Tempt me from my CZT...

[Tronjan Horse]

Good afternoon fellows.

It goes like this, currently driving a CZT with shy over 200bhp and as you could imagine it's not slow in getting to the legal limits quickly, however I keep having this Clio niggle nagging me every now and then.

I almost bought a Williams before this but there were two in this dusty 'showroom' and believed that it was a ringer or dodgy at least. He used the the other Clio to promote this particular one, anyway I walked away. Then later bought this lovely CZT. Before that though my missus had a T reg 1.6 (sport?) which whilst flawed in a few areas I thought it was quite strong motor wise and was quite surprised by it.

I have been into my Japanese motors for a while now, Swift GTi, MR2 t-bar, Starlet GTT, Evo IV, and the Colt, and frankly miss the Swift with respect to it feeling like a go kart and fun to drive (mind the Starbo was my mistress and that took on a new level of being used, fast road/track set up, not at all practical but again fun and around 192bhp) and I'm kinda missing that again. The raw, edgy, chuck ability of driving. The Evo was too big and a rot box so confirmed I like small hatches (oddly I'm 6ft 2) and I think a 182/172 would bring that to me.

Don't get me wrong I like my CZT and the turbo power it brings but for me I don't feel its a drivers car and I like to drive. I know being on a Clio RS forum you're all bound to extoll the virtues of owning a 172/182 haha, I just want to hear thoughts on whether I am thinking right about the Clio's giving me the thrill of driving again? I'm not fussed about air con, cruise control and lots of extras, just something to get on with driving!

I'm no sprout either, turned 30 a few months since so think twice with "jus coz der well fasser innit" replies please. And ta for reading!
Tronjan.

 

[Grier]

In a nutshell yeah, not much more offers the go kart thrills of the clio and they are really great fun to chuck about. I bought mine for entirely this reason.

 

[Goodj]

They're superb little hatches. They have some reliability black spots, but name a car that doesn't.

YOu'll feel liike you're driving an older car though. Because you are, compared to the Colt, and you'll need to start using revs to make progress what with the comparative lack of torque.

May as well get climate, cruise etc anyway, since they came as standard kit on a lot of later cars, it makes them a decent proposition for a daily.

 

[Tronjan Horse]

I was only thinking about the lazy power a turbo gjves the other day. The amount of times I would just overtake and not need to change down or similar was quite apparent. I did forget to mention that an ek9 was being loomed at too but for ££ so I am swaying toward n/a power again.

It won't be a daily as I have a 100k miler Jazz as the daily and a work van even, so it would just be for weekend and sunny eve hoots.

 

[Goodj]

weekend and sunny eve hoots.

Turbo'd MX5

 

[R3k1355]

If you do get a Clio just make sure you get one thats had the cambelt & dephaser changed recently (and has proof), it's a specialist job and probably the most costly regular maintenance on the car.

 

[Tronjan Horse]

Funny that gets mentioned alot, the timing belt. When the wifes Clio was bought, it said the belt had been done. I drove one xmas to Ikea near Nottingham and missed the jct so had to turn back Nth bound to this time not miss the juction. I got to the roundabout to go under the road to Ikea, what 2 mins away? and the car stalled then wouldn't start. Timing belt had "gone".

Worst was I was so close to getting some shopping but had to be towed all the way back to near Gamston, with no shopping. Expensive xmas that, on the spot Aa recovery and a new engine.

So yep, I will be checking with a beady eye about the belts!! Sorry for the tale

 

[R3k1355]

Check it's done by a decent garage as well.

Vast majority of rough or slow Clio's have had the belt changed by some utter monkey which leaves the timing out and the car massively down on power.

 

[jamesycc]

great cars. If you want the 'involved' feel the 172 cup is the no frills options. No aircon/climate just fan dials. No abs, wider suspension, lighter wheels (turinis), less sound proofing, lighter interior ( no half leather seats). Great cars, lots of fun and can be challenging to drive. I've got mine as a daily and love it as it feels like a car you 'drive'. Keeps me on my toes if you know what I mean.

 

[Mr Burns]

Ignis or Swift, stick to your roots.

 

[197.]

I bet the CZT goes like s**t off a shovel! Got any pics of it? Loved the rarity and size of them

 

[K_McDermott]

great cars. If you want the 'involved' feel the 172 cup is the no frills options. No aircon/climate just fan dials. No abs, wider suspension, lighter wheels (turinis), less sound proofing, lighter interior ( no half leather seats). Great cars, lots of fun and can be challenging to drive. I've got mine as a daily and love it as it feels like a car you 'drive'. Keeps me on my toes if you know what I mean.

+1 on the 172 cup option

I've come from a boosted seat Leon 200+ bhp which was just lazy turbo power and as said above because the cups are such a no frills drivers car they're bloody epic to take out for a blast over back roads and for use on track because it's just back to basics N/A old school hot hatch driving, I love mine, can't see me selling any time soon, just hope we don't get much snow lol [emoji85]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tronjan Horse]

Ignis or Swift, stick to your roots.

I think I'm due a change. I love the JDM scene, well Japanese culture more so but I need to take off my fanboi coat and try something else. Good call though.

I bet the CZT goes like s**t off a shovel! Got any pics of it? Loved the rarity and size of them

Erm..haha yeah it's not slow. No chance of hitting boost in 2nd 3rd maybe 4th if its wet, spins up far too peasy. However in the dry if really does just pull you along, 215 torques too but for me it's just missing that driving edge.

I had read the 182/172 difference guide and wow I got lost in it. So a 172 cup would suit me you guys think? I do like the marmite twin exhaust on the 182 though.... arrgh.

Oh CZT snaps if thats Ok?

 

[Mr Burns]

I think you'd regret going from Jap to French personally. I've tried it and a few friends have too, but we've all ended up selling our French stuff and going back again. I think you'd love an Ignis... It's just as quirky and different as the Colt but with driving characteristics similar to the Clio. In my personal opinion the Ignis is even more fun. I've owned 4 and the only reason I don't have one now is that they're a little bit too uncomfortable for me on long journeys. I have actually been offered another as a track toy which I'm giving serious consideration!

 

[Martin_172]

in reality where the CZT will be a little faster it will "feel" much faster id have thought, my tuned up diesel clio felt not much slower than my 182 but in reality the 182 would have punished it.

however coming to the clio will give you a big step up in fun and driver involvement over the CZT (granted the one I drove was standard)

 

[Silent_Scone]

Why not make the only leap that makes sense from the CZT to an Evo (again)?

In all seriousness a standard mk2 Clio will feel slow to you, I reckon. They've got nothing low down at all, and where as it is fun revving the nuts off them - it's undeniable wanting a little more down the rev range.

 

[Tronjan Horse]

Morning all.

I have had a look into the Ignis Sport and whilst the look of them I really like (big fan of the boxy kei car look), I'm not sure if I could put up with at best 100 and a bit bhp.

And with the Evo suggestion again, whilst undeniably one that isn't rotted or rotting with a few tweaks would be astounding however they're for me at least silly money and I don't feel comfortable in larger cars, i like to know where me corners are if you follow?

A few years ago I was all for the "it has have more power" when getting a new motor, but now I think it's more enjoying the drive. My Starbo saw Blyton twice and that was worth having only one seat in and no plastics and a roll cage and etc.... not massively powerful but in the twisties and braking that Sierra Cosworth couldn't get rid of me. That's what I'm hoping these Clio may give see.

Thanks for all your suggestions though people, it's appreciated.

 

[Grier]

Turbo clio....job jobbed

 

[imprezaworks]

Decent Clio with some nice mods, exhaust, filter, brakes, suspension and a decent map is a great little car.