Why do we waste money??

[inferno cup]

I have recently purchased a cup 182 and have only replaced the panel air filter. I have had it on the rolling road and it puts out bang on 182 bhp and 155 pounds of torque. The power curve is very smooth as is the delivery. I have read various threads and I see that people spend hundreds of pounds on exhausts and modifications. When in reality, on normally aspirated engines. Unless you are going to pay big money and I mean thousands of pounds on the car. You do not see any real gain in performance. Maybe a split second or two. Also with suspension, I speak to alot of modified car owners in my job and most cannot drive a car to save their life! (Im not saying everyone) Then they wonder why they skid off the road and crash. Because they have not got a clue about grip and traction and think they are all colin mcrae and can drive really well. What is the point in having coilovers if they never go near a track? Call me scepticle but I think that alot of people waste money 'improving' the clio 182. When the car is already good enough as standard. I out drove a BMW 3.0 litre the other day. He could not keep up as he hadnt got a clue on how to corner and balance the car through corner. He was lifting off half way round the corner and braking whilst he on the bend and sliding side ways towards the verge. I could see his car in my rear view mirror getting smaller and going all over the place. That was in a standard (albit apart from the panel filter) Clio 182 cup. I think if people want their cars to go quicker, then learn how to drive better? Its cheaper! Thats just my opinion and others may differ. But I just think we spend too much money and for not alot of gain.

 

[Fred@BTM]

thats the first thing i say to customers, get the bloody thing on track!

 

[s4lkk]

aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh, thatwas a big post

 

[Trueblue]

2nd post and a bloody big rant... well done mate your a legend!!!!!

i can see the point you are trying to make, yes it's valid, but not all people drive fast, they just like there car to sound/look slightly better imho...

but i drive fast

 

[Griff]

Now learn to construct sentances and paragraphs

 

[mini ripper]

I wont be doing anything performance wise to my cupper. Thier is no need to unless you are going to track it alot. The car was made for the track anyway. Dont get me wrong if the exhaust falls of I would probaly put a after market one on.
But as you say the people who heavily mod thier car's cant drive for toffee. I was following a guy in a Escort lowered right down to the floor massive big exhaust and gahrish alloys. Anyway safe to say the car handled like turd bouncing around corners and the driver was lacking a little. Im not saying Im any kind of Schumacher but I aint no daisy either.

 

[inferno cup]

It always amuses me when you hear a really loud exhaust note. Then round the corner pops a rusty old B reg Nova 1 litre in white covered in stickers. With a really ott body kit that weighs more than the car did before it was fitted. I just think people must have more money than sense.

Point taken about the lack of paragraphs and sentence structure. I had my moaning hat on and just kept hitting those keys on the key board!

 

[Tim Lennox]

I out drove a BMW 3.0 litre the other day. He could not keep up as he hadnt got a clue on how to corner and balance the car through corner. He was lifting off half way round the corner and braking whilst he on the bend and sliding side ways towards the verge. I could see his car in my rear view mirror getting smaller and going all over the place. .

And how exactly did you work this all out whilst hammering on with the BMW behind? Do you have peripheral vision that allows you to see forward and behind at the same time doing outrageous speeds?

If he wasn't able to keep up how then could you still see him? And how could you see someone in your rear view who couldn't keep up and who was drifting on a corner that you had already come out of....

I'm pretty sure the BMW driver was more than capable....

Did it get really small like the size of an ickle car?

You should try Formula one....you'd be better than that Schmicael Moomacker whadyacallhim?

 

[Alan]

2nd post and a bloody big rant... well done mate your a legend!!!!!

i can see the point you are trying to make, yes it's valid, but not all people drive fast, they just like there car to sound/look slightly better imho...

but i drive fast

Understatement of the year lol...

 

[dannyboy172]

Agree with what your saying here inferno, driver skill is far more valuable than any (within reason) stick on mod. In all fairness tho (putting devil advocats cap on) its quite easy to say 'i out drove....blah, blah' as 'most' people don't/can't drive on the limits on the public roads, and at the end of the day it comes down to who has the biggest, ok stupidist, balls when cornering at high speeds. The BMW driver probably backed off cos he sh*t himself. Mods are a personal thing anyway, making a car your own etc etc.

There is nothing better than embrassin' people who can't drive in their 30k BMW's....lol.

Drive fast, drive safely imo

 

[inferno cup]

It is not hard to know he was lifting off as his car back end was twitching mid corner and his front end was sliding into the tight bends. it doesnt take much to look in the rear mirror. plus we were not going stupid speeds as it was a very nice and twisty b road. I drive safe and quick. not just quick. he just could not drive. My point is, you dont have to spend loads of money to get your car to go quicker. If you look at Michael SCHUMACHER, put him in any car and he will win in it. Why, cause he is a good driver!

 

[dannyboy172]

Michael SCHUMACHER, put him in any car and he will win in it. Why, cause he is a good driver!

Not this season....lol

Come on Alonso!!! :evil:

 

[inferno cup]

True, I would like BUTTON to do well. It would be nice to see a brit on the podium again!

 

[dannyboy172]

True, I would like BUTTON to do well. It would be nice to see a brit on the podium again!

Deffo, Buttons proved he's got the pace and cars not bad either, just need to get over the hurdle of the first win, then the rest will follow. If he stay with bar next season it could be very very interesting!

 

[inferno cup]

I totally agree with you!

 

[jayxx83]

Mabye people just like to feel the extra punt between the corners. True say you should just buy a better car, but its all a bit of fun isnt it.

How boring would it be if no one on here were buying different parts for their cars, even down to different oils. We'd all be talking about how well we took various corners, or heel and toe downshifted for the first time.

Not very exciting.

 

[Jay]

and breathe. Know what your saying though. People do and don't like to spend money on mods for their car, each to their own I guess.

Maybe the geezer in the BMW needed a itg panel filter

 

[Tom Rigbanks]

Tracks dont have pedestrians. Tracks dont have schools. Tracks dont have junctions. IMO if you race on the road, ever, then you are stupid and deserve to lose your licence.

Learn to drive on track, then keep it on track.

 

[kully]

Tracks dont have pedestrians. Tracks dont have schools. Tracks dont have junctions. IMO if you race on the road, ever, then you are stupid and deserve to lose your licence.

Learn to drive on track, then keep it on track.

good point..................but nobody will:evil: every1 :race: its wot they do:quiet:

 

[Ad]

simple answer.... its their money so they can spend it how they want.

you dont want to, so dont bother.

 

[MarkM]

Why dont we all just buy a 1.2 and have done with it. We dont go on track and cant drive so whats the point in owning a 182 in the first place.

If you prefer to spend your money on something else,cocaine and prostitutes?, fair enough. I personally can afford to do it and treat it as an interest and a hobby and if I can shave 0.2 seconds off my journey to work all the better.

I could ask the same question about lots of things people do that I personally dont agree with, but whats the point?

 

[zack40]

i wouldn't say it's a wast of money. more of a personal touch, if ppl want to spend money on upgradeing suspension engine mod's or what ever! to make the car feel better even safer whats wrong in that.to me its money well spent...

 

[Stevie]

Agree it mostly comes down to the driver and also agree that it's personal taste to choose to modify your car.

I had a 1.2 before my 182 and done a few mods to it and look back and wish I'd not bothered only because I've now got a 182 but it was great fun at the time and I had a good laugh knowing my Clio was unique. As Adtmits said, it's other peoples money to spend and so I don't agree it's a waste if you enjoy doing it.

I was speaking to a friends, friend who has a 106 GTI and wants to kit it up quite a bit recently and didn't know much about Clios. Anyway, my mate has an evo 8 and he looked at my car and said that he wouldn't do anything to it, it's perfect as it is. I really didn't expect him to say that in all fairness but it just goes to show

 

[Jim NM]

You earn your money and spend it how you want to. That's the free market society.
Each to their own. If you are not going on a track save your money.
All the cash you plough into your car to make it your ideal motor you will loose outin the end when coming to sell.

Economically you would be better off saving all the money you spend on mods and using it to upgrade to a better car.
But like I said each to his own.

The 172 and 182's have plenty of power for our british roads, I am of the opinion that If your not going on the track leave it standard. Modding can create problems and cost you dearly when things don't go to plan.
THis is just my opinion for what it's worth

I am sure that serious petrol heads will have a different opinion

 

[tameracingdriver]

I think i agree with some of the points he makes. That is, if you buy one for the sole intent to go as fast as possible for the least money, then really, its not a very good car to do this, as there are plenty of other better options; For example, for the price of a nearly new 182, you could find a Seat Ibiza 1.8T Mk3 Cupra, you could probably find one for £5k. Spend a couple of grand and you could have 300 bhp. Try doing that on a Clio.

However, for me thats not what the Clio is about. Its never going to be the fastest car in a straight line, but what it is, is a whole lot of fun, out of the box, with good handling and a nice linear power delivery, and decent performance - I mean lets face it, its still faster than most cars out there.

I wouldnt neccesarily agree its pointless to modify though. Speaking personally, I can definitely see a sports exhaust in my future. Not neccesarily for the power, but for the sound, because as standard although the Clio sounds alright, it could sound a whole lot better. And if I've still got it in a few years, then I may well get some Eibachs put on... mine hasnt got the cup suspension... although i still think it handles very well indeed, I'm guessing it could be better.

Ultimately though, it does come down to the driver. But think about like this: It doesnt matter how good you are at driving, a 1.2 8v is never going to be as much fun to drive as a 2.0 16v!

 

[Danith]

waste money? how is a good way to spend money???? some people might just want to personalise their car.
i know 100% that puttin a £100 air filter on my car and a exhaust sytem is gonna make no difference to my car but i prefer the sound of it and it makes it more fun to drive.
im no colin mcrae i know but if i wanna spend money on a car to make it more fun to drive then wats wrong with that?!?!
diffrent strokes for diffrent folks.
thought set up of factory cars was a compromise between ride quality/safety and performance anyway????

 

[Iain C]

I totaly agree...ive have coilovers(nearly)/zaust and piper on my cup and i cant drive for sh1t.
Reasons? Well the cup lacked something...an exhaust (brought 2nd hand and the old system was crap). Now it has 1.
As for the piper well it was 2nd hand and cheep.
The coilovers came out of wanting my car low (it has apex springs on at the mo) but wanting a better ride. Also there are aspects of the cups handling i would like change and coilovers are the way to sort this.
I guess i could have sold the cup and got a trophy but if the cup costs me 1k to mod to a spec that will keep with a trophy ive just saved myself over 4k and it doesnt look like postman pats car.
I would still think people like james b and jon_r could drive rings round me in a stock car tho.
Phew

 

[lee_cup]

I must admit, i agree completely with your statement, but...
some people don't have anything else to spend their money on, such as girlfriends, houses, kids.
And the big argument is, if you spend all this money on your car trying to make it faster why not just buy a faster car, yes most of us would like to do this, but i can just about afford to buy a Clio and insure it, with little to spare on an exhaust and induction kit etc. I can't afford to go out and buyan EVO lol
though if i did i would probably end up modding that haha!

Remember
It will never be fast enough... the end of a day its a hobby, its fun and it makes us smile!

 

[Day]

^@ Iain - Get that cup on the track you big jessie.

Fitting coilovers to "go low" as it were is the most dumbest comment you've ever said lol.

You think coilovers are going to be practical on the A264?

 

[TRW1]

Now learn to construct sentances and paragraphs

SENTENCE !!!!

 

[ChrisE]

Agree with what your saying here inferno, driver skill is far more valuable than any (within reason) stick on mod. In all fairness tho (putting devil advocats cap on) its quite easy to say 'i out drove....blah, blah' as 'most' people don't/can't drive on the limits on the public roads, and at the end of the day it comes down to who has the biggest, ok stupidist, balls when cornering at high speeds. The BMW driver probably backed off cos he sh*t himself. Mods are a personal thing anyway, making a car your own etc etc.

There is nothing better than embrassin' people who can't drive in their 30k BMW's....lol.

Drive fast, drive safely imo

I totally agree!!

 

[Peter.K]

Inferno cup

How much did you pay for our panel air filter and did it give you any gain
in performance.

If there was no noticeable gain in performance, which I’m sure there wasn’t, then surely it was a waste of money.

 

[Trueblue]

Understatement of the year lol...

LOL you know me well Alan

 

[smillie]

i would hav thought, just speculating here, that driving a standard mk1 quickly round a sharp corner is going to feel a little unnerving.

But driving a low mk1 -55mm on coilovers damping rate set up for the track etc, with wide profile, really expensive tyres, would feel safer, and u might pust it more.

So in this instance, modding has given u better cornering capabilitys and bigger testes. So u should deffinately get a better time.

 

[NOT! gary l]

its an old argument aint it?

Similar to arguing about wether or not Marmite is good, i hear the bit about driver skill though and its a bit of a coincidence its the first thing i read since returning from knockhill this afternoon.

Hot hatch day, plenty cars on the track, one batle in particular caught my eye, an old fiesta XR2I and a BMW M3, the fiesta was all over the back end of the beemer for roughly 3 laps, then flew past it ON A BEND, thats driving skill, the BMW is undoubtably faster at everything, off the line, cornering, straight line etc but the wee fiesta worth about £300 with every body panel a different colour, totally embarassed him.

And to think while he was sitting in the paddock with a great big grin on his face only to happy to show everyone his engine bay.

It really was some spectacle, i actually had my video camera with me but i couldnt see the action through it for the sun glare so didnt record it

 

[Day]

^ not supposed to overtake on a bend but the point remains LOL

 

[NOT! gary l]

I didnt know wether to laugh at the audacity of the bloke or applaud him

Also there was a clio 172 cup there i noticed with the videocamera mounted on his dash, i am presuming he doesnt post here as ive not seen any videos of knockhill

plate was a tracvk one so that wont help, only said

cup

 

[Ian_182]

I could'nt agree more with the first post.Coilovers are for the track only.Unless you want to make your car look lower and decide how much by.I agree the handling will be improved slightly but it only irons out poor driving skill to an extent and gives you confidence.
My mate is a part time rally driver and has a 2.0 astra 4 door with 136 bhp and used to make me look silly in my 182 through the twistys.

ian

 

[ChrisR]

Inferno cup

How much did you pay for our panel air filter and did it give you any gain
in performance.

If there was no noticeable gain in performance, which I’m sure there wasn’t, then surely it was a waste of money.

Well as the thread title is why do we waste money, not why do YOU waste money, I think the OP is agreeing that even himself buying stuff is a waste

 

[Tom Rigbanks]

If people want to go fast i think they tend to spend in the wrong areas. Stiffening the chassis and improving the brakes will see far greater speed gains that thousands spent on the engine.

Imaging how much extra power it takes for one car to pull many car lengths on a second car. However, it only takes a well set up pair of brakes in the second car and he can gain back all that time in the next braking zones.