Great brakes on Clio compared to Cupra!

[joesmad4it]

On monday I had a prang on the way to work, hit up the bum on the roundabout so the car's in for repair and I have a gutless Clio courtesy car for a while till its fixed

The difference in power compared to the Cupra is hilarious, but at least the rides much smoother to work for a while. Anyway to the point I have noticed the brakes are seriously sharp compared to the Cupra. They only have disks on the front and drums on the back but too much pressure on the pedal will throw you through the windscreen if you're not careful! Is this cos the cars so much lighter as I'm sure my car doesn't do this.

 

[Gaz44]

On monday I had a prang on the way to work, hit up the bum on the roundabout so the car's in for repair and I have a gutless Clio courtesy car for a while till its fixed

The difference in power compared to the Cupra is hilarious, but at least the rides much smoother to work for a while. Anyway to the point I have noticed the brakes are seriously sharp compared to the Cupra. They only have disks on the front and drums on the back but too much pressure on the pedal will throw you through the windscreen if you're not careful! Is this cos the cars so much lighter as I'm sure my car doesn't do this.

Sportier cars tend to have less servo assistance in braking, so you get more feel rather than full on stopping near the top of the pedal travel. It means the brakes feel sharper on regular models but in a track situation, you'd want the Cupra brakes as you can feel what is happening and it's more gradual braking, to stop ABS and lock-ups interfering.

 

[Trappy]

Sportier cars tend to have less servo assistance in braking, so you get more feel rather than full on stopping near the top of the pedal travel. It means the brakes feel sharper on regular models but in a track situation, you'd want the Cupra brakes as you can feel what is happening and it's more gradual braking, to stop ABS and lock-ups interfering.

^What he said

You should have a go in her Mazda 3 diesel sometime Joe. After driving the coop, I (and everyone else in the car) invariably end up stuffed up against the windscreen. It's made worse by the fact that you fly forwards as you press the pedal even harder...

When will you be getting yours back?

 

[muddyboots]

The Renaults I've driven in the past (Mk1 Clio x 2, and an old Renault 11 !!) all had sharp brakes with instant bite, but relatively small disks & single piston calipers.
They feel better, but larger diameter & thickness disks, with multi-piston calipers, will ultimately give you better performance, feel and fade resistance under prolonged/heavy/high-speed braking.

 

[muddyboots]

You should have a go in her Mazda 3 diesel sometime Joe. After driving the coop, I (and everyone else in the car) invariably end up stuffed up against the windscreen. It's made worse by the fact that you fly forwards as you press the pedal even harder...

I have the same problem when I drive the wife's Zafira - the brakes on that grab really harshly, not what you'd call "porgressive", and always take me some time to adjust to...

 

[joesmad4it]

Cheers guys that makes perfect sense, it's impossible to judge breaking in it the other drivers must have had a right chuckle at me today buckarooin home.

Repair centre reckons they will respair panel and spray it then replace alloy and tyre before checking alignment and suspension as the rear passenger side wheel took most of the brunt. Reckon 7-10 days, which is far too long with this French death trap

 

[ss55eat]

I have the same problem when I drive the wife's Zafira - the brakes on that grab really harshly, not what you'd call "porgressive", and always take me some time to adjust to...

My sister in law has a Zafira. I thought she couldn't drive it properly until I had a go; the brakes are horrible. Seems it's a Zafira feature then, rather than just being her particular car.

 

[Cal91]

My sister has a Citreon C2 VTR and I hate it! You just touch the brakes and that's it! There is no progression they are either on, or off.
Its something all French car manufactures think is 'sporty'.

 

[mgrays]

The "over servo'ed" feel/engineering of brakes is requested by customers in feedback sessions... who are all bombing around town and want "powerful" brakes. Pity they do not realise that all they have done is rob the feel when you really want it. I'm afraid it is due to the "customers" who buy small town cars... they like the light brake pedal effect. :-( Volvos are classic for it.. My other half is one of those customers.. she declares a car that has similar better to the Cupra has no brakes as you actually have to use the pedal. Not sure what will happen when I get my '70s coupe out which also has disks all around and 4 pot front calipers.. sure that will be also tarred with an even bigger brush.

 

[TubbyTwo]

Just rest safe in knowledge that whilst the Clio has shapper brakes, it's more likely to give up and breakdown. French seem to struggle with long term reliability!

 

[davidmills2002]

Just rest safe in knowledge that whilst the Clio has shapper brakes, it's more likely to give up and breakdown. French seem to struggle with long term reliability!

My sister can vouch for that... got an 02 clio and has had nothing but electrical problems with it. My favourite being the outisde temp reading which is optimistic to say the least. 30 degrees with snow on the ground, hmm not sure about that!!