Clio 197
- Thread starter Matblack
- Start date
Mattblack, I guess the only way you will find out is to test drive one. I think it looks good, but expect it to change just like the phase 1 changed to the phase 2. I doubt it will cost over £15k, seeing as the trophy with the expensive dampers cost £15.5k. I am also hoping that it will remain top of its class in terms of dynamics. 
I'd have the S3 personally.
The Clio will be ok, Audi will be nicer
I also still don't know how a 6 speed box will do in a car like this, I still fail to see the point in having 6 gears. Surely in a car like this it just makes 5th redundant unless you're tracking it?
4th is usually good for well into three figures (er so I'm told...), 3rd for 90, 2nd for 60 etc, is it really going to improve the drivability giving it an extra cog and adding the extra gear change into things?
Or if 6th is to stop the pretty high revving you do get in 5th (80 is about 4k) then as I said people just won't use 5th and go right to 6th
But only having driven a 6 speed for about 20 mins I can't really comment on what they are actually like to drive.
And saying all that, the S3 has the 6 speed box and whilst has a "slow" 0-60 on paper, going thro the gears it's storming.
The Clio will be ok, Audi will be nicer
I also still don't know how a 6 speed box will do in a car like this, I still fail to see the point in having 6 gears. Surely in a car like this it just makes 5th redundant unless you're tracking it?
4th is usually good for well into three figures (er so I'm told...), 3rd for 90, 2nd for 60 etc, is it really going to improve the drivability giving it an extra cog and adding the extra gear change into things?
Or if 6th is to stop the pretty high revving you do get in 5th (80 is about 4k) then as I said people just won't use 5th and go right to 6th
But only having driven a 6 speed for about 20 mins I can't really comment on what they are actually like to drive.
And saying all that, the S3 has the 6 speed box and whilst has a "slow" 0-60 on paper, going thro the gears it's storming.
From what I can tell, the new Clio will need a 6 speed box since it's got a 8,000rpm red line. To me that suggests it'll be a screamer a'la CTR missing the low end grunt - I imagine that's where they've made up the extra horses.
Despite the extra weight the longer wheelbase will help it be a little more stable so I imagine it'll give the driver confidence when pushing hard...
But of course, till we all actually go drive one - who knows...
Despite the extra weight the longer wheelbase will help it be a little more stable so I imagine it'll give the driver confidence when pushing hard...
But of course, till we all actually go drive one - who knows...
Ev0 said:Or if 6th is to stop the pretty high revving you do get in 5th (80 is about 4k) then as I said people just won't use 5th and go right to 6th
I think you've read the situation pretty well.
In the DC2 I only have 5 gears which means at 80 on the m'way I'm doing 4.5k rpm, which is not ideal for fuel economy. Ideally it'd be around 3.5k for best economy, but if they put 5th gear at that point there'd be a hell of a gap between 4th and 5th and 5th is pretty long already, you'll be well away from the power when you upshift. In the real world on the road this won't be a problem as you're rarely (never
) shifting on the beans from 4th->5th as that'd be 120mph, but on the 'ring it'd be a disaster . Adding a 6th gear removes the problem, but in real world driving it means 5th will rarely be used. On a track 6th will rarely be used (Vmax may be in 5th if 6th is a 'cruise' gear).
Soldato
- Joined
- 7 Sep 2005
- Posts
- 3,312
6th being a "cruise gear" is a very good Idea and it should be exactly that 5 close ratios then a long one at the end to get the revs down at motorway speeds. some maufacturers get it wrong, but done right its a great idea.
In my Audi the 6th gear isnt any longer then 5th in my Volvo it just means that when your giving it some it goes through the gears much quicker. I must admit when I test drove the six speed for the first time I had the impression that 6th would be like an over drive gear that you dropped it into when you wanted economy and were already at speed but it doesnt work like that on my car.
Yeah I think with 6 it just ends up like that naturally. With five you have to choose whether 5th is an overdrive 'cruise' gear (your Volvo) or 'race' gear (my Teg) or some compromise inbetween. Six lets you have both
Can't think of many downsides apart from there being another synchro to break
Out of interest, how often do you use fifth?
Can't think of many downsides apart from there being another synchro to break
Out of interest, how often do you use fifth?
All the time, the gears are very evenly spaced. If im driving in town doing 35-40 then it goes into 5th and just cruises along(its a lot lower 5th than most 5 speed boxes). AT 100mph my T4 in 5th will be doing 3800rpm and the Audi will be doing slightly higher rpm in 6th at the same speed(just a tad under 4k).