Hi everyone
I bought a 2015 Clio RS 200 Cup on Friday. I have been using my R35 GT-R as a daily for a year which to be honest was a little too long. I am a big fan of DCT gearboxes which meant that once I had decided a hot hatch was the way to go, my options were the Clio or a Golf R.
Loving the car. I also have a 504 Ti and my wife has a DS5 so we are very French at the moment.
I have my first track day booked for three weeks time. Another issue with the GT-R is it was really too fast for regular track use (mine is modded to 600bhp). It was absolutely petrifying and as I can't bring myself to drive my cars other than hard so taking it easy was not an option. Really looking forward to getting the Clio on track! I haven't been for a proper blast yet but even around Auckland it is proper fun.
Here is the car. (http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/25/f120ca10ece45f9551c4750384cfb670.jpg)
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We bought a Clio last year perfect for city driving, good move
Welcome aboard. Good Choice of cars
Welcome.
RS's are awesome - but I am biased ;)
It will be interesting to see what you think of it on the track after the GTR! You will certainly have more time to think about placement and braking points.
Let us know how you get on.
So I thought I would write a brief update, having used the car on road and track for a while now.
In short, I am really enjoying it. Ok, it needs more power, but everything else is great, including the much-maligned DCT gearbox. In particular it has genuine twin personalities. In normal mode it rolls lazily around town, with a decent ride and the gearbox slurring away. But after pressing RS it really comes to life, making various bangs and pops and outrunning most other road users.
On the track it is slow but fun. Absolutely no understeer, and instead very pointy. It rotates around the driver, leaving you pointing at the apex, and then off you go. It would be a little quicker with a proper LSD as you can sometimes feel the brakes trimming the line and taking some speed off at the same time but the gearbox is brilliant. Ignore the nonsense on pistonheads- in race mode the shifts snap home quickly and consistently and the car is much much faster than it would be with a manual. In particular the lack of torque interruption means gear changes midcormer are possible, which saves a lot of time at Hamptons where there are several corners demanding an upshift just past the apex.
And for daily use it is so much better than the GT-R- quiet and easy to park. I routinely take parking slots outside my house or school that are only free because nothing else will fit in them! And while the other Dads are less taken with it, the Mums don't look at me like I am not responsible enough to have children, which is a common effect with using the GT-R on the school run.
So the GT-R has been mainly sitting in the garage. I am still using it for the odd open road charge though and pleased to report it has lost none of its bite. Familiarity will never breed contempt with that car.
So I am very pleased with the Clio. I can't think of anything that would perform its role better, except a Golf R and that is more than twice the price (and bigger). You just don't see Clio RSs on the roads though, unlike Meganes. I guess the crazy list price is the reason for that.
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Welcome.
I leased one in Europe for the last few months, same colour as yours. Did just over 15,000km and it was a brilliant car for the job.
My thoughts are that it needs a transmission mode somewhere in between Normal and RS mode, maybe a bit sportier but without the harsh down shifts and indecisive moments because you are not going fast enough for RS mode. I found RS mode only works if you are hard up it.
I was impressed with its durability and ability to take on any weather, road, temperature and anything else I through at it.. it never once missed a beat.
Enjoy.
And please post pictures of GTR.
As requested... The first outside my house with the Clio, the second at Peregrine Vineyard over summer, the third at Dodsons when it was delivered.
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/07/0d5a315d99f77f3d1fefcedf28ceda7a.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/07/1f34c5a96aff34d89ad89bd651447bb4.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/07/e9397352b30d545cb17a354a9f83e3d8.jpg)
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Agreed it can be indecisive occasionally, but never found the downshifts a problem and I quite like the crackle and pop on the overrun. The GT-R has a similar problem but much less smooth. Of course much faster shifts when you are on it though.
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Awesome garage there. I would have the GTR in red also, best colour IMHO.
Will have to upload a vid of me in my Clio through the Swiss and Italian alps, it loved it, even passed a new Jag F type R.
So another update, having had the car remapped by Renault today.
In short, the extra 50bhp and 70nm is exactly what it needed. Gone is the slightly lazy feel in normal mode and it is now properly quick in Race mode. A genuine little terrier.
I have a track day on Monday and I think it is going to surprise a few people. At the last one (organized by Renault) I overtook a Monaro, and best of all, a 458. He blew by me then fluffed the sweeper and I edged past him again. In fact he was so not expecting me to be there he nearly hit me! The biggest problem had been the lack of puff on the straight but no more I suspect.
So for $900 the remap is no-brainier, especially as the warranty is intact. It also needed pads and the rotors skimmed after the last track day but they were only $170 and all in they only charged me for an hour of labour. Total bargain.
By comparison the GT-R has just had the gearbox out for the third time, after fifth gear disintegrated following four tracks in a week in the South Island. Less said the better. It has hardly moved for a month.
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Awesome stuff on the remap.
Keen to hear what the lap times are
I was at Hampton Downs today and you looked to be keeping plenty of other cars honest out there! Nice pedalling.
I got a couple of action shots, but I won't post them unless you're interested - not everyone appreciates photos of their cars lapping a race track being posted on the interweb...
I'm somewhat surprised they skimmed the brakes. A good friend of mine who does the servicing for Renault down in Wellington says in there books that no Renault brakes should be skimmed. People do, including dealers, but they shouldn't.
But sounds like the car will be real fun now with some more power.
They don't normally do it. A mobile guy comes to the dealership and does them upon request from customers who don't want to fork out for new disks.
I did mine on the RS250 and we got near 100,000km out of them, thats two sets of pads.
Nice work with the Clio, always fun driving a RS at a trackday.
Great to read your comments and thought you might like an update.
Very happy. The car is much, much better on track. Now it pulls up the main straight without feeling like you want to get out and push. Much more punch out of the tight corners too. The only thing that overtook me all day was an Evo 10 on semis and I went by most everything else. The car is all over the other stuff in the corners and now can almost keep up in a straight line. So the remap has turned it into a really great track car, as the same virtues of neutral to over steering handling, strong and unfadable brakes, and the DCT are still present but now with extra speed.
The only downside is the pads are wearing very fast. I expect that is not just down to the greater velocity they are arresting, but that the e-diff which uses the front brakes is now working much more.
So I am very happy and the GT-R is likely to be in retirement ahead of sale sometime this year. Now I have the Clio for track use I plan to replace it with a four seat convertible. Open to suggestions but nothing German. I thought you guys might like to see some photos of the GT-R on the South Island tracks last month though...
And eye.double.you, I would love to see any photos you have. Don't mind them being posted and if you have high-res copies I would happily pay a fair price for them. (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160429/3fad98bcdd2b6b64bdb6d96cc44b7172.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160429/e08ee10f65a1d38de3c9157bb1945d04.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160429/d306c0a1af60d2b40b01d8dcdc183dc8.jpg)
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One other thing that I thought was interesting. People hate getting overtaken by the Clio! They just refuse to get out of the way and get grumpy when you push past. Major contrast to the GT-R, where other cars almost go off the road trying to get out of your way, even though they don't need to (600bhp makes courtesy from others irrelevant). Funny. I think blokes that think they are going quickly hate a tiny, tall French car with rear doors harassing them. Which is half the fun of course.
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Yup, I've aggrieved many a large horsepower machine in the Clio and as you say most do not take lightly to being passed by a cute little shopping basket.
Great to see you choosing the clio as your track weapon, they really are a versatile little machine. I still can't give up my three door even with kids with car seats and a dog, because they all fit in!
Photos of the RS! Plus a bonus photo to explain why there's a Holden parked in the background.
All were taken from turn 3. Sadly I neglected to remember my trackside pass to get shots from anywhere else...
Those VK Holdens make excellent farm implements!
Brilliant photos, thanks for posting. Interesting to see it loading the tires even in the wet. I don't love the dunlops it came on (planning on going to MPSS) but they were good in the rain.
I have just got back from Rally Whangerei. Didn't even think about taking the GT-R and the Clio was just so so good. Rolled up there comfortably at illegal velocities with the cruise control on, then entertained in the twisties. Now enough power to drop almost anything in passing lanes. And of course the small size was a massive advantage parking on each stage. I really am quite in love with the car at the moment and the GT-R seems a bit silly and over the top by comparison. Which I hate to say. I should probably drag it out of the garage and see how I feel after a proper drive.
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Note the small French city car surrounded by 4WDs. Just like in Remuera.
No worries. PM you email address if you want higher-res copies.
Just done a couple of track days in just over a week- first Taupo then Pukekohe. The Clio went really, really well. Suits both tracks. At Taupo you do wish you had a proper LSD with those long slow corners, butt at Pukekohe today just perfect. It ripped round there and absolutely nothing got past (ok, a R35 GT-R did).
The tires are toast now though. Thinking I might go to Michelin Pilot Super Sports for the extra track day grip. The car is a little traction limited since the remap and while I am learning to drive around it it would nice to have to do so less. It is such a different car to the GT-R: all about conserving speed and getting it rotated. It is very oversteery for a FWD car...
And in other news the GT-R is gone. It had its two years and I have moved in a complete different direction. Italian, V8, and no roof.
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Wished I had popped down to take a look, but too busy getting the pug ready for cage tomorrow. What kind of lap times were you getting?
Puke is a courage track, so if your cars handling gives you confidence you can really push over the hill and through turn 1. It is also more suited to more road orientated suspension than race car due to the bumps.
if you don't mind me asking, what is the so-called roofless Italian?
Ran reliably 1.26.xx- I would say there is another second in the car with a clear track and a perfect lap but a lot of traffic so never quite got a run on. As you say, a track that is all about confidence and speed, not at all technical, and so much fun. The Clio managed the bumps well and fast enough that traction not an issue (which was a problem in Taupo).
This should get the internet going but it would have been much slower and less fun with a manual box. The ability to grab a gear without upsetting the balance is important around there and in race mode the box is every bit as quick as you would want. The bores who claim a manual is essential need to join the 21st century.
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On the new car: first correct guess wins a prize.
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458 Spider?
Maserati GranCabrio?
At a guess there is more like another 3-4 seconds in the car ;-) probabably limtied by the standard seat and belts. Get a 4 point clip in harness, it is amazing how much quicker you can go when not having to HANG ON!
Ha, no way there is 3-4 seconds left. Next time I am at the track I will invite you down to see if you can just keep up!
GranCabrio is 90% right. GranCabrio Sport (google the difference). Sadly it was hit by a minivan on day 1 and is in the panelbeaters... so no pics till I am back from overseas in January. Bugger.
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If I can do a 1:22 in a 90's 1.8 integra stock bar springs and brake pads, seats and belts. And I can do the same lap times in my 2004 Clio RS, you can surely do at least that!
if not I have lost faith in Renault Sport as they must have only gone backwards :-\
Quote from: nicf23 on November 29, 2016, 10:14:52 PM
Ha, no way there is 3-4 seconds left. Next time I am at the track I will invite you down to see if you can just keep up!
GranCabrio is 90% right. GranCabrio Sport (google the difference). Sadly it was hit by a minivan on day 1 and is in the panelbeaters... so no pics till I am back from overseas in January. Bugger.
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Holy shit that sucks, so you haven't even had the chance to enjoy it yet?
Whitey does 1.26s round Puke - and that's with useless old me driving! In the dark too, as I recall... 😳
I really like the idea of spanking a more modern car like the Clio though - so that every time I hear a creaking noise I don't immediately suspect the chassis is going to snap in half!
Why has no-one bought Glenn's caged Megane yet?!
Quote from: rolly on November 30, 2016, 07:01:39 AM
If I can do a 1:22 in a 90's 1.8 integra stock bar springs and brake pads, seats and belts. And I can do the same lap times in my 2004 Clio RS, you can surely do at least that!
if not I have lost faith in Renault Sport as they must have only gone backwards :-\
But you are the Stig.
Some of us have mechanical sympathy! haha.
The Cup Clio RS200 Turbo would be able to do 1.23 at HD I would expect. With good lines and hard braking. Similar to a stock Megane RS225.
Loved the 90's Integra post, classic! 1.22, tell him he's dreamin.
Yeah, hardly had a drive in the Maser as I couldn't bring myself to use it with the front stoved in.
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Yeah dreaming - along with a whole bunch of other stock 90's shit boxes.
https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Sessions/3795147.
Also never underestimate your ability to learn and push more as you get more track time and gain confidence in the car
Quote from: nicf23 on December 04, 2016, 12:56:34 AM
Loved the 90's Integra post, classic! 1.22, tell him he's dreamin.
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I told him he was living the dream. Is that the same thing?
Aha, a race car....that explains it. Especially an Integra in the 2k cup, supposedly "stock" is a relative term there these days...
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Nah - it was stock. There seems to be many, many 2kcup rumors... as far as I can tell, all unfounded. A number of the front guys are in the 1:22's. They are just good peddlers.
I was shocked when I found out there were better drivers than me too, I could barely manage a 1.20 in my RS250 and a tame racing driver did a 1.18 pass. I tried and tried and eventually took a second off my time but still have no idea where the other second is.