Clio 172 Track Car

[Moley_WRX]

After my recent track day at Brands both Mrs Moley and my brother got the track day bug, so wanted to buy a track car to share. (Although now they have the car my dad is also going to use it)

A guy at work was considering selling his Clio 172 so I made him an offer and bought it.

It's a standard car (apart from a backbox which is going in the bin), but importantly it's had the cambelt, water pump and dephaser replaced earlier this year, so that avoids one potentially expensive job.

Plans are some updated discs, pads and brake fluid, better tyres, lowering springs, standard backbox, dished steering wheel, and a general tidy up.

[BIG"E"]

Looks like fun.

Gary if you are changing the wheels at all Id be interested in the ones on the car.

[NL03Scooby]

Very popular as a novice track car, I missed a trick last month when a colleague part ex'd his 182 for £500... it needed some TLC though too.

Should be a lot of fun and a good little car.

[Red Baron]

Strip as much as possible out of inside, you'll be amazed at the weight saving.

[555_Si]

been wanting one myself for ages, hopefully next year.

[BIG"E"]

Originally Posted by 555_Si

been wanting one myself for ages, hopefully next year.

You're are building a scoob???

[555_Si]

building 2 scoobs! very slowly

[BIG"E"]

Originally Posted by 555_Si

building 2 scoobs! very slowly

[Scooby Si]

Good work!

Been thinking of doing similar for a while... Need to sort something in the way of storing another car before I can actually do it unfortunately!

[Steve_PPP]

Looks like fun. If its just a track toy then definitely strip as much weight as possible

[urabusMY94]

Have found that there's lots of useful info and a some knowledgeable owners on
http://www.cliosport.net/forums/ and the Facebook group "Clio Sport Owners Club". So many issues with these cars as they are unbelievably French, but flip side is that it's guaranteed that someone else has already had the same problem and posted a fix and/or an explanation for the symptoms....

Just need time to wash Craig's old one and get some decent current photos and I'll start a project thread on progress to date with mine

[Ginola]

Was thinking of getting one to race this coming season as it's cheap on bits and everyone raves about them, be interesting to see how far you take it )


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[Moley_WRX]

Won't be going too mad with it, just the basics to make it safe on track at first.

[asperformance]

nice one, you will be pleasantly suprised as even in std form they will hand a lot of other marques their ass...........

[Moley_WRX]

Originally Posted by asperformance

nice one, you will be pleasantly suprised as even in std form they will hand a lot of other marques their ass...........

I'll be ringing you soon for some brakes

[Moley_WRX]

A few jobs done do far.....

Hankook V12 Tyres
182 alloys (quickly re-sprayed myself)
Cup splitter
Standard backbox
Replacement wing mirror
Water leaks located and fixed
Brembo HC discs (waiting to be fitted)
Sunstrip

Springs and pads next.

Will need a rear wheel bearing soon, but as it's only done 40 miles since I bought it there is no rush!

[Steve_PPP]

That's looking nice and tidy mate, good buy

[NL03Scooby]

Looking smart, nice and clean too!

[Moley_WRX]

Pile of parts is stacking up now.

A friend of mine is breaking a few Clio's and has also got quite a few spares from his Clio track car. I've now got some DS2500 pads, replacement rear discs with new bearings, and some excellent condition headlights to replace the cloudy ones currently fitted.

Went to Brands to a few friends and saw exactly how quick a mildly fettled 172 can be, and very impressed.

I have also spent some time trying to find a water leak which was making the carpets wet. Turned out to be some blocked drain holes by the front bulkhead and some loose grommets in the boot. All fixed and seems dry now.

Just need to find some time to fit new new parts and get some lowering springs.

[Ginola]

Looking forward to seeing it on track Gary, so tempted to grab one

[Moley_WRX]

I was blown away how quick and capable they are with a decent setup and good driver.

Cooksport springs now also ordered and on their way

[Moley_WRX]

Been a busy boy recently, just a couple of small jobs to finish off.
Changes so far:

Cooksport springs
Brembo HC front discs
OE rear discs + wheel bearings
Ferodo DS2500 front pads
Brembo rear pads
Braided brake hoses
Motul brake fluid
Motul engine oil
K&N panel filter
182 alloys
Hankook V12 tyres
Cup splitter
Wind deflectors
Tinted side repeater
OE exhaust
Replacement headlights
Silvatec bulbs
Sun strip
Bosch aero wiper blades

[Bolesroor]

Looking good Gary, when are you hoping to track it?

[Moley_WRX]

Originally Posted by Bolesroor

Looking good Gary, when are you hoping to track it?

Not too sure. The is a track day at Brands on the 26th Feb which is a Sunday, so could be tempted.

Assuming the Mrs lets me borrow it, as it's supposed to be her car. (I just pay for the parts and do all the work on it!)

[scooby doo]

Looking great!

[Rdlangy1]

Love how this is looking

[Red Baron]

Looks too nice to be a track toy now.

[MSR2012]

Originally Posted by Moley_WRX

Not too sure. The is a track day at Brands on the 26th Feb which is a Sunday, so could be tempted.

Assuming the Mrs lets me borrow it, as it's supposed to be her car. (I just pay for the parts and do all the work on it!)

Full I think, I wanted to do it but left it too late to book!

[Moley_WRX]

The Mrs finally got round to using the car today now that it's about 95% done.
Her reaction...... "I'm going to lose my licence in this!"

[nikkinokkinoo]

Are the springs easy to change on this ?

[scooby doo]

Rears dead east , fronts as usual on most cars

[555_Si]

Yeah rears on a 172/182 really easy. I have coilovered my rears. Very firm indeed. These cars are so easy to work on IF you can get the rusted old bolts off!

[Moley_WRX]

Been fairly busy with the car recently.

Was never overly comfortable with the driving position and reach to the steering wheel and gearstick. I've sorted this by fitting an OMP steering wheel and boss, and a modified Scenic shifter with quick shift. Massive improvement and feels just right.

To improve the performance I've fitted a re-mapped ECU and I've removed the rear seats and belts.

I've also tidied the bodywork inc de-badging the rear.

The car now feels fantastic, handles superbly, and is noticeably quicker and smoother.

The only annoying thing so far is that nothing seems to be easy with a French car, most jobs throwing up annoying niggles that take time to sort.

[NL03Scooby]

Simon mentioned how off the driving position felt in his 182, I know he made a few tweaks to try and improve the overall feel.

Did you ever expect you would go this far with the changes and mods when you first bought the car?

[Rdlangy1]

Originally Posted by Moley_WRX

Been fairly busy with the car recently.

Was never overly comfortable with the driving position and reach to the steering wheel and gearstick. I've sorted this by fitting an OMP steering wheel and boss, and a modified Scenic shifter with quick shift. Massive improvement and feels just right.

To improve the performance I've fitted a re-mapped ECU and I've removed the rear seats and belts.

I've also tidied the bodywork inc de-badging the rear.

The car now feels fantastic, handles superbly, and is noticeably quicker and smoother.

The only annoying thing so far is that nothing seems to be easy with a French car, most jobs throwing up annoying niggles that take time to sort.

This seems a very well thought out car - going to be nice to see it in the flesh and going round the track

[Moley_WRX]

Originally Posted by NL03Scooby

Did you ever expect you would go this far with the changes and mods when you first bought the car?

I knew pretty much what I wanted to do, but it's the little fiddly jobs that have taken the time. Also I've been lucky with parts, as a few friends and customers are very into their Clio's and have lots of spare parts and have done me favours.

I'm not doing any more mods to the Evo, as the good clean ones are rocketing in price, so this has become my 'tinkering' car.

I didn't know about the gear shifter modification, but I'm glad I found out about it. Completely changes the feel and position.

[Moley_WRX]

Originally Posted by Rdlangy1

This seems a very well thought out car - going to be nice to see it in the flesh and going round the track

My wife did a novice track day in it in May and was impressed, but that's before I changed quite a few bits, so will be interesting to see how it's changed.

I'm looking forward to getting it on track, but the last few dates I've looked at I've not been able to get the days off work (silly rules about having x amount of people off on the same day)

However, once MSV release the dates for Oct/Nov I'll be looking at booking a few

[555_Si]

I have put fibreglass race seats in mine and I am having a bit of trouble getting the seat in the right place, as the Jon Fos subframes don't seem to work well with my seat and also I am having to modify the steering column with spacers so I can get it lower.

Installed a PMS shifter on mine, love it. my original shifter was worn and needed all new bushes etc, so thought I would treat myself.

Saving up for cage now, will be stripping the interior a bit when that gets installed and then i'll be able to install my harnesses that cam out of the Gobstopper.

[Moley_WRX]

The PMS shifter is a great bit of kit. Was very tempted but I got a modified Scenic one at a very good price (the BMS one)

I'm going to see how I get on with the car as it is now, but seats, harnesses and a rear cage are definitely on the to do list

[Moley_WRX]

Bought a set of Evo 5 front seats for it today in great condition, just sorting some frames for them.

Have booked a track day at Brands Hatch on the 17th October to see how it goes.

[Moley_WRX]

Have done three track days in it now and it's just so much fun!

Hasn't missed a beat so far, although I'm finding the limits of the tyres, so collecting some AD08R's tomorrow

[BIG"E"]

Originally Posted by Moley_WRX

Have done three track days in it now and it's just so much fun!

Hasn't missed a beat so far, although I'm finding the limits of the tyres, so collecting some AD08R's tomorrow

Not getting 888s ?

[Moley_WRX]

Originally Posted by BIG"E"

Not getting 888s ?

AD08R's should be sufficient, still want it road friendly and this country is a bit moist for R888's

Plus they cost an arm and a leg!

[scooby doo]

AD08R are a very good tyre , and fine for the roads.
NS2R also are a very good choice for the clio in 120 compound and very cheap

[IBenjieI]

This looks nice, I'd love to have the time and money for a track car... was thinking of using my old Integra but don't the space for storage really!