Moving on from a Clio 172??

[Oh Behave]

So I've owned my little Clio 172 Cup for nearly 3 years now, bought it in standard trim and converted it into a great little track car (looked after by Mark Fish). It still surprises me how quick it is round the smaller circuits and can keep pace with much more expensive machinery. However, I am getting the itch to move on to something different, with more power but not just a point and squirt car. The purist in me says go for RWD but there are also some FWD cars I've got in mind (budget 5-15k, 20k at a stretch). Want to keep it road legal....

E36/46 M3
R32 GTR
Megane R26/R26R/RS250 or 265
Integra DC2
Cooper S R56
Elise
Evo/Scooby

Or I could turbo & LSD the Clio but prices are coming in 3.5 to 4k and for that money I might as well buy something else as a decent base car.

So has anyone made the transition and what did you go for? Options welcome, and sorry to say no suggestions of MX-5s . Not really a fan of caterhams/ westfields either.

Thanks

[motorhole]

Oh Behave said:

So I've owned my little Clio 172 Cup for nearly 3 years now, bought it in standard trim and converted it into a great little track car (looked after by Mark Fish). It still surprises me how quick it is round the smaller circuits and can keep pace with much more expensive machinery. However, I am getting the itch to move on to something different, with more power but not just a point and squirt car. The purist in me says go for RWD but there are also some FWD cars I've got in mind (budget 5-15k, 20k at a stretch). Want to keep it road legal....

E36/46 M3
R32 GTR
Megane R26/R26R/RS250 or 265
Integra DC2
Cooper S R56
Elise
Evo/Scooby

Or I could turbo & LSD the Clio but prices are coming in 3.5 to 4k and for that money I might as well buy something else as a decent base car.

So has anyone made the transition and what did you go for? Options welcome, and sorry to say no suggestions of MX-5s . Not really a fan of caterhams/ westfields either.

Thanks

Rather a VX220 than an Elise - cheaper and (personally - awaiting flaming...) I think it looks better. I'm not a badge snob, can you tell?

For 15k I'd be thinking about a cheap NA VX and K20ing it.

Mazda RX7 in FD flavour?

Edit: S2000?

Edited by motorhole on Tuesday 24th May 15:16

[Oh Behave]

All good suggestions and ones I haven't considered. VX220 turbo over the NA though?
Always liked the RX-7, my sisters ex used to have the FC and it was rapid.... but never see many of them on track days

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

Might be easier to find a cleaner DC5 than DC2, and at that price range would leave some room for mods (Supercharger?!)

[DaveH23]

If you like the clio then why not a clio v6? How much do they fetch these days?

Out of the elise and VX220 I would choose the VX220 as I think it's better looking and up my way, alot less of them.

[motorhole]

Oh Behave said:

All good suggestions and ones I haven't considered. VX220 turbo over the NA though?
Always liked the RX-7, my sisters ex used to have the FC and it was rapid.... but never see many of them on track days

I think the running costs are rather high...

I'd go VX220 NA personally as I'm not a fan of turbo engines as a general rule. Although if that's would you'd prefer, they're undeniably rapid.

Don't know how much it costs to swap a Honda K20 into an Elise - but can't imagine it would be any more expensive/technically difficult in a VX. That would give you the power of a VX Turbo, but in high-revving NA form

[daniel-5zjw7]

Some decent cars in your list, but for me the skyline/E46 M3/EVO's/Scoobys aren't going to be the last word in driver involvement on a circuit and also reasonably heavy on consumables.

My suggestion would be a Honda Civic Type R saloon (FD2), nice spec out the box, touring car-esque looks, rare but lots of upgrades available, likely to hold its value and supposedly a pretty good steer!

[Itsallicanafford]

...nice problem to have!

I would buy this

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/g...

[anonymous-user]

VX220 NA and a supercharger kit seems to be reckoned as the best route for the track, better throttle response and lighter. That said I have a friend with a very nice and track modded VX220 turbo that he's currently selling. Think it's in the classifieds here, it's got a massive service history, switchable ABS, big brake kit, all the goodies

Personally when I hit the same point in my 182 I went for a pre-modified Clio 200 with a Megane turbo conversion and haven't regretted it for a second, there's a 197 with the same same engine swap for sale at the moment on ClioSport for well under £10k. Although they were never quite as highly regarded as the 200 I'm sure it won't be dull. Think of it like a 172/182 but better in every way and obviously a lot quicker. The grin factor is off the chart on track in mine.

[Oh Behave]

DaveH23 said:

If you like the clio then why not a clio v6? How much do they fetch these days?

A decent one will set you back >25k, and I don't think they're as well balanced as the 172/182s....

Some great suggestions, the Ginetta looks . Might have to do some researching into a supercharged VX

Edited by Oh Behave on Wednesday 25th May 06:55

[daniel-5zjw7]

Also loving that Ginetta! What a cool thing to own..

[egor110]

DaveH23 said:

If you like the clio then why not a clio v6? How much do they fetch these days?

Out of the elise and VX220 I would choose the VX220 as I think it's better looking and up my way, alot less of them.

The v6 is actually slower than his cup due to the extra weight, wouldn't handle as well as the cup either.

[IrateNinja]

I had this exact problem except with my 182 Cup. The Clio was just so much fun for so little expense, it took a while to find something with the same (or better) ratio.

I've ended up going for something completely different and picked up a Mk5 Golf R32.

[egor110]

IrateNinja said:

I had this exact problem except with my 182 Cup. The Clio was just so much fun for so little expense, it took a while to find something with the same (or better) ratio.

I've ended up going for something completely different and picked up a Mk5 Golf R32.

How did your f1 compare to your clio?

If your happy to stay fwd it seems a good choice yet people i know who've had them have had so many electrical faults they all wished they kept there old clios.

I guess if you got a integra you'd just swop the electrical problems for rust.

[Oh Behave]

IrateNinja said:

I had this exact problem except with my 182 Cup. The Clio was just so much fun for so little expense, it took a while to find something with the same (or better) ratio.

I've ended up going for something completely different and picked up a Mk5 Golf R32.

Interesting move, what made you go for the R32?

There was a modified R26 at Brands last week and it was fairly rapid....

[Oh Behave]

egor110 said:

I guess if you got a integra you'd just swop the electrical problems for rust.

Do you think a Teg would be that much quicker than a Clio?

[egor110]

Oh Behave said:

egor110 said:

I guess if you got a integra you'd just swop the electrical problems for rust.

Do you think a Teg would be that much quicker than a Clio?

I haven't driven a integra so don't know, they do seem to be a very sorted fwd car though.

If you want something quicker the rs megane ticks a lot of boxes, they got the handling sorted ( get the cup version) the turbo can be mapped for more power if you wish , it's just finding a reliable one without the electrical niggles.

If you want to go fast , the next question is what sort of fast ?

My saab aero is miles quicker than the clio once moving , 3rd gear and it just pulls and pulls however i think on a tight track or b roads my clio cup would be quicker because i wouldn't need to slow down as much for corners and could accelerate out of corners earlier.

In the aero 1st and 2nd gears are limited otherwise you just spin the tyres , so it's only when you get into 3rd you really pull.

Edited by egor110 on Wednesday 25th May 10:19

[Oh Behave]

egor110 said:

I haven't driven a integra so don't know, they do seem to be a very sorted fwd car though.

If you want something quicker the rs megane ticks a lot of boxes, they got the handling sorted ( get the cup version) the turbo can be mapped for more power if you wish , it's just finding a reliable one without the electrical niggles.

If you want to go fast , the next question is what sort of fast ?

My saab aero is miles quicker than the clio once moving , 3rd gear and it just pulls and pulls however i think on a tight track or b roads my clio cup would be quicker because i wouldn't need to slow down as much for corners and could accelerate out of corners earlier.

In the aero 1st and 2nd gears are limited otherwise you just spin the tyres , so it's only when you get into 3rd you really pull.

Edited by egor110 on Wednesday 25th May 10:19

How quick is a good question and one I've been thinking about. I went out in a standard supercharged elise (220? I think) at Bedford last month and it felt very quick. However, I'm not sure if I want to go that fast as a). if you come off at those speeds there is a greater risk of damage/injury b). I wouldn't want to rely solely on a cars power and natural handling abilities. To me part of the challenge is taking my driving skills to the next level hence starting in a Clio. I have friends with cars over 400bhp but feel the car is beyond their capabilities to drive fast.

So you're right maybe a R26 will be the ticket, which points me in the direction of a 26R maybe? (thinking low depreciation too?)

[IrateNinja]

egor110 said:

How did your f1 compare to your clio?

If your happy to stay fwd it seems a good choice yet people i know who've had them have had so many electrical faults they all wished they kept there old clios.

I guess if you got a integra you'd just swop the electrical problems for rust.

The two cars had totally different personalities, the Clio is a complete go kart whereas the Megane was far more composed and competent. The Megane really needed to be going quickly to unsettle it, whereas the Clio was just a riot all the time.

I agree re. electrical issues however, my Megane has window regulators in my ownership and from speaking to the guy who bought it off me further gremlins afterwards (xenon lights from memory). Compared to the Clio which has been bulletproof for 3 years (it's also averaged >36mpg over that 3 years/30k miles!)

Oh Behave said:

Interesting move, what made you go for the R32?

There was a modified R26 at Brands last week and it was fairly rapid....

In a nutshell, it's something totally different to what I've had previously, has a bit of character, looks good, and they're never going to make anything like them again.

It's early days yet, however it's

[egor110]

Oh Behave said:

egor110 said:

I haven't driven a integra so don't know, they do seem to be a very sorted fwd car though.

If you want something quicker the rs megane ticks a lot of boxes, they got the handling sorted ( get the cup version) the turbo can be mapped for more power if you wish , it's just finding a reliable one without the electrical niggles.

If you want to go fast , the next question is what sort of fast ?

My saab aero is miles quicker than the clio once moving , 3rd gear and it just pulls and pulls however i think on a tight track or b roads my clio cup would be quicker because i wouldn't need to slow down as much for corners and could accelerate out of corners earlier.

In the aero 1st and 2nd gears are limited otherwise you just spin the tyres , so it's only when you get into 3rd you really pull.

Edited by egor110 on Wednesday 25th May 10:19

How quick is a good question and one I've been thinking about. I went out in a standard supercharged elise (220? I think) at Bedford last month and it felt very quick. However, I'm not sure if I want to go that fast as a). if you come off at those speeds there is a greater risk of damage/injury b). I wouldn't want to rely solely on a cars power and natural handling abilities. To me part of the challenge is taking my driving skills to the next level hence starting in a Clio. I have friends with cars over 400bhp but feel the car is beyond their capabilities to drive fast.

So you're right maybe a R26 will be the ticket, which points me in the direction of a 26R maybe? (thinking low depreciation too?)

A neighbour had his f1 ( 2nd hand) taken back by the dealer he got it from because it spent so long having fault after fault sorted he just gave up in the end and got his money back.

If i hadn't of got my shed aero and i was willing to spend more i think i'd go wrx/evo.

5 second 0-60 awd so not as lairy as a a big horse power rwd , only downside is the turbo brings more complexity to the engine.

Like i said big dollops of torque is great on flowy a roads, motorways however realistically i live surrounded by b roads and how often am i actually going to get over 60 or use that torque in 3rd/4th gear so suited to bombing off slip roads or overtaking on motorways.

Most stuff here is narrow b roads so its bend short straight bend so there's just not the space to use that torque in 3rd-4th gear, where the clio just seems so well suited to 90% of my daily driving.



He said when it was working it was awesome but was just too unreliable.