Taken the plunge - new Renaultsport Clio 200 EDC Lux

Taken the plunge - new Renaultsport Clio 200 EDC Lux

Author
Discussion

TNJ

Original Poster:

408 posts

161 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Went for a look at the new Clio today and walked out having put down a deposit for a new black RS200 full fat with cup pack. Hopefully ready for collection next weekend - the car is unregistered but in stock so had a good look over it plus test drove a demo car.

Despite the various reviews that have been a bit critical of the new car, I found it very responsive and quick. The flappy paddles will take a bit of getting used to, but it was surprisingly quick in normal auto mode. Maybe because I currently have the 250 Megane I am used to a turbo.

Time will tell if it was the right decision but since the kids won't even get into the Megane because they feel car sick after 30 seconds, I suspect it will work out well.

Will post up some picks in due course.

C2james

4,685 posts

164 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
I'm not sold on the new clio yet but will be nice to see a few on the road so I can make my mind up. hehe

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Can see them being a better road car than the old one but they're not as much of a focussed drive.

I much prefer the back end on the new ones, even if it is a bit SEAT'ish but the front end is just very bulbous and bloated accentuated by the badge being so large too. I thought the 200 wasn't much of a looker from the front but Renault seem to have a knack to making their older cars look practically beautiful.

Shame they didn't keep a manual box as an option otherwise I'd have possibly considered one, then gone and bought a Megane anyway biggrin

Edited by GrumpyTwig on Saturday 7th September 21:12

TNJ

Original Poster:

408 posts

161 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
I agree it does not feel as much of a focussed drive as the old Clio but I guess it is horses for courses - I am not a boy racer any more and when I test drove the previous RS200, it just felt like a heck of a lot of work and compromise for the few times that I would have the chance to really wring its neck. The new one is a much better car to drive for the 90% of my driving that is in and around London, so will probably better suit me. It is also deceptively quick - the engine picks up from far lower revs due to the turbo and I suspect it will be quicker in the real world than the old one.

The looks are a bit of an acquired taste but not too bad in metallic black with black wheels.


Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Very good choice. One of our customers picked up their Mercury Lux with Cup this week and it looked ace.

I've tried to get us a demo but we just don't have the numbers down here!!

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
TNJ said:
I agree it does not feel as much of a focussed drive as the old Clio but I guess it is horses for courses - I am not a boy racer any more and when I test drove the previous RS200, it just felt like a heck of a lot of work and compromise for the few times that I would have the chance to really wring its neck. The new one is a much better car to drive for the 90% of my driving that is in and around London, so will probably better suit me. It is also deceptively quick - the engine picks up from far lower revs due to the turbo and I suspect it will be quicker in the real world than the old one.

The looks are a bit of an acquired taste but not too bad in metallic black with black wheels.
Sounds similar to why I eventually (3 years or so) had enough of mine, cold winter mornings it felt like a 1.2 for the first 15 minutes and then just as it started to warm up I'd be at work. I don't expect to be thrashing a car that's cold but it grated so can appreciate why people would be put off.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it and the EDC box will make driving in traffic easier.

jimboy2

179 posts

129 months

Sunday 8th September 2013
quotequote all
what megane have you come from? im a big clio fan and love the look of the new one.

im currently in a 08 r26 so will love hearing how you find it coming from that. i dont need space in the car. i only use it for a bit of fun!

TNJ

Original Poster:

408 posts

161 months

Sunday 8th September 2013
quotequote all
jimboy2 said:
what megane have you come from? im a big clio fan and love the look of the new one.

im currently in a 08 r26 so will love hearing how you find it coming from that. i dont need space in the car. i only use it for a bit of fun!
I am in a full fat RS250 Megane at the moment. I went for one without the cup chassis since most of my driving is around town and have not regretted it at all - the car is still stupidly quick when you want to have a blast but slightly more civilised on our pot-holed roads - it is still not what I would call a "soft" ride and grips and handles well. The only real downside is that the rear seats are so dark and with very little side/rear window that my kids hate it and feel car-sick every time we go out in it. The Clio is much better in this respect so hopefully it means the car will get a lot more use - I have only done 3k in Megane in 14 months of owning it.

I'll post up my thoughts on the Clio after it arrives.

Technomatt

1,085 posts

132 months

Monday 9th September 2013
quotequote all
TNJ said:
I agree it does not feel as much of a focussed drive as the old Clio but I guess it is horses for courses - I am not a boy racer any more and when I test drove the previous RS200, it just felt like a heck of a lot of work and compromise for the few times that I would have the chance to really wring its neck. The new one is a much better car to drive for the 90% of my driving that is in and around London, so will probably better suit me. It is also deceptively quick - the engine picks up from far lower revs due to the turbo and I suspect it will be quicker in the real world than the old one.

The looks are a bit of an acquired taste but not too bad in metallic black with black wheels.
Nice vid here showing just how quick it is compared to the old Clio 200. It walks all over it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieNXoxYQBLk

Renault has shifted its stance on the RS brand with the Clio 200T. They have gone for a softer approach which is a shame really, as they could have catered for all tastes with a decent set of more harcore Cup style options and a manual gearbox option.

It looks like they have given up on the past and are probably regretting it now as Ford mops up huge sales on the more old school, cheaper and more fun Fiesta ST.

framerateuk

2,730 posts

183 months

Tuesday 10th September 2013
quotequote all
Looking forward to hearing how you find it.

I was very tempted with the new Clio, but decided to keep my 250 for a few more years instead.

TheGnome

24 posts

126 months

Tuesday 10th September 2013
quotequote all
I'm intrigued by these - when replacing my old golf I test drove a mkV golf GTI DSG. Loved the idea of auto mode for plodding around town, but being able to control the gear/engine speed at other times.

Went for the 182 as I simply found it more engaging (and around 1/3 price of the golf!), but when it comes to replacing it in a few months/years I'd consider these 200T's. The dual-clutch and 5 door both appeal to me.

jimboy2

179 posts

129 months

Tuesday 10th September 2013
quotequote all
TheGnome said:
I'm intrigued by these - when replacing my old golf I test drove a mkV golf GTI DSG. Loved the idea of auto mode for plodding around town, but being able to control the gear/engine speed at other times.

Went for the 182 as I simply found it more engaging (and around 1/3 price of the golf!), but when it comes to replacing it in a few months/years I'd consider these 200T's. The dual-clutch and 5 door both appeal to me.
im not the only one then. i quite like the idea of having paddle shift, never thought i would be able to own one with it! it was always in big expensive super cars! i can finally pretend im a F1 driver haha

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 11th September 2013
quotequote all
Technomatt said:
Nice vid here showing just how quick it is compared to the old Clio 200. It walks all over it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieNXoxYQBLk
Really? Straight line it would seem - throw in a few corners though and the outcome seems different . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPpg3aF2ZdQ

Technomatt

1,085 posts

132 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Andy20vt said:
Technomatt said:
Nice vid here showing just how quick it is compared to the old Clio 200. It walks all over it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieNXoxYQBLk
Really? Straight line it would seem - throw in a few corners though and the outcome seems different . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPpg3aF2ZdQ
That just shows where Renaultsport is now going with the new 200T.

A new era beckons with soft VW type clones without the kudos or appeal.

jimboy2

179 posts

129 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
sooooooo? did you pick it up this weekend?

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 23rd September 2013
quotequote all
TNJ said:
Went for a look at the new Clio today and walked out having put down a deposit for a new black RS200 full fat with cup pack. Hopefully ready for collection next weekend - the car is unregistered but in stock so had a good look over it plus test drove a demo car.

Despite the various reviews that have been a bit critical of the new car, I found it very responsive and quick. The flappy paddles will take a bit of getting used to, but it was surprisingly quick in normal auto mode. Maybe because I currently have the 250 Megane I am used to a turbo.

Time will tell if it was the right decision but since the kids won't even get into the Megane because they feel car sick after 30 seconds, I suspect it will work out well.

Will post up some picks in due course.
What offers were available on the clio if you don't mind me asking?

TNJ

Original Poster:

408 posts

161 months

Monday 23rd September 2013
quotequote all
Unfortunately not - collecting it on Saturday afternoon so another few days to wait. I had told them that I wouldn't take delivery until I had got rid of the Megane which didn't happen in time for delivery last weekend. In the end I have px'd it.

Deal is a bit of mixture. On paper, about £500 discount plus mats etc so not much. However, the PX I got was substantially more than other dealers had offered - they were very keen to get the deal done so that the car was registered and delivered before the 30 September which is key for bonuses.

There were much better deals on some pre-reg 13 plate Clios but none of them had the cup pack. They just don't look right without the 18" black alloys which are only available on cup pack cars so they weren't for me.

Given how new the model is, it will probably be another few months before the "normal" Renault discounts get applied.

I'll let you know how I get on this weekend!

TNJ

Original Poster:

408 posts

161 months

Saturday 28th September 2013
quotequote all
Well, picked up the Clio today. Handed over the RS250 Megane and can't say it bothered me - strange, since it was a car I had wanted for ages before I got it but never fell in love with it.

First impressions of the Clio is that it is two cars in one. Leave it in normal default auto mode and it is just a normal hatchback - quicker than most but the auto gearbox makes it a very sedate town car. Put it in Renaultsport mode and it holds the gear for a lot longer and feels like a proper hot hatch - or to put it another way, it becomes a Renaultsport car.

I need to run it in for 500 miles before really giving it a thrash so will not be using the full sport mode for a while.

Overall impressions are that it feels a lot more "premium" than the Megane - the interior is good and the Touch screen monitor etc is very easy to use. Whilst very cheesy, the kids love the RS Soundpipe - especially the motorbike sound. It is very annoying for the driver though - cannot hear the real engine sound and revs so difficult to know when to change gear. However, the Clio V6 sounds awesome and has had me looking on Autorader tonight!!

So far, so good. Will report back again over the next few weeks, but initial impression is that I will enjoy the car. But then I thought the same about the Megane ........


Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
quotequote all
Glad your first impressions have been good, we have had similar feedback from our customers.

Have you tried the launch control yet (I mean on a demo car or something) as that is just great fun!!

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
quotequote all
Out of interest how does the ride with the cup pack compare with that on the Megane?

I was amazed how much more compliant the Meg felt over the old 200, is the new 200 less crashy?