RE: PH blog: in defence of the Clio RS
Discussion
CarlT said:
Indeed 3 isn't many. The UK is still a very significant market for Renaultsport and indeed drives some of the developments / ideas. Sometimes though things are presented as a 'fait a compli' and there is little that can be amended. I am sure the new Clio will drive brilliantly and the lack of manual 'box will not detract from the experience.
So do you not work for RUK any longer? I'd be interested in your real thoughts on this motor if you can speak freely? Looks, gearbox, sound, doors, bodywork, and that f
king engine. Papa Hotel said:
So do you not work for RUK any longer? I'd be interested in your real thoughts on this motor if you can speak freely? Looks, gearbox, sound, doors, bodywork, and that fking engine.
No I don't. I have not seen the car in the flesh, but I am not convinced on the looks. Renault knew that being auto and turbo was always going to upset the purists. I am huge fan of a DSG gearbox having bought / owned a Golf GTi with said box in the past. I always preferred the Megane 250 over the Clio on the road, but I drove a Clio quicker on track. Not sure if that is engine or chassis linked? Personally I would have preferred a 3dr but the Clio 4 is ONLY available in 5 door. So, it was 5dr or nothing from a Clio RS point of view. The new car will be built in Dieppe- so that can only be a good thing!king engine. 
Papa Hotel said:
CarlT said:
Indeed it is true - France, Germany and Italy. Maybe Spain as well, but can't recall now
Italy and Spain? I doubt that very much. I'd be prepared to admit I'm wrong if you could post a link to some stats from a reputable source. From someone called Jeremy
It would appear that renault have changed the target market for the car to the larger mass market. Its hardly going to be the gt3 of hot hatches anymore, in this current form.
My main concern ( turbo+ DSG aside) is the lack of LSD. the current 200 only really copes with the power in the tighter slippery stuff due to the pedicatble NA power delivery. I dread to think what they will have to do to contain the extra torque / delivery. The already occasionally overzealous TC will have its work cut out.
I suppose it leaves the door open for more focused specials which are cheap to develop. hope fully not just paint jobs.....
My main concern ( turbo+ DSG aside) is the lack of LSD. the current 200 only really copes with the power in the tighter slippery stuff due to the pedicatble NA power delivery. I dread to think what they will have to do to contain the extra torque / delivery. The already occasionally overzealous TC will have its work cut out.
I suppose it leaves the door open for more focused specials which are cheap to develop. hope fully not just paint jobs.....
Swervin_Mervin said:
That's all Renaultsport sales apparently.
Hey, if that's what Jeremy says it's probably on the money, I just find it very odd that RS sell more cars in Belgium and Holland than the UK. Seems a bit of an anomaly given the tradition of hot-hatchery in the UK and our population being many times theirs. I have had a 182 Cup and now I have a Trophy, both of which are stunning little cars. The damping of the Trophy makes me laugh at just how brilliant it is. Suffice to say I am a massive Renaultsport fan.
As for this new one.
I prefer an NA engine but that isn't a deal breaker and although I think the looks leave a lot to be desired there is only one thing that really ruins this new RS Clio for me, the auto only transmission. It really is plain WRONG! Such a shame...
As for this new one.
I prefer an NA engine but that isn't a deal breaker and although I think the looks leave a lot to be desired there is only one thing that really ruins this new RS Clio for me, the auto only transmission. It really is plain WRONG! Such a shame...
Papa Hotel said:
Hey, if that's what Jeremy says it's probably on the money, I just find it very odd that RS sell more cars in Belgium and Holland than the UK. Seems a bit of an anomaly given the tradition of hot-hatchery in the UK and our population being many times theirs.
That will include the GT Line models as well (at a guess). As these are classed as Renaultsport models. Tim16V said:
Renault may have hit a market niche here: my Mrs.
A physically quite small, sporty, 5 door, fast automatic. Presumably the torque will come in low down to make it 'nippy' around town.
But on the other hand do I want to look at that droopy visage every day?
No, sorry.
They already had their niche. The changes are definitely more mass market. The current 200 could never be described as "not nippy round town". It just requires a tad more skill to extract said performance.A physically quite small, sporty, 5 door, fast automatic. Presumably the torque will come in low down to make it 'nippy' around town.
But on the other hand do I want to look at that droopy visage every day?
No, sorry.
Papa Hotel said:
Belgium and Holland? I call balls to that. And yes, I know who Jeremy is.
I agree (and also know who Jeremy is), things must have changed drastically from the days when only the UK and Switzerland got their hands on the 182 Trophy. At that time (2005) the quoted stat - which I believe was direct from Renault - was that 50% of all Renaultsports built were sold in the UK.I remember a similar reaction when the 197 came out and the 182 was at the top of its game....people dont like change.
that said, surely it should be a 3 door? A proper hot hatch needs a 3 door option. Its the same with the new FOCUS ST. All the classic hot hatches had 3 doors...(except the integrale but thats more of a 4 x 4 super hatch in my book).
Big mistake Renault...
Still reckon it will drive well though........
that said, surely it should be a 3 door? A proper hot hatch needs a 3 door option. Its the same with the new FOCUS ST. All the classic hot hatches had 3 doors...(except the integrale but thats more of a 4 x 4 super hatch in my book).
Big mistake Renault...
Still reckon it will drive well though........
Let's hope they put some more thought into the new dsg gearbox that the one they put in the 197/200, much less complicated but notorious for its failure!
On another note not sure turbo is a bad thing, certainly isn't going to be the same as the NA engine though! Looks certainly aren't for me though!
On another note not sure turbo is a bad thing, certainly isn't going to be the same as the NA engine though! Looks certainly aren't for me though!
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