RE: Renault Clio R.S.16 - full story

[HighwayStar]

JoeMarano said:

Depends on definition of class leader. If I was wanting more of a track focused car I would go for a Megane or Civic. If I wanted a nice comfy capable road car I would probably go with the Golf R.

In that statement I can see the argument against the Megan but why would the R be more comfy and capable over the CTR? Just curious... I have no leanings toward one or t'other. I don't remember reading anywhere that the Honda is particularly harsh in the ride department.

[WCZ]

the interior of the fiesta st is decent, as is the build quality. the clio edc felt tacky and badly put together and the gearbox is horrible. the 220 trophy was miles better (driven both on and off the track)

[JoeMarano]

HighwayStar said:

In that statement I can see the argument against the Megan but why would the R be more comfy and capable over the CTR? Just curious... I have no leanings toward one or t'other. I don't remember reading anywhere that the Honda is particularly harsh in the ride department.

Think carfection said it's a bit much for the road and also I can't imagine those seats being amazing for long journeys...

[HighwayStar]

JoeMarano said:

HighwayStar said:

In that statement I can see the argument against the Megan but why would the R be more comfy and capable over the CTR? Just curious... I have no leanings toward one or t'other. I don't remember reading anywhere that the Honda is particularly harsh in the ride department.

Think carfection said it's a bit much for the road and also I can't imagine those seats being amazing for long journeys...

You can tell by looking? Sounds my like the Honda doesn't interest you/you don't want to like it. As I said, I'm know Ford fan, I would never buy one but... I've no doubt the seats in the ST and Focus are pretty comfy, fit for purpose. Again, not one review has said the seats in the Honda are rubbish or uncomfortable on a long journey. In fact in my copy of last weeks Autocar they are running a long term CTR, had for 14k miles... They say in, comparison to the previous CTR, 'throw in a bigger boot, comfier seats and a decades' worth of advanced infotainment and it's hardly a surprise that four hours passed without a murmur from the passenger's seat. Nowt wrong with the seats PoloJoe

[JoeMarano]

Oh I'm very interested in all and any cars just it depends on what I wanted a car to do at any given time/financial situation hence why at present I would likely have a Golf R over the Civic and Focus.

[ZX10R NIN]

Golf R over a Focus RS so you're an interior over handling guy which is fine but going by that reckoning I'm surprised you don't go straight to the S3

[HighwayStar]

JoeMarano said:

Oh I'm very interested in all and any cars just it depends on what I wanted a car to do at any given time/financial situation hence why at present I would likely have a Golf R over the Civic and Focus.

Me too... If I was still into hot hatches I wouldn't want any of them. Oh they're great at what they do but man are they big.
The Pug 208, the previous Clio 200... They are the size a hot hatch should be.

[JoeMarano]

ZX10R NIN said:

Golf R over a Focus RS so you're an interior over handling guy which is fine but going by that reckoning I'm surprised you don't go straight to the S3

I am older now and the handling of all these hatches isn't exactly light years apart. I think the Golf R makes a good noise and has the DSG option as well as the 4wd making for fast get ways at the traffic light GP etc

Few months ago I would have killed for a Megane RS

[HighwayStar]

JoeMarano said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Golf R over a Focus RS so you're an interior over handling guy which is fine but going by that reckoning I'm surprised you don't go straight to the S3

I am older now and the handling of all these hatches isn't exactly light years apart. I think the Golf R makes a good noise and has the DSG option as well as the 4wd making for fast get ways at the traffic light GP etc

Few months ago I would have killed for a Megane RS

So where did go wrong those few months ago that sees your but in Polo GTI?
My best mate has a Golf R and he's pretty happy with it. I've had a little seat time in it.. It's decent, handles, grips and gets into the corners well but I couldn't love it... The noise in sport mode offended my ears. Tired of it after 30 secs. Synthetic.

[JoeMarano]

It's quite simple really it's a combination of higher upkeep on a Megane than a Polo and the missus wanted me to have a brand new car rather than a second hand one

Hopefully in three years if the Polo is worth something (hopefully will be) maybe there will be a Golf out there for me somewhere preferably a GTI unless it decides to graduate to the above £30k club

[HighwayStar]

JoeMarano said:

It's quite simple really it's a combination of higher upkeep on a Megane than a Polo and the missus wanted me to have a brand new car rather than a second hand one

Hopefully in three years if the Polo is worth something (hopefully will be) maybe there will be a Golf out there for me somewhere preferably a GTI unless it decides to graduate to the above £30k club

VW have PoloJoe in their clutches... GTI next!!!
Omg... I named you PoloJoe, I'll be able to rename you. GtIJoe

[JoeMarano]

Well you never know. I always used to write VW
off as being a bit beige and boring but the older I get I realise beige and boring isn't actually that bad lol

Seriously though I have definately overlooked VAG products for far too long. Sure I miss certain things that my renaultsports/french hatches over the years have provided but they also felt like they would fall apart at any given moment and we're in no way comfortable at all.


Considering I spend almost all my time on the road (funnily enough so do most people yet they still feel like the hardcorest car is for them) I can live with that

[HighwayStar]

JoeMarano said:

Well you never know. I always used to write VW
off as being a bit beige and boring but the older I get I realise beige and boring isn't actually that bad lol

Seriously though I have definately overlooked VAG products for far too long. Sure I miss certain things that my renaultsports/french hatches over the years have provided but they also felt like they would fall apart at any given moment and we're in no way comfortable at all.


Considering I spend almost all my time on the road (funnily enough so do most people yet they still feel like the hardcorest car is for them) I can live with that

It's an individual thing. A friend of mine likes big comfy spacious cars, plenty of room. I like smaller cars, don't mind firmer sports suspension. Some people couldn't handle sports suspension. I had a TTS, a car that would destroy your Polo GTI on any kind of road. Nice looking, well made. Comfy
Absolutely no fun at all. All quality and no soul. It went one month ago.

[SidewaysSi]

Another thread where we talk about the pile of crap VW Polo.FFS.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

SidewaysSi said:

Another thread where we talk about the pile of crap VW Polo.FFS.

PoloHeads. Where Polo Matters.

[rb5er]

The Polo is so st. Why is this happening again???

[JoeMarano]

Hey I didn't bring it up...

I think your problem is that you like the Polo but won't admit to it.

Why else would you remark on how st it is in every thread? If someone was doing something similar I would just ignore it.

[framerateuk]

p1stonhead said:

£17k for a nearly new trophy seems quite reasonable value now doesn't it? I haven't driven one but apparently the fairly dim witted gearbox has been tweaked and is much better now.

Would like a go in one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/311609350245

I bought one a couple of months back after not being able to decide what to replace my Megane 250 with.

I didn't drive the 200T, but the gearbox in the Trophy is brilliant. Shifts are instant in sport and race and there's no hesitation at all - it just shifts on demand. The ability to hold the paddle and the car just shifts down into the correct gear before turn in is pretty good too.

It's my first auto, never even driven one before, but was impressed enough on the test drive to take the risk and order it.

I can see why people say it's less involving. I do tend to just leave the car in normal auto most of the time. With heavy traffic and dual carriageways everywhere there's no real point switching it to manual. There are a few good roads around where I switch to sport/race though and it is really good fun. Similar to my Megane, the car really has two characters. It's calm and quiet car when you're just stuck in traffic, but start really pushing it and it comes alive. The chassis has a really nice balance and at higher speeds seems to smooth bumps out better than the Megane (though it's crashier at low speeds). I'm really surprised the press wrote the car off but I think they were so pre-occupied that it wasn't the old Clio that they didn't bother to really get to know it. This is a much better everyday car than the old Clio.

With regards to this concept, I love the wide arches and DRLs. I think if this made it to a road car though, I'd much prefer see more power extracted from the 1.6 than the old Megane 2.0. Nothing wrong the F4R, but it's an old engine now and the new 1.6 feels far less laggy and eager.

[SidewaysSi]

JoeMarano said:

Hey I didn't bring it up...

I think your problem is that you like the Polo but won't admit to it.

Is this aimed at me? If so, nothing could be further from the truth.

[NJH]

framerateuk said:

With regards to this concept, I love the wide arches and DRLs. I think if this made it to a road car though, I'd much prefer see more power extracted from the 1.6 than the old Megane 2.0. Nothing wrong the F4R, but it's an old engine now and the new 1.6 feels far less laggy and eager.

How do you find the fuel economy? Its the one big thing with the newer cars that seems on paper at least to be a big difference to the older ones with F4R or similar 2L engines.