RE: Chris Harris video: Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo

[deltashad]

I didn't want to like it, but I do

[bagseye]

I'm left a bit "meh" after that video really. It all seemed very reserved, styling, interior, exhaust note.

I'll leave my opinion for when I get to drive one, but in truth, I think i'd be better off with a used Megane RS.

I do like the idea of a turbo though. just because a quick map and its way up on its original power.

But in general, I'm very unimpressed. Still.

[dasherdiablo1]

Watching the vid has made me realise how much Chris sounds like old Quentin Wilson - anyone else think the same?

Looks like its quite fun to drive but definitely not a good colour. As Chris has said it does look a little plain and vanilla though for an RSI.

[oj121]

I think its hideous. REALLY hideous! It could be magic but there is not an angle I like it from other than possibly underneath! Why did they do that to the front (Twingo too). Who did that and though......'yeah thats nice, ive really earned my money today'.

[motor mad]

Quality video. Great seeing the car in tripod mode sliding around on the circuit!

[Stelvio1]

If Harris is such a decent pilote why isn't he making a career out of actually racing cars??

[BigBen]

I was at that circuit the day after the Renaultsport event, I wondered if it was an event for UK journalists or just Spanish. Question answered.

Ben

[The Vambo]

RacingBlue said:

Apart from where the rear wheels were locked in the slow motion bits?

This new Clio does seem to be very colour sensitive - in red like in the video it really looks rubbish, where as in yellow it isn't too bad. My biggest beef is it doesn't look like an RS - it doesn't look special enough, more like a posh high spec standard version.

Edited by RacingBlue on Wednesday 27th March 20:44

CHRIS

Racing blue said you're a big fat liar.

Trail breaking?

[astra la vista]

green-blood said:

Whats with all the bloody beeping

i thought it was just me hearing that. it would annoy the hell out of me.
maybe when it red lines or starts to drift or when only 3 wheels are in contact?

some clever chap will be along soon to tell us.

Edited by astra la vista on Wednesday 27th March 21:59

[framerateuk]

Great video Chris.

I still think this could make an excellent replacement for my Megane in a couple of years. I'm not ready to make the jump quite yet, but I think this new Clio will be a much better daily drive than the outgoing one.

[Dr Z]

Agh! Chris really has this ability to put forward a position in a very convincing way that even somebody who really wants to hate this car won't know what to think after this vid!

Car is still no looker though.

[405dogvan]

The paddles don't bother me - the turbo doesn't bother me - the looks of it from the front DO bother me, it's ugly-as-hell.

If they're made the driving position actually usable for anyone who's not a dwarf, that would also be progress

[M3CS]

The fact the paddles don't turn with the wheel, coupled with the bleeps, makes me think "no thanks".

As ever though, great vid Chris!

[astra la vista]

astra la vista said:

green-blood said:

Whats with all the bloody beeping

i thought it was just me hearing that. it would annoy the hell out of me.
maybe when it red lines or starts to drift or when only 3 wheels are in contact?

some clever chap will be along soon to tell us.

here's someone now...

sagarich said:

Chris, do you know if you can turn the audible upshift beep off? If you can't, I think it would drive me nuts!!

Edited by astra la vista on Wednesday 27th March 22:00

[Rob_F]

Suspect some of the beeps were handbrake - my megane does a similar yelp although my handbrake turns are limited to the snow and sadly less flamboyant.

[rallycross]

It looks as big as a Leon would like to see a photo of one side by side with an original
clio Williams

[Furyblade_Lee]

Stelvio1 said:

If Harris is such a decent pilote why isn't he making a career out of actually racing cars??

He does race cars, but I think you will find even most racing drivers cannot make a "career" out of racing either, they just enjoy the window of opportunity while the sponsors or family money lasts... You may be surprised how few drivers get "paid" wages like we know, certainly few get paid more than an average wage at best! He is no slouch behind the wheel, but there is a large talent gap to the level of a genuine "pro" where a manufacturer would actually pay you to race one of their cars. I am sure he makes more money at what he does than a few household name racing drivers do...

Regarding the car 3 friends sprint their Clio 200 RS's and having sat in them with their ( optional? ) half rear cages colour coded in French blue, and yellow carbon Recaros they blow the new car into the weeds looks wise. The new one is bland to the point of invisibility in a supermarket car park. I just hope the inevitable updated versions bring back some visible drama, I would feel I was driving my mums car in that new one if I caught a reflection in a shop window!

[mattbvw]

The beeps are, if it's the same as on the 200 and 250/265, which I suspect it is, for the gearshift upchange indicator - you can have the car in "proper" manual (no pun intended) mode so it won't change up for you if you redline. You can alter where they kick in on the old Clio / Megane so I presume you can here too.

[markcoopers]

I know it is a small point, but the RS badge on the front is a no in my book.

Also while i am sure novel, changing engine note through the speakers to only other Renault family cars means it will soon get boring, i would want different car sounds outside of the Renault family. So i am copywriting the "app" right here and now to allow you to do that.

[mattbvw]

Stelvio1 said:

If Harris is such a decent pilote why isn't he making a career out of actually racing cars??

I'd guess because most car hacks, who are also petrolheads, would rather chop off a bodypart than do another job! And he does get to race properly quite often... 2010 N24 came 13th overall IIRC in a stock GT3 RS...