What effect will fitting decent coil overs have on driving characteristics?

[len_beach]

I've just been around Blyton Park with Doncaster_K9.

I have a 172, Phil has a VTS both of which are stripped.

We're both running R888's, I'm on Sportlines and with a Whiteline. Phil is lowered, unknown suspension and top and bottom braces.

My plan has always been coils as I don't like the duck and bob you get on Sportlines.

Having driven Phils car, it's what I'd call very fingertippy as in very adjustable and nimble whereas the 172 is more of a fight.

Now I know the VTS is probably 200kg lighter than me but will Danny's Spax, Pure Motorsport mounts and brace give me some more of this finger tip style nature?

 

[Dan519]

That's tricky. The VTS is a light and very nimble car, and I think their torsion bar suspension gives them a quite specific handling characteristic that you won't recreate. You can setup how you like though. My car for instance feels totally different to dmallets car, and both run the same spax coilovers.
I'm fitting ktec top mounts to mine, and I don't believe a brace is necessary.

 

[alex-avfc]

I remember Sir_Dave saying that the whiteline ARB made the 172/182 feel a bit closer to the VTS/GTI in terms of handling characteristics.

Like Danny says though if that's not doing it for you I doubt you will get much closer. The VTS is always gonna be a bit more chuckable and playful on the limit.

 

[Donny_Dog]

Phil is lowered, unknown suspension and top and bottom braces.

Gmaxx front springs (60mm ish) and 2 splines on the torsion bar with standard dampers.

Race spec yo.

 

[len_beach]

That's tricky. The VTS is a light and very nimble car, and I think their torsion bar suspension gives them a quite specific handling characteristic that you won't recreate. You can setup how you like though. My car for instance feels totally different to dmallets car, and both run the same spax coilovers.
I'm fitting ktec top mounts to mine, and I don't believe a brace is necessary.

Thanks Dan
Do you know of anyone reputable to set them up up here near Leeds as I just couldn't get to you?

What's the best number to call you on to order?

 

[len_beach]

I remember Sir_Dave saying that the whiteline ARB made the 172/182 feel a bit closer to the VTS/GTI in terms of handling characteristics.

Like Danny says though if that's not doing it for you I doubt you will get much closer. The VTS is always gonna be a bit more chuckable and playful on the limit.

I fitted my Whiteline just before Blyton along with R888's so it's difficult to say which had the greater effect. It's certainly more planted.

Setting up was a bit of a guess so I've set it around 10mm from the top of the drop link. I might go harder to induce a little more twitch

 

[len_beach]

Gmaxx front springs (60mm ish) and 2 splines on the torsion bar with standard dampers.

Race spec yo.

Ram-Goyne Racing. If in doubt, drill the middle out.

 

[Sir_Dave]

I remember Sir_Dave saying that the whiteline ARB made the 172/182 feel a bit closer to the VTS/GTI in terms of handling characteristics.

Yeah, basically, the clio is too soft at the rear end as standard, which is why it misses out on the saxo's tendency to try & spit you in the hedge at the nearest opportunity. To redress the balance, you need to stiffen up the rear end, not necessarily the front!! So the Pure strut brace might not help in this situation.

Adjustable coilovers will help, as you can have the rear stiff/front softer, which when combined with a rear ARB will give you more of the saxo's throttle adjustability/twitchiness mid-bend. You also need to have the rear end about 20mm higher than the front, to recreate the saxo's nose down stance, with about 2.5 degrees of negative front camber to get the front end really biting into the tarmac.

Do that, & you will have a clio that handles more like a saxo.