Thursday 4th December 2014

Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo: PH Fleet

A bit of a week for hot hatches; how's the Clio facing up to renewed competition?

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It was with great interest that I read Matt's first impressions of Peugeot's 208 GTI 30th. By the sounds of it Peugeot Sport has played a blinder, completely transforming what was an easy to live with, if dynamically unexceptional hot hatch into genuinely hardcore product designed to entice the enthusiast. In other words, exactly the kind of magic wand waving that needs to happen a couple of hundred kilometres to the north in Dieppe. Hopefully this avalanche of praise will give Renaultsport a much-needed motivational kick up the backside.

Clio spangled up for meeting its race brother

In other news the Clio has been to meet its racing sibling at Brands Hatch. The Indy circuit was more aquatic centre than race track for Dan's drive in the Clio Cup, but despite the biblical conditions, it gave him an illuminating insight into what the road car might be like with a willing gearbox and a diff between the front wheels.

With 10,339 miles now on the clock, it's also been back to Renault for a new set of tyres. We've stuck with the standard fit Dunlop Sport Maxx RTs, and quietly crossed our fingers for a continuation of the current mild winter. I also have a sneaking suspicion it may have had an oil change at the same time, even though I didn't ask for one (and it wasn't due one) because it came back noticeably smoother and quieter. [Update - Renault got back to us to confirm it was just the tyres! - Ed.] The front brake discs and pads have already been changed back in August, leaving it feeling fresh and fighting fit once again.

All set then, for a track day at Goodwood next weekend and, having now had ample chance to bond with the Clio, a chance to revisit the head-to-head battle with the Fiesta ST that we conducted last year.

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FACT SHEET
Car: Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC LUX
Run by: Danny Milner
On fleet since: April 2014
Mileage: 10,339
List price new: £21,835 (Basic list of £19,995 plus £650 for Cup Chassis, £300 for 18-inch Renaultsport wheels and Dunlop Sport Maxx RT tyres, £595 for Flame Red i.d. metallic paint, £295 for Renaultsport Monitor)
Last month at a glance: Mechanical wash and brush up; longing for a diff doesn't subside

Previous updates:
Clio arrives on the PH Fleet; faces an uphill struggle for popular opinion
PH 'accidentally' ends up in an impromptu Clio Cup race at Spa
Danny heads to Scotland in search of the Clio's hidden depths
Found - the Clio's wild side
Clio battles its Peugeot nemesis for Danny's affection
So, the Clio wants to be grown-up and mature - is it?
Does the NISMO Juke offer the Clio salvation?

Photos: Roo Fowler

[madmatteo]

I'm currently 3,000 miles into Clio 200 EDC ownership (realistically borrowed as it is on short term lease!) and I'm finding the car rather good for what I use it for, which is predominantly commuting 200-250 miles per week across country roads. It returns a consistent 32mpg or so in my hands and this seems to be creeping up ever so slightly as the miles go up.

Whilst not perfect, the gearbox is not anywhere near as bad as the initial reviews may have suggested and I quite enjoy flicking up and down the gears by simply flicking the paddles. Indeed, one thing I really love is the way the car "blips" the throttle when you drop down the gears at slow speeds as it sounds really good from inside the cabin.

There are definitely negatives with the car. The main one being the price which really is inexplicable considering the competition and, if I were purchasing with my own cash, I'm afraid to say I may have to consider saving the pennies and going elsewhere. However, on the plus side, it looks great (imo), feels much quicker than the 197/200 it replaces, handles well, stops even better and sounds good (most notably in race mode).

I would urge people to have a go if they like hot hatches but need a "one size fits all" type car. However, it does seem to me that the competition from Peugeot, Ford and VW may now start to pull away and I hope that Renault respond like they have with the RS Megane. Here's hoping for a Clio with 220hp, manual gearbox and an LSD.