Ring in M5 or Clio 182?

[Z4MCSL]

Hey all

I am thinking I need to actual get the ring done as its been on my bucket list for while.

I have sold my RS275 Trophy - which would have been the obvious choice for a trip, so now I am between going in my

Clio 182 track car - stripped, buckets, minimal mods but I am very familiar with driving it quickly and (famous last words) its "easy" to drive aggressively as its FWD and not that quick


f10 M5 - never driven this in Anger.


My default position is to do a trip in the Clio, however I am wondering about doing it in the M5 and just taking it very easy on the track

Any thoughts ideas opinions?

The jourmney there would be MUCH nicer in the M5 but I would feel very cautious on track whereas in the clio I think I could lean into it a bit more


Alternative option is to up the budget - go in the M5 and then hire a car + tuition e.g. Swift

[ChrisRF1]

I feel like if this is your first trip to the Ring then you're likely better off not worrying too much about how hard you can push whichever car you take. I'd personally take the M5 and do a few easy laps just for the experience, or rent something when I get there and not have to worry about it having to get me home. If it's your first trip I feel like you won't be able to push that hard anyway, plus the M5 (or a rental car) is still going to be a reasonably decent steer even if you don't take it to its limits (and you won't arrive battered and bruised from a track spec Clio - I know, I've had one before ).

[lost in espace]

Take your own car and have no insurance on the Ring. Rent and the excess will be large or costly to reduce.

[WombleCate]

Clio.

Never been to the Ring, driven a Clio or M5. However, Clio probably more fun on Track, you’ll be more relaxed, plus if the M5 isn’t setup for track you may uncover some issues.

[Frimley111R]

It's a long old schlep to the track, a stripped out Clio would be pretty challenging. Go with the M5 IMO and take it a bit easier on the track. You can always go back with the Clio if you feel the need.

[Z4MCSL]

Wow just been looking at rentals, had no idea the excesses were so high


Thinking about damage and cost risks starting to feel like the Clio is worth the pain of the journey to get there!

[brillomaster]

I'd take the clio. A lot less risky if you bin it, and you could drive the clio at 8 tenths relatively easily, without going that fast. The m5 would be a rocket ship if you drive it anywhere over 2 tenths, you'd be so worried about the back stepping out and then it's a very expensive trip to the armco.

Sure the m5 would be better for the trip over there, but what's the point of having a track car if it isn't driven on the ultimate track? Plus, the trip over there will be much more memorable in the clio.

[brillomaster]

Also as an aside... do a trackday at spa. THAT should be on your bucket list. It's incredible. And you could absolutely send it in a track prepped clio you're familiar with.

[Z4MCSL]

That's a great point spa is also a track I would love to do and always forget it goes hand in hand with the ring

Maybe I'll work towards making the Clio a sliiiightly more comfortable place for a long journey

[Adenauer]

[quote=lost in espace]Take your own car and have no insurance on the Ring./quote]

I recently heard from a friend that nobody from the UK driving their own UK registered on the ring during TF is actually insured.

With this in mind, if someone crashes into you in the UK, or into a pram for that matter, and it comes out that they were driving without insurance, are they not considered scum of the earth by everyone?

Because that's what you'd be doing if you drove a UK registered car during TF.

Bring the M5, don't lap it, rent a Swift or something, then at least if it does go wrong you won't be paying for it for the rest of your life.

[Adenauer]

lost in espace said:

Take your own car and have no insurance on the Ring.

I recently heard from a friend that nobody from the UK driving their own UK registered car on the ring during TF is actually insured.

With this in mind, if someone crashes into you in the UK, or into a pram for that matter, and it comes out that they were driving without insurance, are they not considered scum of the earth by everyone?

Because that's what you'd be doing if you drove a UK registered car during TF.

Bring the M5, don't lap it, rent a Swift or something, then at least if it does go wrong you won't be paying for it for the rest of your life.

[Frimley111R]

Adenauer said:

lost in espace]Take your own car and have no insurance on the Ring./quote said:

I recently heard from a friend that nobody from the UK driving their own UK registered on the ring during TF is actually insured.

With this in mind, if someone crashes into you in the UK, or into a pram for that matter, and it comes out that they were driving without insurance, are they not considered scum of the earth by everyone?

Because that's what you'd be doing if you drove a UK registered car during TF.

Bring the M5, don't lap it, rent a Swift or something, then at least if it does go wrong you won't be paying for it for the rest of your life.

Hardly the same thing and overly dramatic. Quite simply, std insurance won't cover you on the Ring even though, officially, it is just a toll road.

[Adenauer]

Frimley111R said:

Hardly the same thing and overly dramatic. Quite simply, std insurance won't cover you on the Ring even though, officially, it is just a toll road.

You think?

So you wouldn't drive in the UK if you weren't insured but you would drive on TF knowing you aren't insured?

[InitialDave]

Adenauer]ost in espace said:

I recently heard from a friend that nobody from the UK driving their own UK registered on the ring during TF is actually insured.

With this in mind, if someone crashes into you in the UK, or into a pram for that matter, and it comes out that they were driving without insurance, are they not considered scum of the earth by everyone?

Because that's what you'd be doing if you drove a UK registered car during TF.

Bring the M5, don't lap it, rent a Swift or something, then at least if it does go wrong you won't be paying for it for the rest of your life.

UK drivers have insurance, the insurers can't really get out of a third party obligation regardless of what they put in their contract, but they can come after the driver afterwards for what they paid out.

So its not quite the same as driving with no insurance at all.

One of PH's resident insurance bods will be along shortly to correct me.

[Adenauer]

InitialDave said:

UK drivers have insurance, the insurers can't really get out of a third party obligation regardless of what they put in their contract, but they can come after the driver afterwards for what they paid out.

So its not quite the same as driving with no insurance at all.

One of PH's resident insurance bods will be along shortly to correct me.

Okay, well that's not what I have been told, so apologies all round if that's not the case. xx

[Cambs_Stuart]

Tow the clio with the BMW?

[Jamescrs]

If you are going to the ring and doing some Tourist drives rather than a track day i'd say take the M5 because it will be a much comfier drive and honestly if you haven't driven at the ring before you aren't going to want to push hard regardless of which car you are in because often the conditions don't allow for it and you won't know the track either.

I've been in a similar position in that my daily car is an F82 M4 and I have a Mini R53 track car. 9 times out of 10 i'd take the BMW. I'm going over for a proper track day in November along with Spa but i'll probably still take the M4 rather than the Mini