I am not that much of a random racer, but I do get enthusiastic 'around the twisties'. And last night was no exception. My route back from work takes me out of the South of Sheffield and onto Derbyshire tops. As I was nearing the tops, I had been following a Clio 172 in rolling traffic, but the first sign of a duel carriageway he went for it, so I planted the pedal and stayed with him from 40+. We then rolled back into the traffic jam for a mile of so, then came to another duel carriageway but I was well prepared for the off and pulled to the outside lane and we swapped places. But this is where it gets fun. Just after the duel carriageway there is a single laned 40mph.

I applied cruise and waited in anticipation of that national speed limit sign. The bloke still rammed up my **** in the 172 gathered what I was doing and backed off, so he could get a run up at me, but I figured what he was doing and rather than gunning it at the national speed limit I waited until he floored it gathered the speed, but as I didn't put my foot down he had to brake, it was then that I floored it and I began to pull away, but as he went back up the rev range the cars leveled out and the brisk drive began. I was worried about the 172 out handling me so I was brave but composed around the damp bends - but there was no need to worry as I covered the next 6 miles a damn sight quicker than the Clio !!

This is the first proper run in my preferable surroundings and I am seriously impressed.

Sounds like fun

Shame I live in London so very rarely get to drive on open roads :thumbdwn:

Cool

Just imagine the look on his face next time he sees a certain trouser press ad on TV

BTW

Why do clio driver's pay such close attention to 0-60-0 figures?

Because they have to stop to pick up the bits that fell off!

Thankyou thankyou

i'll get my coat

Sounds like fun

Shame I live in London so very rarely get to drive on open roads :thumbdwn:

try windsor way my friend there are a few (albeit short) roads around that way

Good that you enjoyed your drive Mr T(5)

Brilliant....driven a 172.....not as good as the hype made it out to be IMHO! Love mine loads more and mine felt loads loads better!

Seems to be the only type which not only refuses to move over out of the fast lane but then also moves with you when you try and make alternate arrangements, speeding up to stop you getting out and then dropping back down again...

Not had that from any other vehicle as yet. You tend to get those who don't wanna move out of the fast lane but hardly ever those who will just not let you get past if they can help it in any way, even playing dirty....

This person messed himself up when he dropped the speed too much going up a hill - I just planted it in 5th and it shot straight past

Personally I didnt like the way the Clio drove, let alone the non-existent build quality. Therefore I went for the Fabia. I personally think the Clio is alot harder to get the best out of (all I can put it down to) as all the magazines seem to rate the 182 in particular as such a great handling car - but I just dont see it. The Fabia is alot easier to get the best from it.

I had a little run-in with a 2.0-litre Clio too a few months back. I overtook him going towards the A19 on the A690, and clearly he saw me doing some pace, so decided to try and teach me a lesson. So we got to the A19, and went down the sliproad, he was about a hundred yards behind, so I went for it, and he didnt really catch up, but I didnt leave him behind either, so I'd guess he was trying a bit. I then settled at 90, and about 5 minutes later he comes racing up behind me and swerves out and goes past at about 110... couldnt really be bothered after that, I guess he was annoyed enough that he didnt despatch me on the sliproad.

Depends on the driver

Heard various reports of a 106 rallye quite happily keeping up with 172's...helps that the 106 was a local and pretty (in both senses) dam fast lady driver.

They were in a different group, I was still learning my car so went in the slow group which was actually the hot hatches...none of them were totally sure why a skoda estate was still with them at lunch time. Some moments I was not too sure myself.

Glad you enjoyed the sprited drive, it's nice to have a few every now and again, bit of freedom. Shame about the plod and airborne vehicles, which is why tracks are where it will be at. Or remote Scottish touring trips

but the first sign of a duel carriageway......

This duel carriageway - swords or pistols?

mode>

This duel carriageway - swords or pistols?

mode>

Ever heard of the Spielberg film

You are joking aren't you?

A standard Fabia vRS has NO CHANCE against a 172, I know this as me and my brother frequently toyed around on the local bypass and by 40 mph he literally was leaving me for dead, but a 100 he would be 10 car lengths in front. Now that my car is remapped there is no difference in performance whatsoever, we are equally matched.

Again round corners on normal roads there isnt much in it purely because it depends upon how good the driver is and how much he is willing to risk his life to win, but on a track a 172 would pi$$ all over a Fabia vRS unless it has a proper suspension setup.

Remember, lets stay on topic - I don't want it to goto a discussion whereby people start saying, 'well I manage to get 50 mpg and I have five doors' etc..

But I can say with all honesty, hand on heart, 110% that a standard Fabia vRS in a straight line will be anhilated by a standard 172, incidently my brother now has coilovers and he can take most corners 20 mph faster than me

I even have a video of his 0-100 before the car has worn it, and it was still in the 15 second mark.

This is not a slagging match against my much beloved car and I would keep my vRS anyday as it's excellent and is now as quick, but on Top Gear they never tell you how fast the vRS went round a track (1.41), against the Clio 182 admittadly 1.34...

The clio is no doubt faster - it's lighter for a start. I would say in my post above I sure wasn't out to race the other car, I just wanted to continue at my speed, and so did the cars behind me

Andy VRS, personally i think the 172 driver had slowed down as said by another member of this site, theres not alot of difference between a 172 and a Fabia VRS, i don't doubt they are fast not having been in one but i've had many dabbles with them in my mk1 clio 16v and i'm afraid there wasn't alot in it and a 172 is abit quicker than a mk1 16v, so if u would like a proper race i suggest u take part in a track day in angelsy (organiswed by a member on www.cliosport.net, on meets n events forum) and prove that your VRS is quicker by having a proper race round a track

theres not alot of difference between a 172 and a Fabia VRS

What planet are you on? sorry to sound offensive mate but my brothers car used to anhilate me in straight lines prior to a remap, and I mean anhilate - and I consider myself able to get the best out of a car, now my car is remapped I keep pace to 90 mph where he starts to pull a bit due to gearing and by 130 on our private track he is 2 car lenghts ahead but still undoubtadly quicker.

I also personally find the 172 a better drive than my vRS , and when it comes on cam at 5k rpm, wow...

Just IMO of course.

BOTH CONDUCTED ON A PRIVATE TRACK

http://www.foundrometers.co.uk/pics/fabia/172.MOV

Quicktime needed and no sound, but i'm sure you'll agree 0-95 in 15 seconds isnt bad for a standard car with less than 7k on the clock and some poor changes is it (Clio 172)?

And now for my Fabia (remapped with cupra intake and panel filter), again 0-95mph

http://www.foundrometers.co.uk/pics/fabia/0-90.MOV

Bear in mind a standard Furby is about 3-4 seconds slower to a 100 than a remapped one and you get this gist...

I am not that much of a random racer' date=' but I do get enthusiastic 'around the twisties'. And last night was no exception. My route back from work takes me out of the South of Sheffield and onto Derbyshire tops. As I was nearing the tops, I had been following a Clio 172 in rolling traffic, but the first sign of a duel carriageway he went for it, so I planted the pedal and stayed with him from 40+. We then rolled back into the traffic jam for a mile of so, then came to another duel carriageway but I was well prepared for the off and pulled to the outside lane and we swapped places. But this is where it gets fun. Just after the duel carriageway there is a single laned 40mph.

I applied cruise and waited in anticipation of that national speed limit sign. The bloke still rammed up my **** in the 172 gathered what I was doing and backed off, so he could get a run up at me, but I figured what he was doing and rather than gunning it at the national speed limit I waited until he floored it gathered the speed, but as I didn't put my foot down he had to brake, it was then that I floored it and I began to pull away, but as he went back up the rev range the cars leveled out and the brisk drive began. I was worried about the 172 out handling me so I was brave but composed around the damp bends - but there was no need to worry as I covered the next 6 miles a damn sight quicker than the Clio !!

This is the first proper run in my preferable surroundings and I am seriously impressed.[/quote']

And of course you then woke up and realised it was all a dream. The only reality being you still drive a crappy skoda. Believe me the driver of the 172 must have been fast asleep or driving one of those ersatz 1.2's to let you anywhere near him. Absolute pants............

crappy

Yes, Renault. Quick? Undoubtedly. Handle well? Certainly. Well built?

I have a friend with one too and I like them , I also know that from my experiences a standard Furby vRS would have a hard time. A re-mapped and 'played with' vRS is another matter. But don't... just don't... refer to my car as being crappy without having made a proper judgement on it abilities. You've been sniffing onions for far too long, it's impaired you...

Yes' date=' Renault. Quick? Undoubtedly. Handle well? Certainly. Well built?

I have a friend with one too and I like them , I also know that from my experiences a standard Furby vRS would have a hard time. A re-mapped and 'played with' vRS is another matter. But don't... just don't... refer to my car as being crappy without having made a proper judgement on it abilities. You've been sniffing onions for far too long, it's impaired you... [/quote']

Your right, the build quality is not so good......but a skoda. Please......... Straight out of the box the Renault kicks ass, I have not had a single problem with mine. My granny loves her vrs, her heart condition demands she have a no thrills car.

well we all know i used to have a 172 for about 18 months and i will say for sure the fabia isnt as fast as the clio (except possibly at certain midrange speed in certain gears. also it doesnt handle as well as the 172 but different drivers and the lack of ability to fully know what the other driver was actually doing hampers any real comparison

and as for a valver been as fast as a 172 it isnt unless played with a williams yes its about on par with it when moving having a few little runs against roamer showed that but as we all know the power outputs of the clio vary wildly and some are markedly down on power. i love my furby but i in no way think its as fast as the 172 all round.

Carry on chavving you lot... I'm out.

People talk about the Clio being poorly built..... But thats like us saying yours is a skoda!!!! At the end of the day the clio is a much much much more fun car to drive, i was gonna change my 172 Cup for a Fabia Vrs untill i relised how boring (no affence) it is to the clio

I could go on about how i have beaten many Fabia's but im not sad

mate its not boring to drive trust me !!! try to brake in a hurry then you will find out why its exciting lol

But thats like us saying yours is a skoda!!!!

:confused: Well observed...

Well observed that clio's are built bad :confused: