Clio 172 'sensible' mods

[LeeME3]

Getting a Clio 172 (53 reg, 60,000 miles, less than £4000 - ex-company car, hopefully a good price). I'm recently out of a 911 so the Clio has to give me decent smiles per miles therefore I'll be using the money I save on track days. What are the sensible mods to make it more fun on the track? I was thinking suspension and driver training are better value than chips/filters/exhausts?

Also, is it worth lowering the car at all and if so what are the recommended after-market kits, and, finally, is it possible to retrofit the Recaros from a Cup car into a 'regular' 172?

Cheers all!

[Tripps]

LeeME3 said:

Getting a Clio 172 (53 reg, 60,000 miles, less than £4000 - ex-company car, hopefully a good price). I'm recently out of a 911 so the Clio has to give me decent smiles per miles therefore I'll be using the money I save on track days. What are the sensible mods to make it more fun on the track? I was thinking suspension and driver training are better value than chips/filters/exhausts?

Also, is it worth lowering the car at all and if so what are the recommended after-market kits, and, finally, is it possible to retrofit the Recaros from a Cup car into a 'regular' 172?

Driver training will almost always have the best bang for booking when looking at £/seconds gains and I'd agree that suspension is a damn good improvement too. I've got upgraded springs and dampers on mine (lowered in the process) and it handles mightly well, better than the std 172 I've driven, but I've never driven a Cup before so can't say if the improvements were worth it from that point.

I've been told not to bother with air filters as the under bonnet space is so small and temperature is more of an issue than getting enough air in. In fact at Austec a few weeks back a 182 with a cone filter (K&N I think) and chipped came out 8 bhp less than my chipped 172! Whether an intercooler is wise or possible is something I may persue in the future, although perhap body mods to get more air in might work better...

Not sure about the Recaros I'm afraid, not sure if my seats are Recaros or not, but they're not particularly impressive whatever, better than standard hatchback seats, but not as supportive as I'd like through corners.

Another cheaper option is a strut brace, I've found the front-end of mine is really solid which must be due to the one I have fitted.

[Nick_r182]

Suspension and decent brakes are the best mods for the clio. H&R coilovers are highly recomended, Ledas if you can stretch/warent spending the extra cash. www.yozzasport.co.uk are by far the best prices for brake packages that i have found. They also sell coilovers,exhausts etc.
Also if you havnt already, check out www.cliosport.net alot of the guys on there are into track days so can offer you more info or answer and questions.

Edited by Nick_r182 on Thursday 5th October 12:37