Hi,
This is my first post on this forum as I'm usually found on the type R forum! I used to own a Civic Type R and loved it to bits. Not too long ago I had to sell it due to a company car, then changed jobs and purchased my first Renault (a Kangoo!), which I sold and have just purchased a MK1 Clio 172 off Aaronc who I believe is a prominent memer on here?
Anyway, I have to say I absolutely love the 172 and am really shocked to be writing this as I've always been such a Type R advocate! To have REAL steering feel, perfectly weighted, a lower driving position and a level of suppleness to the suspension that would have a Type R skipping off into the nearest hedge, is a revalation!
I took the car for my first real drive tonight and was suprised by the immediacy of the turn-in, the amount of detail coming back through the steering and the instant acceleration rather than the wait...wait...wait...woah! like you get in the Type R.
Yes the gearbox leaves something to be desired next to the Type R's, but its nowhere near as bad as I was led to believe and has a nice positive shift action. The clutch is a bit of a let down as I don't find it very progressive and I think it will get tiring in stop-start traffic, but when you're up to speed I don't notice it.
I also love the 'wolf in sheep's clothing' looks of the thing! I used to find everything trying to race me or push me along in the Type R (didn't help it being red I guess, or having a rather loud magnex exhaust/quickshift induction kit) and I suppose its a little early to see if I'll be left alone a little more in the Clio.
I'd say that up to about 100 the performance is exactly the same as the type R, but thereafter the Type R used to get really into its stride whereas the Clio begins to get a bit breathless. That's not such a bad thing as the Clio makes up for having real shove where you need it - 30-90 mph.
Overall, I'm really impressed and am rapidly becoming a converted member of the Clio fan club (can't belive I'd ever say that)!!
Let's hope the reliability is somewhere near as good as my faultless Type r was...
Ian
This is my first post on this forum as I'm usually found on the type R forum! I used to own a Civic Type R and loved it to bits. Not too long ago I had to sell it due to a company car, then changed jobs and purchased my first Renault (a Kangoo!), which I sold and have just purchased a MK1 Clio 172 off Aaronc who I believe is a prominent memer on here?
Anyway, I have to say I absolutely love the 172 and am really shocked to be writing this as I've always been such a Type R advocate! To have REAL steering feel, perfectly weighted, a lower driving position and a level of suppleness to the suspension that would have a Type R skipping off into the nearest hedge, is a revalation!
I took the car for my first real drive tonight and was suprised by the immediacy of the turn-in, the amount of detail coming back through the steering and the instant acceleration rather than the wait...wait...wait...woah! like you get in the Type R.
Yes the gearbox leaves something to be desired next to the Type R's, but its nowhere near as bad as I was led to believe and has a nice positive shift action. The clutch is a bit of a let down as I don't find it very progressive and I think it will get tiring in stop-start traffic, but when you're up to speed I don't notice it.
I also love the 'wolf in sheep's clothing' looks of the thing! I used to find everything trying to race me or push me along in the Type R (didn't help it being red I guess, or having a rather loud magnex exhaust/quickshift induction kit) and I suppose its a little early to see if I'll be left alone a little more in the Clio.
I'd say that up to about 100 the performance is exactly the same as the type R, but thereafter the Type R used to get really into its stride whereas the Clio begins to get a bit breathless. That's not such a bad thing as the Clio makes up for having real shove where you need it - 30-90 mph.
Overall, I'm really impressed and am rapidly becoming a converted member of the Clio fan club (can't belive I'd ever say that)!!
Let's hope the reliability is somewhere near as good as my faultless Type r was...
Ian
