Renault Clio 197 Cup

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Discussion

melvster

Original Poster:

6,841 posts

184 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
quotequote all
Having admired the hot Renault's for a number of years i knew it was a field where i would definitely enter it was just a case of waiting for the finances to improve and me finding my ideal spec car. I knew that from day 1 i had to have the Cup model purely because it features a revised spring/damper set up yet on the second hand market there is virtually no difference in price between a Cup and non Cup model (obviously this is comparing a similar mileage 197 of the same year as the Cup). The Cup is quite a rare model, Renault only built 432 for the UK market of which 79 where finished in my colour, Nimbus Silver (Glacier white and Racing Blue were the other 2 options, 266 and 87 of each were built). Mine does without the optional A/C and Recaro seats which i would have liked but this was a great example i just couldn't turn it down. A viewing was arranged on the 21st April, a quick test drive confirmed my decision. I wanted it and left a deposit that day. 4 days until collection, it was Christmas all over again........... but at my expense.

I collected the car on Friday (25th April) having handed over £6350 i could't help but think i had got an absolute bargain purely because the car was the cheapest 197 Cup in the country with over £600 spent on it in the last 4 months including the dreaded cambelt change. Collection day was a fairly dull process, picking the car up was exciting but the drive home in the pouring rain was fairly dull...... i don't think i managed to take the car past 4.5k rpm and when you have an additional 3000 rpm to play with it was a relatively boring drive.

Saturday loomed, dry day. Perfect. A spirited drive on a local seciton of A road and wow........ it felt absolutely fantastic. The steering, damping and initial turn in just feels sublime. You know exactly where the front end is and exactly what its doing. Coming from a 1.4 Fiat Punto to the Clio is just a revelation (which i did expect) but it really has left a big impression on me. The engine is so eager to rev and after 5k it pulls really hard right to the red line. The gearbox is a talking point amongst the Clio owners for it's reliability but mine feels absolutely spot on... precise and easy to find that next cog when you are really going for it. Lets hope it stays that way smile

Any criticisms..... nothing at the minute apart from i wish the pedals were positioned level with each other; the accelerator sits a couple of CM further back than the brake pedal so at the minute heel and toeing is a little tricky but i am gradually learning to just roll my foot across to blip the throttle on the down changes. The Punto required me to flick my heel across which once i got used to felt so natural but its a learning curve jumping into a new car and i can't wait to get to know the Clio better.

So anything planned for the car...... at the minute it feels great but the Falken's are looking a little low and once the summer is over they will be well and truly passed their best. Winter will see some AD08R's purchased (all round) in time for the spring. An induction kit is also on the cards and some other little trinkets, mainly OCD related. The front discs are lipped slightly so i think new front discs, pads and DOT51 fluid will be acquired at some point in the near future.

Pics below...

[url=https://flic.kr/p/noVF24]
197 Cup[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nmSCiL]
Rivals[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/noVrUn]
RenaultSport[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nk7m2A]
Rear[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nk7g6U]
Group pose[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nn9CNz]
Relations[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/noV1YF]
Front[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nmRZvC]
Arch[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nk6QCq]
Cup[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/noULZZ]
Brembo[/url] by Adam Melville, on Flickr

Buff Mchugelarge

3,316 posts

149 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
quotequote all
Nice car biggrin

They really are a bit special, 3 months in, mine still makes me laugh aloud at least once every time I drive it.
I've just had the center silencer removed from mine and it sound fantastic!

Any plans other than enjoying it?

melvster

Original Poster:

6,841 posts

184 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
quotequote all
Other than the plans listed......... no. I am currently running the standard exhaust which i am finding more than adequate, makes a nice rasp and its not too loud when on the motorway etc....

Martin_M

2,071 posts

226 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
quotequote all
Looking good - I bought a non cup model(also in nimbus) back in 2007...great car.

Pics here:

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

KennyGT

758 posts

209 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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Tidy looking Clio, nice pictures, enjoy thumbup

Another Fluffer

3,888 posts

164 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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Nice mate, Congrats!

Chunkychucky

5,942 posts

168 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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Looks nice that Adam! Another step closer in performance terms to an E36 M3 biggrin

melvster

Original Poster:

6,841 posts

184 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Chunkychucky said:
Looks nice that Adam! Another step closer in performance terms to an E36 M3 biggrin
That is still the dream Chuck biggrin

bmthnick1981

5,310 posts

215 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Lovely motor, good choice.

nick stevenson

37 posts

228 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Great motor, love fast Renaults, own a Renaultsport 250 and 133 myself.

Enjoy rotate

nick stevenson

37 posts

228 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Great motor, love fast Renaults, own a Renaultsport 250 and 133 myself.

Enjoy rotate

Tree200

45 posts

131 months

Monday 28th April 2014
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Lovely mate, I'm still loving my 200!

Medic-one

3,105 posts

202 months

Monday 28th April 2014
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melvster said:
Looks great!

I've just bought one of those blue 182's on the right on saterday, great little cars aren't they!

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Monday 28th April 2014
quotequote all
I had a 197 Cup in white and loved it, if it was a little uncompromising.

Re brakes, use the oem parts on the back (oem stuff is brembo) On the front I used original oem discs with DS2500 pads, the braking was phenomenal. Best brakes of any other car I've had.

C2james

4,685 posts

164 months

Monday 28th April 2014
quotequote all
nice clio, I've just come back from wales where it performed heroically in the wet and I'm running AD08Rs on it too. in terms of brakes i would personally go for mintex m1155 over the ferodos and get some braided lines and motul rbf660 fluid as its very good stuff!

ninjacost

980 posts

221 months

Monday 28th April 2014
quotequote all
running one in sprint championship (non cup) its a great car with superb handling just need to get it over 5000rpm to make it move

melvster

Original Poster:

6,841 posts

184 months

Monday 28th April 2014
quotequote all
I will look into the braking options in more detail but I have read decent reports regarding the mintex and ferodo set ups. Just went for another blast this evening and god it's good in the twisties. So much fun.


Thanks for the positive comments smile

North West Tom

11,511 posts

176 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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Looks fantastic Adam, congrats!

kayzee

2,781 posts

180 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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Sounds a little expensive, that's almost R27 money! But it looks awesome. I love Nimbus... I have a Titanium 182 but wish it was your shade frown

melvster

Original Poster:

6,841 posts

184 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
quotequote all
I was looking at either an R27 or 197 Cup. Most Cups are sitting at £6750 - £7500 and the only cheap(ish) R27 i found was for 6k but had 60k miles on the clock and the Recaro's were shagged. My car was up for £6650 (46k miles and a superb service history), negotiated a deal at £6350 and it was the cheapest in the country at the time of purchase.

O/T - looking through the service history today and the car had a replacement gearbox and clutch fitted at 34k miles in July 2012, a total sum of just over £1100. Ouch although its nice to know it has been replaced fairly recently.