My Renaultsport Machine - Glacier White Clio 200 Cup

[TheDoggingFather]

Very nice, you really know how to look after these things, a credit to you

[Track_Cit]

Thanks guys. It's a really fun car alright. The only trouble I do find is trying to drive it sensibly, it just makes you want to tear all the time. Now I am used to it and found it's limitations, I must say the handling is just excellent. You can just throw it into corners and it just wants more, especially with the sticky tyres. Cracking machine.

In spirit of Evo magazine and Top Gear driving missions, I decided to go on a little (long) mission to Wales for some driving and photography on bank holiday Monday. As this is a real drivers car, I thought where better to take it than to some real driving roads? So, I went to Wales. Weather was stunning, roads were clear (for the most part), had a good time. Drove all around Brecon Beacons and some (pretty much all actually) of the roads were just amazing. Super smooth asphalt, no traffic, beautiful scenery, absolute motoring Heaven. I didn't get there until about 3:30PM as didn't leave my house until midday, but it kinda worked out well as there was no-one around really so had the roads and scenery to myself. Was very peaceful in between the bursts of noise from the Akrapovic!


Here are my photos anyway - enjoy







The infamous hair pin - some of you will recognise this section! I felt like I had entered the promised land when I found this!




The tool of choice:








Losing the light now, see how the mountains in the background had a lovely orange glow from the setting sun, was pretty breathtaking.

Edited by Track_Cit on Thursday 22 October 15:22

Edited by Track_Cit on Thursday 22 October 15:22

Edited by Track_Cit on Thursday 22 October 15:23

[Rochester TVR]

Cracking little cars! I had one as my everyday car a couple of years ago, covered over 30,000 miles it never missed a beat.

[Track_Cit]

Few little updates on this. Something I have been meaning to do for a while, I finally got around to cleaning my seatbelts. Although the car is mint overall, the previous owner is/was a mechanic, and obviously used to hop in and drive home from work with grubby mits, therefore part of the drivers belt was really grubby, and needed a right good clean! I followed a bit of a guide on the Renault forum and adapted it slightly, and really pleased with the results. I also gave the Recaro's and clean and the whole interior looks brand new now, so pleased with it.

Here are the photos. PS: Vanish soap bar combined with a scrubbing brush worked excellently at shifting the grime:

Lower part of seatbelt compared to the upper part:




The product I used to clean them with, along with some soap powder in the water:




Top part of belt cable tied off:




Soaking before a scrub:




Dirty water!




Drying them off with an AutoGlym chamois:




Drier and looking way better:





Clean drivers side vs Passenger side (yet to be cleaned):





Drying properly:





Clean seats and looking mint (minimal wear too!)











Gave it a full detail too:








Finally, I may be thinking of putting this up for sale as I really fancy a Megane now, however, having trouble finding a Megane in the spec and condition I want, so I will continue to do bits to the Clio until then. I've ordered a K&N panel filter which I will fit this weekend, and I also need some new tyres so thinking of getting some Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2's. Not cheap, but the best!

Thanks

Lewis

Edited by Track_Cit on Thursday 22 October 15:24

[The Milfman]

Some fantastic pics! And love the attention to detail!

[keo]

Looks good, I wouldn't mind a 200

[M1TT J]

Any idea on the kind of money you'd want if you sold it?

[Track_Cit]

M1TT J said:

Any idea on the kind of money you'd want if you sold it?

Thanks guys. It's a brilliant car to be honest, I love it. Only reason to sell is for a Megane, and I think i've found one. I have this up currently for £8.5k but would certainly be open to any sensible offers. At present I am thinking of trading it in against the Megane if it doesn't sell first....

I drove a Megane on Sunday, and while it's a more refined and bigger car, I would debate that it's better to drive. The reason I am changing mainly is because I am starting to do a lot of mileage for work and I don't want to put loads of miles on the Clio.

In terms of the differences, the Clio feels more exciting and manic, twitchy, precise, raring to go. The Megane is really fast, but the steering is no where near as precise and does not provide the same level of feedback as the Clio. Also the gear change isn't as notchy and satisfying. However, I think for me personally the other characteristics of teh Megane will be more suited for my day to day driving. I will miss the Clio. It's been my favourite car that i've owned. If anyone is considering one I would say go for it. Give it a chance to shine and you will see why it gets so many good reviews in the press. Cracking little beastie I actually think on a tight back road it would be faster than the Megane, despite the lack of power. The cup chassis makes it stick like anything.

If anyone is interested the advert is here. It's going to be traded in on Saturday otherwise, all being well. And I got mileage wrong it's actually only on 47.5k not 49.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

Edited by Track_Cit on Monday 19th October 14:12

Edited by Track_Cit on Monday 19th October 14:13