RE: Clio Renaultsport 197/200: PH buying guide
Discussion
I've had a 200 with cup suspension and love it.
Seems odd to hear people complaining about it being compromised as an everyday car. Surely there are hundreds of hot hatches that are probably better at shopping and running errands and all the other things people normally do in cars, but very few that are so adapt at blasting across a bumpy B road with your foot to the floor.
We don't all have the resources (space or money) to run a whole fleet of different cars for different purposes, and the Clio offers both thrills AND shopping (in that order).
I have a Golf R coming in November and am genuinely dreading the day when the little Clio has to go because I know the Golf, for all its 300bhp, will probably be better as an all-rounder, but won't be as accomplished over a serpentine country road.
Seems odd to hear people complaining about it being compromised as an everyday car. Surely there are hundreds of hot hatches that are probably better at shopping and running errands and all the other things people normally do in cars, but very few that are so adapt at blasting across a bumpy B road with your foot to the floor.
We don't all have the resources (space or money) to run a whole fleet of different cars for different purposes, and the Clio offers both thrills AND shopping (in that order).
I have a Golf R coming in November and am genuinely dreading the day when the little Clio has to go because I know the Golf, for all its 300bhp, will probably be better as an all-rounder, but won't be as accomplished over a serpentine country road.
s3fella said:
I agree there is a lot of hype about these, a great blasting car, yes, but compromised as a daily road car as many have said.
If it wasn't compromised it wouldn't be a hot hatch!You can't have it both ways. I like a car that feels like a little race car when I get in and turn it on...
Owned mine for 18 months so far. As with anything, if it is maintained correctly they are absolutely blinding little things. For me after much deliberation and armed with a 10k budget (31, no kids, garage, only car) it ticked all the boxes. I purchased off the original owner who was a 57 year old advanced motorist instructor. The car had done 20k miles two and a half years old at the time with Recaros, Speedlines and air con as options. According to Renault they were only 479 Clio 200 Cups imported into the uk (or somewhere around there). Given the way this type of car has gone, I'm hoping it won't depreciate like a stone like many other French cars, and it will still be sought after if/when I come to sell.
Blast around North Wales with some good company
Lee
Blast around North Wales with some good company
Lee
gregf40 said:
Tickle said:
Drive it out of town?
I would like to think that most of us on here go for drives for driving sake rather than too and from places.
Some people are more concerned with cup holder design.I would like to think that most of us on here go for drives for driving sake rather than too and from places.
Apart from the $$$$$$$ of course.
thatsprettyshady said:
Sold my R27 recently, miss it loads. Best fun you could have for the money - mine had c.80k on it and still felt fresh and tight which isn't always the perception with these sorts of cars. 
That's my old car! I took it from 51k to about 75 over 18 months, mostly motorway miles. You probably bought it from Bertie? It was my favourite car that I've had and I still regret selling it. I had hardly any issues with it and it never let me down. How come you didn't keep it for long?
deadmau5 said:
thatsprettyshady said:
Sold my R27 recently, miss it loads. Best fun you could have for the money - mine had c.80k on it and still felt fresh and tight which isn't always the perception with these sorts of cars.
That's my old car! I took it from 51k to about 75 over 18 months, mostly motorway miles. You probably bought it from Bertie? It was my favourite car that I've had and I still regret selling it. I had hardly any issues with it and it never let me down. How come you didn't keep it for long?
Wanted one of these since they first arrived, couldn't afford one at the time so bought it's younger brother the Twingo RS which has been fun if not all that reliable!
I test drove one for a day years ago and was impressed. I don't quite understand the comments about refinement and comfort. Surely you don't buy something so focused then? If you want that you should go down the golf GTi route no? I know who would have the bigger grin on their face down that empty B road, which is when you want to be grinning not when sitting at 70 on the motorway with your Costa Coffee hanging out the cup holder
I test drove one for a day years ago and was impressed. I don't quite understand the comments about refinement and comfort. Surely you don't buy something so focused then? If you want that you should go down the golf GTi route no? I know who would have the bigger grin on their face down that empty B road, which is when you want to be grinning not when sitting at 70 on the motorway with your Costa Coffee hanging out the cup holder
Loved mine, it had it flaws but perfection can be boring. It spent a fair bit of time on track and was pretty good on road tyres, on semi slicks (had R888s and AD08s on it) it was an absolute joke how much it held on in corners and made up for the power deficit for the most part.
The oem brake pads/discs are a little weak for track work, either a different compound of pad or grooved discs helps.
It did receive a new gearbox, but the box didn't fail as such as gears worked but it just wouldn't go into gear from cold without a lot of force :\ Still... not great but the dealer sorted without fuss.
Ended up getting a bit tired of it on the road though, especially the ride and lack of torque as well as the 'image'. Ended up swapping it in for a Megane 250 and while I'd have preferred RWD it rides better and has lots of torque AND can even be a pretty sedate and relaxing ride. It's also less likely to be mocked by 320d drivers keeping up (in a straight line
)
Still got a picture of mine on the wall though:
The oem brake pads/discs are a little weak for track work, either a different compound of pad or grooved discs helps.
It did receive a new gearbox, but the box didn't fail as such as gears worked but it just wouldn't go into gear from cold without a lot of force :\ Still... not great but the dealer sorted without fuss.
Ended up getting a bit tired of it on the road though, especially the ride and lack of torque as well as the 'image'. Ended up swapping it in for a Megane 250 and while I'd have preferred RWD it rides better and has lots of torque AND can even be a pretty sedate and relaxing ride. It's also less likely to be mocked by 320d drivers keeping up (in a straight line
)Still got a picture of mine on the wall though:
Mastodon2 said:
I have strong doubts about that "diffuser" making any real downforce at all.
Not a great deal, I think the press details mentioned something like 40kg at 70mph. I can confirm that the car is VERY stable at high speed though and even if you get into a bit of a 'twitch' small adjustments and a committed right foot right it very quickly.Ive had mine for about 3 months and i absolutely love it. I always look forward to driving it when im away working.
Guess the road
My dad has diffuser envy
Mine is R27 number 239 meaning it has the cup chassis and suspension, red calipers and grey wheels.
Guess the road
My dad has diffuser envy
Mine is R27 number 239 meaning it has the cup chassis and suspension, red calipers and grey wheels.
Edited by XG332 on Saturday 30th August 18:35
Edited by XG332 on Saturday 30th August 19:02
Had my Clio 200 (with cup chassis and Recaros - a must) from new in 2010 for just over 2 years and 40,000 miles having owned a 182 Trophy for 2 years before. I'm age 45. In my opinion it was a joy to own and drive. Yes it was rather thirsty, it needed to be revved and the missus at the time complained about the hard cup ride but it only ever needed routine servicing (at an independent specialist) and it never let me down. Compared to the Trophy you felt the extra 150kg and it wasn't as playful at the rear but that's because with the cup chassis it was superbly set up and down a twisty B road would never cease to impress me, my mates who drove it and the enthusiast passengers who rode in it.
I applied an updated map (from Henk at FastChip) which sorted out the poor cold start running, smoothed out the flat spot at 4500-5000rpm and raised the rev limit to 7500rpm.
On a European road trip with mates in an R300, Elise and R32 it was always on the pace up and down Alpine passes and Corsica's mountain roads and it's impressive brakes never faded. On track at Spa it was great through the faster corners but you did want for a bit more grunt..... which led to me trading it in for a Megane 250 Cup..... but I did miss the directness of the steering and handling compared to the 250.
Overall in my opinion the 200 deserves the praise heaped on it by journos and front wheel drive enthusiasts alike. It is likely to be the last of a dying breed. Try one while you can.
I applied an updated map (from Henk at FastChip) which sorted out the poor cold start running, smoothed out the flat spot at 4500-5000rpm and raised the rev limit to 7500rpm.
On a European road trip with mates in an R300, Elise and R32 it was always on the pace up and down Alpine passes and Corsica's mountain roads and it's impressive brakes never faded. On track at Spa it was great through the faster corners but you did want for a bit more grunt..... which led to me trading it in for a Megane 250 Cup..... but I did miss the directness of the steering and handling compared to the 250.
Overall in my opinion the 200 deserves the praise heaped on it by journos and front wheel drive enthusiasts alike. It is likely to be the last of a dying breed. Try one while you can.
Edited by Delonghi on Sunday 31st August 19:17
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