Fiat Coupe Club UK

RCZ-R

Posted By: Submariner

RCZ-R - 11/05/2019 07:41

Sitting on a train on route to pick up a Peugeot RCZ-R. Been tapping away on the Internet for most of last week onto the small hours, looking for a new performance car. Cayman S, Evora, GT86, 370Z etc. Dismissed VAG group offeringss as not my cuppa/too common; Cayman S Gen1 in my budget but not for IMS/bore scoring issues. Wanted a leftfield concept car similar to that of the Fiat Coupe.

Considered the 200bhp RCZ to me beautifully striking design but felt it wasn't special or fast enough...then started watching youtube vids and read about the R and got excited. Only 300 on the UK 270bhp some bespoke R model only engineering..missed one by a week..another came up..it ticked all the Marmite boxes.

Update later when I get home...haven't slept properly for 2 nights!
Posted By: jimboy

Re: RCZ-R - 11/05/2019 09:07

Am I correct in thinking that the road tax on these are £140?
Posted By: Submariner

Re: RCZ-R - 12/05/2019 19:06

Circa £150 I think, the car has made me realise the leaps and bounds the industry has made since my '97 Coupe rolled off the production line; enjoying it.
Posted By: magooagain

Re: RCZ-R - 12/05/2019 19:38

I saw one on PH the other day and thought it seemed very nice. Good performance I've heard from the R.
Posted By: Submariner

Re: RCZ-R - 12/05/2019 20:22

click to enlarge

Possibly the one!
Posted By: magooagain

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 05:25

Yes looks like it. Very nice.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 08:47

Always liked the looks of these.... not driven one though. aside from the power / straight line speed what's it like to drive?

Liking the colour and wheels on that one too. :-)
Posted By: JKD

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 10:06

Nice.

Probably the best looking car from Peugeot.

You going to modify it or leave it standard?
Posted By: Submariner

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 10:10

Cheers chaps.

Early days but I think it is a properly sorted performance car, not just a bodykit, some new style wheels, few bhp more, throaty exhaust and some badges. It has been properly thought out by Peugeot Sport with lowered and stiffer suspension, a Torsen front diff, wider track, different geo, wider rims/tyres. 380mm Alcon brakes up front (eye watering replacement costs. just looked it up!), lower curb weight and around 40% more power than the 156 THP 200bhp GT by using a reinforced engine block, new turbo and manifolds, stronger con rods and Mahle forged pistons etc...I'm sure there is more I've read. 270bhp from a 1.6, it just does not feel like a small capacity engine; it also has a gear stick, not a pseudo auto with paddles and no 'modes' or 'sport' buttons.

I like the way it drives it is very comfortable and feels very planted, I feel connected with the car but a bit closeted (unlike some other modern one's I have driven where I had no connection with i.e GTR etc) where the older cars 'feel' like you are doing a ton this feels effortless and a bit scary when you look down, no discernible body roll, power is addictive and it gets the power down off roundabouts and tight corners with ease. Some have said it is harsh on rough surfaces but hey Fiat Coupe, GTV etc now they are crashy on rough surfaces..this is like a limo in comparison. It does not feel to me like a fwd car, it is almost neutral and you question if it is front or rear where the drive is coming from...which is weird. Critisised for it's old style interior...again to my other cars it is luxurious and modern; I detest all the BT, media, pop up screens etc. Who buys a car for the bloody media connections? Apparently some do. I haven't even read the media manual, I am not interested. The seats are fantastic, look great and work (better than my VX). I have a long body with short legs so the driving position is good too.

What I have found in the short blat after the motorway drive home is you have to work the engine, there is 'no real lag' compared to the Coupe, which can catch you out, but the gear ratios mean that I am used to the fabled Coupe 3rd, the RCZ requires more 'shorter' shifting to keep it on song/going for it with a 6 speed box I am used to changing down to 3rd to power through corners but the RCV seems to prefer 4th...5th and 6th for my old school shifting was quasi OD while in this the power is still there in 5th/6th.

To me it is everything I love about cars, just like the Coupe, the bespoke design especially the take on the Zagato double bubble roof, built in small volumes by Magna in Austria, leftfield, great engineering, a make of car that to many now is not associated with performance or Kudos (those who are not into Rally, Pikes Peak, Le Mans or were young in the 80's and 90's with 205GTIs, 405 Mi16's , 106 Rallye's) etc. Like the Fiat Coupe it is not bought to ram what a car 'says' about your perceived status into other people's faces...or the 0-60 time,...rather the pleasure of what it can do and how it drives, the fact it now has the performance for it's looks and the narrative of how it was conceived and developed. It appears early in ownership that it really is a do-it all car well for those with no kids etc...rear seats are on a par with the GTV.

I usually change a few things,on my cars remap, air filters etc. but I will be leaving this bog standard, especially as it has 18 months of Peugeot Warranty on it.
Posted By: magooagain

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 14:07

I have followed an RCZ on a track day it was a specific track car with good power,better in the bends and turns than my coupe but I had no problem keeping with him on a straight.
He didn't stay all day,I thought at the time they were just testing.

It's got me thinking about one and might trade in my Clio rs 200 for an RCZ-R if I can find a good un.
Posted By: Submariner

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 17:14

Was it the R?
Posted By: magooagain

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 17:43

No idea. I will pay more attention next time.
Posted By: Submariner

Re: RCZ-R - 13/05/2019 19:35

There is or probably now was a one make race series for the RCZ before the R model was launched I think, maybe an exhaust on mine in the future after hearing this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZJGOSobsWc
Posted By: Mark_S

Re: RCZ-R - 15/05/2019 07:30

Interesting, I was not aware of this higher power model. Good right up and your motoring priorities are right up my street.
Posted By: Lee_k

Re: RCZ-R - 18/05/2019 20:54

Never even knew these existed! - Nice motor
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