I drove the Clio today with lux and cup packs. It rode very nicely damping and roll control was brilliant. Handling was good although I felt there could have been a bit more feel and less assistance on the steering. I would prefer a mechanical diff to the e-LSD it has but it works reasonably well.
Brakes are very good although I did feel under fairly heavy braking from speed that the car didn't feel that stable. Not sure, I would need another drive and push it a bit more to judge. It feels a much bigger car than the Ph1...more like my Mk2 Focus.
I liked the gearbox, I didn't use normal, I used sport and race. Sport is great for just cruising and you can use the paddles to change manually too. Then in race you can use the stick or the paddles, its nice and quick, quicker than I can change gear and the multiple down shifts are nice to use as you're braking. The gear ratios could be more even, I noticed some of the ratio spacing seemed a bit closer or a further apart dependent on gear.
Engine needs more, it feels too slow and it didn't excite me, the exhaust was too quiet. I'd say a remap, nice sounding exhaust and an air filter would make a much better sounding car and give it a bit more power and torque which it needs. Although saying that the torque is very linear, so it pulls all the way and the smoothness of it is deceptive, you put on more speed than you think. A bit like driving a Bentley Continental.
Interior is decent enough, seats are supportive and hold you in place quite well, I wouldn't say Recaros are much better. The R-Link is good but a bit fiddly to use on the move. And the engine sounds are only really any good to entertain children.
Visibility wasn't great but that's not a huge issue.
I was offered the 63 plate demo car for £18995 in liquid yellow. So saving about £4k. Although there is another for sale on a 13 plate in flame red for £15750.
I like it, and it would serve its purpose to replace my wife's car and my ph1 and just have the 200EDC in their place. But...I'm not sold on it. The tyres are 205, and I think 215 would be better, especially to get some semi-slicks, but the arches aren't wide enough and the standard wheels with 205 tyres are right up to the shocks. So you're restricted to 205 really.
I might change my mind in the future but for now I don't think its for me. If some more tuning products come out and someone else manages to get some decent 215 tyres fitted then maybe that would do it for me.
