ss) and we were keeping with him.....no more, no less!!

Works van...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/cliorob/IMAGE_217.jpg

 

[Christopher]

^^Didnt know they did the Civic Type R in white in this country.^^^

Weird.

--chris

 

[Alan]

Mint sir.....good to see the 1.2s can still play with the big boys! Even better when you get the 15s on!

 

[Djw John]

Wait till you gte the eagles mate. Youll pay people to take your 17s away

 

[R3OBC]

lol lol!! im gonna hang them on my wall i think............

 

[Djw John]

lol, na they do look good, shame they just dont handle as well. One of the few sets of 17s Id have if I was in the market.

 

[Alan]

Quote: Originally posted by EvilJohn on 02 June 2005

lol, na they do look good, shame they just dont handle as well. One of the few sets of 17s Id have if I was in the market.

Fancy a set of super Ls john?

 

[R3OBC]

they make them in 16s...............i think lol

 

[Alan]

Quote: Originally posted by R3OBC on 02 June 2005

they make them in 16s...............i think lol

Nice lad whos sellin em too!

 

[Djw John]

Na, nice wheels but too common these days. Really want 16" turinis even though they are probably just ascommon! 16" superls look too small imo. You sticking with your 172s?

 

[R3OBC]

i meant mine in 16s Alan!! LOL!!!

 

[Nightfire]

I have fun on snake pass with mine. Not had the chance against a type r, yet... but I do get those big volvos, t5 or something? The ones coppers use. Its surprising what such a small engined car can do.

 

[R3OBC]

definately mate!! keep it on the boil and its pretty nifty for a 1.2 also!!

 

[badinvincible]

Quote: Originally posted by carbon copy on 02 June 2005


^^Didnt know they did the Civic Type R in white in this country.^^^

Weird.

--chris

PMSL

 

[Lunner]

Thats why suspension set up and brakes are ALOT more imprortant then raw power under hte bonnet, stupid spending £50 on lowering springs, and then pissing hundreds away under the bonnet

 

[_Kenny_]

maybe my 1.4 can become some machine after all...!

 

[u33db]

Ill agree that suspension and brakes do count for a lot but id have to say that there no way youd come close to a type-R if the driver was honestly trying as hard as you...or was as bothered...

 

[Iain C]

nice 1...i always think a sorted chasis is more important than just power figures

 

[badinvincible]

Quote: Originally posted by u33db on 03 June 2005

Ill agree that suspension and brakes do count for a lot but id have to say that there no way youd come close to a type-R if the driver was honestly trying as hard as you...or was as bothered...

Agreed.

 

[R3OBC]

well......hard to point really as...........the CTR weighs a lot more......was cutting corners (i wasnt), has tyres just as wide as mine, so grip levels are going to be around the same........apart from mine weighs less??? Why is it hard to believe? My mate has a civic type R and i have been glued to his bumper coming off a wet roundabout before purely due to the fact that we were both on the limit of grip, he couldnt get the power down, and mine was also slipping........? we are talking a winding road here, not straight......

Id say he was trying due to his line into the bends, the fact that i could hear his V-tec and that we were both making progress.........believe it or not, the two drivers, on the day, were pushing as hard as they felt comfortable with, and there was not a jot between them. A good little drive

 

[L1oyd V]

I have to say I dont find this too hard to believe... 1.2 16vs are quicker than 1 thinks... try racing other manufacturer 1.2s.. it becomes quite obvious its one of the quickest 1.2 engines around. A guy i know has a viper, decat performance exhaust and I swear he can keep up with vtrs quite well.. hes just had it superchipped also..

 

[Ben H]

^^^ Its not the point whether or not its a quick engine. Its about handling and driver skill.

 

[bonza172]

wanna see how it matches a 172 when i get back rob lol

 

[R3OBC]

defo mate! LOL, just let me get used to my Eagle F1s first

 

[u33db]

This is kinda reminicent of the cars ive had! On the 30mile country road out to my parents the fastest ive done it has been in two cars (about equal times) - one was a mk1 1.4RT and the other my 1.8 16v with twice the power. Does this mean the RT was as fast as the valver? No - of course not. Does that mean the Rt heandled better? No - of course not. Its purely down to the fact that you dont really feel the need to try all the time when youve got a blatantly quicker/superior car.

Despite the fact the fact the you were both on wide tyres i think youll find the CTR will have far more mechanical grip than your lowered clio...i mean lets face it, CTR=designed and researched suspension/handling, your clio=aftermarket mass-produced springs and shocks. Let also not forget that even without v-tec kicking in the CTR will have far more torque than your car. Weight...hmmm...power to weight a good bit higher too.

Not having a go but lets face, the chap wasnt trying as hard as you. Even the fact that he was taking a line through the corners doesnt mean much in reality - hell, i do that if the roads clear just to have a relaxing drive.

 

[R3OBC]

aye ok point noted. At the end of the day i know that in the right hands, the civic is the better car! I aint some narrow minded 17 yr old with a 1.2! im nearly 23, driven Civic type Rs, Octavia RSs, V6 Jags etc...... i had a fun drive, and so did mr civic driver. At the end of the day, i was happy with the handling of my little car

 

[u33db]

Fair enough!

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

Small cars are great for learning the art of "conservation of momentum."

As you get quicker cars you lose this ability to conserve momentum as you dont need it.

 

[R3OBC]

yea i can believe that mate!!! the thought of what i could do up those roads with extra power (williams, 172 etc) would be rather scary.....and i am sure the brakes and tyres would take a lot more of a pounding!!

 

[Lagerlout]

I couldnt lose a 1.3 fiesta down some back lanes in my 172. If you have to slow down for whatever reason, the lesser engine car will obviosly lose out. but once your both up to speed ( 80 ish) you need a lot of power to just pull away from someone. The fact my mate has a screw loose also explains why he could keep up...lol.

 

[Nightfire]

LOL

 

[R3OBC]

nah we were talking up to about 50 for these bendy bits, he made sure i knew his was the faster car on the straights up to the bendy bits! i know how fast those civics are!! Love em!