NationStates Jolt Archive

After searching for more than a year, intermittendly boring NSG with "what should I do?"-threads and coming repeatedly close to dispair, it's done!

I'm sorry about the quality of the photos, but a photographer I'm not. Also you don't realise how dirty a footwell can get until you have a camera flash into it...

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/1.jpg

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It's a 2001 RenaultSport Clio 172. It weighs 1035kg according to the handbook and the 2 litre 4 cylinder engine is good for 172hp (though I haven't gotten it to a dyno yet). According to Renault that should be enough to get from zero to 100km/h in less than 7 seconds and though I'm still learning the ins and outs of the transmission it certainly feels good for it.

The torque is massive compared to the Golf, meaning I no longer have to shift down to overtake people, but the really amazing thing is the way it grips in the corners. There are some good roads in my pizza delivery area, and I was carrying easily more than 20km/h more than in the Golf and the tires didn't make a noise. I was actually a tad scared...

So once I have a free day or two and a few hundred dollars to spare I'm going to take it for some "Advanced Driver Training" courses and then to the local racetrack to see what it can do in earnest (and just how much I'm holding it back).

Oh, and according to the trip computer I've been using around 8 litres of BP Ultimate on a hundred km, which seems pretty reasonable all things considered.

Looks nice

Oh, and according to the trip computer I've been using around 8 litres of BP Ultimate on a hundred km, which seems pretty reasonable all things considered.

My head just started hurting...How many hogsheads to the rod is that?

Shouldn't you be measuring that 172 Horsepower in watts or something?

Just kidding. :) Good choice.

NationBlogs Strikes Again!

Good job. I hope it really works out for you.

Under seven seconds seems a tad optimistic though. I would guess under eight.

Still, it's always great to get a new car, and even though it's been donkeys since I drove a renault, I do remember that they drive really well.

Ugh. Its French :eek:

Ugh. Its French :eek:

Racist :)

Racist :)

No - Statist. (I have nothing against caucasians - except the French ones that is.) ;)

You got flies or some other kind of dirt on your front bumper.

No - Statist. (I have nothing against caucasians - except the French ones that is.) ;)
I was reading another article on immigration and I just had the overwhelming urge to use the word 'racist' improperly. I'm better now, thanks.

Ugh. Its French :eek:

QFT.

Right hand drive. Is that the norm in the land of Aus?

Driving on the left > driving on the right

Do you have any side shots, with something in the foreground/background (to give the car some scale)? Also, dimensions (wheelbase, front/rear track, overall length/width)? I googled, and didn't find any (although, my ADD didn't help).

Driving on the left > driving on the right

I can do either. Of course, that's my job (I'm a postal carrier, so I had to take the postal course on driving the right hand drive LLV).

I can do either. Of course, that's my job (I'm a postal carrier, so I had to take the postal course on driving the right hand drive LLV).

I actually like having the steering wheel on the wrong side. It's fun.

Sweet! :)

I bet you'll have a lot of fun with it.

See, ignorant foreigners? A bit of mud on the number-plate, and you never worry about speed-cameras! :p

I actually like having the steering wheel on the wrong side. It's fun.

Actually, it's dangerous.
The driver is further from the centre of a two-way road (which is almost all of them) and therefore has a more restricted view.

Watch out for stuff coming from your drivers-seat side.

Actually, it's dangerous.
The driver is further from the centre of a two-way road (which is almost all of them) and therefore has a more restricted view.

Watch out for stuff coming from your drivers-seat side.

Oh bollocks. I've driven all over Europe that way. (Even on the autobahn). Just a matter of being careful is all.

It's sort of fun.

Eww.

If you buy from Renault, get a Laguna at least...

Oh bollocks. I've driven all over Europe that way. (Even on the autobahn)
The autobahn, with excellent visibility and a clear verge, would indeed be quite safe.

Just a matter of being careful is all.
It's sort of fun.

OK, well at least you are aware of the added risk you have in exchange for the fun.

I wasn't expecting you to much appreciate my post. I just felt I had to mention the facts, since they have a bearing on your physical safety and I wasn't sure if you were aware of them.

Just ignore me. I don't even drive ! :cool:

Nice car man, I'm a VW guy, but those Renaults are supposed to be great handling cars!

I have an older golf, and while I envy your torque I do love the motor in my car, it doesn't have much power(yet) but what it does have is usable. I intend to track the car, so having a light car is more important to me than a really torquey one.

Too bad we're on different continents!

Under seven seconds seems a tad optimistic though. I would guess under eight.
We'll see. It's sorta hard to get an accurate time without special equipment. So that means getting someone in the car with a stopwatch...

There's a few youtube vids of them. This one seems stock, just like mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7hrnSQateE

Ugh. Its French :eek:
Say what you will, but the French make good hot hatches. And for my money, this was definitely the best combination of speed, handling, wallet-friendliness and age. I can honestly say I looked long enough to be confident in my choice.

Do you have any side shots, with something in the foreground/background (to give the car some scale)? Also, dimensions (wheelbase, front/rear track, overall length/width)? I googled, and didn't find any (although, my ADD didn't help).
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/data-detail.aspx?deriv=18491
That's for the "Phase 1" model and mine is a "Phase 2". But the differences are mainly cosmetical, so the dimensions shouldn't have changed much. I've got the precise specs in my handbook but it's in the car and it's cold outside and I don't wanna get up. I might take another picture or two tomorrow.

Eww.

If you buy from Renault, get a Laguna at least...
What an odd thing to say.

Anyways, this is a Renaultsport. It's a Renault in the same way an M-car is a BMW and an AMG is a Mercedes. They even say that you should check with Renault dealers beforehand whether they have any experience with these because their mechanics may not be trained in these cars.

Dude, you know how much your car weighs?

The silly steering wheel's on the wrong side, of course, but other than that: wheee, finally! :)

And so clean. Think I should sell my car and get a new one just to get out of cleaning it? I think that would be a splendid idea. *nods*

The silly steering wheel's on the wrong side, of course, but other than that: wheee, finally! :)

And so clean. Think I should sell my car and get a new one just to get out of cleaning it? I think that would be a splendid idea. *nods*

It's a trap! You'd have to wash your car to sell it...


Nice car NL, too bad about the color...;p (I have a thing against 'rental white,' but it actually looks fine)

Eww.

If you buy from Renault, get a Laguna at least...

Dude, you know how much your car weighs?

This stuff is UBAR important to car people when they are NLs age. Or mine. My car weighs 3258lbs. Though the engine in my car pushes out a lot more horsies.

your so gonna crash it :)

French cars = good choice. Yup.

This stuff is UBAR important to car people when they are NLs age. Or mine. My car weighs 3258lbs. Though the engine in my car pushes out a lot more horsies.
Never could stand car people.

oo shiny! seems like pizza delivering is quite the money maker. perhaps i ought to re-evaluate my career choices. i'm getting a car tomorrow, not even a percentage as flash as that though. might do 0-60 by monday if i'm lucky, insurance is still a huge dent in the pocket though, fucking sharks.

Never could stand car people.

I understand. I really do. That's why american cars are now shit.

What do americans like anyway? Apparently nothing. But thank you for passing judgment.

I understand. I really do. That's why american cars are now shit.
That's why I drive a Honda.
What do americans like anyway? Apparently nothing. But thank you for passing judgment.
Uh, what do I have to do with the typical tastes of Americans? Hell, all of the car people I've known (and been annoyed by) have been American.
I associate intimate knowledge of one's automobile with cultural ignorance and general stupidity, as that is what I'm accustomed to.

Uh, what do I have to do with the typical tastes of Americans? Hell, all of the car people I've known (and been annoyed by) have been American.
I associate intimate knowledge of one's automobile with cultural ignorance and general stupidity, as that is what I'm accustomed to.

You probably don't have a passport.

You probably don't have a passport.

Why would I? I don't have the money to travel. I'd love to some day, though.

It's not bad. It seems it gets good gas mileage, too, so cool.

oo shiny! seems like pizza delivering is quite the money maker. perhaps i ought to re-evaluate my career choices.
Well, don't count on it. These days I mainly do the day shifts, which means making dough and stuff. You get paid per hour, so that's okay.

Actually delivering is only worth it on busy nights when you can get plenty of deliveries done an hour. Otherwise it's a waste of time (unless you find the right roads...).

And about half the money was earned on the share market, mainly from dividends. It's been a good couple of years. :)

I have a motorbike and therefore am harder and cooler than you!:D

Nice car, a lot better than some of crap they sell out here in Australia.