A Clio Adventure. A year on
Discussion
Hi guys, I just thought I would post a short tale of my year long battle with the Renault Sport range.
Now, I'm only 21 and I've had a fair variety of cars in the last 4 years, most of which are small engined poser wagons, which for some reason only did about 15mpg when driven around town pimpin' n whatnot. I do a lot of driving for work, so I ultimately ended up with a Fiesta Zetec S TDCI (my second one in fact) which I did about 7000 miles in, and sold for a profit. I thought I wanted some fun, fuel is expensive but I was bored and fed up of slowness so set my eyes on a Clio 182 Cup.
Arrives this...
2005, some miles (I forget), decent service history and it had some upgrades like air filter and grooved discs etc. I was new to the whole hot hatch thing, and I bloody loved it, I admit I probably drove this one a little too hard, and ultimately I became scared of it. The back end is only whs can be described as a helium baloon controlled by a 2 year old, at the slightest mistake it would fly! This made country road blasts a bit dangerous if im honest. The good thing was the fuel economy. It was best when being ragged senseless, getting about 30mpg on a hard run, I'd only manage about 25 around town.
I did some reading about the light back end on the 182's, and nothing would really stop it without some decent money, so I'd live with it. I'd done about 3000 miles in the Cup, when I happened to drive past a dealer with a 200 in stock, so I just chanced it, and asked for a test drive, but I ended up going in a 197 first....
It was only a 10 minute drive, with no one else with me so I gave it a decent go, and immediately where the 182 tries to kill, the 197 remains planted and poised, albeit a little less nimble due to the weight, but nevertheless it seemed as fast and more than capable of smiles. I didn't bother with the 200 test drive, as I think he knew I was already wasting his time just trying the hideously overpriced 197. Still, I got the feel for what else I could get...
Here's my 182 amongst its brothers
So, about 3 days later I typically, and frivolously purchased this...A 2007 197 cup with recaros and speed line wheels. All the keyless rubbish etc was not on this car, I didn't want it anyway...it does have the Aero kit, which I wasn't too sure on, but it sets it appart from the others!
I feel a little stupid saying it, but I really bonded with this one, it was such an utter joy to drive, even on commuter drives. It was comfy despite the hard set up and seats, it just gropes you into the seats and carries you to where you want to go! It was an excellent country road car, again, it really was driven as these were intended to do, 200 miles on a Sunday afternoon was not uncommon around the Yorkshire moors with a Westfield in tow. It didn't even feel like it wanted to kill me which is nice. Fuel, not really that great, 18mpg around town and about 25-30 if gentle on motorway runs.
Sadly, the 197 needed to go, I had to make the decision for work commitments to take precedence so I sold her and did a px deal on my next car.
I needed to downgrade, but wanted the fun factor still. The 182 cup was my main contender, because the other was fun albeit a death trap, but I would of liked some leather and xenons. Something like a full fat 182 would offer. So
Monies my way, and I've got this. It's a 2005 182 full fat, but slammed on coilovers (awful awful awful) and a full miltek (awful awful awful) coupled with a full custom remap (Good) running at 183bhp at the wheels (they usually run 165ish). So, it was quick in a straight line, give it a corner and it rubbed and screeched, handling was awful. I came up against a nice 200 at about 4am and had a little play on some back roads and compared to the 197 this was just diar, seriously. Xenons were a nice feature. I actually put this up for sale before I even got the log book in my name, I really hated it.
So, all the above happened in, erm, 8 months. I then borrowed a mk4 golf from my cousin but it came to a time where I needed my own car.
I looked at 182's, then thought oh go on, get a 197. Asked for my white one back, offered a price, declined, hunt goes on. Finds a nice 197, but I spy something else. Something new and different!
I figured that seeing as I'm planning to race this next year
Can you see where this is going?
Yes I've ended up in what I can only describe as the most fun (road) car I've ever driven
A 2009 Renault Clio 200 Cup.
It's a low milage one, with recaros and speed line wheels, and no frills. Just like the white one really.
The reviews say the 197>200 transition is more than just 3bhp, and my god they are right. I can't actually begin to describe just how fantastic the 200 is. I only got it last weekend (8 days ago) and it was reading 1600 miles till service. It's now on 950! A good friend and I went out in the Moors yesterday, 200 miles or thereabouts. He has a Westfield, owned a Maseratti 4200 and a BMW535D, and never really 'got' the whole Clio thing, I just get laughed at for buying 'French s
te'. I always give the same response (see end) Howecer, he was hugely impressed with it. After the initlal few miles to get used to the grippy front end and ensuring the accelorator isn't stamped too hard whilst turning, he really loved it. It pained him to say it, but he admitted it was more fun and probably quicker than his 5 was, but we think a track day may be required to really tell.
The 200 has amazing turn in, and the low down torque means you can still power out corners without having to shift down 2 gears like the 182 and 197 required. It loves to be revved too, the shift beeper got a good work out yesterday but I genuinely preferred to keep it in lower gears to see what it could do under its own steam.
Sorry for the long post, but I just thought I'd share my year in the Renault Sport seat
I can't help but love them, I know for 200 money I could buy a brand new Matiz or a second hand 335D, but these things are just brilliant fun. I know that my line of work would usually coincide with pampered and pristine vehicles, but this just yearns to be driven, lots, and properly!
I'll say to you as I do to friends, try one of these things. You may end up buying 4 within a year too!
Tom
Now, I'm only 21 and I've had a fair variety of cars in the last 4 years, most of which are small engined poser wagons, which for some reason only did about 15mpg when driven around town pimpin' n whatnot. I do a lot of driving for work, so I ultimately ended up with a Fiesta Zetec S TDCI (my second one in fact) which I did about 7000 miles in, and sold for a profit. I thought I wanted some fun, fuel is expensive but I was bored and fed up of slowness so set my eyes on a Clio 182 Cup.
Arrives this...
2005, some miles (I forget), decent service history and it had some upgrades like air filter and grooved discs etc. I was new to the whole hot hatch thing, and I bloody loved it, I admit I probably drove this one a little too hard, and ultimately I became scared of it. The back end is only whs can be described as a helium baloon controlled by a 2 year old, at the slightest mistake it would fly! This made country road blasts a bit dangerous if im honest. The good thing was the fuel economy. It was best when being ragged senseless, getting about 30mpg on a hard run, I'd only manage about 25 around town.
I did some reading about the light back end on the 182's, and nothing would really stop it without some decent money, so I'd live with it. I'd done about 3000 miles in the Cup, when I happened to drive past a dealer with a 200 in stock, so I just chanced it, and asked for a test drive, but I ended up going in a 197 first....
It was only a 10 minute drive, with no one else with me so I gave it a decent go, and immediately where the 182 tries to kill, the 197 remains planted and poised, albeit a little less nimble due to the weight, but nevertheless it seemed as fast and more than capable of smiles. I didn't bother with the 200 test drive, as I think he knew I was already wasting his time just trying the hideously overpriced 197. Still, I got the feel for what else I could get...
Here's my 182 amongst its brothers
So, about 3 days later I typically, and frivolously purchased this...A 2007 197 cup with recaros and speed line wheels. All the keyless rubbish etc was not on this car, I didn't want it anyway...it does have the Aero kit, which I wasn't too sure on, but it sets it appart from the others!
I feel a little stupid saying it, but I really bonded with this one, it was such an utter joy to drive, even on commuter drives. It was comfy despite the hard set up and seats, it just gropes you into the seats and carries you to where you want to go! It was an excellent country road car, again, it really was driven as these were intended to do, 200 miles on a Sunday afternoon was not uncommon around the Yorkshire moors with a Westfield in tow. It didn't even feel like it wanted to kill me which is nice. Fuel, not really that great, 18mpg around town and about 25-30 if gentle on motorway runs.
Sadly, the 197 needed to go, I had to make the decision for work commitments to take precedence so I sold her and did a px deal on my next car.
I needed to downgrade, but wanted the fun factor still. The 182 cup was my main contender, because the other was fun albeit a death trap, but I would of liked some leather and xenons. Something like a full fat 182 would offer. So
Monies my way, and I've got this. It's a 2005 182 full fat, but slammed on coilovers (awful awful awful) and a full miltek (awful awful awful) coupled with a full custom remap (Good) running at 183bhp at the wheels (they usually run 165ish). So, it was quick in a straight line, give it a corner and it rubbed and screeched, handling was awful. I came up against a nice 200 at about 4am and had a little play on some back roads and compared to the 197 this was just diar, seriously. Xenons were a nice feature. I actually put this up for sale before I even got the log book in my name, I really hated it.
So, all the above happened in, erm, 8 months. I then borrowed a mk4 golf from my cousin but it came to a time where I needed my own car.
I looked at 182's, then thought oh go on, get a 197. Asked for my white one back, offered a price, declined, hunt goes on. Finds a nice 197, but I spy something else. Something new and different!
I figured that seeing as I'm planning to race this next year
Can you see where this is going?
Yes I've ended up in what I can only describe as the most fun (road) car I've ever driven
A 2009 Renault Clio 200 Cup.
It's a low milage one, with recaros and speed line wheels, and no frills. Just like the white one really.
The reviews say the 197>200 transition is more than just 3bhp, and my god they are right. I can't actually begin to describe just how fantastic the 200 is. I only got it last weekend (8 days ago) and it was reading 1600 miles till service. It's now on 950! A good friend and I went out in the Moors yesterday, 200 miles or thereabouts. He has a Westfield, owned a Maseratti 4200 and a BMW535D, and never really 'got' the whole Clio thing, I just get laughed at for buying 'French s
te'. I always give the same response (see end) Howecer, he was hugely impressed with it. After the initlal few miles to get used to the grippy front end and ensuring the accelorator isn't stamped too hard whilst turning, he really loved it. It pained him to say it, but he admitted it was more fun and probably quicker than his 5 was, but we think a track day may be required to really tell.The 200 has amazing turn in, and the low down torque means you can still power out corners without having to shift down 2 gears like the 182 and 197 required. It loves to be revved too, the shift beeper got a good work out yesterday but I genuinely preferred to keep it in lower gears to see what it could do under its own steam.
Sorry for the long post, but I just thought I'd share my year in the Renault Sport seat
I can't help but love them, I know for 200 money I could buy a brand new Matiz or a second hand 335D, but these things are just brilliant fun. I know that my line of work would usually coincide with pampered and pristine vehicles, but this just yearns to be driven, lots, and properly!I'll say to you as I do to friends, try one of these things. You may end up buying 4 within a year too!
Tom
Edited by tjob on Tuesday 22 May 00:23
Good review, thanks for sharing your experiences with the Clios, I've toyed with the idea of getting a 182 before but It just wouldn't be practical enough for me at the moment. Have you experienced any reliability issues with any of them?
Not sure this is true though -
Not sure this is true though -
tjob said:
The good thing was the fuel economy. It was best when being ragged senseless
No reliability issues, but then again I've never kept them long enough!
The fuel thing on the 182 confused me, but at the time £20 did 120 miles on a run but in town it would only get me 100...(rough figures).
As for them being broken or not as bad as a 205, yes a 205 is probably worse, but doesn't mean all 182's are broken...
The fuel thing on the 182 confused me, but at the time £20 did 120 miles on a run but in town it would only get me 100...(rough figures).
As for them being broken or not as bad as a 205, yes a 205 is probably worse, but doesn't mean all 182's are broken...
Exactly my thoughts. I wonder how long until he discovers the Megane range What tyres did you have on the rear of your 182 cup? Pressures also make a huge difference. Were the rear shocks knackered as this can leads to floatiness at the rear over bumps.
When I first got my 182, it had cheap Chinese tyres on it and I had similar issues. I stuck some Michelin Pilot Exaltos on there, mucked about with the pressures and it's night and day difference. Absolutely planted at the rear.
When I first got my 182, it had cheap Chinese tyres on it and I had similar issues. I stuck some Michelin Pilot Exaltos on there, mucked about with the pressures and it's night and day difference. Absolutely planted at the rear.
Very nice.. always had a soft spot for the 172's / 182's and now these new shape Clio's - I think they've always looked fantastic. Have to admit the only one I've ever been in was a 172 and whilst I thought it was great fun, the short gearing would have driven me insane on a longer drive - presumably things are better these days and they either have longer gearing or a 6 speed box?
Isn't there a Smart Roadster edited out of your car history or am I mistaking you for someone else? I had a Clio 172 for a while and totally recognised it when you said "helium baloon controlled by a 2 year old" lol. I felt the same as you on country roads, the back end was too loose for my liking and took for the fun out of things. Obviously that's knackered any claim I have to being a driving god!
Good luck with the racing by the way!
Edited by moribund on Tuesday 22 May 13:05
Butter Face said:
Any idea of the original reg of your white one? I think I sold that new!!
WL57 KKM I thinkAnd no, I've never had a smart roadster! Haha
The 200 and 197's have 6 speed which makes motorway and fast B roads good and not too noisy.
The 200 as mentioned has low down torque where the 197 lacked, it always demanded downshifts where as the 200 can if wanted just stay in a lower gear to carry it through
The turn in feels much better than the 197 too, the 197 was actually lowered 40mm which I'm not convinced helped much, but it was already done when I got it...
The noise from the 200 is better too
tjob said:
Butter Face said:
Any idea of the original reg of your white one? I think I sold that new!!
WL57 KKM I think
Was delivered to it's first owner on 26/01/2008 by me.
Couple of pics when it was sat in our compund pre-delivery.
Looked awesome with the optional kit on it, never seen another!
I'm temporarily out of my Alien Green 200 as it needs to sell so I can get another!
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