Track Car Decisions

[PaulyW]

Hi all,

I am currently looking at getting a track car. I have narrowed my choices down to either a Renault Sport Clio 182 or Honda Civic Type R (EP3). I have looked at other cars but I keep coming back to these 2. I would be driving to the event as well.

I like the Clio. I know they are the best bang for buck in terms of a track car, but the thing that holds me back is that old French stigma of reliability. I don't really fancy trashing it round a track all day and then being stuck at the side of the road on the way home.

The civic comes with Honda reliability and our family has had Hondas previously (my dad had a CR-V for over 14 years) and so we know they are a loyal old friend. Only thing is they are more expensive in terms of initial buying, running and modifying.

I would be puttting modifications into both cars because I can't leave any car standard

So what's the best way to go? Are Renaults that unreliable as I'm making them out to be? Will the civic be as fun?

Thanks.

[Ahbefive]

Megane R26, better than either.

[Plate spinner]

There are always cheap Renaults being enjoyed at most track days.
If they were totally unreliable people would have stopped doing this years ago.
It wouldn't put me off.

[rallycross]

No reason to think the clio would be unreliable - I'm currently using a 100,000 miles 15 yr old French hot hatch for track days never had any reliability issues with it (a £900 Citroen Xsara vts!)

The engine and g/box on the civic makes it a great potential track day car you need to fit an lsd to exploit all that power effectively.

[jsims1]

I've had three EP3 Civics and would definitely recommend one to anybody as a good all rounder (though I never took any of mine on track) I did however used to go for a drive with 3 friends that all had Clio sports and they thought they were the best thing since sliced bread. 2 of them regularly tracked their cars and never had any major issues but they did seem to need regular small things doing. The three civics I had never needed anything in all my time with them.

[dai1983]

Owned a 172 for 3 years but not taken it on track.

Positives:
-quite frugal on fuel
-lighter than the civic
-hydraulic PAS
-can buy 15 inch wheels second hand for cheaper tyres
-can be turboed using the head, manifold, turbo etc from a megane.
-can get a/c delete kits from non a/c models
-don't really rust

Negatives
-cam belt changes are expensive if you can't do it yourself
-a/c aux belt set up is a PITA!
-interior build quality isn't brilliant
-don't respond well to na tuning.

[Robmarriott]

I've been in this boat and went with a 182, mainly because of tyre costs, you can run a Clio on 195/50 15s which are dirt cheap compared to 17s on a Civic.

I spent more than I needed to on the car because I wanted it to be in Racing Blue, then spent a few quid on preventative maintenance to ensure nothing went wrong (cam belt, water pump, service, coil pack etc) and it did countless track days without one single issue.

My mate has a 172 Cup which cost him £500 because it needed a front bumper and bonnet, he's put some £40 lowering springs on it, 15s with Michelin PS3s and some Ferodo pads and he probably has more fun in it than I do in mine!

The 'unreliable' thing is a myth in my experience, from direct experience and that of at least 4 other friends.

[Patrick Bateman]

I'd say niggles are more of an issue.

[GrumpyTwig]

Robmarriott said:

The 'unreliable' thing is a myth in my experience, fr.

Completely, utter bks frankly.

If anything that era of Clio is more reliable than the more recent ones mechanically. Great little cars and a great base for a tin top track car.

Tbf though, if I could find a decent EP3 I'd possibly eer towards that. Simply because the engines respond better to some mods and there's a lot of experience out there of them being supercharged.

Either good options, only thing is I think the EP3 is quite a bit heavier standard which can mean quite a lot on a track car.

[dai1983]

The clios steering wheel is the same size as a bus plus the gear lever is quite low. Both easily sorted with an aftermarket wheel and gear lever from another Renault (scenic irrc?).

Apart from servicing mines needed a speedo sensor, number plate light and bulbs in 3 years. That's it!