Cup 172
Car look loads better in the flesh than in pictures. The vents behind the front wheels are a nice touch. they hadn't fitted the front splitter to this one, which would probably have improved it further.
Interior feels much better than mine. The steering wheel is perfect and has a nice red centre line stitched into it. The seats are nice and hold you in place well. Driving position is a different class to mine. Quality is much better and it feels a lot more modern. Some nice details like the Renault Sport logo on the clocks.
Setting off and the clutch is more progressive than mine. The gearbox really is good. Changes are precise and positive. 6 speeds definitely help.
Engine sounded great at low revs. Nice hard edged snarl. Put my foot down for the first time and.... gutted. felt much less urgent than mine. No big kick at 5000 revs. Probably not much slower but much more refined so felt slower. Engine only had a few hundred miles on so will improve, but still disappointed. Felt really really flat. Didn't sound as good at high revs either. Overtaking on some A roads and definitely not as good as mine at flooring it and getting past stuff. Much quieter at speed though. Got up to about 100 and felt stable and comfy.
Onto some back roads.... Car is much more stable than mine under hard braking. Mine tends to follow the roads more. Through the corners, again, the car is more planted. Not as much information through the steering wheel and seat, but still good. Less roll than the Cup. Steering weights up, but felt a little slow to me. Coming out of the corners, the car puts its power down well, with much less torque steer. Although good it left me a bit cold to be honest. Probably quick point to point, but none of the drama of the cup. Felt a bit sterile. Not as good as Id hoped.
Round town, it was very docile and easy to drive.
One thing I did notice though.... Not a single person looked at the car. Got back in the freshly waxed cup and noticed that it turns more heads.
So... good car, but maybe a bit bland both in looks and driving. I personally think their are much better places to put 16k.
Maybe a Cup version will improve it.
Interior feels much better than mine. The steering wheel is perfect and has a nice red centre line stitched into it. The seats are nice and hold you in place well. Driving position is a different class to mine. Quality is much better and it feels a lot more modern. Some nice details like the Renault Sport logo on the clocks.
Setting off and the clutch is more progressive than mine. The gearbox really is good. Changes are precise and positive. 6 speeds definitely help.
Engine sounded great at low revs. Nice hard edged snarl. Put my foot down for the first time and.... gutted. felt much less urgent than mine. No big kick at 5000 revs. Probably not much slower but much more refined so felt slower. Engine only had a few hundred miles on so will improve, but still disappointed. Felt really really flat. Didn't sound as good at high revs either. Overtaking on some A roads and definitely not as good as mine at flooring it and getting past stuff. Much quieter at speed though. Got up to about 100 and felt stable and comfy.
Onto some back roads.... Car is much more stable than mine under hard braking. Mine tends to follow the roads more. Through the corners, again, the car is more planted. Not as much information through the steering wheel and seat, but still good. Less roll than the Cup. Steering weights up, but felt a little slow to me. Coming out of the corners, the car puts its power down well, with much less torque steer. Although good it left me a bit cold to be honest. Probably quick point to point, but none of the drama of the cup. Felt a bit sterile. Not as good as Id hoped.
Round town, it was very docile and easy to drive.
One thing I did notice though.... Not a single person looked at the car. Got back in the freshly waxed cup and noticed that it turns more heads.
So... good car, but maybe a bit bland both in looks and driving. I personally think their are much better places to put 16k.
Maybe a Cup version will improve it.
