Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup: PH Carpool
A terrible first experience wasn't enough to put this PHer off and now he's a fully paid up Clio Cup fan!
Car: Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup
Owned since: March 2016
Previously owned: Renaultsport Clio 200, Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Black Edition turbo, Vauxhall Corsa VXR, SEAT Leon FR+ TDI.
"This is actually my second Clio 200! I've always been a fan of them since they first came out and I used to walk past a gorgeous blue one on the way to school.
"My first Clio 200 was a non-Cup version, and just my luck it happened to be the runt of the litter! Everything that could go wrong did. In the space of a year I had a new steering wheel, two new front seats, two gearboxes and a new flywheel - the less said about that car the better!
"I bought a Corsa VXR after and enjoyed that for a year or so. Then I decided I wanted something more sensible and ended up with a SEAT Leon FR+ TDI; it was a lovely car and I really could not fault it. But after only a month or two, the lack of noise from the engine (my first diesel) was too much to bear and I needed something more fun again.
"I really wanted another Clio as I felt I had unfinished business with them. However, this time it had to be the 'full fat' Cup version and it had to be Liquid Yellow, which I think is the best colour by far. After searching Auto Trader (you searched where?! - MB) and the PistonHeads classifieds for a few weeks I finally found one not too far away; it was a good price, only had 29,000 miles and the vital Cup Pack with the rear spoiler and leather seats. Now I know everybody who is into Clios bangs on about the optional Recaro seats, and I agree they do look great, but to live with they are a nightmare (I had them on the disaster Clio too). They are extremely thin and delicate; my old Clio had done 10,000 miles and both seats had worn away to the metal which, for a £800-£900 option, is terrible. As my old Clio was so new I managed to get them both replaced on warranty after much arguing with the dealer. But as this Clio was out of warranty I wanted to play it safe and go with the leather seats, which I think look quite smart anyway."
"This is the fourth car I've bought and I'd like to think I research them fairly well before I buy. This time though, I made a rookie error... I was told that the cambelt only needed changing after 60,000 miles, so as this had 29K I thought I wouldn't need to change it. Happy days. Then I discovered it was 60K OR five years, which just happened to be how old mine was when I bought it. So the cambelt is now due, a hefty expense that I hadn't really budgeted for! Other than that oversight, I think I knew really what to expect."
Things I love:
"The engine, first of all. It's what a hot hatch should be: a little car with a great big oversized engine in the front! It has so much character. All these new engines that are 1.6 turbos like the Fiesta ST, Corsa VXR, Peugeot 208 GTI - there is nothing unique about them to me. Sure, they are more efficient, cheaper to tax and probably a little bit quicker in a straight line, but they sound awful. The way this engine just wants more and more revs is unlike almost anything else. What I don't think people realise is how these engines are the last of a dying breed; it's highly unlikely that hot hatches will ever be made again with engines like this, so I like to feel I've got a part of history. I've fitted a Scorpion non resonated cat-back system to mine as well which really enhances the sound; the bangs on upshifts are addictive and with the back seats down on a Sunday morning drive it can still make me laugh out loud with the noise!
"I love how it looks! The colour is the first thing that people notice and I've had lots of positive feedback; a few people aren't that keen but what do they know?! It is such a distinctive colour that you rarely see on any other cars and it turns heads where ever I go. On a sunny day when it's cleaned up it almost seems to sparkle in the sunshine and it turns a different colour. If I'm completely honest I wanted the gloss black Speedline alloys but I couldn't find one with them on and these alloys that came with it have grown on me. I love the rear of the car, the diffuser particular; it apparently produces 40kg of downforce at 80mph, which probably means absolutely nothing but I'm a sucker for things like that! It's a fairly loud looking car and I know it's not for everybody, but I felt like I wanted one last hot hatch and it ticks all the boxes."
"I would like to say it's perfect but, as you can guess, it's not! First off, the ride. All that grip comes at a price! It is incredibly stiff, which isn't really a problem given I live about 10 minutes from work. But if I had to commute from further away it would drive me mad. I have to drive down a cobbled road to get into the car park at work and, honestly, falling down a flight of stairs is probably more comfortable. I have to take speed bumps very slowly and it pulls to the left slightly no matter how many times I do the tracking.
"The engine can kangaroo quite sharply in a morning if you're not careful (all Clio 200s do this apparently) and due to changing my exhaust I have a small flat spot at around 2,000 rpm; it's not that big of a deal but it is still there. I've heard other people's are much worse so I think I got away with it. Apparently you can map it out so it's something I may look into at some point.
"The interior is quite cheap and boring, if I'm honest. It comes with cruise control which works very well but I hardly use it if I'm honest. The keyless entry works well though, which I do use a lot. I could ring Autoglass and get them to fit a new windscreen before it demists and the sound system is very poor as well. Turning circle is horrendous; never mind a three-point turn, try nine-point turn unless you have a empty car park to turn around in! Thank the Lord for the aftermarket parking sensors the previous owner fitted.
"The car is on 17-inch alloys, which look fine at the front but at the rear they seem to get lost in the arches. The Raider edition has 18s that really suit the car better I think; a lot of people fit spacers too, which look great. I would like to lower it for the looks but it's so stiff already I don't think I can cope with anymore!
"Overall the car is purely meant for the driving pleasure and, due to the lack of mileage I do, I can put up with its flaws."
"Parts don't tend to be too expensive, fortunately. The tyres are 225/40 R17 so replacements are not that pricey. Tax is £245 for the year however, which is quite a lot. I'm 24 with three years no claims and no crashes. I've just renewed my policy and paid £1,086 for 12 months, which was £800 last year. According to all the insurance companies I've spoken to it has gone up massively this year. There doesn't seem to be any consistency with the pricing when it comes to insurance, but I'm sure this is the same for everybody.
"The Scorpion exhaust cost £360 plus £50 for the fitting and I pay £20 a month for a warranty; it's probably not the paper it's written on but it's just for peace of mind really."
Where I've been:
"I live in Huddersfield and we have some amazing roads out in the hills so I don't need to travel far at all for a good drive. I've never been on a track and I'd love to try before I move on but I'm always worried if something breaks so not sure if I dare!"
What next?
"I do miss the comforts of the Leon but I still want speed and sound! I'm currently debating whether to lease a Leon Cupra 290, as there are some cracking deals around at the moment, but I've never leased before and the fact you can't do anything to them puts me off. Also the horror stories I've heard when you return it and they charge through the eyes for tiny marks. I'm also scanning the classifieds daily for a Focus ST Mk3 ST-3 with the Mountune upgrade but they're a bit out of my price range at present; the prices seem to be falling rapidly though, so I think it's just a waiting game! I'd love to be able to keep the Clio as I think 10 years from now it will be a future classic and worth what I paid for it. It's an absolute riot to drive when you're in the mood and through the corners not much can live with it. But I'm getting a bit older and I'd quite like some comfort soon; until then I'm going to enjoy every minute of it!
I have a 197 cup 2008 in nimbus and agree they are a great car.
i am 45 and we have 2 kids and a dog, we go everywhere in it, camping , work trips, etc....
You don't need comfort at your age, wait till you get older for that, go out and drive, its all relative, there's too much choice out there, that's the problem.
The clio 200 is a great car, better than the 197, you wont find better, that's why so many people use them for track days.
However if you want a little bit more comfort, try a 197 cup, apparently slightly softer, but still very focused , a good compromise in my mind.
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