Sat in Clio III today - my thoughts

[Munson]

had a good screw around with a Clio III today in Dynamique S trim, didnt get a drive but poked and prodded it for a while.

The interior is ok but nothing special, although the steering wheel is about half the size of the piece if s**t that they put in the outgoing RS Clio. Seats a very high...

Outside it feels a lot bigger than the outgoing Clio, and it frankly looks very dull...just another euro-box. In RS form it could look very sexy but I wasnt overly impressed with my first encounter at all. It didnt leave me thinking I wanted to upgrade for the nicer interior, because it isnt actually that much nicer. It does feel more solidly put together but thats progress.

I honestly didnt walk away feeling that I had the inferior model, and I couldnt help but grin when I walked back to my tiny, squat Inferno 182. Clio III is a sign of the times - the tiny car has grown up and got some softer feel plastics and higher seats...I'll wait to drive the RS, but I dont think it will be what many are expecting. IMHO it will be slightly duller, and unless it has 210bhp (based on +130kg) it isnt going to be any quicker on the straight than the 182.

 

[GarethM]

good feedback there dude. will be interesting to see the final RS model

 

[Munson]

good feedback there dude. will be interesting to see the final RS model

No it'll be interesting to DRIVE the RS model

 

[MarkCup]

Shame...I read the Evo "Driven" on the 1.6, and the only words I could see were "+130kgs", so sad.

I hope Renaultsport are working hard on the carbonfibre bits the 182s' successor is going to need...

 

[Munson]

A lot of people are bleeting on about '200bhp' yet few have bothered to work out that it will need 210ps just to stay on par with the 182 (ignoring gear ratios). With 200ps it will probably just about have the same performance as a 182, slightly less depending on torque and ratios, and lets hope RS can magically make 130kg disappear in terms of agility.

I'm not knocking the RS, as we dont know what it will be like, but it will need more than 200bhp if it's to live up to what '200bhp' implies in the minds of those who keep chanting it. It is likely to have a higher top-end mind you.

 

[MarkCup]

It'll need to lose all that 130kgs - having seen many times first hand what difference 89kgs makes it'll need all the help it can get.

Come on Mr Townsend...get them French fellas working on a proper drivers car (or should I go and buy a Caterham/Elise :clown: )

 

[Phill1978]

true the diffo between my 172 ( fast one aswell) and my cup with 89kg - backseats is amazing.. i got fairly trounced by Focus RS in my 172 now i have the cup its still faster although now the RS is sporting a full stainless exhaust + dump valve + blue fin but only 5 lenghs to 125 which isnt bad considering the high hp/lbft its kicking out if it was a stock RS i would be on its arse maybe only 2 lenghs behind and ive still only got 170bhp, soon as the buckets are in and im down to 985kg + a few engine mods to 190 and il be upto the 245-250hp`ish RS pace again, maybe ultimatley slower but in the old 172 it seemed to glide by fairly convincingly.
also may add in my cup i wasnt struggling at all around a few select well know bends against it !
thats the power of weight loss

 

[mcoppen]

I to will not be upgrading to the new clio. I have tried and tried to like it. Looked at it at every available opportunity, and i still hate it. I have loved every mark clio and every phase, but this is the end of new clios for me. Has just turned into yet another mini-mpv. Same as the new 106, the 107. It is just such a shame, ever hatch is turning into yet another rubbish euro/jap, mini-mpv.

 

[BigD]

I to have sat in a new clio III and I wasn't impressed, I have sort of come to terms with the looks but its just so well...BIG!

Build quality is better which is a plus and I like the front end (not sure I can come to terms with the rear end though) and inside its slightly better (but as I drive a Cup like I give a sh*t about interior!).

I do like the pics I have seen of the RS version and I would definitly be interested in taking one out for a spin, I am hoping that Renault Sport will lighten it like they did with the Cup and hopefully it will be putting out at least 210bhp (as Roy said at its current weight 200bhp means jack in terms of accelaration)

I will reserve judgement till I drive one, but as has already been said small cars keep getting bigger and more MPV like this combined with the ever growing list of driver aids is sucking the fun out of owning a sports hatch back.

The days of being able to buy a brand new, lightweight, small Hot hatch have gone I'm afraid.

 

[edde]

The extra weight and small increase in power (to 192hp) will be counteracted by the new 6 speed close ratio box. 0-60 time won't be much off but it will be quicker in gear as its got a bit more torque (10NM) and the ratios will help keep the engine in the power band.

 

[polarbert]

I hope Renaultsport are working hard on the carbonfibre bits the 182s' successor is going to need...

but you know how expensive carbon fibre is! if they do use carbon fibre the cost will probably be in the region of 17k

 

[ukaskew]

Considering the general shift towards smaller engines with super/turbochargers to improve emissions and economy maybe we will see a 1.4 or 1.6 RS Turbo in the future along the lines of the forthcoming Golf GT..?

 

[Munson]

I think the key thing to ask yourself, is do Renault really want any Clio to be faster then their flagship Megane? I'm pretty sure the answer is 'no'

 

[Nicksie]

went and a look too, the sales girl was desperatly trying to sell me it, even after i told her I had a Cup and was just being curious! she even went on to tell me that it wasn't as fast as a Cup, well der!!

 

[fizzy_drink]

I've had a look today myself...

Basic 1.2 comes with aircon... wheras 1.4 dynamique has aircon as on option??! Bizzare.

It's definately a bigger car... I'd say that it seems better put together than the current model, but time will tell.

The doors and boot are a lot heavier. The bonnet is aluminium afaik.

The boot is bigger, while the safety-lip is now even higher.

Lots of bits and bobs from the megane/modus - lights/switches.

Megane-like amount of room in the rear for passengers- very nice surprise.

The car still seems a bit basic TBH, and they could-have added a few extras for storage etc...

I'm not really keen on the dash: a wee bit too fussy for me... but it's made of better materials.. and the glovebox door is a vast improvement (but still lacks the smooth open/close action that most modern cars have now).

Now... where's the 2.0 version?

 

[Big G]

I had a look today at the base model, my thoughts are:

Much better driving position! At last!! (you can tell you sit lower)

Small steering wheel right where I want it.

Pedals perfect place and distance travel.

Much more room in the back, can realisticly get four people in it without arsing up my driving position.

Boot looked about the same capacity, but different shape?

Better build quality, soft touch plastics, more solid dash, but still pretty cheapy in general.

For the base model, I liked it; definitely want to see the RS version. The combination of small steering wheel, more room, better build quality, good driving position is going to make the Clio 3 RS quite a special car I think!

 

[jonnyboy]

I had a poke round one on saturday, no great shakes really, not exactly a radical change from the current model although its bigger, nowt spesh really

 

[dk]

i really like it especially the interior, my only gripe in the spec level, especially as load sof it will be options on the RS model unlike the current car.

and whats all this optional auto lights and wipers now and now aircon apart from expression, even the higher dynamique model doesn't get it?

 

[Andi-B]

I went in to the local dealer too today to have a nosey at the Mrk 3..
They had two in, A 1.2 16v in silver with ivory/cream interior (YUK! lol) and a 1.4 S Dynamique in red with the black interior. The ivory looks so tacky and old its untrue. The cars dashboard is higher and from what the manufacturers are saying, if your a tall geeza your going to struggle with space but My dad's 6 foot and he said he had no problems with knee space under the steering wheel. The Dynamique S looked nice in the red and its also got the over-flared wheel arches on the front, which make it look similar to the 182 arches. As for the dash and interior, it still looks plastic but I did notice one thing that no-one else has pointed out on here, they've designed the shape of the mrk 3 on the old megane style coupe' body. Thats the weird thing about it. It is bigger though, reports say its 23 inch smaller in length than the megane but yeah it is 130Kg heavier. The rep that sold me my 182 in Halifax told me Renault are looking at putting at least 200 Bhp in the new Sport clio just to weigh out the power-to-weight ratio bit...
I also got told they were planning on putting the 182 engine in the modus !?! (yeah like we can see that happening?? lol )

The problem I can see is that there hasnt been much enthusiasum with the new shape and personally I dont think they will sell as good as the older Mk1's / Mk2's.. But I cant predict the future, I could be wrong

 

[Munson]

I'm not sold on this improved driving position thing? I certainly didnt feel like I was sitting any lower than in my Clio II. If you look at the chairs in Clio III, you'll see they are sitting on giant plinths like those in cars like the Modus. Very high off the floor. Does it have a higher waist line that could create the impression of sitting low? Certainly didnt feel it for me anyway.

The steering wheel is a massive improvement. Very similar to the Modus item, but with a twin central prong. Although, just like the Modus, the wheel seems to be slightly awkardly tilted laterally. I think its an optical illusion created by the curved dash and plastic surround behind the wheel, but it defintely doesnt look quite right when you sit infront of it.

The gear stick is closer, but then it is 18" long so thats no miracle. Overall I'd say it left me cold. Not bad as such...I was just nonplussed...bored...stuck for an opinion either way. Instantly forgettable. I suppose anyone would say the same about the outgoing model though in fairness. I think, on refelction, I just found it all a bit too contrived and girly inside.

This is just based on my experience prodding around, as I didnt drive it. I cant wait to see what the RS drives and looks like.

 

[Munson]

On the subject of the RS ClioIII, there are going to be some superb versus threads between old/new eh? Cant wait for that debate to become common. It'll be even better than MkI v MkII, and 172 v 172Cup etc.