Clubsports . . . Needed or what ?

[A2ON]

Iv'e been taking a look online at various car hire companies for the ring and spa trip in july were going on and noticed something

most of the serious companies rsr -rent for ring - ring racer etc etc have many cars in their fleet and most include a Clio 200 or 14 in some cases !!!!

none of them have suspension changes and all boast about the amazing cup chassis pretty much all are standard bar some performance tyres ! 595 rsr's normally in DE

compare this to other cars in the same price range such as swift etc have Bilsteins , a cage , harnesses , bucket seats etc yet they are priced the same for rentals and have similar if not slower BGT times

Makes you wonder if is all worth it . . . .

some examples are below !

Whats your thoughts - do you need clubsports or similar .

So RSR

Renaultsport Clio Cup

The Clio Sport is a high-performance, light-weight hot hatch in the best European tradition. For customers unfamiliar with Renaultsports products, don't let the spec sheet fool you. Both the 197 and face-lifted 200 are true giant-killers when on the 'ring. Brembo brakes and solid suspension means this little carves the corners like nothing else. Intuitive steering and forgiving manners make it suitable for both experts and novices. With it's 200HP NA engine, this car is fun enough for everyone. 12 available. Left hand drive and right hand drive cars available.

Specifications
Engine: Inline 4, 1.998 litre / 121.9 cui
Power: 200 bhp / 147 KW @ 7100 rpm
Torque: 215 Nm / 159 ft lbs @ 5400 rpm
Weight: 1204 kg / 2.654.4 lbs
Type: Front engined, Front wheel drive

http://www.rent-racecar.de

Clio 200 CUP
201BHP
Cup chassis
Performance tyres
Brembo brakes
recaro cs seats

 

[Fernandez]

Only thing that puts me off is the €8000 euro excess if you bin it, may as well use your own car and get some specialist cover.

 

[RalphyBMW]

Waits for the "No, you don't need them, I wish I hadn't spend £1k on mine" type reply...

 

[A2ON]

It's something worth thinking about isn't it

they mod all the others but the Clio stays standard bar tyres . . .

i would not hire a car for 8k i could buy a clio lol not just an excess .

plus 390euro for four laps !!! bloody hell i should hire mine out

anyway are the clubsports needed !

 

[Fernandez]

To answer you question I'd say it depends on how good a driver you are. If you are at the absolute limit of what you can achieve on the standard set-up and have the insight to understand where and how the suspension could give you extra seconds then yes they are worth it.

If however you buy them just to lower your car and make your willy seem bigger then yes, total waste of money.

 

[GrumpyTwig]

I'd say no.

 

[Yiannis197]

Fernandez put it really well.

My opinion is;
The cup suspension is brilliant as it is. I can't think of any car out there coming stock with such set up really.

However some people can't live with the ride, firmness, and ''strictness'' of the set up but on the other hand they don't want to spoil the handling. I believe the one way coilover (KW V1, H&R, [personally H&R]) would be a choice for them. Much better ride apparently (according to reviews from forum members) which doesn't compromise the handling at all, plus you get the aesthetics (lowering the car).

For the ones who DO know their stuff, completely undrestand suspension principles and already taken the car to its limits a 3 way adjustable suspension comes into play. But you'd have to do loads track days to justify this. 3 way on the roads even if you are a brilliant driver? Total waste of money IMO. There is only so fast you can drive on public roads..

And to answer your question Arron, we all know the reason the ''to be rented 200s'' are unmodified. Because the cup chassis is really good as it is and people renting the car for a track day won't come across pothholes or generally dogy/bumpy road surfaces so as to worry for the cup's strict ride.

This is my opinion of course.

 

[MikeLYR27]

I agree with Fernandez, my 182 has a simple setup but it's very grippy! Keeps up with a lot, but I want more from my 197 and coilovers do that!
Thought u might no this with all the work you did to your vx?

 

[mark_1873]

Yes and No for me.

imo...

No:
If your only using it on the road and the hardest it'll be driven is on a nice sunny day on your favourite roads.

Yes:
I used to do one to two trackdays/evenings a month in my 197 Cup and after a year I was at the limit of what the car could give me in all weathers and situations. I opted for AST Sportline II with Adjustable Top Mounts and on track it was like a new car. I had the fun of learning new limits and didnt have to spend £15k+ on buying a more capable car.

 

[A2ON]

Does it handle ALLOT better on the road with clubsports ?

 

[N0ddie]

I never reached the limits of the cup suspension on the road tbh. I drive quickly on the road but well within my and the cars limits.

On the track is a different story though.

 

[A2ON]

But what are they like on the road !

Does it feel allot firmer under corner load ?

On a separate note and please try to answer this what is the rrp of clubsports and if for example ( not that you would ) sell your clubsports what would they be worth ie what are a 3-4 month old set worth !

 

[Hippy]

But what are they like on the road !

Does it feel allot firmer under corner load ?

On a separate note and please try to answer this what is the rrp of clubsports and if for example ( not that you would ) sell your clubsports what would they be worth ie what are a 3-4 month old set worth !

Somebody on here was selling some clubsports iirc forgot which model though for £600 couple of weeks ago i did enquire but didnt get much of a response i think in all honesty if im going to go coilover route im going to do a few trackdays first to see if i can justify them over my cup dampers and h&r spring setup first Saying that though i had a v1 tme on standard setup changed over to tein circuit master coilovers and it was absolutly unreal on a and b roads but terrible round town i knOw not a clio but coilovers are coilovers on any car just my opinion though hope it helps

 

[N0ddie]

I paid £1700 from K-Tec with the forum discount.

As for value? 2nd hand they are only really worth what someone is willing to pay for them?

 

[A2ON]

I paid £1700 from K-Tec with the forum discount.

As for value? 2nd hand they are only really worth what someone is willing to pay for them?

Hmm £1700.00 wow , Guess that's the cost of top of the range !

Id be interested to see if they would be worth a grand used i mean people sell V3's for 700-800 used don't they ?

Anyway i digress . . . . time again would you buy them again Noodie .

 

[N0ddie]

Hmm £1700.00 wow , Guess that's the cost of top of the range !

Id be interested to see if they would be worth a grand used i mean people sell V3's for 700-800 used don't they ?

Anyway i digress . . . . time again would you buy them again Noodie .

I would for sure. Would rather have went for these from the outset as opposed to the H&Rs I used as a stopgap.

 

[A2ON]

Cool , thanks for your input

 

[Fernandez]

Now then Azon, I'm gonna throw a spanner in the works on these Clubsports because what you really want are the KW DDC Coilovers..... Why? Because you can adjust them via an app on your phone, ooo yes....

http://www.kw-suspensions.eu/int/kw_ddc.php

 

[A2ON]

Slammed FTW , Plus don't list for 200 . . .

 

[Fernandez]

I'm sure that won't be for long.