Taken the plunge - new Renaultsport Clio 200 EDC Lux
Discussion
Did you go for the clio because your a Renault fan i take it? Back in march i looked into all three of the newest hot hatches, the clio, fiesta st and 208 gti but ended up going for the fiesta because it was a hell of a lot cheaper and did exactly the same as the clio, plus top gear and all the other car mags helped out with the decision.
Would you have preferred a manual box option? Read a lot of people complaining about this and the daft fake engine noise thingy, dont get me wrong i love the look of the clio but 5 doors and no manual box seems a bit of a mistake by renault to me.
Looking forward to your reports on the car as it could be an option when its time to change the fiesta.
Get some pics up too.
Would you have preferred a manual box option? Read a lot of people complaining about this and the daft fake engine noise thingy, dont get me wrong i love the look of the clio but 5 doors and no manual box seems a bit of a mistake by renault to me.
Looking forward to your reports on the car as it could be an option when its time to change the fiesta.
Get some pics up too.
StangGT said:
When I enquired with my local renaultsport dealer, I was told no demo cars until end of October... Are they out there?
There are some or at least Wolverhampton had one or two available for demo purposes at one time or another. The issue would probably be finding one with and without the cup pack to make any comparison and that they're quite happy to sell demo cars to anyone with the money to buy one (can't really blame them can we?)You might want to state an interest over here http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/community/forum/ and a dealer may pipe up if they have one to demo.
StangGT said:
When I enquired with my local renaultsport dealer, I was told no demo cars until end of October... Are they out there?
You will have to hunt down a demo. Unfortunately, unlike Ford with the Fiesta ST, Renault are not good at selling them. Limited deals, limited stock, delayed orders and what appears to be a waning enthusiasm for the Renaultsport brand.
In answer to a few of the questions in the above posts.
The ride is much better than the Megane which surprised me as the Clio has th cup chassis but the Megane did not. It is much less crashy than the Megane but feels very sorted which can only be the result of the cup chassis.
With regard to the choice of the Clio over the 208 or Fiesta, it was partly because I like the Renaultsport brand - they have always been consistently good cars. Also, I like that the Clio is fairly understated - it is obviously a hot hatch but not too boy racer. I couldn't see myself in the Fiesta - maybe when I was 20 but not now.
Jury is out on the gearbox - so far, it has been fine but it is early days. My X5 is an auto so I am very used to how an auto drives and knew what to expect. If a manual had been available, I would have chosen that without question, but it was not so I am not going to worry about it and let it spoil my enjoyment of the car. Plus, until I have run the engine in, I won't be putting it into race mode and using just the paddles so it will be a few weeks before I can really conclude as to whether it is a major drawback or actually not a problem. What I can tell is that it is a lot better than the BMW auto that was in my former 335i. That was very slow and cumbersome.
No pics taken yet but they will be shortly!
The ride is much better than the Megane which surprised me as the Clio has th cup chassis but the Megane did not. It is much less crashy than the Megane but feels very sorted which can only be the result of the cup chassis.
With regard to the choice of the Clio over the 208 or Fiesta, it was partly because I like the Renaultsport brand - they have always been consistently good cars. Also, I like that the Clio is fairly understated - it is obviously a hot hatch but not too boy racer. I couldn't see myself in the Fiesta - maybe when I was 20 but not now.
Jury is out on the gearbox - so far, it has been fine but it is early days. My X5 is an auto so I am very used to how an auto drives and knew what to expect. If a manual had been available, I would have chosen that without question, but it was not so I am not going to worry about it and let it spoil my enjoyment of the car. Plus, until I have run the engine in, I won't be putting it into race mode and using just the paddles so it will be a few weeks before I can really conclude as to whether it is a major drawback or actually not a problem. What I can tell is that it is a lot better than the BMW auto that was in my former 335i. That was very slow and cumbersome.
No pics taken yet but they will be shortly!
TNJ said:
With regard to the choice of the Clio over the 208 or Fiesta, it was partly because I like the Renaultsport brand - they have always been consistently good cars. Also, I like that the Clio is fairly understated - it is obviously a hot hatch but not too boy racer. I couldn't see myself in the Fiesta - maybe when I was 20 but not now.
Same here. I like the look of the Fiesta, but I wouldn't want to own one. I had one when I was 22. It was fine then, but I wouldn't want to buy the new one. There's something to be said for having a car that you don't see very often. I rarely see Megane 250/265s and I quite like that! I've already seen LOTS of Fiesta STs.I also quite like the styling of the new Clio. Though, admittedly, had a manual gearbox been an option (and the car been slightly cheaper as a result), I may have been driving one now instead of keeping the Megane.
Overall, very happy with it. I have not driven it as much as I would have liked - my wife uses it more than me and I get left with the X5 bus!
It is now nicely run in and the mpg is creeping over 30, with lots of town driving.
The gearbox is probably the factor that will interest most potential buyers. Left in normal mode, around town it is fine but often sits at low revs outside the power band - it changes up very early presumably for fuel economy reasons. Normally not a problem but every now and then you want to accelerate quickly and have to wait for it to drop a gear which is a pain.
In Sport mode, it is much better, holding onto to the gears for much longer and it then feels like a proper hot hatch. The downside in town driving is that it can get annoying buzzing along at 5k revs so you do tend to use the paddles to change up and down quite regularly. On a decent B road though, it is a lot of fun and feels genuinely quick and handles well.
Mine has the cup chassis, which I was expecting to result in a harsh ride but it is surprisingly comfortable over pot holes/speed bumps.
In summary, I like it a lot more than the RS250 Megane that it has replaced.
In fact, I am enjoying it so much that I am seriously thinking of getting another hot hatch instead of the X5 - hopefully test driving a 208 GTI this weekend...I have been going round in circles trying to decide what to change the X5 for and happened to see a local Peugeot dealer has an ex-demo GTI in red, had a chat and a deal seems likely subject to the test drive. Will be interesting to see how the manual GTI compares to the Clio.
It is now nicely run in and the mpg is creeping over 30, with lots of town driving.
The gearbox is probably the factor that will interest most potential buyers. Left in normal mode, around town it is fine but often sits at low revs outside the power band - it changes up very early presumably for fuel economy reasons. Normally not a problem but every now and then you want to accelerate quickly and have to wait for it to drop a gear which is a pain.
In Sport mode, it is much better, holding onto to the gears for much longer and it then feels like a proper hot hatch. The downside in town driving is that it can get annoying buzzing along at 5k revs so you do tend to use the paddles to change up and down quite regularly. On a decent B road though, it is a lot of fun and feels genuinely quick and handles well.
Mine has the cup chassis, which I was expecting to result in a harsh ride but it is surprisingly comfortable over pot holes/speed bumps.
In summary, I like it a lot more than the RS250 Megane that it has replaced.
In fact, I am enjoying it so much that I am seriously thinking of getting another hot hatch instead of the X5 - hopefully test driving a 208 GTI this weekend...I have been going round in circles trying to decide what to change the X5 for and happened to see a local Peugeot dealer has an ex-demo GTI in red, had a chat and a deal seems likely subject to the test drive. Will be interesting to see how the manual GTI compares to the Clio.
Thanks for the update TNJ!
I'm unfortunately facing the prospect of my 250 being written off after I was t-boned on a roundabout a fortnight ago, so I'm currently considering my options. At the moment the only cars that appeal are the 265 and the Clio EDC. I'm leaning towards the Clio due to the 5 doors and lower price. After having a courtesy car with 5 doors, I'm finally seeing the point in them!
AdamC1983, I'm afraid the ST just isn't an option for me. If I was still 20 perhaps (I had the previous gen ST), but the styling is a little too much for me. I also find the inside cramped, while the Clio has a lovely interior. A big step up from the ST.
I'm unfortunately facing the prospect of my 250 being written off after I was t-boned on a roundabout a fortnight ago, so I'm currently considering my options. At the moment the only cars that appeal are the 265 and the Clio EDC. I'm leaning towards the Clio due to the 5 doors and lower price. After having a courtesy car with 5 doors, I'm finally seeing the point in them!
AdamC1983, I'm afraid the ST just isn't an option for me. If I was still 20 perhaps (I had the previous gen ST), but the styling is a little too much for me. I also find the inside cramped, while the Clio has a lovely interior. A big step up from the ST.
AdamC1983 said:
Get a Fiesta ST you know u want to 
Actually, I really don't!I know all the reviews say the Fiesta is the best, but in the real world there is so little difference between the Fiesta/Clio/208 that it just comes down to what you like. Personally, I like French hot hatches - I have never wanted a Ford even back in the good old days of XR2/XR3i etc.
Horses for courses I guess.
framerateuk said:
Thanks for the update TNJ!
I'm unfortunately facing the prospect of my 250 being written off after I was t-boned on a roundabout a fortnight ago, so I'm currently considering my options. At the moment the only cars that appeal are the 265 and the Clio EDC. I'm leaning towards the Clio due to the 5 doors and lower price. After having a courtesy car with 5 doors, I'm finally seeing the point in them!
AdamC1983, I'm afraid the ST just isn't an option for me. If I was still 20 perhaps (I had the previous gen ST), but the styling is a little too much for me. I also find the inside cramped, while the Clio has a lovely interior. A big step up from the ST.
Sorry to hear about the Megane - hope nothing damaged other than the car.I'm unfortunately facing the prospect of my 250 being written off after I was t-boned on a roundabout a fortnight ago, so I'm currently considering my options. At the moment the only cars that appeal are the 265 and the Clio EDC. I'm leaning towards the Clio due to the 5 doors and lower price. After having a courtesy car with 5 doors, I'm finally seeing the point in them!
AdamC1983, I'm afraid the ST just isn't an option for me. If I was still 20 perhaps (I had the previous gen ST), but the styling is a little too much for me. I also find the inside cramped, while the Clio has a lovely interior. A big step up from the ST.
Good luck with the replacement - whichever you choose, you won't be disappointed! And neither are a common sight on the road - I think I have only seen one other Clio and not many Meganes given that they have been around for a few years now.
No, just my confidence and any trust I had in other drivers at junctions and roundabouts!
Hoping to find out what's happening with the car in the next few days (it's been nearly a fortnight already!).
Structurally the car is fine from what I could tell, but with 2 side airbags, and a seat airbag going off. Plus it needs a new door and rear quarter, it might prove too expensive to fix. Waiting on the engineer's report at the moment!
Hoping to find out what's happening with the car in the next few days (it's been nearly a fortnight already!).
Structurally the car is fine from what I could tell, but with 2 side airbags, and a seat airbag going off. Plus it needs a new door and rear quarter, it might prove too expensive to fix. Waiting on the engineer's report at the moment!
StangGT said:
On paper, the Clio really ticks boxes for me... It'd be for my wife, and she has an auto only license; I'm struggling to think of much else that has:
- auto box
- 5 doors
- 5 seats
and is as fast and cheap as the Renault. Maybe the vag gti's?
Depends how you're purchasing it, last I checked sometime this year properly into comparing equivalent VAG to Renault PCP deals, the VAG deal was cheaper even on a more expensive car simply because the depreciation on Renaults is so huge.- auto box
- 5 doors
- 5 seats
and is as fast and cheap as the Renault. Maybe the vag gti's?
But then if you find a decent Renault dealer you can traditionally get more of a discount than probably any VAG dealer. Hell they seem to think they can sell cars without even a whiff of a test drive local to me.
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