Total beginner
Discussion
Afternoon
I've decided to buy myself a track car after selling my 205 Gti a few months ago.
Ideally, I only want to spend £2k-£3k and have looked at a few Clio 197's. Is there anyone on here that is currently running a 197, if so how do you find it?
I had initially thought I'd go for a 182 but the prices for the 197 were hard to ignore. I'll also be setting aside a little money for basic upgrades like discs, pads and a good service.
In the meantime, I started looking at Type R's but I'm wondering if they are any better than the 197 on the track - driver experience ignored!
I've decided to buy myself a track car after selling my 205 Gti a few months ago.
Ideally, I only want to spend £2k-£3k and have looked at a few Clio 197's. Is there anyone on here that is currently running a 197, if so how do you find it?
I had initially thought I'd go for a 182 but the prices for the 197 were hard to ignore. I'll also be setting aside a little money for basic upgrades like discs, pads and a good service.
In the meantime, I started looking at Type R's but I'm wondering if they are any better than the 197 on the track - driver experience ignored!
I will start by saying I have driven neither on track, the below is from when i have been on track when these cars have also been on track, and looking at them "on paper" when I previously considered both for track duties.
The 182 is the better car on track.
Upgrade parts are more plentiful & generally cheaper.
The 197 is quite a bit heavier & so power to weight is the same & they are lighter on consumables.
There is no appreciable performance advantage for the 197 over the 182.
The 182 is the better car on track.
Upgrade parts are more plentiful & generally cheaper.
The 197 is quite a bit heavier & so power to weight is the same & they are lighter on consumables.
There is no appreciable performance advantage for the 197 over the 182.
Ciaran said:
The trouble is there aren't too many 197's near me for sale (Belfast). There are a few 182's, actually going to see one this evening.
What are the essential items that should be upgraded on a Clio - discs/pads, but what else?
On a 182 you don't need to upgrade the discs and pads really, not when starting out anyway. They're light so unless you're getting really serious (or the existing brakes are shot) a decent set of pads and new brake fluid will take you a long way. What are the essential items that should be upgraded on a Clio - discs/pads, but what else?
A suspension refresh with stock Renault components is surprisingly cheap and will make a huge difference to a tired car, that and a set of CookSport springs are a very common track setup. The sky's the limit really when it comes to modding these.
You're probably already aware, but don't expect to easily be able to add more power to it, it's an old school NA engine so breathing improvements and a map will get you a few bhp but not a lot. Straight line speed isn't what they're about.
Make sure the cambelt and dephaser aren't due, or if they are that you know somewhere that can do it properly and it's priced accordingly. The timing is easy to mess up on these.
ClioSport classifieds often have a lot of pre-modded cars on there.
Cheers.
I'm not expecting to touch the engine bar a good service. Point taken re the pads - a few of the cars actually already have slight upgrades.
I'm looking at these two currently, just waiting on information about service history.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/clio-182/1301240...
I'm not expecting to touch the engine bar a good service. Point taken re the pads - a few of the cars actually already have slight upgrades.
I'm looking at these two currently, just waiting on information about service history.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/clio-182/1301240...
As above proper inlet mods & a map can see around 195/200 with the Miltek already on the 182 in your post, then you have the power of the 197, the cheap parts of the 182 & the best of both worlds.
The 197 just sounds like an ultra-thrashy sewing machine!
That is what I would be doing anyway.
The 197 just sounds like an ultra-thrashy sewing machine!
That is what I would be doing anyway.
M4mike said:
Currently in the same boat as you. From what Info ive gleaned in my search, apparently the main issues on 172/182’s are cambelt and rephrased pulley and on the 197 it’s clunky syncros.
My budget was originally a grand-1500, it’s now crept up and I’m also considering r26 meganes
It's worth noting that the cambelt and dephaser pulley is also required on the 197 in the same way, albeit under slightly different service schedules, and the gearboxes on the 172's/182's aren't exactly durable either and are prone to breaking.My budget was originally a grand-1500, it’s now crept up and I’m also considering r26 meganes
Due to the extra weight, the 197's are much more revvy and probably won't feel quite as quick as the 172's/182's. They really need to be revved out to get their best but, if it's solely going to be a track car, that shouldn't really be an issue anyway.
For that sort of money id be looking at a EP3, and im not just saying that because i have one 
I picked mine up for 2.9k, facelift with all the right bits, the previous owner only bought it to go to the ring and do a track day there.
I havnt driven it on track yet, and ive never driven a 192 so i cant compare them... but the ep3 is famous for its reliability, a french car however...?
I picked mine up for 2.9k, facelift with all the right bits, the previous owner only bought it to go to the ring and do a track day there.
I havnt driven it on track yet, and ive never driven a 192 so i cant compare them... but the ep3 is famous for its reliability, a french car however...?
Interested to know what tracks you are planning on attending? Are there any in Nor'nireland?
I am planning on driving all UK tracks ( those worth a visit, that is) before i give up.
Just be aware of one thing - it's not a cheap past time.
I reckon 6 track days a year will cost me well over £2,000, by the time I have travelled to/from the track, fuelled the car on track (my mpg drops from 23 to 8!), changed the oil regularly, brake fluid, pads, disks, tyres.
And while you might think a TVR is a more expensive car to run, my disks and pads are Ford Focus, many engine parts are Land Rover/Range Rover, it's really only the fuel consumption where my car is worse costwise than a Clio.
And it won't be long before you hanker after better tyres, race seat, harnesses....etc etc etc, believe me. It's wonderfully addictive.
Looking forward to Anglesey this SUNDAY
I am planning on driving all UK tracks ( those worth a visit, that is) before i give up.
Just be aware of one thing - it's not a cheap past time.
I reckon 6 track days a year will cost me well over £2,000, by the time I have travelled to/from the track, fuelled the car on track (my mpg drops from 23 to 8!), changed the oil regularly, brake fluid, pads, disks, tyres.
And while you might think a TVR is a more expensive car to run, my disks and pads are Ford Focus, many engine parts are Land Rover/Range Rover, it's really only the fuel consumption where my car is worse costwise than a Clio.
And it won't be long before you hanker after better tyres, race seat, harnesses....etc etc etc, believe me. It's wonderfully addictive.
Looking forward to Anglesey this SUNDAY
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