RE: PH Blog: Clio is the unsung hero

RE: PH Blog: Clio is the unsung hero

Author
Discussion

LuS1fer

41,069 posts

244 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Fabulously understated hire car grey. That's how I'd want one.

bmthnick1981

5,309 posts

215 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Couldn't agree more. Driven at the 'ring in a few different cars and my 172 Cup track car was the best. Great little cars and really are the GT3 of the hot hatch world.

KMB

254 posts

222 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
What's all this baloney about Renault still being rubbish, 'stick to Nissan'.

This is the most ill informed comment ever, Renault actually own (and learnt) a good proportion from Nissan.

He must be American.


300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
900T-R said:
DanDC5 said:
Love the colour of that car.
yes
+1

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
KMB said:
What's all this baloney about Renault still being rubbish, 'stick to Nissan'.

This is the most ill informed comment ever, Renault actually own (and learnt) a good proportion from Nissan.

He must be American.
I was just about to post the same, what a plonker "stick to Nissan" nearly choked on my lunch! :-)


LuS1fer

41,069 posts

244 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
jbi said:
Sad to say but Renault really hasn't improved much since they left the states years ago... Stick with Nissan/Infiniti
Thank the lord that American domestic manufacturers are at the cutting edge of vehicle dynamics and that Japan seems to be largely abandoning the notion of a sporty hatch.

Wonder what the Leaf's "Ring time is? wink

It's on my list.

James1972

98 posts

144 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Excluding the Renaultsport ones are there any Renaults worth having ? Renault has just withdrawn most of its range from the UK as nobody is buying them.
Quality may be much improved from 20yrs ago but so is everybody elses my experience of middle range Megans etc. as hire cars is that they quickly develop that not properly engineered rattle unlike the boring stuff from Germany.
Whats the JD power rating for Renault - doubt if its top half of the list - bonnet catches and response to says it all.
Would love a play in any of the RS clio's but run one out of warranty ????

DanDC5

Original Poster:

18,716 posts

166 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Thank the lord that American domestic manufacturers are at the cutting edge of vehicle dynamics and that Japan seems to be largely abandoning the notion of a sporty hatch.

Wonder what the Leaf's "Ring time is? wink

It's on my list.
It was on for a 7:27 but then it ran out of juice. Final time was 12hours 37minutes and 8 seconds hehe

SmartVenom

462 posts

168 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
jbi said:
Sad to say but Renault really hasn't improved much since they left the states years ago... Stick with Nissan/Infiniti
My 182 probably wasn't the best put together car, but it was unbelievable to drive. An amazing car that I really miss. My friends 197 is equally impressive performance wise and has a real quality feel to it as well. As far as I'm concerned they've had the performance for a very long time, now they have the quality as well. Renaultsports are phenomenal cars, it just seems that the general populace still hasn't woken up to this despite the rave reviews.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

220 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
James1972 said:
Would love a play in any of the RS clio's but run one out of warranty ????
Sure, people have issues outside of their control, but broadly speaking this a sector with a lot of neglected cars in terms of service intervals and general maintenance. Many common issues could be avoided with a bit of care. It's incredible how many people ignore the critical cambelt change on the RS' (because it's expensive) and end up with a scrapped car.

I speak as an owner of a £1200 Phase 1 172 from 2001 knocking on the door of 100k, that has so far given me a year of faultless motoring that's been far more enjoyable than a 'shed' deserves to be. It's my 4th, in fact, and touch wood I've never had a single breakdown or had to replace anything out of the ordinary. Yes, there are rattles (many) and the interior is hardly the final word in luxury, but who cares?

GTiFrank

625 posts

183 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Sorry the RS Clio Being an "unsung" hero. Find me a group test from the 182 onward where the clio hasn't won?

The Clio 200 has to be the most revered hot hatch out there

BOBBY G

481 posts

209 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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LewisR said:
It'll be a sad day when I desire a FWD hatchback*

  • That excludes the Saab 900 Turbo 16S.
Ahh yes, I would much rather have a Saab 900 Turbo 1.6s over the likes of an R26R*








  • NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

DanDC5

Original Poster:

18,716 posts

166 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
GTiFrank said:
Sorry the RS Clio Being an "unsung" hero. Find me a group test from the 182 onward where the clio hasn't won?

The Clio 200 has to be the most revered hot hatch out there
You haven't read the article properly have you?

Hoygo

725 posts

160 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Great cars the Clio R.Ss,totally amazing in the right road,great performance on track and so much fun to drive.

Great article,every true petrolhead should drive/own one,i believe the GT3 RS of the hot hatches is the Megane R26.r,anyway the Clio 200 cup being the favorite of the Drive/PH guys to lap the ring over these Rwd cars says it all.

GTiFrank

625 posts

183 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
DanDC5 said:
GTiFrank said:
Sorry the RS Clio Being an "unsung" hero. Find me a group test from the 182 onward where the clio hasn't won?

The Clio 200 has to be the most revered hot hatch out there
You haven't read the article properly have you?
I have, overlooked in next to supercars. Just a bit bored of the bias in the press toward these things, its the same old story re-hashed over and over again.

I am sure they are brilliant cars, OK I get it!

oliver9523

51 posts

158 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
It's just not possible to go faster for less (on 4 wheels, well sometimes 3 if you push it).

My little 172 is great, piss annoying when it rattles and has an issue but then I remind myself it's 10 years old and only cost £2500 get it on the back roads and all is forgiven... until something breaks again.

jbi

12,668 posts

203 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
SmartVenom said:
jbi said:
Sad to say but Renault really hasn't improved much since they left the states years ago... Stick with Nissan/Infiniti
My 182 probably wasn't the best put together car, but it was unbelievable to drive. An amazing car that I really miss.
having just changed the handbrake cable on a clio I can assure you the build quality is as bad as ever.

literately designed to last a few years and fall to pieces. Everything felt like it would snap in your hand.

ringweekends

616 posts

252 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Dan, the Clio wasn't the only French product to impress an American that event. I broke in a chap from California in a Megane 225.

He was suitably impressed, with the car anyway :-)

Rs2oo

2,195 posts

197 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
LewisR said:
It'll be a sad day when I desire a FWD hatchback*

  • That excludes the Saab 900 Turbo 16S.
You crack me up ! Fast in 1979 in a straight line. Fast forward to 2012 and I could probably lap one within five laps of the Indy circuit at Brands Hatch, come in for a scone and nice cup of tea, then go out and lap it again.

foxspeed

21 posts

188 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
jbi said:
having just changed the handbrake cable on a clio I can assure you the build quality is as bad as ever.

literately designed to last a few years and fall to pieces. Everything felt like it would snap in your hand.
so the whole range of renaults rests with the changing of a handbrake cable.......wake up!