Renaultsport Clio RS200

[jamiem555]

Here are a few pics of my new get to work machine. I sold my Focus ST-2 MK3 4 months ago as it wasn't getting much use and I needed some extra funds to make our house a bit more toddler friendly.
It's an immaculate condition RS200 full fat, as it's called in the Renault world, with 30,000 miles on the clock.


Took me a while to get the right spec, which was Bluetooth and Recaros.



4 new Goodyear Eagle F1's were fitted along with Brembo OEM pads all round. It still had the original Conti's on the rear and cheapo Goodrides on the front. All with about 3mm of tread. Why keep the car immaculate and put sh*t rubber on, I don't know!





I've owned it for 6 weeks now and barely covered a 1000 miles and that includes picking the car up from Hinkley and driving north to Perth.
I plan to run it until next spring and let my finances improve slightly before hopefully getting back into something slightly more refined.


And a pic of my grubby ST a few months before I sold it.

[Nezquick]

Very nice. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for these but the issues with the lumpy idle and the poor gearboxes have always put me off. How are you finding it?

Good spec by the way. The Recaros really make these cars IMO.

[jamiem555]

Thanks. I'm finding that it's a bit unrefined from what I've had before and I'm thinking that maybe I'm a bit old for this type of car. I don't quite regret buying it just yet. Maybe when I've done a few more journeys in it I'll get used to it. I mean it handles brilliantly with the cup suspension but it really does rattle the fillings a bit. I did my research before I bought it and the gearbox on this one is smooth. It's £350 for a recon box if it does go and it doesn't look too bad a job to swap it out.
The lumpy idle is only really a problem when cold and soon disappears when warmed up.
You are right in saying the Recaros do make the car.

[smifffymoto]

I had one for about a year and rareley drove it,much prefered my Pathfinder.Mrs S liked it because it was easy to park.Neither of us miss the abysmal ride or stty interior.

[jamiem555]

smifffymoto said:

I had one for about a year and rareley drove it,much prefered my Pathfinder.Mrs S liked it because it was easy to park.Neither of us miss the abysmal ride or stty interior.

I know where you're coming from and I get the feeling that this might be the same. The plan is to sell it next spring or maybe later without losing too much cash on it. They seem to hold their money if they're the right spec. I'm hoping I can get the budget together for a new Focus RS or maybe an ST-3. It won't be doing big mileage, that's for sure. Lucky if it'll do 250 miles a month.

[smifffymoto]

It really was that bad. We chopped it in for a B-Max believe it or not.The ride and interior are just as bad but it is alot more practical.

[GrumpyTwig]

smifffymoto said:

I had one for about a year and rareley drove it,much prefered my Pathfinder.Mrs S liked it because it was easy to park.Neither of us miss the abysmal ride or stty interior.

What did you expect when you bought it? It's not a GT car or a people carrier, sounds like you didn't do your research tbh. It is what it is, and for what it's meant to do it does very very well.
To criticise it for the ride quality and interior just shows you bought the wrong car for what you use it for and have missed out in reality.

It's like buying an atom and moaning about the lack of a roof...

[Tickle]

Great cars, I had a Cup in Racing Blue for a couple of years. Fantastic little car, good balance of brakes, chassis and engine with non dominating the driving experience. This made it a car that could cover ground fast if you put the effort in.

Mine was faultless over the time I had it. I still miss it to be honest. I think some think the Cup (not FF Cup) is quite raw, IMHO it's not, it's a car with dam good seats, a heater and a non leaking roof.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Pugland53]

These are great cars. I bought one a couple of months ago, mine is full fat non cup suspension (sadly without Recaros). The ride isn't too bad at all and the great handling more than makes up for it. After years of driving turbo cars its nice to get into a revvy naturally aspirated car. The only thing that annoys me is the cold running, although the mpg isn't brilliant either!

[jamiem555]

smifffymoto said:

It really was that bad. We chopped it in for a B-Max believe it or not.The ride and interior are just as bad but it is alot more practical.

Funnily enough, our main car is a B-Max Titanium X and I love it. It's the 125PS Ecoboost and it's fantastic.
The Clio is bloody hard work to be honest.
I'm sure the next owner will love it after all the hard work and fettling I put into making it a nice car again.

Edited by jamiem555 on Saturday 29th August 00:30

[smifffymoto]

I can assure you the only thing I missed out on was a trip to hospital.Yes Renault fan boys love them but even in France you seldom see them.For decent roads they are good but for the roads where I live nothing short of dangerous,hit a bump and you're on the other side of the road
Unless you are on it ,it really is one of the most uncomfortable cars out there,bar none

[rb5er]

Nice focus. Grubby but used. Clio, lovely seats but otherwise..meh.

[egor110]

smifffymoto said:

I can assure you the only thing I missed out on was a trip to hospital.Yes Renault fan boys love them but even in France you seldom see them.For decent roads they are good but for the roads where I live nothing short of dangerous,hit a bump and you're on the other side of the road
Unless you are on it ,it really is one of the most uncomfortable cars out there,bar none

So why did you buy it?

On a test drive you'd establish pretty quick it's a hard ride.

[smifffymoto]

Because the salesman was a very good salesman.
We(the family) went bowling in Montaudron(Toulouse) and drove past the dealership,went in for a browse while waiting for the bowling ally to open.I liked the Megane,wifey liked the Clio(ange et demon edition)
We then took the Clio for a test drive on billiard table smooth roads with fast sweeping bends,that was it ,the car was a good as ours.Went back to the show room,did the paperwork,signed the cheque,picked it up 2 days later.

The roads of the test drive are nothing like French B roads so very difficult to know how it behaves on normal roads.The main roads are very good in France but the c roads as a rule are the domain of locals and farmers with effing huge tractors and trailers.