which is faster...

[jonmsm]

We have a dilemma at home,
the wife has a new car, a clio 172. The old man (me) has a volvo 850 T5. big 5 cylinder with a turbo, easily faster... right?

Looking at the stats its not so obvious that it is against a 172 bhp 2.0ltr tin box from France!

What do people think? Am I about to lose all my man points because the wife has a faster car or do I keep my rightful place in the fast lane?

[welshpug]

the 172 is in PS, they're actually only 167 bhp, not a great deal of torque but not as bad as a honda, they weigh not a lot however (1035)

160/ton.

the Volvo will be around 225 bhp/221 lbft, so a significant advantage once rolling without wheelspin as it has that torque between 2000 and 5200 rpm, torque in 1st is limited to 191 lbft, weight is 1436 saloon (156/ton) 1487 estate (151/ton)


I think it will be close, if your wife can do corners she wins...


if its a straight line to V-max, volvo can do 149, clio 138.

[bazzateer]

Remove one of her plug leads then challenge her to a burn up.

[Ryannn]

The Clio may be faster... but the Volvo will go every day!

[mk14dr]

Pretty much as said, I suspect the Clio might feel quicker/more engaging due to being less refined and lighter. The Volvo will be actually quicker in the real world, plus it will be just as quick with a wardrobe, washing machine or whatever in the back.

[jonmsm]

Jan 27, 2015 20:26:16 GMT welshpug said:

torque in 1st is limited

Tell that to my front tyres...!

Pretty good summary welshpug - agreed on all points I think.

I just find it hard to quantify as they both deliver power so differently. both feel torquey (mainly in the clio because there is so little weight it just seems to pull in any gear at any revs!), but the clio also feels revvy, the volvo just seems to ride a smaller but omnipresent wave of power. The volvo puts more of a smile on my face though as its so unexpected and I think it feels faster to me because of the sheer size of the thing coupled to an alarming ability to gather pace, ever past a ton (on a private road...)

I love that all 7 votes on the poll are for your nan... some fast nans on here!

[jonmsm]

Jan 27, 2015 20:53:10 GMT mk14dr said:

Pretty much as said, I suspect the Clio might feel quicker/more engaging due to being less refined and lighter. The Volvo will be actually quicker in the real world, plus it will be just as quick with a wardrobe, washing machine or whatever in the back.

Good point - i have been known to upset of few people with a car full. no one expects a tweed clad flat cap mobile with a sofa in the back (i mean literally, when i bought my chesterfield and when we moved house, it fits perfectly in the back!) to leave rubber (only a 1 though, no 11s) for 100yards down the road =D

[mk14dr]

Jan 27, 2015 21:10:28 GMT jonmsm said:

Jan 27, 2015 20:53:10 GMT mk14dr said:

Pretty much as said, I suspect the Clio might feel quicker/more engaging due to being less refined and lighter. The Volvo will be actually quicker in the real world, plus it will be just as quick with a wardrobe, washing machine or whatever in the back.

Good point - i have been known to upset of few people with a car full. no one expects a tweed clad flat cap mobile with a sofa in the back (i mean literally, when i bought my chesterfield and when we moved house, it fits perfectly in the back!) to leave rubber (only a 1 though, no 11s) for 100yards down the road =D

Exactly. These old buses can move when they want to. I've moved and helped many friends moved with my 940, loaded to the roof it'll still pull like a train, snake about on a damp road and leave rubber both as smoke and lines on dry tarmacadam.

[mk14dr]

Also, I think I manage to surprise folks due to being a legit tweed clad, flatcap wearing, beardy history teacher look alike.

I certainly match the car.

[turbotechnics]

The volvo will have the longer legs on the motorway. I had an s60 t5 a few years back and it easily stayed with a bmw e46 330i

[stealthstylz]

On paper they're similar but in the real world the Clio should dick all over the Volvo.

[ettorebugatti]

Your nan needs a ECU tune.

www.zeperfs.com/en/duel1019-3859.htm

[THE_Liam]

Does it actually matter?

[mfrv1]

Which is best? There's only one way to find out...

[ratchart]

Jan 27, 2015 22:29:17 GMT THE_Liam said:

Does it actually matter?

No. That's what makes it fun. 

With regards to the weight, I believe the Clio would benefit from a bit of weight in the back too. Obviously if it's just a straight drag race then power to weight ratio takes it (basically) but if your hypothetical race was over a distance with curves etc then proper handling and weight distribution come into play. I mean small FWD hatchbacks seem to bounce around at the back (in my experience) without a bit of stuff in the boot to balance things out a bit. 

My conclusion- No Idea who'll win, you'd best get to a track and find out for real.

[joem83]

[luckythirteen]

Pa had an 850 T5 for a while, a few years ago. It is an absolute midrange monster, agreed.

Thinking about it, the Clio should do its' best if you keep the revs up and stir the gears, the T5 will do its' best being driven off that torque. So it's maybe not even which type of roads suit which car best (my folks live in a rural area with narrow, windy roads, and the T5 was frequently full-tilt everywhere), as what the driver's driving style is.
I'm actually going to favour the T5, 'cos a good, confident driver should just be able to charge out of corners with the front tyres slightly on fire. The T5 will still be going while the Clio driver is finding gears. Mind you, put an incompetent halfwit in either of them, and the hedge will be making a new friend.

[t0mmy]

I had the Clio 172 Cup and phase one Clio Williams...

Fantastic cars that surprise you with handling, speed and ability.. however you will be fixing them more often than you brush your teeth, takes the fun out of it a little.

[fer4l]

Surely the obvious way to settle this is to transplant the Volvo engine into the Clio?

[johnd]

I'm sorry - but am i actually ready people say an old volvo barge will be better than a clio sport on the twisties?