Quote: Originally posted by SideShowBob on 15 July 2003
Hi all
Ive been looking to change my RX7 for something more economical to run (which basically means anything this side of the space shuttle), and have just been for a test drive in a Clio Cup.
Very nice, and pretty much what im looking for, but with the test drive, I didnt get the oppurtunity to exploit the handling, so wanted some opinions from anyone on here with experience in cars as to what the handling is like when the car is seriously pushed.
The cup is on track every other weekend during the summer and as a matter of fact I had a very enjoyable tussle with a modified Rx7 on saturday. very nice man. The handling on the standard cup is more than sufficient for any road you will encounter. On track, I find the suspension too soft and the tail gets a bit twitchy, but there are several solutions to that ranging from £400 to £1500 for a Group N coilover setup. Will be trying the £400 solution soon and I believe it will be more than sufficient. Our friend James has kindly arranged for a cup racer to impart some of his experience and some of us are getting lower springs + some geometry mods. Will see later about the dampers. So in short, a very good handling car, but you will have to do some work if you want to have a go at your friemds elise/caterhams on track.
I owned an Integra R before the RX7, so know what really good FWD handling should be like, but didnt want to terrify the sales girl too much!!
More interested in what it goes like over B roads, pushing very hard, as I always end up racing my mates in Tegs and Elises, and dont want to be left trailing, but wouldnt want another integra, as hated the Honda image, and want the convenience of a hatchback.
on a B road, it will take a very brave/talented elise, CTR, integra to put much distance between you. With fairly low cost modifications you will be able to be slightly ahead of them
Also after what the running costs are like, and average fuel consumption (althou coming from 12MPG, I dont care too much ), but want to have a sporty hatch that doesnt cost the earth to run.
mileage in theory can be as good as 40+mpg. Normal driving is mid thirties and Ive NEVER managed to take it below 27-29mpg and thats after a full days on track
Reliability and Renault havent gone together too well in the past, is the Cup reliable? and what things are likely to go wrong? It felt well enough put together, and no rattles or anything appeared.
Long list of annoying little things that are well known to Renault and people on this forum, mostly little rattles etc, but no major mechanical problems. I would say the mechanics are sound, the finishing is typical Renault low budget, but hey youre buying a £10-13k car.
Id be getting a new one, with the climate control (unless it adds loads of weight???), and after the test drive, got the price to 13k, which seems reasonable.
£1k off is not very reasonable, thats just the cost of the aircon for "free" you can do better if you suggest youre walking away, or book yourself a demo car, with the added benefit that itll have a few miles on it. The engines loosen up massively after 4-5k. In this weather aircon is a definite bonus. Added weight is insignificant, power loss maximum a few percent points. up to you. Routing in the engine bay is just a tad trickier with aircon if you start modifying but no big deal
One last thing, has anyone had the Cup model through Winter? as not sure what stopping would be like without ABS.
Braking hard in the [very] wet is interesting. I have not been on track with it during the winter as Ive only bought it in April. Lack of ABS is not an issue, and for me a bonus for track use. The ABS cuts in nicely on the Mk1 172, but I often felt that on the Mk2 the ABS is intrusive and cuts in too early. If you ever want to take the car on track youd have to ditch the ABS from a 172. so the cup is perfect - at least for my purpose.
Oh, another last thing, do they have an LSD?
No and thats a big downside. Exiting a sharp bend under full throttle in second the cars searching for traction and a Quaife LSD would be a definite advantage. On the shopping list...
Thanks, will be looking to sell my RX7 soon as poss, and I think the Clio is what im after, but obvuously dont want to buy a heap, so any honest opinions of the car would be welcome.
It sounds like you want to have fun with the car, so I suggest you buy the cheapest you can - get as close to £10k as you can, even buy a late used one - then spend £5k and youll have a fantastic track day car, able to keep up with £40-50k exotic machinery.
Cheers
Hope this helps
Graham
PS: was also thinking Golf GTi, but recon it would seem bland againat a Cup.
), but want to have a sporty hatch that doesnt cost the earth to run.
