Matt's 200

[MattP]

It’s the little touches that make it your own

 

[MattP]

More little details sorted! Big thanks to Matt @ CarbonSkins who did a fantastic job on all me bits!

 

[MattP]

So new Brembos, new Yellowstuff pads and a new set of Cup2s all round meant it must be time for some track work.



Brands Hatch evening session to start easing lockdown blues.


Clio was exceptional as always although I think I need to stiffen the rear more next time.......



a couple of moments I wished for a few more horses - Brands is short and being one of the quickest over paddock hill and up to Druids (such is the front end grip) that it was annoying to have slower cornering cars pull away and then hold me up in the twistys.




Thing is: majority of driving still done on road where it feels plenty quick enough and I wouldn’t want to lose that NA feel or Akro scream.

So all in all - a good evenings hooning!

 

[MattP]

Few more:

 

[MattP]

Another small mod today then: yellow seatbelts to brighten the cabin and keep the yellow theme moving.



Then a look at the defunct wipers - on inspection motor seems fine which is useful as it was new last year! Got the linkage out and it’s completely seized- couldn’t move it for anything - even with a hammer!

So that’s now resting in a vat of WD-40 over night which gave me a chance to have a good clean in the bits you never get to!



So tomorrow we’ll know if it’s unseized or I need another linkage - never quite finished is it!

 

[PITA]

Looking mint Matt, those belts are tasty too!

Sounds like you need a supercharger

 

[MattP]

Enlisted some help to get the wiper linkage and motor all sync’d up - fist time she’s shown some interest in getting oily in 20 years! Clio must be rubbing off on her.
Then an Oil and filter change - filter was a b*tch to remove but all done now.


So since March Lockdown began I have pretty much sorted all the interior and a lot of the oily bits as well.

Car is now in great condition, ready to continue enjoying. Need to buy another set of alloys for the PS4s in the garage as the Cup2s are a little too much for daily driving through the depths of winter. Maybe some OZs......



In non-Clio related news: I got my MCoupe back from its TLC over lock down and am loving driving it again!

She’s had:

- Sills and liners removed for full treatment and underseal
- new oem bushes all round
- new Bilstein B8 dampers
- 30mm H&R springs
- thicker H&R arbs front & rear
- callipers rebuilt and painted
- Goodridge braided hoses

she feels as tight as a drum!



Then off for a full detail and ceramic treatment (they found 16 dents as well!)



The Clio is my daily and causes such a grin - but this has been my dream car since I was 14 and never fails to feel special!



Last weekend on an early morning run with my Dad in his 635csi - great drive down to Portsdown Hill overlooking the Solent for a breakfast bap!

 

[Big Ben]

I was drooling over the looks of your Clio then you hit me with the M!! Stunning

 

[MattP]

I was drooling over the looks of your Clio then you hit me with the M!! Stunning

Thanks - always wanted an Imola Red MCoupe

- Absolute dream car! This is the keeper!

 

[MattP]

Nothing much to report other than the rear seatbelts now match the fronts. I thought I could live with them not matching: turns out that it bothered me the entire time I was driving which says more about me than the belts I think!



Managed a drive out to caffeine and machine just before Xmas and lockdown with Tom and his 1M. Good hoon and always funny to see a genuine M legend disappear in the rear view mirrors on the really twisty bits.





I now have 2 sets of 8j cup wheels. Ones with PS4s currently on and Cup2 ones waiting in garage for the sun to arrive in March. Recent weather and lockdown keeping the miles down. Thinking of keeping summer wheels white and either back to black or something else for winter. Wait till they come off and see what I fancy.



Best drive I have had since Xmas/lockdown has been blowing the cobwebs off my 944 and enjoying an early morning drive in very crisp weather. The Clownshoe hasn’t moved much recently either.





Anyway! Here’s to lockdown and winter making way for better times!

 

[MattP]

Good day out at Bedford chasing a mates mini

Cup2s give such a massive edge coming out of slow corners - you can get on the power so so early and you can feel the stiff sidewalls keeping the grip - pulls you right round

Clio once again managed the whole day in style

 

[MattP]

Great evening at Brands - Clio never misses a beat and I’m glad I had air con!




Love this car!!!!!!

 

[PaulF]

Looks Really clean this

 

[Helpimonfire]

The pic in the Brands pit garage gave me horrible flashbacks of setting up event kit in them and falling over those bloody steps every time

Awesome car with a nice brace of mods, hope to see it out on track some time!

 

[MattP]

The pic in the Brands pit garage gave me horrible flashbacks of setting up event kit in them and falling over those bloody steps every time

Awesome car with a nice brace of mods, hope to see it out on track some time!

May one point I nearly drove off it as I’d forgotten it was there and was going to nip out the other door! So close!!!!!

 

[MattP]

So an update then:

Castle Combe was brilliant and interesting to drive on a bumpy track which required an alertness I haven’t needed in previous smoother circuits. Clio was great again but Castle is definitely a power circuit and it does feel a little underpowered at time.

so……


Sitting next door was a lovely young man and his Megane 250 Cup. I have always loved the look of these but purposely never got in one because I knew it could end up costing me if I did.

Politely declined a ride all day for this very reason as he pounded aroundCombe hassling much more expensive machinery.

finally gave in with - 5mins track time left - what harm can a few laps
do?















so I’ve bought this:

 

[RSRowe]

Stunning! Definitely want one myself at some point

 

[MattP]

Stunning! Definitely want one myself at some point

It does seem the obvious next step. Felt so like a Clio but just a little more in every sense.
I will miss NA screaming though, although the Meg seemed to Rev even as a turbo

 

[MattP]

So the Clio has been bought by my cousin and at least I have first refusal on it as I am really really going to miss it.

It was my first fwd hot hatch having come from a long line of beemers and I have loved it more than I have ever thought possible. It opened my eyes to front end grip and made track days really fun and accessible. The Clio has never let me down and I marvel at its ability to soak up and deliver whatever is asked of it.
It’s replacement has huge shoes to fill but hopefully from what I’ve readand the first few days of ownershipit’ll do the job.

So the new boy is an RS275 Trophy with a few choice modifications. So far it’s been deeply impressive, feeling very much like a more powerful and brutal Clio. The full titanium Akra and 3” down pipe sounds brutal but I do miss the Akra on the Clio!

The Gripper LSD is also a revolation and is other worldly around corners.

So I guess I won’t be updating much now but id like to thank the forum for the good advice and answers to questions that always came freely and quickly! It’s been a pleasure to contribute as well!