Blue Baguette - Clio RS 200
Discussion
For many years I’ve had larger cars, partly as a general preference but also to carry dogs and family stuff. The more interesting highlights have been several Octavia vRS hatchbacks and an estate, and a lovely B7 RS4 Avant. Before children we also had a low mileage Z4 M coupe which was amazing, and so far the only car I’ve ever made money on at sale time. I do also have an E28 M5 as a modern classic/weekend car which is a keeper, and has its own thread somewhere here.
Anyway, a year ago I slightly rashly decided to sell my daily E39 530i Touring as my commute mileage was increasing, and I leased a new model Octavia 1.5 SE-L estate for two years. It’s a very competent, comfortable and economical car with some interesting tech (which I’m generally not that bothered about), but, as my wife helpfully pointed out, it is a bit boring.
Just four months into the lease and my work location suddenly changed again, and my commute dropped from a 25 mile round trip to 2 miles! All of a sudden I wish I’d kept the E39, and a year in to the two year lease I’ve covered less than 4,000 miles in the Octavia. Doh.
Recently a friend of mine took me out for a decent run in his fabulous Clio Trophy, and I instantly saw the sense in a small, light hatchback that was fun to drive but useable as a low mileage daily, still reasonably practical and could also do the odd track day when the urge arises. I realised I needed some French Tat in my life…
Following some intensive research and deciding that a Clio 200 with cup pack and preferably Recaros would be ideal, I found that I had a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic specialist not far away in Sittingbourne. After making contact I learned that he was soon going to be collecting a lovely looking Racing Blue ‘full fat’ car with some good options on it so I jumped in with both feet and a couple of weeks later collected this and popped straight round to show my Trophy owning buddy:
It’s a well-specced car with the cup pack suspension/steering, Recaro seats, Speedline wheels, Cup spoiler, built in TomTom navigation (I do like retro tech!), projector headlights and ‘Carbon Pack’ interior facia trim.
It’s also been fitted with a Milltek resonated exhaust, and the previous owner added a splitter, some fairly subtle side skirts, Grams lowering springs and hubcentric spacers. It also has a nice retrimmed leather/alcantara wheel and came with the CL10 plate which I like.
I’ve done a few quick jobs since bringing it home - removed the extraneous ‘Cup’ badge on the boot lid, added a more sensible aerial and removed the (Maxton Design) side skirts for a slightly more subtle (ha!) look.
World’s smallest aerial
Became
After a wash with the side skirts removed
|https://thumbsnap.com/swBBXGwT[/url]
Anyway, a year ago I slightly rashly decided to sell my daily E39 530i Touring as my commute mileage was increasing, and I leased a new model Octavia 1.5 SE-L estate for two years. It’s a very competent, comfortable and economical car with some interesting tech (which I’m generally not that bothered about), but, as my wife helpfully pointed out, it is a bit boring.
Just four months into the lease and my work location suddenly changed again, and my commute dropped from a 25 mile round trip to 2 miles! All of a sudden I wish I’d kept the E39, and a year in to the two year lease I’ve covered less than 4,000 miles in the Octavia. Doh.
Recently a friend of mine took me out for a decent run in his fabulous Clio Trophy, and I instantly saw the sense in a small, light hatchback that was fun to drive but useable as a low mileage daily, still reasonably practical and could also do the odd track day when the urge arises. I realised I needed some French Tat in my life…
Following some intensive research and deciding that a Clio 200 with cup pack and preferably Recaros would be ideal, I found that I had a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic specialist not far away in Sittingbourne. After making contact I learned that he was soon going to be collecting a lovely looking Racing Blue ‘full fat’ car with some good options on it so I jumped in with both feet and a couple of weeks later collected this and popped straight round to show my Trophy owning buddy:
It’s a well-specced car with the cup pack suspension/steering, Recaro seats, Speedline wheels, Cup spoiler, built in TomTom navigation (I do like retro tech!), projector headlights and ‘Carbon Pack’ interior facia trim.
It’s also been fitted with a Milltek resonated exhaust, and the previous owner added a splitter, some fairly subtle side skirts, Grams lowering springs and hubcentric spacers. It also has a nice retrimmed leather/alcantara wheel and came with the CL10 plate which I like.
I’ve done a few quick jobs since bringing it home - removed the extraneous ‘Cup’ badge on the boot lid, added a more sensible aerial and removed the (Maxton Design) side skirts for a slightly more subtle (ha!) look.
World’s smallest aerial
Became
After a wash with the side skirts removed
|https://thumbsnap.com/swBBXGwT[/url]Edited by sutts on Wednesday 11th August 14:53
Thanks, yes they’re quite amazing on a B road aren’t they with the short gearing and incredible handling! Love my mate’s 182 Trophy and I’m sure you are loving yours too.
The interior of mine was generally in really good shape - Recaros showing little wear, the wheel came up well after a clean and the ‘carbon’ (not really) trim is nice. It has an upgraded factory stereo that links to the TomTom via Bluetooth so I can still make calls handsfree and stream music etc. There is also a built in USB port which is handy.
I have also updated the TomTom to 2021 European maps and it shows traffic reports, accidents and speed cameras etc.
The interior of mine was generally in really good shape - Recaros showing little wear, the wheel came up well after a clean and the ‘carbon’ (not really) trim is nice. It has an upgraded factory stereo that links to the TomTom via Bluetooth so I can still make calls handsfree and stream music etc. There is also a built in USB port which is handy.
I have also updated the TomTom to 2021 European maps and it shows traffic reports, accidents and speed cameras etc.
ChrisCh86 said:
Very nice!
Lovely colour too. How do you find the seats?
Looks very much like my Alba Blue RS 200.Lovely colour too. How do you find the seats?
The seats are a blessing and a curse. They are super comfy, look great, but the bolster wears out if you look at it wrong, and the kids scuffed up the rears on mine.
I believe the fabric can be ordered to re-upholster them though.
Lovely car OP. Prices seem to be holding quite well on the RS200s
Rawhide said:
ChrisCh86 said:
Very nice!
Lovely colour too. How do you find the seats?
Looks very much like my Alba Blue RS 200.Lovely colour too. How do you find the seats?
The seats are a blessing and a curse. They are super comfy, look great, but the bolster wears out if you look at it wrong, and the kids scuffed up the rears on mine.
I believe the fabric can be ordered to re-upholster them though.
Lovely car OP. Prices seem to be holding quite well on the RS200s
I’m finding the seats excellent so far - I seem to fit in them well, but wouldn’t want to put on any weight! Having had an RS4 with the wing back Recaros I’m used to kind of dropping into the seat and mostly avoiding rubbing the bolsters.
Amazingly there is a trimmer a mile away from me near Maidstone that has a stock of the correct grey fabric and has done a number of seats for the specialist I bought it from (Sam at Pitlane Performance). My driver’s side is a little worn but not at all bad, and it’s good to know there is somewhere nearby as and when it wants doing.
I’m the same about black wheels normally but agree these do look good with the other black bits on the car. They’re completely unkerbed at present, but in the future if they need a refurb I think I would consider a very dark anthracite.
The spoiler is definitely a bit marmite, but I think suits the cup racer style of the car with the lowering and wider wheels etc.
The spoiler is definitely a bit marmite, but I think suits the cup racer style of the car with the lowering and wider wheels etc.
Pretty much identical to the one I had. Company car meant I didn't have room on the drive for it. I miss it. Great car but crappy fuel economy.
It was one of those cars that wasn't perfect. Was a bit meh at lower rpms and the gearbox didn't like to b rushed, but it got under your skin. Great little car with enough power and great handling.
It was one of those cars that wasn't perfect. Was a bit meh at lower rpms and the gearbox didn't like to b rushed, but it got under your skin. Great little car with enough power and great handling.
Cheers all. Economy is certainly not going to win any awards but it’s better than my old V8 RS4 (not unexpected!) and also E39 530 Touring, so I still feel like I’m winning slightly 
The gearbox on this one was rebuilt with new synchro rings about 18 months ago and I’m treating it with care. From what I can gather these cars perform much better once fully warmed up, including the gearbox, and a change to Redline fluid also helps a lot so I will be doing that at the next service I think.
The gear change on my E28 M5 is looong and therefore fairly slow, so I’m quite used to not rushing through the gears. Chris Harris demonstrated it perfectly in the video he made of his M5 about 9 years ago, and well worth a watch if you get ten minutes.
The gearbox on this one was rebuilt with new synchro rings about 18 months ago and I’m treating it with care. From what I can gather these cars perform much better once fully warmed up, including the gearbox, and a change to Redline fluid also helps a lot so I will be doing that at the next service I think.
The gear change on my E28 M5 is looong and therefore fairly slow, so I’m quite used to not rushing through the gears. Chris Harris demonstrated it perfectly in the video he made of his M5 about 9 years ago, and well worth a watch if you get ten minutes.
Edited by sutts on Wednesday 25th August 15:18
I had a red one for a while when they were relatively new. I got rid in the end as it just wasn't suited to motorway driving (I stupidly should've gone a bit further on a test run, really.) as I remember it the revs sitting at about 3k at 70 and the drone being pretty annoying. Whats it like with the Miltek?
Overall reminded me of an FN2 Type R. Ridiculously good at 8/10ths but pretty tiring under "normal circumstances"
Overall reminded me of an FN2 Type R. Ridiculously good at 8/10ths but pretty tiring under "normal circumstances"
It’s a resonated Milltek with the centre box, so the drone really isn’t too bad, although I imagine on a really long motorway run it would start to intrude a little. Otherwise the exhaust sounds good - not too loud, quite deep, and with the odd natural crackle occasionally.
As a later car I believe the gear ratios were revised with a slightly longer 6th gear, and 70 mph is just under 3k rpm yes. The lower gears are still super short and I’m amazed how quickly it approaches the red line in second and third without doing ridiculous speeds.
As a later car I believe the gear ratios were revised with a slightly longer 6th gear, and 70 mph is just under 3k rpm yes. The lower gears are still super short and I’m amazed how quickly it approaches the red line in second and third without doing ridiculous speeds.
Edited by sutts on Wednesday 25th August 15:51
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