the fifth gear started on discovery HD last night...

jason plato did a feature on car mods... VERY interesting... on a track with a clio RS, and an "average" driver (suzy perry)

first a basic lap time doing what she could..

then a bluefin engine remap ... she was a couple of seconds faster (I haven't got the exact times..) not bad...

then set back to standard map, and Miltek exhaust...... faster than standard, and a slight smidgin faster than the remap.....

then back to standard exhaust, and yoko track day tyres.... much quicker than either the exhaust or the map (Just goes to show how MUCH tyres affect grip)

THEN (And this is the interesting one, I knew worould kick the others ass) everything on the car back to standard....

AND just THREE laps of tuition from Plato.... and she smashed all the other mods with the standard car.. 13 (THIRTEEN!) seconds faster than her previous lap time!

great feature and just goes to show, its the drivivng that counts, not the mods

Oooooh I will have to watch this

Interesting but not sure how accurate the results are as surely with additional track time she would improve her times anyway so difficult to accurately judge which mod was best. However I agree that training is probably the best gain in time for the money.

Didn't say what the stock and remap figures were for the Bluefin, and the Miltek system seemed cheap at just over £500 for a twin exhaust system.

obviously you are not talking the same gains on the bluefin that you would with a turbo car, but should be similar to the exhaust 5-10% improvement. (which is reflected in the times..)

Edited 4 September, 201213 yr by sharkrider

Was it the new Clio RS as I thought that was turbo charged?

Would like to have seen the result with all enhancements in place.

the new clios not out until 2012..... I will be having a look at it now it has a torquier , more fuel efficient turbo, and a twin clutch box not if its expensive though...

Not to mention the best thing about training is you take it with you when you change cars.

How do I book this Plato bloke?

go to a touring car race and buy him a pint? lol...

the fifth gear started on discovery HD last night...

jason plato did a feature on car mods... VERY interesting... on a track with a clio RS, and an "average" driver (suzy perry)

first a basic lap time doing what she could..

then a bluefin engine remap ... she was a couple of seconds faster (I haven't got the exact times..) not bad...

then set back to standard map, and Miltek exhaust...... faster than standard, and a slight smidgin faster than the remap.....

then back to standard exhaust, and yoko track day tyres.... much quicker than either the exhaust or the map (Just goes to show how MUCH tyres affect grip)

THEN (And this is the interesting one, I knew worould kick the others ass) everything on the car back to standard....

AND just THREE laps of tuition from Plato.... and she smashed all the other mods with the standard car.. 13 (THIRTEEN!) seconds faster than her previous lap time!

great feature and just goes to show, its the drivivng that counts, not the mods

I mostly agree but you don't get as much improvement with an na engine map compared with a turbo.

So tightening (or improving) the nut being the steering wheel is the best Modification. I've said that many times to racing drivers. It was also shown on TG when Sir Jackie took James May around Oulton and improved is lap times by miles.

As said, I was suprised that the exhaust made as good as a map, but I don't know how restricted the standard one although remapping a NA car doesn't gain all that much power. Again, the improvement could just have been Suzi's longer track time.

Tyres made a bigger difference, but this again could be Suzi being more confident in the car.

BTW, I thought Plato's improvement was 13 seconds from her first attempt, not from the last mods she did.

Edited 4 September, 201213 yr by Jim H

Was a great feature and it was a perfect car to do it on too. It showed everything well but her final time was also helped not only by Plato but having several more laps practice. 13 secs is impressive regardless. Wouldn't mind some track tuition if I end up doing more track days. Most of my track experience is days and days of GT5 and 15 mins at Castle Combe

Very impressive!

Regards to power, RS Clio's famously never make what they claim, so I'd say exhaust + map wouldn't' be much more than 200bhp anyway.

Very impressive!

Regards to power, RS Clio's famously never make what they claim, so I'd say exhaust + map wouldn't' be much more than 200bhp anyway.

Superchips clam they add an extra 12 BHP (6%) more with the remap http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=29&fueltype=1&model=115&variant=2370 Their Power Curve says standard that have 202BHP., 214 mapped.

I have no idea how much an exhaust would do.

How do I book this Plato bloke?

Ask Zeus!

PS if he is not in ask Harry Stotle

Ask Zeus!

PS if he is not in ask Harry Stotle

Thor blimey

I don't have sky so missed it unfortunately. But it reminded me of an article in an old top gear mag.

They tested a 207 gti round the test track as standard, then stripped it out completely apart from the driver's seat and it went slower than the standard car, even if it was ove 50kg lighter

I remember that because it up settled the balance. I don't see why Suzi Perry can't have a full time job on Fifth Gear. She could explain all the latest gadgets Cars come with now

I remember that because it up settled the balance. I don't see why Suzi Perry can't have a full time job on Fifth Gear. She could explain all the latest gadgets Cars come with now

And then they can get rid of VBH

And then they can get rid of VBH

I think it would be good to get someone like Suzi Wolff or Sabine Schmidt who could show the guys how to drive.

Superchips clam they add an extra 12 BHP (6%) more with the remap http://www.superchip...15&variant=2370 Their Power Curve says standard that have 202BHP., 214 mapped.

I have no idea how much an exhaust would do.

the exhaust was rated at 8-12% increase...

Brill! Just watched that, thanks! Kind of hope they actually fit all three mods and see the time difference

The feature was only reaaly relevant to track driving as opposed to road driving. You dont go hooning round corners on the road whereas a re-map does give a nice extra bit of grunt for overtaking and general satisfaction.

I would never consider sticky tyres and driver training as i dont do track days. Plus im a perfect driver now Seriously though i re-map my cars just for the extra grunt and the satisfaction that brings. Exhausts are good also for the noise, must have gone through 5 exhausts on my scooby before i got the noise just right.

I think it would be good to get someone like Suzi Wolff or Sabine Schmidt who could show the guys how to drive.

Sabine yes Suzi no. She hasn't won anything