2017 Renault Clio RS

Renault Clio RS18 (2018) Quick Review

Pricing and Warranty

The Renault Clio RS18 retails for R449 900, which includes a 5-year/150 000 km warranty. Whereas other Clio derivatives come standard with a 3-year/45 000 km service plan, the RS18's is valid for 3 years or 30 000 km, whichever comes first. Note, however, that whereas other Clios' service intervals are set at 15 000 km, the RS' is at 10 000 km.

Verdict

The Renault Clio RS18 is a hands-on driving machine par excellence. If you like to live on the hardcore side of life and treat every drive as if you're trying to set a qualifying lap time for a circuit race, then this is undoubtedly the car for you. For those of you who are image conscious and value things such as comfort and practicality over performance, however, this simply isn't the car for you. Fortunately, the good just about offsets the bad and the overall poor experience was beautifully interrupted by moments of sheer brilliance on some technical roads and mountain passes. In Race mode, the Clio RS18 became the vehicle we hoped it would be... and a bit more. We even ditched the Comfort mode for Race mode during our commutes to the Cars.co.za offices in the morning, purely because the transmission's shifts were far more responsive and we had the added bonus of the Akrapovic pipes "singing at sunrise".

However, for the average consumer who has many factors to consider before making a purchasing decision, a one-trick pony (as epic as it is) can't get a "double thumbs up". The Clio RS18 is for dyed-in-the-wool enthusiasts, which, based on past experiences with Renault Sport owners, are undoubtedly some of the most passionate petrolheads you'll ever meet.

Despite this hardcore incarnation, it's not quite as enthralling as its predecessors, such as the Clio R27. We can appreciate how much effort has gone into making the RS18 recapture some of that Clio RS magic of yesteryear, but playing it safe and trying to appeal to a broader audience has meant some of those outright thrills have been lost. This derivative marks the beginning of the end for the current Clio as an all-new model is expected to be unveiled before the end of the year, with a local market introduction likely in the first quarter of 2019.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/renault-clio-rs18-2018-quick-review/45276/

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I was really considering this, BUT after all the crap my son in law had with his Clio, I dont know. Last event was a battery, R3K to replace.
 
Drifter said:
I was really considering this, BUT after all the crap my son in law had with his Clio, I dont know. Last event was a battery, R3K to replace.
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Take out extended warranty. Battery is covered under warranty...
 
Interesting, a numbered, 'limited edition' 'collector's item' car given out as a long term tester? Bizzare.
 
there's apparently only 50 or so here, all sold, so not sure how it can be a long term test. I can give you a summary of a 12 month long term lol. tires, brakes and petrol, k cheers bye
 
I think there's "none left" and this is the one the press hammered everywhere. i say "none left" because dealers use it as a demo, then sell it for new price i reckon, as a marketing tool.
 
No. Read carefully. This was given as a long term tester to a magazine.
 
What’s the difference between trophy and cup edition?
 
rog163 said:
What’s the difference between trophy and cup edition?
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Cup is the RS 200 with a different suspension setup and 18" wheels I believe

Trophy is the RS 200 with bigger turbo, intake for 220hp (RS220). Cup Chassis with 18s. RS Monitor 2 standard. Faster shifting gearbox. Akropovic exhaust for pops and bangs.
 
nazmo said:
Cup is the RS 200 with a different suspension setup and 18" wheels I believe

Trophy is the RS 200 with bigger turbo, intake for 220hp (RS220). Cup Chassis with 18s. RS Monitor 2 standard. Faster shifting gearbox. Akropovic exhaust for pops and bangs.
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Cool thanks, so trophy is the one to get
 
rog163 said:
Cool thanks, so trophy is the one to get
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my only issue, and its not really an issue for me, is the suspension is firm. so testdrive. but in typical renault fashion, get a demo/low mileage and save TONS hahahahaaaa.
 
We take our Renault Clio RS to a beginner’s track day…

Track day experiences are a great way to both have a little fun and find the performance limits of your car in a safe and controlled environment. Still, for some, such an experience may be intimidating … and that’s why track day classes for beginners exist.

Seeing that we have a Renault Clio RS 18 in our long-term fleet, we thought it’d be interesting to check out such a service.

Why hit the track?

There are plenty of reasons you might not want to take your (daily drive) performance car on a track. For instance, you risk damaging your vehicle, wearing out certain parts and, of course, landing up with a large fuel bill (plus the track day’s entry fee).

Still, if you’re fortunate enough to be in possession of a performance car (anything from a hot hatch to a supercar), I’d recommend that you stretch its legs at least once on a track since this provides for the perfect (and safest) setting for you to get to know your car. And that, ultimately, can benefit you out on the road.

On the day…

Our track day experience was hosted by Junaid Hamid’s Speedstar Advanced Driver Coaching. His services start with a theoretical session running through the essentials of a track day, such as a run-down of the rules and what you can expect.

He also goes through each corner of Killarney Raceway and points out the optimal racing line. A light vehicle inspection then takes place, where he ensures the car you plan on taking to the track meets the requirements of the scrutiniser. Lastly, your driving position will be optimised to make sure that you’re seated to be both comfortable and capable.

On the track day, Junaid accompanied us and took us through the steps of signing the indemnity forms and paying our entrance fee (R615 on the day). Thereafter, we were given a participation sticker to place on the windscreen of our Clio RS and then sent off for scrutinising, where an official inspected the car to see if it was fit for the track. Once that was complete, we parked in the pits and attended the driver’s briefing, which covered the ground rules for the day.

The attendees are split into three groups, with group one set aside for beginners and group three for experienced drivers. Seeing that it was my first time attending such a course, we were provided with another briefing, running through the basics of each corner (similar to my theory class with Junaid, but in a little less detail).

On the track…

With all of the admin out of the way, our time to hit the track had finally arrived. Our first session gave us an opportunity to warm up behind the wheel and put in a sighting lap. It also gave my instructor Junaid the opportunity to scrutinise any bad driving habits I displayed. The first session was admittedly intimidating as I attempted to split my attention between the instructor’s instructions and hitting the right lines. In short, it was a harder task than I expected it to be.

Once I pulled back into the pits, Junaid inspected the car’s tyre wear and heat levels. He then critiqued my technique, telling me where I could improve. Thanks to a data logger, he was able to see exactly where my throttle and brake inputs were less than optimal, which gave me a better idea about where I could improve.

This continued for another three sessions and by the time the day was over I had cut my lap time to a fairly decent 1 minute 36,300 seconds (I started at around 1 minute 38 seconds). For context, that’s just about six seconds slower than the lap time Deon Joubert posted in the similar Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy. I clearly still have a long way to go.

Worth it?

Still, achieving this time would not have been possible without the help of an instructor as I likely wouldn’t have been able to identify the very best racing lines on my own. I also wouldn’t have known the correct pressure to apply to the brake and throttle pedals, which contributed plenty to my improved time.

Ultimately, the track day proved to be a great learning experience that allowed me to become more familiar with the hot Clio’s characteristics. It did, however, come at the cost of more than half a tank of fuel, while the brake pads also suffered, which is something to keep in mind. Surprisingly, though, the tyres were hardly affected. All in all, it’s highly recommended.

If you wish to learn more about Speedstar Advanced Driver Coaching’s services, you can head over to their website for more details…

http://www.carmag.co.za/speed/we-took-our-renault-clio-rs-to-a-beginners-track-day/

Track Day.jpeg
 
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