Car Share - Half a Clio 197
Discussion
For a while now a mate and I have discussed sharing a car, mainly for track days. We both have other vehicles but none are really cut out for being smashed round a track regularly. Since we often do track days together it makes sense to us to share a car and split the costs, plus it's easier to sell half a car to the wife rather than a whole car. We almost started looking for a car last year, narrowed the options down to Clios and MX5s but other things got in the way so we never really got going with it.
Meanwhile, one of our other mates had bought a Clio 197, cheapest one he could find and since he owns a garage was in the perfect position to get it sorted. After spending a good few quid (and lots of hours on it) he realised he A, doesn't have the time to use it and B, has a proper race car to use. I'm sure you can all see where this is going, so half a Clio 197 we bought (with mate 1). It's cosmetically challenged but it has had new manifold, belts, cup suspension, fresh refurb on the wheels with decent tyres (albeit a bit mis matched), along with lots of other little bits.
I got to drive it home and wow, I can see why everyone raves about them! Feels like a little race car from the off, seemingly endless grip and a lovely revvy engine. Plans are to get a matching set of rear tyres and get it on a track, Bedford booked for a few weeks, take it for a hoon and see how it goes. Nurburgring booked for June but depending on how the Clio behaves depends on if it comes with us or not.
Long term we might tidy up the terrible paint work or perhaps even a wrap. We'll see! Couple of shots, I'll update as we go.
Meanwhile, one of our other mates had bought a Clio 197, cheapest one he could find and since he owns a garage was in the perfect position to get it sorted. After spending a good few quid (and lots of hours on it) he realised he A, doesn't have the time to use it and B, has a proper race car to use. I'm sure you can all see where this is going, so half a Clio 197 we bought (with mate 1). It's cosmetically challenged but it has had new manifold, belts, cup suspension, fresh refurb on the wheels with decent tyres (albeit a bit mis matched), along with lots of other little bits.
I got to drive it home and wow, I can see why everyone raves about them! Feels like a little race car from the off, seemingly endless grip and a lovely revvy engine. Plans are to get a matching set of rear tyres and get it on a track, Bedford booked for a few weeks, take it for a hoon and see how it goes. Nurburgring booked for June but depending on how the Clio behaves depends on if it comes with us or not.
Long term we might tidy up the terrible paint work or perhaps even a wrap. We'll see! Couple of shots, I'll update as we go.
Nice.
Loved my 200.
Forget about spending money on titivating the paint. There are more beneficial things to spend your money on.
However, a days spent claying, a polish and a wax can make most cars really quite attractive to look at, from 5 metres away.
You also won't worry about any more damage, should it happen.
Loved my 200.
Forget about spending money on titivating the paint. There are more beneficial things to spend your money on.
However, a days spent claying, a polish and a wax can make most cars really quite attractive to look at, from 5 metres away.
You also won't worry about any more damage, should it happen.
Cambs_Stuart said:
Great cars. I've got a 172 and it's huge fun to throw around at Bedford.
As we're all coming up with ways to spend your money,.id suggest bucket seats, a cage and some harnesses. The seats will make a massive difference, and save a few kg...
I wouldn’t suggest any of that.As we're all coming up with ways to spend your money,.id suggest bucket seats, a cage and some harnesses. The seats will make a massive difference, and save a few kg...
Decent front pads and disks, brake fluid change, and it’ll take the track work. I did 4500 miles on track in a Twingo in 18 months with only those mods.
The fun in trackdays is the driving, it blows my mind the amount of people modding their cars and then taking corners 20mph slower than everyone else.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
I wouldn’t suggest any of that.
Decent front pads and disks, brake fluid change, and it’ll take the track work. I did 4500 miles on track in a Twingo in 18 months with only those mods.
The fun in trackdays is the driving, it blows my mind the amount of people modding their cars and then taking corners 20mph slower than everyone else.
Exactly this. Decent front pads and disks, brake fluid change, and it’ll take the track work. I did 4500 miles on track in a Twingo in 18 months with only those mods.
The fun in trackdays is the driving, it blows my mind the amount of people modding their cars and then taking corners 20mph slower than everyone else.
I adore my 200 - it’s absurdly capable out of the box and doesn’t need mods to go on track.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
Cambs_Stuart said:
Great cars. I've got a 172 and it's huge fun to throw around at Bedford.
As we're all coming up with ways to spend your money,.id suggest bucket seats, a cage and some harnesses. The seats will make a massive difference, and save a few kg...
I wouldn’t suggest any of that.As we're all coming up with ways to spend your money,.id suggest bucket seats, a cage and some harnesses. The seats will make a massive difference, and save a few kg...
Decent front pads and disks, brake fluid change, and it’ll take the track work. I did 4500 miles on track in a Twingo in 18 months with only those mods.
The fun in trackdays is the driving, it blows my mind the amount of people modding their cars and then taking corners 20mph slower than everyone else.
installing buckets and harness has always transformed a trackday car for me. Not having to brace my whole body whilst braking or cornering makes it so much more enjoyable. Cheers guys!
I'm not massively worried about making it look nice but the passenger side is very poor, it's had a crap repair in the past and the paint looks like crazy paving close up. To be honest I'm happy to leave it for this year and next year perhaps consider tidying it up. My mate is a bit more bothered by it but we'll at least get Bedford done first.
I should have mentioned, the guy who we bought it from races in the MX5 series, he was going to use this for a bit of fun so it's got fresh fluid, decent brakes (I cant remember which but it took a couple of stops for them to come in and bite well). After driving it, with fresh brakes and suspension it feels like it should be a very fun car as it is. That said, neither of us can leave a car standard so we'll certainly be tweaking it as we go but to start with the aim is to just have fun in it.
I'm not massively worried about making it look nice but the passenger side is very poor, it's had a crap repair in the past and the paint looks like crazy paving close up. To be honest I'm happy to leave it for this year and next year perhaps consider tidying it up. My mate is a bit more bothered by it but we'll at least get Bedford done first.
I should have mentioned, the guy who we bought it from races in the MX5 series, he was going to use this for a bit of fun so it's got fresh fluid, decent brakes (I cant remember which but it took a couple of stops for them to come in and bite well). After driving it, with fresh brakes and suspension it feels like it should be a very fun car as it is. That said, neither of us can leave a car standard so we'll certainly be tweaking it as we go but to start with the aim is to just have fun in it.
Galveston said:
Exactly this.
I adore my 200 - it’s absurdly capable out of the box and doesn’t need mods to go on track.
They are such fantastic cars. I bought an M2 18 months ago and meant to sell my Clio, but I can't do it. I would sell the M2 tomorrow if the values hadn't tanked so much and the Clio wouldn't go anywhereI adore my 200 - it’s absurdly capable out of the box and doesn’t need mods to go on track.
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