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 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-MUThe 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.
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