Which Renaultsport Clio?

Which Renaultsport Clio?

Author
Discussion

Leggy

Original Poster:

1,018 posts

221 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
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Looking to change our Mini JCW for something softer but still quick.
I borrowed a 55 plate courtesy Renaultsport Clio 182 today and was amazed how compliant it was, but still handled nicely.
So the search has begun but not many about.
So how do the newer models compare with a budget of about £9k?
Don't fancy anything too stiff, like a Cup chassis. But a couple of 197's look nice on Autotrader.

Feirny

2,500 posts

146 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
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Look for a 200 with cup packs, if you enjoy a good drive then a Cup or Cup packs are a must have.
Be wary of the gearbox on them though, the 197 box is woeful and the 200 box is a little better.

Leggy

Original Poster:

1,018 posts

221 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
Concerned about being too stiff though. Fed up with hard ride of JCW, so happy to sacrifice some dynamics for a bit of comfort.

Feirny

2,500 posts

146 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
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Which Mini is it?

Leggy

Original Poster:

1,018 posts

221 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
R53 Cooper S John Cooper Works.

roystinho

3,767 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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Just get a Clio Trophy. The best one imo even if it is a little older

Feirny

2,500 posts

146 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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roystinho said:
Just get a Clio Trophy. The best one imo even if it is a little older
I agree. No worse than an R53 JCW, maybe a little softer on standard springs.

davidc1

1,544 posts

161 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
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Avoid a 200 with cup then. I have one and the ride is terrible. Apart from that a v good car.
My old 197 cup had the ride spot on.
Def test drive before u buy.

davidc1

1,544 posts

161 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
Avoid a 200 with cup then. I have one and the ride is terrible. Apart from that a v good car.
My old 197 cup had the ride spot on.
Def test drive before u buy.

Rs2oo

2,195 posts

197 months

Sunday 15th March 2015
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Leggy said:
Concerned about being too stiff though. Fed up with hard ride of JCW, so happy to sacrifice some dynamics for a bit of comfort.
I have a 200 full fat with the Cup Chassis and the ride is fking ridiculous. Put it on a good fast A or B road and it's the best car ever (even better on track) but pop down the shops or go over 80mph on a motorway and you will hate it..

duckson

1,237 posts

181 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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Got my '12 plate low mileage Cup for sale at the moment, cant say the ride is particularly bad in any way? Infact compared to a Civic Type R its pretty damn compliant!! I've owned it just under 3 years, longest i've ever owned a car since I started driving in 1993 so that tells you something, cracking cars.
Wife has got a Fiesta ST-2, i cant really see a great deal of difference ride wise between them either tbh.

Track_Cit

537 posts

221 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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I think the 200 cup is getting a bad rap above....

I have just bought one and done a few thousand miles in it already. I love it. Yes, the ride is firm, but comments above saying it's horrendous at 80Mph on the motorway just isn't true. I have driven it to Wales, the Peaks etc. which is a combination of road types and driving styles. I actually find it pretty good on the motorway. It's quick in 6th gear between 80 - 100, and feels incredibly planted even at high speed. Road noise is pretty low, and as long as you don't hit any stonking great pot holes the ride is better on motorways and dual carriageways than most B roads. Some of the roads in the peak district were utterly bumpy, and yes it's fair to say the Cup does chuck you around on those, but other than the worst roads it's not that bad. It's compliant and handles well most times, only losing traction on really bouncy corners. It also soaks up bumpy surfaces pretty well. You just have to be sensible and avoid holes and poor bits of top surface, otherwise I find it excellent. I have the Recaros in mine also. On the right day you can cover grounds very quickly and it's extremely rewarding. Speed bumps require a very slow speed. I guess it depends how tolerant you are really. I drove a stripped caged track car as a daily for a few years so the cup feels just right to me. Had a civic type R (EP3) before the cup, and the cup is less crashy and handles so much better. Been in a few 172 cups also, and they are great on crappy back roads. Fun to drive and feel fast. Possibly softer than the 200 cup but do soak up the bumps and still handle very well. I would drive both and make your own decision. You may find the 200 cup ok coming from the mini. You have to drive them pretty hard to get the best from them though. I found it felt a bit slow coming from the Honda, but adjust to the way it drives and it's even more enjoyable. Much more rewarding.

Good luck!

Just to tempt you on 200 cup - no aircon, recaro seats, brembos. and aftermarket semi slick tyres = great fun:



nicknameless

55 posts

143 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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Cup too soft so just about to put coilies on my 200 smile

It's not as bad as made out above but is definitely solid.

nicknameless

55 posts

143 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
P.s. Having driven 172, 182 and a trophy the 200 is the best by a mile IMO.

Also when they work the gearboxes are sweet. Short throw, very snicky. Boxes on the 172 / 182 vague and sloppy.

Track_Cit

537 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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nicknameless said:
P.s. Having driven 172, 182 and a trophy the 200 is the best by a mile IMO.

Also when they work the gearboxes are sweet. Short throw, very snicky. Boxes on the 172 / 182 vague and sloppy.
I totally agree with you on that. I drove a 172 cup before I bought the CTR, I just couldn't find a good one to be honest they were all trashed! However the gearbox on the one I drove was stiff and sludgy and just didn't feel precise. Otherwise it was a great little car to drive. Free revving and well damped. The 200 box is notchy but it's much better. I have to say it's still not as sharp as the box on the EP3 though! But Japanese vs French so what do you expect?

On the coilovers - I wouldn't want the 200 any harder than it already is! I don't think they need modding really, Renaultsport spent a lot developing this suspension and it's spot on for me. If anything just swap the Conti's out from some Nankang NS2R's, Yokohama AD08R's (more expensive) or similar.

BaronVonVaderham

2,316 posts

146 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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200 non Cup is what you want. Much more resolved car than the 1*2's and no need for the Cup chassis unless you want to track it a lot.

Track_Cit

537 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Or are interested in getting the best performance at all times. This is pistonheads after all! biggrin Non cup is pretty hard too you may as well just go the whole hog and get the best of the bunch. My opinion of course but then I'm biased.

framerateuk

2,730 posts

183 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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Why not go up a class and look at the Megane 250?

Definitely has improved ride over the 200/JCW even with the Cup version. Fantastic handling (get the Cup version with the LSD) and you could probably find early examples for 9k without too much trouble.

ImJimbo

78 posts

129 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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For 9k you could get yourself a decent cup packed Clio 200. The cups themselves are a little basic inside.

Be aware that the early ones (2009) are now nearing or due their Aux/cambelt/water pump change. It cost me £600 all in to do even with some serious searching around, so I'd advise you get one that's already been done or if it's with a dealer, haggle to get it done as part of a deal.

As said earlier in the thread, gearboxes can be an issue. It's common for the syncros to go in 3rd and/or 4th. Just about to change mine for this very reason.





BaronVonVaderham

2,316 posts

146 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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Are you replacing the box or can the individual synchro rings be changed?