Kangaroo
Member
Summer and track day season was beckoning and after a track day with my Porsche 944 I got a chill down my spine. There was just too much work to be done on it, which I'd known from the start, but now it became painfully apparent.
After managing to give aw.. I mean sell the Porsche to a Dane I went off to find something better. I needed something that was fairly modern and reliable with just a smidge more of practicality than the Yuppiemobile. A friend of mine had had a Renault Clio Sport for many years, abusing it on track days numerous times a year without too much complaint, it felt like the right car for me. These days they are going fairly cheap, being an unknown car here in Sweden (they go for the same price as a good one of the ordinary Clios of the same age).
I was incredibly lucky, finding a really good one on my first try. It was owned by a gentlemen racer, who bought it for a trip to the Green Hell and then kept it as a second car. It was well taken care of and in a nice condition, albeit it had run almost 150 000 km. I bought it really cheap and.. well. Now it is mine.
Body roll, yay!
So, a Renault Clio Sport 172. It's an 02 model, with 172 hp, weighing in at 1200 kg with a half tank of fuel and a way too heavy driver. It is fairly brisk and fun to chuck around. The chassi is a bit soft, but well-balanced (for being FWD) and the engine is glad to rev, but it also needs to rev which is a bit tiresome around town. I love that it lifts it rear inside wheel under hard cornering. It makes it more "alive". See Clarkson's review of the 182 to know what I'm on about.
After taking it on a track day three days after I'd bought it, I realized that some things needed to be improved. New brakes all around (with Ferodo DS2500 pads), a new stainless exhaust after the old one sort of.. fell off (a bit louder, unfortunately. I would have gone for the original one had it not cost ?600 and had a life expectancy of only two years) and a couple of rear wheel bearings have all been fitted. An extra set of wheels with Toyo R-rated tires were sourced and bought cheap.
Koni dampers and Eibach Pro springs are to be fitted as soon as the springs arrive. I also have had it in for a large service, new (better) brake fluid and a cam belt change, which apparently was just in time, judging by the state of the old one.
The car is now ready to visit the 'Ring again, albeit it will be my first time there. I'll go there this summer, just to absorb the atmosphere and put a few laps in. I can't wait!
Is it just me, or am I doing this backwards? I started off with a Porsche 944. I ended up with a small, French hatchback. The French car might be quicker, newer, better for looning around on track days and has a gearbox that you know.. works, but still.
After a bit of a blast around some gravel roads. Lift-off over steer becomes really apparent on those..
It sure looks alright for having 150 000 km under its belt.
The Toyos are doing their job well. Even more body roll!
Stupidly low exhaust due to rubbish rubbers. Soon to be better.
For the paranoid amongst you.
Good photos: Niklas Falk
Proof photos: me
After managing to give aw.. I mean sell the Porsche to a Dane I went off to find something better. I needed something that was fairly modern and reliable with just a smidge more of practicality than the Yuppiemobile. A friend of mine had had a Renault Clio Sport for many years, abusing it on track days numerous times a year without too much complaint, it felt like the right car for me. These days they are going fairly cheap, being an unknown car here in Sweden (they go for the same price as a good one of the ordinary Clios of the same age).
I was incredibly lucky, finding a really good one on my first try. It was owned by a gentlemen racer, who bought it for a trip to the Green Hell and then kept it as a second car. It was well taken care of and in a nice condition, albeit it had run almost 150 000 km. I bought it really cheap and.. well. Now it is mine.
Body roll, yay!
So, a Renault Clio Sport 172. It's an 02 model, with 172 hp, weighing in at 1200 kg with a half tank of fuel and a way too heavy driver. It is fairly brisk and fun to chuck around. The chassi is a bit soft, but well-balanced (for being FWD) and the engine is glad to rev, but it also needs to rev which is a bit tiresome around town. I love that it lifts it rear inside wheel under hard cornering. It makes it more "alive". See Clarkson's review of the 182 to know what I'm on about.
After taking it on a track day three days after I'd bought it, I realized that some things needed to be improved. New brakes all around (with Ferodo DS2500 pads), a new stainless exhaust after the old one sort of.. fell off (a bit louder, unfortunately. I would have gone for the original one had it not cost ?600 and had a life expectancy of only two years) and a couple of rear wheel bearings have all been fitted. An extra set of wheels with Toyo R-rated tires were sourced and bought cheap.
Koni dampers and Eibach Pro springs are to be fitted as soon as the springs arrive. I also have had it in for a large service, new (better) brake fluid and a cam belt change, which apparently was just in time, judging by the state of the old one.
The car is now ready to visit the 'Ring again, albeit it will be my first time there. I'll go there this summer, just to absorb the atmosphere and put a few laps in. I can't wait!
Is it just me, or am I doing this backwards? I started off with a Porsche 944. I ended up with a small, French hatchback. The French car might be quicker, newer, better for looning around on track days and has a gearbox that you know.. works, but still.
After a bit of a blast around some gravel roads. Lift-off over steer becomes really apparent on those..
It sure looks alright for having 150 000 km under its belt.
The Toyos are doing their job well. Even more body roll!
Stupidly low exhaust due to rubbish rubbers. Soon to be better.
For the paranoid amongst you.
Good photos: Niklas Falk
Proof photos: me
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