what you can do to a 1.2 clio?

[Tomas]

hi all, well the car is a 1.2 16v 2002, the engine is totally standard but am wondering what can you do to get that bit extra power? speed hasn't really been as issue for me as its going to be getting slammmed! on coilovers but still......so can any of you guys give me some good advice tips?

thanks

 

[mr bognor]

People will tell you no point in trying to get any more power out of the 1.2 engine . If you want more performance save up and buy a faster car .

Alan

 

[olliewebbuk]

And those people would be right. Don't bother.

 

[is1]

Save your money, in 6-12 months time, you'll probably be wanting a faster car. You'll then struggle to sell a modded 1.2 and lose all the money you spent on mods.

 

[/Jim]

The response is always the same sadly when somebody asks this question. "save for a better car" etc. This irritates me. Being a 1.2 16v owner, and knowing full well it's going to be between 1 and 2 years before I can afford my next motor, I have wondered how to get more power. It isn't pointless, and spending money isn't a waste. (To a certain degree.) This is your hobby, your car, your pride and joy, fair enough if you want a good price when you sell it don't modify it, if you're willing to accept that, no worries. Having said that it's not hard to put it back to standard.



Back on topic, If you're looking for a little extra improvement give your car a good servce, plugs, oil drain/flush/change, new leads & coilpack / clean the ones you've got with WD40, get new oil and air filters, don't think you can change the fuel filter.

Once you've done that look either a performance panel filter or if you have the money an inclosed induction kit with an air feed. After that there's not much else but the servicing will make a difference. One last thing you could try is weight reduction, stripping out unnecessary interior parts/loosing any subwoofers/crap in your boot.

 

[is1]

Err, no-one said don't service it. In fact, good servicing should be the only thing that the OP should spend money on.
Induction kits on the whole are a waste of money in my experience, except for the knowing that one has one.
I find performance panel filters a pain to be honest (don't even mention cost effectiveness). They need cleaning/washing, failing which they will probably be worse than a clean paper filter. If you have the car serviced annually, just replace the paper filter and know that there is a fresh filter in there every 12 months.
I understand wanting to lower it as that is a visual change which the OP will see every day but again, no point spending hundreds on it if it's a non-performance model unless it is some sort of long term project.

 

[Tomas]

The response is always the same sadly when somebody asks this question. "save for a better car" etc. This irritates me. Being a 1.2 16v owner, and knowing full well it's going to be between 1 and 2 years before I can afford my next motor, I have wondered how to get more power. It isn't pointless, and spending money isn't a waste. (To a certain degree.) This is your hobby, your car, your pride and joy, fair enough if you want a good price when you sell it don't modify it, if you're willing to accept that, no worries. Having said that it's not hard to put it back to standard.



Back on topic, If you're looking for a little extra improvement give your car a good servce, plugs, oil drain/flush/change, new leads & coilpack / clean the ones you've got with WD40, get new oil and air filters, don't think you can change the fuel filter.

Once you've done that look either a performance panel filter or if you have the money an inclosed induction kit with an air feed. After that there's not much else but the servicing will make a difference. One last thing you could try is weight reduction, stripping out unnecessary interior parts/loosing any subwoofers/crap in your boot.

yeah , well at the end of this insurance year I should have 2NCB "touch wood" but even with that for me to move its still gonna be far to much sadly , and yeah everyone nearly says its french so its sh*t but to me its my pride and joy!

A was thinking of getting the 57i KN Induction Kit (anyone recommend these?) also I thinking of getting it remapped , recently it went it in for a service and I got all the plugs/oil/leads and coilpack replaced along with casual maintenance like the belts/brakes etc...

Ive got a full racing system exhaust (sportex) and coilovers (TA Technix) to be fitted so overall with remap and induction kit it should be a little quicker!

 

[Tomas]

Err, no-one said don't service it. In fact, good servicing should be the only thing that the OP should spend money on.
Induction kits on the whole are a waste of money in my experience, except for the knowing that one has one.
I find performance panel filters a pain to be honest (don't even mention cost effectiveness). They need cleaning/washing, failing which they will probably be worse than a clean paper filter. If you have the car serviced annually, just replace the paper filter and know that there is a fresh filter in there every 12 months.
I understand wanting to lower it as that is a visual change which the OP will see every day but again, no point spending hundreds on it if it's a non-performance model unless it is some sort of long term project.

Yeah i get where your coming from , Ive heard good and bad things about Induction Kits......the car is a long term project as we all know insurance companies take the p*ss! hopefully come end of this year "touch wood" a will have 2NCB but for me to switch cars atm would be pointless as the insurance would just raise again , am going to wait at least! another 2years before I consider changing cars!
And yeah lowering in some peoples eye is a waste of money specially with the roads like there are now but ride comfort and all that other stuff you think of when lowering a car doesn't bother me really with it only being a 1.2 in all , its going to be decked on coilovers full 120mm

 

[olliewebbuk]

So basically you're going to ruin your car and make it worthless 2nd hand. Good luck.

 

[Tomas]

So basically you're going to ruin your car and make it worthless 2nd hand. Good luck.

what do you think a would get for a standard 2002 1.2 16v Clio with 75k on the clock? ad get 1k if a was lucky! atm insurance is too high to move to something decent , there's nothing wrong in spending a little cash on something you take pride in! and a think nearly every user on this site will agree with that, its only going to get some decent alloys and slammed on coilovers oh and ive got a full exhaust system to go on also, and oh this may be off subject in a way to all the users on here that have sports etc...no I'am not one of these "charv" lads who stick some sh*tty bodykit on with some huge 17" rims , am not like that I like my car to look clean with fresh looking mods , the plans Ive got for it are as follows:
-Alloys Pro Race 1.2's
-Coilovers
-Sport Rear Bumper (172)
-2004 Front Bumper
-all strips/handles etc... will be fully colour coded
-and also an exhaust system

Thats all I have planned for it!

Thanks

 

[olliewebbuk]

Slammed means you won't be able to go around corners, which is where Clios excel. My Mk2 Ph 1 1.4 16v Si that I had when was 18 was slightly lowered (35mm) on quality springs and dampers, then Powerflex bushed. I kept the standard wheels and just bought better tyres. The result was a great little car without ruining it and making me look like a bellend with a broken car. I spent the rest of my money getting it serviced and oil changed properly and then the rest of decent quality fuel.

I still wish I'd spent that money on something decent though. Like an epic holiday with my mates or doing more education. Not an old and worthless French hatchback.

 

[SC03OTT]

I did f**k all to my 1.2 when I had it and I'm glad. It's fine to spend money on things, but only if there is some positive aspect. I'd much rather spend engine mod money for a 1.2 on magic beans. The return on investment will be far greater.

 

[is1]

Eibach springs, good tyres, timely servicing. Done.

 

[Craigus]

Eibach springs, good tyres, timely servicing. Done.

This.

Induction will do nothing but make it sound better (worse IMO)

 

[Stefan.]

toe rope

 

[Tomas]

yeah its not to everyone's taste having a "slammed" car , but if had wanted to go lower and still having good cornering ad of just bought some springs in all fairness you dont buy coilovers to lower it slightly you buy coilovers to have it slammed! actually am a little wrong there some members ive seen use coilovers to get the right height for track days....but when your my age 19 and its your 1st car you only buy coilovers to be slammed!

I'am not going to waste my money on sh*t if thats what your basically trying to say, once the exterior is done which is basically bumpers and wheels with colour coding and exhaust system and also being slammed! that aint gonna cost once thats done am going to get the Ktec-Racing Big Front Brake Kit 285mm nom nom! haha after that the car will be how I want it and nothing else will need done well a might look into HIDS/and silvervisions but thats about it, oh and if you've read previous comments maintenance comes before anything else I booked my car in for a service few weeks back and got all the plugs/oil/leads and coilpack replaced along with casual maintenance like the belts/brakes replaced

 

[PP200t]

I lowered my 1.2, put a stealth system on it, filter, and 16" alloys. Looked nice, felt quicker (not by much), handled so much better and was mine. Drove it into the ground practically tho!!

 

[Craigus]

Why would you buy big brakes for it? A 1*2 wouldn't need brakes that big, let alone a 1.2.

Fair enough if that is what you want to do. All of that will set you back about £2K. Which you could save and in a years time buy a 1*2 if that is what you want.

 

[olliewebbuk]

HIDS are soon to be basically illegal soon due to new MOT regs. Only factory ones will be allowed. Also unless you're going to buy the proper projector lights from a Clio 172/182 you will just blind all oncoming traffic. You're cementing your position as a bit of a numpty to be honest.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

The thing with low powered engines is that it costs a lot of money to get them to have a worthwhile percentage. With a 172, supercharging or ITBs is about £3-5k for a ~30% power increase, and in my mind that's a waste of time as for the money you could get something stupid quick and interesting like a TVR for instance.

Putting your cars power up 30% (I don't know how much a 1.2 has) will cost you a fortune, and it will still be about on par with the bloke behind you in his 1.4 .. it's just a waste of money and time. Even if you got it up to 200% original power by turboing it, assuming the internals are up to it (or you're looking at a fortune in forged bits) you could have just bought a 1.8 Escort for £500 and you're in the same sort of power region (Ok it's not a smart hatch, it's a dagenham dustbin but that's not my point with this).

Whatever you do to it, you'll want more. My last Subaru had over 300 horses, and far more poke mid-range that was necessary for the road, but I got used to it after a short time and wanted more... if I'd spent a £bazillion on that doubling the power, how long before that's not enough !?

Anyway, if you want a faster car, buy one. Don't bother trying to make your car any faster, it's just really not worth the bother ! You'd probably get the same gains stripping the car or taking the spare wheel out than a set of fast road cams, if anyone has bothered making them anyway :rasp:

 

[Tomas]

The thing with low powered engines is that it costs a lot of money to get them to have a worthwhile percentage. With a 172, supercharging or ITBs is about £3-5k for a ~30% power increase, and in my mind that's a waste of time as for the money you could get something stupid quick and interesting like a TVR for instance.

Putting your cars power up 30% (I don't know how much a 1.2 has) will cost you a fortune, and it will still be about on par with the bloke behind you in his 1.4 .. it's just a waste of money and time. Even if you got it up to 200% original power by turboing it, assuming the internals are up to it (or you're looking at a fortune in forged bits) you could have just bought a 1.8 Escort for £500 and you're in the same sort of power region (Ok it's not a smart hatch, it's a dagenham dustbin but that's not my point with this).

Whatever you do to it, you'll want more. My last Subaru had over 300 horses, and far more poke mid-range that was necessary for the road, but I got used to it after a short time and wanted more... if I'd spent a £bazillion on that doubling the power, how long before that's not enough !?

Anyway, if you want a faster car, buy one. Don't bother trying to make your car any faster, it's just really not worth the bother ! You'd probably get the same gains stripping the car or taking the spare wheel out than a set of fast road cams, if anyone has bothered making them anyway :rasp:

Thanks for the comment, yeah I'am not stupid enough to waste money on a 1.2 engine itll get a KN Induction Kit and Remap if am feeling generous haha

 

[olliewebbuk]

Thanks for the comment, yeah I'am not stupid enough to waste money on a 1.2 engine itll get a KN Induction Kit and Remap if am feeling generous haha

You just contradicted yourself there.

 

[Joe#]

Save your cash IMO

 

[Stefan.]

You just contradicted yourself there.

:lolup: a remap are you serious, and big brake kit?!!! its a 1.2 ffs

 

[Craigus]

A remap will get you 1 bhp out of a 1.2, if you are lucky. The induction kit will lose you more than that, as it will heatsoak. So you will have spent about £500 to lose a few bhp.

 

[Jonnio]

HIDS are soon to be basically illegal soon due to new MOT regs. Only factory ones will be allowed. Also unless you're going to buy the proper projector lights from a Clio 172/182 you will just blind all oncoming traffic. You're cementing your position as a bit of a numpty to be honest.

Pretty sure its been like that for years?

 

[NinjaGutz]

I own a 1.2 and must agree with every one, dont try and make the engine something its not, stick to little things like lower springs and decent tyres but keep standard springs for when its time to sell.. i was looking at coilovers but theyre expensive and the spacing is different for nearly every clio so theres not much point in investing.. also, youre a 19 year old lad with his first car, chances are if you do start modding you'll reach your limit of ability (assuming youre not a racing driver) and become closely aquainted (sp) with a wall/tree/other car..

To conclude: save youre money, keep the car clean, tidy and well serviced, and sell it on when you have more experience and can afford a better car

 

[shanedavison28]

Sell your 1.2 and get a dci and remap it.

Dci's are just as cheap on insurance, cheaper to run (£30 a year tax) and you can get around 125bhp from a dci 100 remapped although the 100's are rare.

Plus they are alot more torquey than the petrol 1.2.

 

[Tomas]

You just contradicted yourself there.

basically mate at the end of the day its only a 1.2 , the only engine mods that will happening is Induction Filter probably KN or Pipercross unsure....as for Remapping that will get it if am feeling generous but a doubt it will get remapped being honest

 

[Tomas]

:lolup: a remap are you serious, and big brake kit?!!! its a 1.2 ffs

Remap probalaly not going to happen , pointless remapping a 1.2!
and as for the big brake kit 285mm that will happen at some point there's nothing wrong with wanting better brakes haha plus you cant tell me that 285mm brakes wont look good!

 

[Tomas]

Sell your 1.2 and get a dci and remap it.

Dci's are just as cheap on insurance, cheaper to run (£30 a year tax) and you can get around 125bhp from a dci 100 remapped although the 100's are rare.

Plus they are alot more torquey than the petrol 1.2.

nah am not going to do that , there maybe cheaper and all but am happy with my petrol! am not all that keen on the DCI's I admint there's no different look wise but I dont do diesel's haha

 

[Tomas]

I own a 1.2 and must agree with every one, dont try and make the engine something its not, stick to little things like lower springs and decent tyres but keep standard springs for when its time to sell.. i was looking at coilovers but theyre expensive and the spacing is different for nearly every clio so theres not much point in investing.. also, youre a 19 year old lad with his first car, chances are if you do start modding you'll reach your limit of ability (assuming youre not a racing driver) and become closely aquainted (sp) with a wall/tree/other car..

To conclude: save youre money, keep the car clean, tidy and well serviced, and sell it on when you have more experience and can afford a better car

yeah well everyone tells me keep it standard then once a have more NCB a can move to a better car! the cars I have my eyes on when a do move cars a wont be able to afford the insurance for years...even with 2NCB the cars I fancy are still over priced insurance wise.

well like ive already commented the plans I have for the car wont cost a fortune actually its going to be reasonably cheap only things that are gonna cost the most is the wheels which will be Pro Race 1.2s the rest can be done either by myself or me dad or a local garage so wont cost much at all!

 

[Craigus]

Please don't get pro race 1.2's. Common wheel of the Chav nowadays.

 

[Tomas]

Please don't get pro race 1.2's. Common wheel of the Chav nowadays.

Really!? Pro Race 1.2s are now classed as "chav" wheels , even so at the end of the day they not....and also in my neck of woods haha theres hardly any clio with them on well saying that I hardly see any modified clio's round my area but there's a few! Pro Race 1.2s can be picked up fairly cheap now around 300-400quid with budget tyres

 

[stephen chadwick]

my clio 1.2 16v had a k-tec exhaust, k&n induction kit and CAF, and remaped and striped out and strut barace. no idea on bhp figures but was pretty nippy i loved the car and was allot better over std. im sure lots of 'haters' will say dont bother etc etc but whats the fun in that? just means your the same as everyone else. if it what you want go for it!

 

[Tomas]

my clio 1.2 16v had a k-tec exhaust, k&n induction kit and CAF, and remaped and striped out and strut barace. no idea on bhp figures but was pretty nippy i loved the car and was allot better over std. im sure lots of 'haters' will say dont bother etc etc but whats the fun in that? just means your the same as everyone else. if it what you want go for it!

yeah I get where your coming from! mines not going to be getting stripped out or anything just simple little things , ive got a full exhaust system to be fitted that should help a little and only thing a will do is add a 57i plus soon its getting slammed! so a wont really need speed as round my area you cant move for speed bumps haha now haters will hate at that people will see it as pointless but what isnt fun about being static low!

 

[Dan@M.A.D]

You do realise thats the "chavs" have moved away from bodykits and have gone to coilovers and Pro race wheels etc, I know ive been there and done that!

 

[Dan@M.A.D]

yeah I get where your coming from! mines not going to be getting stripped out or anything just simple little things , ive got a full exhaust system to be fitted that should help a little and only thing a will do is add a 57i plus soon its getting slammed! so a wont really need speed as round my area you cant move for speed bumps haha now haters will hate at that people will see it as pointless but what isnt fun about being static low!

If you can get over a speedbump then your not low. END

 

[Tomas]

If you can get over a speedbump then your not low. END

yeah , its going to be slammmed! its the only way haha

 

[Craigus]

Really!? Pro Race 1.2s are now classed as "chav" wheels , even so at the end of the day they not....and also in my neck of woods haha theres hardly any clio with them on well saying that I hardly see any modified clio's round my area but there's a few! Pro Race 1.2s can be picked up fairly cheap now around 300-400quid with budget tyres

You aren't listening to anything we are saying are you?