Discussion
After selling an R53 Mini Cooper S which I loved for a Polo GTi which I hated I've owned a 2008 RB 197 cup for around 2 months now. I've liked the Clio since I saw the Clio cup at a couple of BTCC rounds in the past and I like that the road cars look like the racers.
I initially wanted an R27 or at least cup suspension and Recaros but after viewing a few they all needed a retrim. I spotted this one at a local(ish) dealer, they gave me a fair price on my polo and we struck a deal. I was swayed by the colour. It was the only Race bliue that was on autotrader and seemed to really stand out.
Until now I haven't bothered to get any pictures, I took it to a local meet at the weekend (gearheads at the ground, a small meet at Newark showground. Highly recommended) and managed to get a couple of shots.
It's standard barring the mtec brake dimpled and grooved discs on the front and some mats from eBay.
In the future I'd like to change the steering wheel, either for an aftermarket or a re-trimmed wheel. An exhaust/filter would be nice and a remap to get rid of the kangarooing at low speed and the flat spot.
I think the wheels sit too far in the arches (especially at the rear) so some more aggressive offset wheels would be nice, but expensive I'm considering spacers as the actual wheel design is good on these but apparently it has a bad effect on the handling? I'm also tempted by the H&R or eibach springs but again, I'm not sure how the cup dampers will react. Aesthetically I'd like to add the aero kit (cup spoiler, sideskirts, splitter) but that works out at over £800.
Primarily the car is used as a second car with the family Ford Kuga completing daily duties, however it needs to remain some practicality and be able to transport our 2 kids so stripping the rear and installing a cage and bucket seats regrettably wont be happening. However, living only 15 minutes away from Blyton and an hour(ish) from Cadwell I really want to see what its like on a track at some point.
I initially wanted an R27 or at least cup suspension and Recaros but after viewing a few they all needed a retrim. I spotted this one at a local(ish) dealer, they gave me a fair price on my polo and we struck a deal. I was swayed by the colour. It was the only Race bliue that was on autotrader and seemed to really stand out.
Until now I haven't bothered to get any pictures, I took it to a local meet at the weekend (gearheads at the ground, a small meet at Newark showground. Highly recommended) and managed to get a couple of shots.
It's standard barring the mtec brake dimpled and grooved discs on the front and some mats from eBay.
In the future I'd like to change the steering wheel, either for an aftermarket or a re-trimmed wheel. An exhaust/filter would be nice and a remap to get rid of the kangarooing at low speed and the flat spot.
I think the wheels sit too far in the arches (especially at the rear) so some more aggressive offset wheels would be nice, but expensive I'm considering spacers as the actual wheel design is good on these but apparently it has a bad effect on the handling? I'm also tempted by the H&R or eibach springs but again, I'm not sure how the cup dampers will react. Aesthetically I'd like to add the aero kit (cup spoiler, sideskirts, splitter) but that works out at over £800.
Primarily the car is used as a second car with the family Ford Kuga completing daily duties, however it needs to remain some practicality and be able to transport our 2 kids so stripping the rear and installing a cage and bucket seats regrettably wont be happening. However, living only 15 minutes away from Blyton and an hour(ish) from Cadwell I really want to see what its like on a track at some point.
There is no ill effects of using spacers on handling....
Slightly wider track means more stable and better turn in , if anything.
Regarding steering wheels there was a guy who did a kit for the 182s that took the cruise control etc and put them on buttons on a little Sparco steering wheel. I'm sure something similar is done for the 197.
Slightly wider track means more stable and better turn in , if anything.
Regarding steering wheels there was a guy who did a kit for the 182s that took the cruise control etc and put them on buttons on a little Sparco steering wheel. I'm sure something similar is done for the 197.
Re: spacers. I assumed that the wider track meant better handling. However, on 197.net people have found the opposite to be true?
Re: wheel colour. I'm not too sure on black on a lot of cars but I think they really suit RB. Especially the cups with black run strips/mirrors and the Renault sport graphics. They do need tyre shine to really look their best though.
Re: wheel colour. I'm not too sure on black on a lot of cars but I think they really suit RB. Especially the cups with black run strips/mirrors and the Renault sport graphics. They do need tyre shine to really look their best though.
darren9 said:
Re: spacers. I assumed that the wider track meant better handling. However, on 197.net people have found the opposite to be true?
Re: wheel colour. I'm not too sure on black on a lot of cars but I think they really suit RB. Especially the cups with black run strips/mirrors and the Renault sport graphics. They do need tyre shine to really look their best though.
Tyre shine always helps, yes Re: wheel colour. I'm not too sure on black on a lot of cars but I think they really suit RB. Especially the cups with black run strips/mirrors and the Renault sport graphics. They do need tyre shine to really look their best though.
Re: spacers, the engineers in Dieppe know how to make a car handle, if they thought a wider track would be beneficial they would of increased it.
Awesome car OP, I really like the look of these.
In a more general case however, spacers will tend to negatively affect handling due to changing the scrub radius of the wheel - generally when you turn the steering wheel the wheel will pivot about the centre of the tread patch. Adding spacers will change this, causing unwanted steering effects - tramlining or torque steer.
A similar thing happens at the rear too, although the effect is more subtle.
Having said that I see that Porsche offer spacers as an option on the 911 so maybe it's effect is negligible in some cases, but clearly the Clio is a little sensitive.
In a more general case however, spacers will tend to negatively affect handling due to changing the scrub radius of the wheel - generally when you turn the steering wheel the wheel will pivot about the centre of the tread patch. Adding spacers will change this, causing unwanted steering effects - tramlining or torque steer.
A similar thing happens at the rear too, although the effect is more subtle.
Having said that I see that Porsche offer spacers as an option on the 911 so maybe it's effect is negligible in some cases, but clearly the Clio is a little sensitive.
Lovely bit of kit you've got there.
Just out of interest (I'm thinking of getting one in the next 6 months or so), what's the mileage on it? Also, in that time ,do you know if the gearbox has had any work on it?
Plenty of people out there saying the gearbox is made of cheese, but as with all things, people are more willing to moan about something broken, than praise something that works.
Just out of interest (I'm thinking of getting one in the next 6 months or so), what's the mileage on it? Also, in that time ,do you know if the gearbox has had any work on it?
Plenty of people out there saying the gearbox is made of cheese, but as with all things, people are more willing to moan about something broken, than praise something that works.
brooxy said:
Lovely bit of kit you've got there.
Just out of interest (I'm thinking of getting one in the next 6 months or so), what's the mileage on it? Also, in that time ,do you know if the gearbox has had any work on it?
Plenty of people out there saying the gearbox is made of cheese, but as with all things, people are more willing to moan about something broken, than praise something that works.
Hi. Sorry, for some reason I missed this question. The car is on 60ish thousand miles. No documented work on the gearbox and it seems fine. I too read the reports on the Brie gearbox but at the time I was also looking at R56 minis which also have a reputation for problems. I just guess some people are unlucky and they're the ones who are most vocal online? (Understandably) Just out of interest (I'm thinking of getting one in the next 6 months or so), what's the mileage on it? Also, in that time ,do you know if the gearbox has had any work on it?
Plenty of people out there saying the gearbox is made of cheese, but as with all things, people are more willing to moan about something broken, than praise something that works.
I haven't done anything to the car recently. Other than watch it drive away every morning as the wife (who is convinced she is the owner rather than me) has been using it to get backwards and forwards to work relegating me to the family SUV.
But here's a pic of the mtec brakes ...
Sorry about the Instagram filter, but at least I haven't #hastagged the thread.
As for an improvement over standard for these. I didn't really run standard for long enough to tell and when I did they had a judder. The brakes on the Clio are excellent though and I like the way the dimpled/grooved discs look through the wheel and next to the red calipers. I'm just a massive tart like that.
That was a short lived fling ...
The wife has a new job including a long commute. We owe too much on the family car to change it so unfortunately the Clio had to go.
It's too expensive, too uncomfortable and too noisy to go up and down the motorway everyday.
So it's replacement.
A bmw 118d msport.
It's slower, a bit boring but it's comfy and frugal and IMO looks good with the msport bits.
The wife has a new job including a long commute. We owe too much on the family car to change it so unfortunately the Clio had to go.
It's too expensive, too uncomfortable and too noisy to go up and down the motorway everyday.
So it's replacement.
A bmw 118d msport.
It's slower, a bit boring but it's comfy and frugal and IMO looks good with the msport bits.
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