RE: New Clio: Renaultsport talks back!
Discussion
Martin_Hx said:
I fear we will get exactly the same when news of the new Civic type r is released, hope to be proved wrong !
Hold on to those clios lads :-P
Edit - EP3 CTR Owner.
My 200 is staying with me and I'm holding hope for the new CTR, if that is equally softened and uncommiting then I just hope the 200 keeps going, might just stick a 250/265 engine in and create the car Renault should have (it's already been done a few times now).Hold on to those clios lads :-P
Edit - EP3 CTR Owner.
Edited by Martin_Hx on Thursday 4th October 13:53
Genuinely everything said in the article made me whince, a depressing road ahead for Renaultsport. This should have been a 'Sport' model, it really isn't a creation of the same division responsible for the Clio V6 / R26.r etc. etc.
The bean counters have had their fingers in too much.
Hmmmm.. I'm not fully convinced.
The gearbox doesn't seem right for the engine... I think it looks crap. Looks tacky/chavy with bling all over it like the Corsa VXR. My 197 Cup looks like this (below) IMO subtle and purposeful with no fancy bits.
I'd absolutely love the new gearbox with my current engine, though..
The gearbox doesn't seem right for the engine... I think it looks crap. Looks tacky/chavy with bling all over it like the Corsa VXR. My 197 Cup looks like this (below) IMO subtle and purposeful with no fancy bits.
I'd absolutely love the new gearbox with my current engine, though..
Penneth said:
Interestingly, RUK bods over on Renaultsport confirmed that the electronically enhanced engine sound is just an application on the R-Link system and it can be turned off completely.
Perhaps something was lost in translation somewhere and what he meant was that the engine sound has been enhanced, exactly in the same way it is in the Megane 265 and new Focus ST which is NOT done through the speakers!
Yup, Ive said the same thing too after reading confirmation by RUK peeps over at RenaultSport.Perhaps something was lost in translation somewhere and what he meant was that the engine sound has been enhanced, exactly in the same way it is in the Megane 265 and new Focus ST which is NOT done through the speakers!
Not sure why PH keeps pushing the 'fake engine sound through the speakers' hogwash. I think it's because people get all uppity about it.
It's an app. It's just a bit of fun. You can switch it off.
Guvernator said:
Why is an RS trying to appeal to school run mums and sales reps, surely that is what the standard Clio is for? Why do all manufacturers do this, in chasing this apparent holy grail of a "wider audience" they seem to totally forget what made the original car so good in the first place. We have seen this time and time again, it's what happens when you let the Accounting and Marketing departments have too much say in a cars development.
I think we have to see this in context. Renault, like all the French manufacturers, is in major financial doo-doo. The fact is that the current clio sales are not helping this enough.Consider it this way. There are cheap Clios and expensive Clios. They probably cost about the same to make. The expensive Clios have a chassis that make the Daily Mail reviewers say "DO NOT BUY THIS CAR IT WILL KILL YOU" (I'm paraphrasing). All the mainstream buyers are literally psuhed away from the premium model, given them the choice of a low-rent version, or a Min/500/1-series. They choose the latter.
Compare with VW. They make various Golfs cheap and expensive, which all probably cost about the same to make. If you can afford the expensive one - the GTI, say - you get the prestige badge and a car that you can live with even if you're not a PHer. VW takes its £10k extra and everyone's a happy camper. Why would Renault not want a bit of this?
Clearly they are trying to establish the RS brand as their "premium" model, but actually trying to sell it to more than a handful of enthusiasts. That still leaves the opportunity for a Cup model for the nutters, but means they sell enough to stay in business too, so everyone's happy.
You can't build a major company strategy about building small numbers of cars for enthusiasts. Ask Lotus.
I love all these comments about a car that no one's actually driven or even seen in the flesh!
When Renault brings out a new RS its usually a decent car but the real versions 172 - 172 Cup, 182 - 182 Trophy, 197 - 200, Megane RS to R26/R so perhaps its better to wait until the car is actually released and you've driven it before you slate it........
Oh and for the record I've owned a Clio Williams and now have a Clio Trophy so am a RS fanboy so make of that what you will
x
When Renault brings out a new RS its usually a decent car but the real versions 172 - 172 Cup, 182 - 182 Trophy, 197 - 200, Megane RS to R26/R so perhaps its better to wait until the car is actually released and you've driven it before you slate it........
Oh and for the record I've owned a Clio Williams and now have a Clio Trophy so am a RS fanboy so make of that what you will
xHave to say I've never driven the old 197 or any clio rs so I cant make a direct comparison with engines, but I drive a juke dig-t pretty much the same engine as this clio will have, possible a different map though. The dig-t engine is alright at lower revs, it is torquey but it hates being revved! It feels so wheezy when you take it near 5.5-6k rpm and its just not a fun engine to rag.
These gearboxes are what people want... Unfortunately those people want things simpler, like everything in life. They are easier to use, less effort, dumbed down.
'driving enthusiasts'... Different from 'car enthusiasts' are a small minority.
People want max performance through less effort.
Yes there is some technical benefit like the faster shift times, but that does make a drivers car on the road.
I tried PDK on a box spyder and hated it intensely. Whereas I own and love my manual box spyder. The pdk ruined the car in my opinion.
'driving enthusiasts'... Different from 'car enthusiasts' are a small minority.
People want max performance through less effort.
Yes there is some technical benefit like the faster shift times, but that does make a drivers car on the road.
I tried PDK on a box spyder and hated it intensely. Whereas I own and love my manual box spyder. The pdk ruined the car in my opinion.
Don't be so harsh on a car no one has driven yet. 4 pot turbos are here to stay, whether you like or not. And if you don't (like me), buy used. I drive a 10 year old BMW most people my age wouldn't even notice because it's "too old, too chav, not very ecological, etc". But at least it's got a proper engine, a proper sound, correct wheel drive and is quite a lot faster than the dreary ecoboxes most people my age drive. Each his own.
I think it looks excellent and will be a great steer. I love the fact that it has 5 doors and a semi auto box.....
....but I'm pushing 34 (eek!) and am probably outside of the target market. I'd plump for a Golf GTI instead and if that's who they're trying to compete against they're just not going to be successful.
....but I'm pushing 34 (eek!) and am probably outside of the target market. I'd plump for a Golf GTI instead and if that's who they're trying to compete against they're just not going to be successful.
Hitch78 said:
I think it looks excellent and will be a great steer. I love the fact that it has 5 doors and a semi auto box.....
....but I'm pushing 34 (eek!) and am probably outside of the target market. I'd plump for a Golf GTI instead and if that's who they're trying to compete against they're just not going to be successful.
how dare you go against the PH grain! Your membership is currently being reviewed with a view of complete excommunication!....but I'm pushing 34 (eek!) and am probably outside of the target market. I'd plump for a Golf GTI instead and if that's who they're trying to compete against they're just not going to be successful.
What next from your blashpeming lips?! MX5's are rubbish?! *tsk*
crispyshark said:
Hitch78 said:
I think it looks excellent and will be a great steer. I love the fact that it has 5 doors and a semi auto box.....
....but I'm pushing 34 (eek!) and am probably outside of the target market. I'd plump for a Golf GTI instead and if that's who they're trying to compete against they're just not going to be successful.
how dare you go against the PH grain! Your membership is currently being reviewed with a view of complete excommunication!....but I'm pushing 34 (eek!) and am probably outside of the target market. I'd plump for a Golf GTI instead and if that's who they're trying to compete against they're just not going to be successful.
What next from your blashpeming lips?! MX5's are rubbish?! *tsk*
So they benchmarked it against a Scirocco because they want to compete with it? That's not good, because prior to this Renaultsport Clios didn't really have direct competitors. They were the only little hot hatch still using a NA 2.0 engine (a Civic Type-R is close mind you, but a bit larger).
By trying to become more competitive Renault have basically made themselves uncompetitive because they're trying to make it a 'me too' car instead of defining a segment like they used to.
Missed the target. In fact they probably can't even see the target.
By trying to become more competitive Renault have basically made themselves uncompetitive because they're trying to make it a 'me too' car instead of defining a segment like they used to.
Missed the target. In fact they probably can't even see the target.
Madmatt74 said:
Captain Muppet said:
FraserLFA said:
domlebo70 said:
Oh dear RenaultSport. Is it only Porsche left now?
Who do manual gearboxes?Ford, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Lamborghini, Nissan still do 'em in some cars.
I'd always prefer a manual, but there are a still some manufacturers who make them.
Most listed have Turbos.
MSTRBKR said:
So they benchmarked it against a Scirocco because they want to compete with it? That's not good, because prior to this Renaultsport Clios didn't really have direct competitors. They were the only little hot hatch still using a NA 2.0 engine (a Civic Type-R is close mind you, but a bit larger).
By trying to become more competitive Renault have basically made themselves uncompetitive because they're trying to make it a 'me too' car instead of defining a segment like they used to.
Missed the target. In fact they probably can't even see the target.
Does seem strange - I always thought the Megane was competing with the Scirocco... as you say, I always saw the Clio as a smaller hot-hatch! By trying to become more competitive Renault have basically made themselves uncompetitive because they're trying to make it a 'me too' car instead of defining a segment like they used to.
Missed the target. In fact they probably can't even see the target.
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