Funny noises

The new pads worked just fine. They squeal a bit when you use them half-heartedly, but then - why would you? Once they're warmed up they're very strong indeed, and before then they'll still do the trick on the road.

The last trackday on the 1st of December was a strange one. Despite thinking I had better lines than last time, I didn't really go much faster. In fact, I never managed to get into the 1:07s all day. But then, I apparently did a low 1:08 in the middle of a bunch of traffic in the first session, and then 1:10s with clear air in front and behind in the second session. Since I didn't really make a mistake, we all concluded that the timing must have been off. Going back to the video footage, the other guys also reckon the "official times" aren't worth the paper they're written on. Very frustrating, but that just gives me a direction for the next upgrade - some sort of stopwatch setup that will allow me to time myself without taking the eyes off the road. Might just involve more racing tape. :p

Unlike the old brakes, coming back from the track that day they performed just fine, even on a very exciting maneuvre on just out the gates from QR. The biggest pot hole I have ever seen just appeared in front of me, and I managed to break and drive around it despite having been a bit quick and having seen it too late.

The front tyres looked very shot the days after, but the various ripped and molten pieces of rubber have worn off by now, so they don't look too bad now. Still, once I can get a few dollars together, I'll go buy real ones. I'm thinking the new Bridgestone Adrenalins, they seem quite cheap for the performance. Evo Magazine ranked them pretty well. That might also help my lap times. I may lack both talent and experience, but lack of front grip could be playing just as big a part in my slow lap times.

Here's an illustration. This is me, going around Turn 3. You can see that one wheel has *just* left the ground, which I'm very proud of. ;)
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2001-12-07/IMG_0063.jpg

This is Psycho going around the same corner. Granted, he's running semis and it's not a 172 but a 182 Cup, but the difference in the stance is obvious. That's why he's doing 1:03s and I'm doing 1:08s.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2001-12-07/IMG_0090.jpg

Unfortunately, there's something else that needs sorting first. On the way back from the track, I noticed that the car sounded a bit coarse, and there was a vibration through the pedal as I drove along. It only shows at 3000rpm, but not below. It now seems like it only happens when I'm in gear, but that I'm not down on power. Since it happens regardless of the speed I'm going at, that points towards the transmission - perhaps one of the mounts or other piece to hold it in place has gotten a bit loose. It may have had something to do with a missed gearshift into second too, but I rather hope it's nothing internal.

Anyways, after lots of experiments (going backwards - hard to tell, drive-by - you can just hear the exhaust, etc) I've come to the conclusion that I have no idea what's going on, so I'll have to get a mechanic to try it and see what he can do for me. It's the first actual issue with the car, and it's really more likely to be my fault than anything else (not least because any car is going to have a hard time around a race track). Let's hope for the best and a quick resolution, because the concept of lift-off oversteer has really begun to intrigue me and warrants some further hands-on research...

Update

I missed the last trackday because of uni exams, which was a bit of a bummer. Let's hope it was worth it, results should be out soon.

I got Ferodo DS2500 front pads from Competition Friction. The product ID is FCP406H, for those who want to know, and I paid $260 for them. I suppose shopping around might have gotten a better price, but I didn't have the time or nerve for it.

Fitting them was a bit trickier than initially expected. I don't know whether it is because they're designed for the 182 rather than the 172, or some other reason, but they didn't quite fit the stock calipers. We had to grind some off on the sides to make them fit, and then some more to make sure it actually was in contact with the discs. Turns out those are quite worn as well and will be due for a change when I get it to servicing next. I'm not sure yet whether it will be worth getting some nicer ones, I'll have to do more research.

Either way, you can tell that the new pads are a bit more motorsport-orientated. It actually says on the box "for motorsport use only", but Ferodo actually has even more hardcore ones. Anyways, they're bedding in nicely now and all you can tell is that they need a few decent applications to get up to temperature. A bit of sensible driving, leaving space and using engine braking makes that problem a bit of a non-issue though. I had a few attempts stopping from 100 down to standstill and they certainly work when they're warm. It'll be good to see what they'll be like on the track. Still, I suspect most time gains are in my lines and just going at it a bit harder, braking later and cornering faster.

I bought a helmet as well. Brisbane Motorcycles had a SNELL-approved Rjays full-faced model (I wanted a full-faced one for when I go karting) for $180, which I thought is quite reasonable. It looks pretty good too - the flames are quite nice, but the big skulls might be a bit much. :p At least it's big enough so I can be as comfortable as possible.

So now the only thing left for the moment, apart from the service which may be coming up in a few weeks, is a K&N Appollo airfilter. I bought it a while ago from spaleta_9 at OzRS, because he upgraded to a BMC. Now it's been sitting here, as only a few days after I bought it I heard that some people actually lost power after putting them in. The stock airbox of the RSC is just about the best on the market and improving upon it is apparently quite tricky and therefore generally expensive.

So right now I'm thinking to simply get some better hosing but retain the standard 'box until I can afford getting a BMC or something like that. But I've been spending a lot of money on other stuff the past few weeks, so I don't think it will be anything immediate. I'd rather spend my money on getting a CAMS license, so I can have a go at the Mt. Cotton hillclimb. Apparently it's all quite cheap and easy and good fun.

Pics n vids n stuff

I didn't take my camera to the sprints on Saturday, so I didn't take any pictures. A shame, next time I won't forget it.

I had my video camera instead, but I found that it was too big and unwieldy to carry around with me, so most of the cool stuff I missed. So the only photos I have were taken by Psycho's dad (thanks!)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2015-9-07/IMG_0001.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2015-9-07/IMG_0003.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2015-9-07/IMG_0039.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2015-9-07/IMG_0042.jpg

I decided to upload that video of my lap on youtube afterall, by the way. That's what a boring afternoon will do to you, I guess: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNpYnE5ui4I

I have a feeling I know where I'm losing a lot of time...I can be a bit braver in the first two corners, then brake harder into the first chicane. And if I completely change my line through the final chicane and hairpin, I think I can salvage a bit more.

But before then, I'll need new brakepads. They're really very worn. Unfortunately BSM Motorsport hasn't come back to me yet about a price for the Ferodos, so I guess I'll have to wait.

And there's one more thing: I recently bought a used K&N Apollo closed air filter. It looks in good condition, but I haven't put it in yet - the reason being that I'm not sure anymore whether I should. As far as I could establish there wouldn't be any power gains, just a slightly different sound. Maybe I'd be better off just putting in a Green cotton filter into the standard airbox. I paid just $100 for the thing, so it's a manageable loss.

But that can wait. Brake Pads first, then I may have to get myself a helmet.

Qui casse les verres les paie

Well, lots of stuff happened over the past month.

First I had to pay rego, which was made more difficult by a last minute change of CTP insurer. Came to $269.45, like any other 4-cylinder car.

Then the next round of the QR Sprints were coming up, and I wanted the car in good condition. I had an oil change (used Shell Helix Ultra) and general check-up done and we fixed some of the plastic bits underneith the car that had cracks in them. Bit of ziptight did the trick okay. I also had the oil filter changed, which alltogether came to $150.

Next thing were the front tires, which looked a tad worn. Very worn, actually. Still, I thought I'd get by with switching the fronts and rears. Since Bob Jane's was also going to do balancing and alignment, I went there. Unfortunately the guy came back into the waiting room and told me the tires were already so worn that they were illegal. The only options they had for me were Pirelli Dragons, which I hadn't heard great things about, and Bob Jane's Xenon Z1's. Since the latter were $50 cheaper, I picked them. Which meant that I came to the trackday with a 10-year old Korean tire design.

Still, I don't think they did too badly. At the moment I'm definitely the slowest part of the package, so the most time can be gained if I can get my act together. And that costs a lot less money too.

I was quite disappointed with my performance at the sprints this time round. I managed to go quicker (1:07), but only on one lap and only by one second. I got along with the traffic better this time, but my lines must have been horrible...I guess I'll never be racing in F1 :p

It was only during the last session that I posted quicker times, breaking later and taking a different line through the last chicane and hairpin. I had a bit of fun with what was apparently a Falcon XR6T too. The guy wasn't particularly fast either, so through the corners I kept catching up to him, while on the straights he would pull away. Good fun because we somehow managed to end up together on all three runs...bit annoying during the last run, when he was actually holding me up a bit.

I do have a video, but the camera work is atrocious, so I won't bother uploading it...some pictures might be coming though.

Either I'm thinking too much or not enough when I'm out there. I suppose there's nothing for it but to practice more. At least I got up on three wheels, I'm told.

Since it'll be two months, I'll see whether I can get the break pads replaced. I suspect they'd be very worn by now as well, and Ferrodo DS2500 should improve performance as well. The guys from OzRS who have them seem very happy.

PS: If anyone is going to buy an RSC, make sure you take off the little caps on the rims and check whether everything is okay there. I didn't, and apparently one of my front wheels is missing a wheel nut. The whole idea of going to a dealership was that I didn't have to worry about stupid stuff like that, so I'm not too happy with the dealership on that count. They better make up for it once I take it in for servicing.
On the other hand, I was pretty stupid to forget checking. Best way to do it would probably have been to have a mechanic do a full check of everything and then present them with the list. I didn't have the time or the cash when I got the car, so now I'm probably going to pay for it anyways.

Racing and other Details

I forgot to mention some of the more boring features of the car, which might help justify the investment to people who don't appreciate the finer things in life.

The RS Clio comes with a bunch of airbags for both driver and passenger, including side airbags. Newer versions (post 2002, if I recall correctly) come with ESP and traction control. You can control the stereo (complete with CD stacker under the passenger seat on the 172) from buttons behind the steering wheel. And the aircon detects the temperature in the car itself and does whatever it deems necessary to get to a temperature set by yourself. So you don't have to worry about turning the thing on or off if you don't want to. It also comes with alarm and demobiliser as standard, which is popular with insurance companies. Oh, and Xenon headlights, which is very cool. I'm not even sure whether you'd get a similarly specced Hyundai Getz for the same sort of money (pretty sure you wouldn't), and that doesn't have a 2 litre engine in it!

Now that we've got that out the way, to the interesting part: I went racing on the weekend.

I've always wanted to, but with the old Golf it seemed like a pointless and potentially dangerous exercise. So when the guys from ozrenaultsport.com asked for more Renaults at the Queensland Raceway Sprints, I answered the call, so to speak.

First things first: it's a great way to spend a Saturday. There's loads of very cool cars around (usually when you have the luck to spot a Lamborghini Gallardo or Porsche GT2 on the road they're all timid...not so on the main straight!), so even if you didn't drive yourself it would probably be worth the trip.

Secondly, don't have any illusions about insurances. If you damage your car on the track, you're on your own. Hence why I was a bit panicky about damaging someone else's car, but it turns out they've never had a car-to-car accident. Always car-to-wall...one guy put his car into a wall when I was there as well. He was fine, though there were an eery few minutes when the track's own ambulance was driving out and otherwise it was totally quiet around the place. Two other people (one of them one of our Renaultsports :p) got their cars beached in the gravel trap. And while I was out there, three people spun in front of me (one time it was a BMW M3, which was quite cool).

Pictures (courtesy of Psycho from Ozrenaultsport and his Dad)

The guy in the red hat is me.

And these are my pics:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/2-1.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/6-1.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/3-1.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/4-1.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/5.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/4.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/6.jpg

And a video, again courtesy of Psycho and his blood orange RSC182 Cup (and Monsieur P in the Megane): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEtaSfKd-MU

The car performed absolutely flawlessly. It certainly could have gone a fair bit faster, but since it was my first time on the track and there were a lot of other cars around (it can be quite intimidating having some modified Evo IX all over you), I didn't produce anything earth shattering. It was a 1:08:36 in the end, which people say is pretty good for my first time.

Be that as it may, I caught the bug. For two days after the event I kept thinking about better ways to take corners. I'll definitely be there again, and then my quest for a 1:04 begins in earnest.


Looking through K-Tec's website is starting to give me ideas as well. I'm sorta broke right now, so unless my tax return turns out well, I won't be doing any modifying any time soon. And even if it does, I might have to buy a helmet first. Still, a vision of the finished car is starting to take shape.


Right now I'm thinking (in this order):

1. Air Filter and intake hoses (K&N Apollo, probably, though if something better turns out affordable, I won't say no)


2. Tires (not particularly extreme ones on there right now, so there's some time to be gained)


3. Sports Cat from K-Tec (wouldn't mind a complete decat, but it'd be a pain with the authorities)


4. Catback exhaust (there's a bunch of them around...I'll be looking for bang for the buck. Keep you posted)


5. Brakes (depending on the money anything from Brembo to Endless is on the cards. Or a combination)

6. ECU (if the opportunity comes up earlier, it might move up the list)

7. Suspension (the idea of seriously cambered wheels for the trackday is quite appealing, I reckon. But the stock setup is so good that I don't think I'll be needing an upgrade any time soon)

There's a very cool cable throttle kit by K-Tec, but at 3000 pounds it's a little beyond my reach. Maybe once I finally win the lotto.

First Entry

Hi.

I'm a 21 year old student in Brisbane, Australia. I deliver pizzas for a living, and make some money on the share market as well.

I love cars and I've been looking for one for more than a year. I thought about buying virtually any performance car in my price range (and beyond), from a WRX over an Integra Type-R to a 3-series BMW. But I passed on all of them, and have recently made my choice, and I don't think I could have made a better one. The idea of this blog is to be a source of info for people who are in that situation and to spread the word about these cars, which surely deserve more recognition than they get, at least in Australia. Plus, if I ever do decide to sell it, there'll be a complete history on here.

This is it:

My car is a 2001 X65 Phase II Renaultsport Clio 172.

From the outside it doesn't look like the fastest car on the road. Indeed, unless you know what to look for most people would be hard pressed to recognise it at all. It gets no attention from the police, nor does it have a lot of poser appeal. It's more about substance than style (though I think it's got some very stylish touches, and I suppose it being French doesn't hurt either).

Performance

Here's a video I made of it being tested at a Dyno Day at the 101 Motorcafe here in Brisbane:

http://www.youtube.com/v/ZjTicMzhhws

At the flywheel it's meant to have 172 horsepower, hence the name. About 40hp loss in the transmission seems to be normal for them, so 132hp is a decent sort of result.

Since it's a 2 litre variable valve timing engine, it's got potential to make a fair bit more. Few people in Australia turbocharge them, since it requires expensive kits to be flown in from overseas. A Renault performance specialist firm in the UK quotes more than 5000 pounds for the kit, plus labour. Add shipping costs and you get the picture. Nonetheless, there are power gains to be made in the airbox, the ECU and the exhaust, and if you're prepared to spend a bit more you can get better cams and the like as well.

It's good for 7 seconds from 0-100km/h, which means it'll keep up with your Integra VTI-R, various Pulsars, Preludes and Skylines and generally most cars you'll see. Even more impressive is the range of the powerband (due to the larger capacity), which means that in virtually any gear you've got instant power...which is more than that VTEC Honda driver can say. By the way, I love VTECs and would've bought a Type R if I'd had the money on that day, so no hatemail, please. :p

Handling

This is really the big selling point. Evo Magazine (great publication, by the way, make sure you pick one up at the news agent and give it a go) reckons the RSC is one of the greatest driver's cars ever made. Now, I can't say that I've driven many Ferraris, Lamborghinis and 911s, but I do know I quite enjoy it.

Since I deliver Pizzas in the semirural outer western suburbs of Brisbane, I get to spend quite a bit of time on decent pieces of tarmac at occasionally quite considerable speeds. Now, my old '99 VW Golf 1.6 laboured quite a bit on some of these trips. The good part was that it was a lot of fun and that I was learning about the car's behaviour above and beyond the limits. The bad part was that it was really quite slow.

Since I got the RSC, I've given up trying to reach limits on these roads. It's not like I'm popular with the traffic cops anyways, and if I reach a point where even I think that it's time to back off because going that quickly around that corner is just insane, you know you've got a bit of a special car. Not only does it just grip and grip and grip, but you feel quite connected with what's going on. The steering is very good, you can feel the road surface through the seat as well as the wheel and as I found out on the track the other day, if understeer does become a problem a quick stab at the brakes gets the tail moving and points the whole thing in the right direction.

By the way, the brakes are awesome as well. The stock items went through a whole day at Queensland Raceway without complaints and are plenty powerful too. Plus, I haven't triggered the ABS once so far.

Let me sum it up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tretjYW0aM

Price

For this 2001 model with 96,000km on the clock I paid $15,990 from a dealer (admittedly, it was with a bit of haggling and the car having sat at the dealership for a while). The 100k service (it's a big one, includes changing all the timing and auxiliary belts...lots of labour expenses) was done and I even got a little warranty. Plus, they sent me a letter the other day telling me that a service might be due (it isn't, but that's another story) and just today I received French shampoo and skin lotion from Renault Australia's HQ as a "Thank You". It's weird on one hand, but a shiny card is always a nice thing to get. Plus my mum says it's good stuff, so I'll take her word for it.

If you can find me a better combination of performance, age, running costs and reliability at that price, I want to know about it. I certainly didn't find it with a year of searching.

Running Costs

While this blog goes on I'll keep updating you on the running costs. Still, in a bit more than a month of ownership, I've so far had the following:

Insurance for me (21 year old male, no claims, with windscreen cover) was $1300 with NRMA. Can't complain really. Take note though...it was a bit of searching involved. Budgetdirect didn't want to insure me at all and RACQ quoted me more than 2 grand!

Rego is the usual for a 4-cylinder car and will be due soon.

As far as fuel is concerned - it is a performance engine, and the compression ratio is such that you'd want to use high-octane fuel. I'm not sure whether lesser fuels will equal instadeath, but I'm not keen to find out. Plus, top fuels minimise engine wear and thus maintenance costs and are apparently even better for the environment (not that I care). So I pick BP Ultimate, since Shell doesn't seem to sell Optimax around here I haven't had a chance to compare the two. At $1.22 a litre today it's not that expensive, there was a time when I paid more for an ethanol blend for my old Golf.

The trip computer (yeah, that's right, it's got a trip computer too) tells me I use on average somewhere between 7 and 8 litres on a 100km (though I recently managed 16, but that's a different story...), which has so far meant between $40 and $50 a week in fuel.

I'm not sure on servicing costs yet. I suppose I'll see when it's time. The same goes for engine oil, it'll have to be some high-rating stuff, but since it doesn't use any oil it won't break the bank.

More when I feel like it. Plus more pictures.