Renaultsport Clio 182 Cup
Discussion
After battling my own indecisiveness for the better part of 6 months in the build up to moving away from London and into a property with actual space for a second car, I finally came to the conclusion that it was a toss-up between the Renaultsport Clio 182 or Civic Type R EP3. I seemed to need a bit extra for what appeared to be an equivalent quality EP3, so went to view and purchase this a fortnight ago.
Initial impressions are good - it has plenty of poke for the road and handles very well. It looks to have an aftermarket backbox and induction kit, both of which I'll be changing shortly. A few knocks and rattles I want to chase down but feel like that might put me to a point of no return with a Renault!
One rubbish phone picture later, and here it is!
Currently, I'm planning the following and wanting sorted by the end of April where I hope to be at Cadwell Park for a track day.
- Rear discs and pads replaced for OEM.
- Front discs and pads upgraded. Any recommendations here? I've heard Brembo discs with DS2500 pads are the go-to although also heard good things about EBC pads.
- Brake fluid change
- Both front control arms and ball joints as the car seems to 'track' on uneven roads
- Cooksport springs
- Check / replace all engine mounts
- Check / replace all exhaust mounts (pretty sure these are shot!)
Once sorted here, we're getting into some more good stuff
- Scorpion RS192 de-cat system
- K-tec induction kit
- Remap
- Rear ARB
- Powerflex bushes throughout
Initial impressions are good - it has plenty of poke for the road and handles very well. It looks to have an aftermarket backbox and induction kit, both of which I'll be changing shortly. A few knocks and rattles I want to chase down but feel like that might put me to a point of no return with a Renault!
One rubbish phone picture later, and here it is!
Currently, I'm planning the following and wanting sorted by the end of April where I hope to be at Cadwell Park for a track day.
- Rear discs and pads replaced for OEM.
- Front discs and pads upgraded. Any recommendations here? I've heard Brembo discs with DS2500 pads are the go-to although also heard good things about EBC pads.
- Brake fluid change
- Both front control arms and ball joints as the car seems to 'track' on uneven roads
- Cooksport springs
- Check / replace all engine mounts
- Check / replace all exhaust mounts (pretty sure these are shot!)
Once sorted here, we're getting into some more good stuff
- Scorpion RS192 de-cat system
- K-tec induction kit
- Remap
- Rear ARB
- Powerflex bushes throughout
adamwri said:
After battling my own indecisiveness for the better part of 6 months in the build up to moving away from London and into a property with actual space for a second car, I finally came to the conclusion that it was a toss-up between the Renaultsport Clio 182 or Civic Type R EP3. I seemed to need a bit extra for what appeared to be an equivalent quality EP3, so went to view and purchase this a fortnight ago.
Initial impressions are good - it has plenty of poke for the road and handles very well. It looks to have an aftermarket backbox and induction kit, both of which I'll be changing shortly. A few knocks and rattles I want to chase down but feel like that might put me to a point of no return with a Renault!
One rubbish phone picture later, and here it is!
Currently, I'm planning the following and wanting sorted by the end of April where I hope to be at Cadwell Park for a track day.
- Rear discs and pads replaced for OEM.
- Front discs and pads upgraded. Any recommendations here? I've heard Brembo discs with DS2500 pads are the go-to although also heard good things about EBC pads.
- Brake fluid change
- Both front control arms and ball joints as the car seems to 'track' on uneven roads
- Cooksport springs
- Check / replace all engine mounts
- Check / replace all exhaust mounts (pretty sure these are shot!)
Once sorted here, we're getting into some more good stuff
- Scorpion RS192 de-cat system
- K-tec induction kit
- Remap
- Rear ARB
- Powerflex bushes throughout
Love the colour bud!Initial impressions are good - it has plenty of poke for the road and handles very well. It looks to have an aftermarket backbox and induction kit, both of which I'll be changing shortly. A few knocks and rattles I want to chase down but feel like that might put me to a point of no return with a Renault!
One rubbish phone picture later, and here it is!
Currently, I'm planning the following and wanting sorted by the end of April where I hope to be at Cadwell Park for a track day.
- Rear discs and pads replaced for OEM.
- Front discs and pads upgraded. Any recommendations here? I've heard Brembo discs with DS2500 pads are the go-to although also heard good things about EBC pads.
- Brake fluid change
- Both front control arms and ball joints as the car seems to 'track' on uneven roads
- Cooksport springs
- Check / replace all engine mounts
- Check / replace all exhaust mounts (pretty sure these are shot!)
Once sorted here, we're getting into some more good stuff
- Scorpion RS192 de-cat system
- K-tec induction kit
- Remap
- Rear ARB
- Powerflex bushes throughout
Brake wise, I would also look Carbon Lorraine RC5+ or RC6 (if will be doing some trackdays) or performance friction aswell.
Brake fluid, I am using motul rbf600. You can also use ate200 superblue.
Engine mounts - powerflex, ktec or vibratechnic (I have the ktec uprated mounts and are spot on)
I have the powerflex black bushes on my exhaust mounts, the red ones would be better for Road.
I also have the powerflex black bushes all round on mine Clio.
All the best!
JKING said:
Love the colour bud!
Brake wise, I would also look Carbon Lorraine RC5+ or RC6 (if will be doing some trackdays) or performance friction aswell.
Brake fluid, I am using motul rbf600. You can also use ate200 superblue.
Engine mounts - powerflex, ktec or vibratechnic (I have the ktec uprated mounts and are spot on)
I have the powerflex black bushes on my exhaust mounts, the red ones would be better for Road.
I also have the powerflex black bushes all round on mine Clio.
All the best!
Thanks - appreciate the input. I have seen the PowerFlex mounts today with regards to engine and exhaust so I think that's where my money will be going. Brake wise, I would also look Carbon Lorraine RC5+ or RC6 (if will be doing some trackdays) or performance friction aswell.
Brake fluid, I am using motul rbf600. You can also use ate200 superblue.
Engine mounts - powerflex, ktec or vibratechnic (I have the ktec uprated mounts and are spot on)
I have the powerflex black bushes on my exhaust mounts, the red ones would be better for Road.
I also have the powerflex black bushes all round on mine Clio.
All the best!
I'm a fan of the colour myself, and can't help describe it as Inferno Orange despite the smirks it garners. Annoyingly, I've uncovered a few chips here and there with a spot of lacquer peel so this will all need some attention once I've had the wheels refurbished to get rid of the curbing and peel on those.
Pretty productive few weeks with the car then and already making good progress. After a good run out with the local lot here into Wales and getting used to the car, I've got the lot done below.
- Rear discs and pads have been changed for OEM, and this has also stopped a low-speed knocking I was getting. One of the discs was warped ever-so-slightly and had a hairline crack. Good job I got this changed as a priority and was sorted before I was having the hoon through Wales!
- Front discs and pads are now on Brembo HC discs with Mintex M1144 pads. Absolute doddle to swap over but due to lacking time I got these booked in with a mate of mine and had him tackle the brake fluid while I was at it so I now have AP Racing 5.1 fluid throughout also.
- While the car was up in the air, we had a look at control arms and whatnot up front. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so these are taking a back seat for the mean time until I notice them causing any other issues. Instead, I'm going to get all the tracking and geometry sorted as part of the work with the springs and ARB.
- Checked all the engine mounts and there doesn't seem too much to worry about here for the immediate term. While the car was up on the ramp, we had a look through the exhaust and it could do with a little attention. I think I'll order fresh mounts, clamps and whatever else to make sure it's fixed securely to the underside of the car. Annoyingly, some of the heatshield over the backbox has come slightly loose and needs reattaching also!
I still have a fair list above to sort, so reckon I'll be tackling the rear ARB and springs with my bonus alongside all the exhaust mount components.
- Rear discs and pads have been changed for OEM, and this has also stopped a low-speed knocking I was getting. One of the discs was warped ever-so-slightly and had a hairline crack. Good job I got this changed as a priority and was sorted before I was having the hoon through Wales!
- Front discs and pads are now on Brembo HC discs with Mintex M1144 pads. Absolute doddle to swap over but due to lacking time I got these booked in with a mate of mine and had him tackle the brake fluid while I was at it so I now have AP Racing 5.1 fluid throughout also.
- While the car was up in the air, we had a look at control arms and whatnot up front. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so these are taking a back seat for the mean time until I notice them causing any other issues. Instead, I'm going to get all the tracking and geometry sorted as part of the work with the springs and ARB.
- Checked all the engine mounts and there doesn't seem too much to worry about here for the immediate term. While the car was up on the ramp, we had a look through the exhaust and it could do with a little attention. I think I'll order fresh mounts, clamps and whatever else to make sure it's fixed securely to the underside of the car. Annoyingly, some of the heatshield over the backbox has come slightly loose and needs reattaching also!
I still have a fair list above to sort, so reckon I'll be tackling the rear ARB and springs with my bonus alongside all the exhaust mount components.
I was planning on moving onto DS2500's once these Mintex pads have had enough. Should last me at least throughout Summer and, maybe, Winter so I'll be looking at the DS2500's this time next year when I'll be getting more serious about track days. For now, I'm getting it all cleaned up and straightened out before looking into some other modifications.
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