RE: Renault Clio V6: PH Carpool

[DaveL485]

Chris V6 255 said:

Thanks!

Not sure I could bring myself to track mine. Feel I might run out of talent & stuff it.
Always fancied a 172 cup as a track toy.

I have a 172 as a backup for when the proper toy is on stands, and as backup for my daily. It does both jobs really well. They are a handling hoot, if a little short on power for the track. They don't feel slow as such, but when some of the quicker stuff blisters past on the straight you realise the torque numbers could do with pumping up a bit.

I imagine a V6 would be kind of the same but where you gain with power, you lose out with corner entry speed (lets face it you don't want to hustle Mr Angry into a corner!)

When I examine the key rack for a track day though, assuming everything is available for use, I go for the Renault 21 every time

[dom9]

alangtt said:

Fat Clio was a bit disrespectful, apologies.
If we tell everyone it's just a fat Clio then maybe word will spread and the price will fall.
I'm actually a huge Renault fan and I'm contemplating selling one of my r5 to part fund one

I didn't think it was disrespectful - totally understood the hyperbole

It would be a weird thing for me to say but as I alluded to earlier in this thread... Falling prices might not be a terrible thing, to get the cars back out on the road and in the hands of enthusiasts.

I think more than twice before I take mine out... It's not always a 'pleasure' knowing you're driving something nigh-on irreplaceable.

I've had 2 x Williams, 2 x 172 and 1 x V6 so I am a Renault hatch fan (4 of those 5 in the last year) but only the 172s have I really pushed because of the relative 'values' of the others

[Gilhooligan]

This thread has got me looking (dreaming) at Clio V6's. Found this for sale:

http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C628441

Pre production car with chassis no. Ending in 001. Still has various data logging wires etc. Pretty interesting.

[Chris V6 255]

Gilhooligan said:

This thread has got me looking (dreaming) at Clio V6's. Found this for sale:

http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C628441

Pre production car with chassis no. Ending in 001. Still has various data logging wires etc. Pretty interesting.

Haha

That's a very interesting car that one although I suspect u would have to have very deep pockets!
The issue I have with it is that unless you know the history of the car it just looks like a replica.

It's a very special car in the V6 circles, just not for me.

[Ginger goblin]

From personal experience (and if you are that way inclined) there is a real performance car within a Clio V6. The issue is its weight and where that weight sits within the chassis. It is also extremely sensitive to geometry settings, which is more a try, tweak, try, tweak exercise than just relying on Renault specs. Once you strip some of the superfluous weight out, do some basic na tuning and get rid of the DMF, you are looking at a much more sprightly experience. Evo piloted a standard ph2 round Bedford in a very similar time to a Megane 250 Cup, which is no slouch.

dom9 said:

...but only the 172s have I really pushed because of the relative 'values' of the others

This is too true unfortunately. The car is a real challenge to drive and only seat time gives you the confidence to really exploit it. It has some very unique handling characteristics. You take it up to what you think is the limit and nervously sit there, only to find that once you go over this imaginary line the car naturally settles and can be driven much more aggressively. Each car is different though and I suspect those cars that have irregular or wrong geo settings gave rise to the reputation. The ph1 cars also suffer from subframe flex right at the limit, which is one of the reason for the ph2 re work.

I can’t think of a single car that provides the sounds, smells, looks and driving challenge that a properly set up Clio V6 does. I find it a real shame that they are rapidly appreciating because they have now fallen into the hands of the show and shiners which renders Axel’s, TWR and Renaultsport hard work irrelevant.

[GnuBee]

CorvetteConvert said:

Do they have any tuning potential? They are fairly old-tech Nat/Asp, so I can't imagine there's too many extra bhp awaiting release, unless anyone knows different?

The v6 Trophy series cars ran the "same" engine and despite throwing expensive electronics, better inlet and outlet manifolds and not having to deal with the constraints of the packaging required for a normal car they were supposedly only around 280bhp. (Anyone telling you Trophy engine parts are "bolt-on" btw is not entirely in possession of all the facts).

There was a legendary owner on v6Clio.net (very good club) called MikeT who fitted a supercharger to his and then went to turbos along with a complete re-wire and Motec ECU. He got more than 280bhp in between rebuilds.

There are really two things worthwhile doing to them from the get go...

1) Get some tuition or just some play time in a space where you can't hurt it or you. They have the ability to go much faster than early reports would suggest but there's a very, very fine line between control and travelling backwards

2) Take the weight out; they're very porky because people like things like carpets, sound deadening, wide seats and audio. If you can get rid of that you get performance upgrade for free and better handling

[sidekickdmr]

I’m in a similar position to the OP, owned a Iilad Blue V6 Mk 2 for a while recently and it was fab, loved every min of it.

Had to unfortunately sell far too soon, however I’m always keeping an eye out for a Lunar Grey or Liquid Yellow one and may just have to get back into ownership again if one comes up.

[Alpinestars]

It's all been said, but a real character of a car. It's very infectious from the exterior looks to the drive and sound. I have a bespoke exhaust on mine and it just sounds as hard as nails, and in some ways drives like an old school 911.

I'd also add that it's not at all scary in the dry and not too bad in the wet as long as you don't lift off mid bend. In the dry, it's actually pretty difficult to unstick the rear on the road. I suspect most of the issues might come from drivers lifting off when they feel the understeer.

Bought mine a few years ago and hope to keep it a few more. Magical cars.

Edited by Alpinestars on Wednesday 16th December 06:43

[Chris V6 255]

Well after promising myself I was going to put more miles on the clock I thought I'd better put my money where my mouth was.

Through the powers of social media I had heard that Magnus Walker was having a Boxing Day blast across the Snake Pass from Sheffield to Glossop.
What better opportunity to have a great drive out & meet a personal hero of mine.

So that was it, Christmas Eve I taxed the V6 in perpetration for this morning. I have to admit I was a little nervous about driving the V6 in torrential rain but it coped admirably. (The guy in the Rubystone 964RS must have had balls of steel!)

What an awesome guy Magnus was! So down to earth, genuinely humbled by the turnout & interested in every little story about all the cars.

I think he had a soft spot for the little Clio

[Spiritual_Beggar]

That's a pretty nice excursion Chris.

Traded mine a couple years ago for a 996 GT3. Still miss the damn thing though. Starting to wish I harden't traded it now. Especially after the work I had Scott do on it (LSD, etc).

They're getting pretty pricey now though, and not sure I'd want another one without the LSD on it after experiencing that.

These cars definitely get under your skin once you own them.

[Chris V6 255]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

That's a pretty nice excursion Chris.

Traded mine a couple years ago for a 996 GT3. Still miss the damn thing though. Starting to wish I harden't traded it now. Especially after the work I had Scott do on it (LSD, etc).

They're getting pretty pricey now though, and not sure I'd want another one without the LSD on it after experiencing that.

These cars definitely get under your skin once you own them.

It's amazing how many owners have gone on to 911 ownership.
Just today I was chatting to a guy who had a liquid Yellow V6 & now owns a 964 targa & 997 gt3 RS! He also wanted to revisit ClioV6 ownership.

I really fancy a 996 C4S but the V6 will have to stay