RE: Clio Renaultsport 197/200: PH buying guide
Discussion
I made the mistake of buying into the hype for these in January, a very expensive mistake. (200 Full Fat with the cup pack)
The most miserable 5 months motoring I've ever had. At anything less than 9/10ths it was a dire road car, aweful on the motorways, horrendous ride everywhere, uncomfortable, totally feel-less (unless you're 'on it'), poorly built, poorly designed (cupholders that require you to tilt your coffee to put them in), noisy, poorly mapped, uneconomical and totally gutless around town. I hated it with a passion.
On a track i'm sure its wonderful, when a journalist test drives it across the welsh mountains im sure its pretty good - but as a road car be very wary.
But the fan boys and journo's rave about them, suckering everyone in. Theres a suprising amount with many many owners on the logbook - for good reason.
On the plus side it did look nice, the bluetooth was easy and it came across very nice on the first couple of days.
The most miserable 5 months motoring I've ever had. At anything less than 9/10ths it was a dire road car, aweful on the motorways, horrendous ride everywhere, uncomfortable, totally feel-less (unless you're 'on it'), poorly built, poorly designed (cupholders that require you to tilt your coffee to put them in), noisy, poorly mapped, uneconomical and totally gutless around town. I hated it with a passion.
On a track i'm sure its wonderful, when a journalist test drives it across the welsh mountains im sure its pretty good - but as a road car be very wary.
But the fan boys and journo's rave about them, suckering everyone in. Theres a suprising amount with many many owners on the logbook - for good reason.
On the plus side it did look nice, the bluetooth was easy and it came across very nice on the first couple of days.
davidc1 said:
I had a new 197 cup from mar08 to may 12.
Apart from the air con needing a regas and a bulb going in the dash. Was totally reliable.
Replaced it with a 200 with cup , which I still have.
I get between 32/35mpg from both. 200 has more mid range.
200 has been totally reliable.
Good fun cars , on the rare occasions you can have a play on the commute.
I got the 200 on a hunch the new one would be a munter!
However , I kick myself everyday - I should have held the 197 and bought a boxster spyder .... Hindsight.
Maybe I can put that plan into action if Porsche make another...
Both my gearboxes are fine. The later box from late 07 is the one , so would not touch an early car.
The 200 with cup is a v hard riding car , harder that 197 cup set up
And the quicker steering rack on 200 cup gives an ocean liner turning circle..
They look the t*ts too , a rare sight on the road.
David
My wife has a Clio 200 (full fat but with cup chassis) as her company car. To be honest we are quite glad to see it go in October as not been massively impressed. Has the car coming up to 4 years and has lots of problems: Gearbox, new steering rack, clutch and couple of other things. Main issues has been the poor level of service from Renault as their garages cannot diagnose any issues.Apart from the air con needing a regas and a bulb going in the dash. Was totally reliable.
Replaced it with a 200 with cup , which I still have.
I get between 32/35mpg from both. 200 has more mid range.
200 has been totally reliable.
Good fun cars , on the rare occasions you can have a play on the commute.
I got the 200 on a hunch the new one would be a munter!
However , I kick myself everyday - I should have held the 197 and bought a boxster spyder .... Hindsight.
Maybe I can put that plan into action if Porsche make another...
Both my gearboxes are fine. The later box from late 07 is the one , so would not touch an early car.
The 200 with cup is a v hard riding car , harder that 197 cup set up
And the quicker steering rack on 200 cup gives an ocean liner turning circle..
They look the t*ts too , a rare sight on the road.
David
We love the car when we the perfect road comes up but as a daily its a bit frustrating when you have to be on the boil every time if you want to make progress.
Thought I would love the car but maybe coming from a 385bhp Evo VIII was maybe not the best thing, although the fuel economy was about 10mpg better.
George
PS David you should have put your money into the Spyder, we have one as our weekend car and its absolutely cracking with solid residuals and the ability to keep up with GT3's on the right road, even going up in price now. First car that we have had that has not costs us loads in depreciation :-)
I've had my 200 Cup for coming up two years and really like it. It's my third having previously owned a 172 Cup and 182 Cup.
The ride can be harsh and noisy but as I only drive on weekends it's not an issue. I can see how it could get a bit too much if you drove a lot.
Doubt I will buy any more though as the only issues I've had have been with the dealer in Newcastle. Probably the worst I've ever dealt with.
The ride can be harsh and noisy but as I only drive on weekends it's not an issue. I can see how it could get a bit too much if you drove a lot.
Doubt I will buy any more though as the only issues I've had have been with the dealer in Newcastle. Probably the worst I've ever dealt with.
Defcon5 said:
Big fan of these - potential gearbox issues are off putting though.
Did they get revised after a certain date?
Renault should replace the gerabox under warranty. Seem to remember it was syncro between 3rd and 4th that goes. The car was in and out in a day though and was fine ever since.Did they get revised after a certain date?
We sold ours (the wifes) 2 months ago. I had a 182 before that which felt easier and therefore quicker to drive across country. The 200 always felt to pointy and nervous for backroads. The front end grip is huge for a FWD car though!
Running costs were sensible, no serious problems in 40k (other than gearbox). The rubber seals on the B posts deteriorate and tear over time but only cost £6 each to replace.
crosseyedlion said:
I made the mistake of buying into the hype for these in January, a very expensive mistake. (200 Full Fat with the cup pack)
The most miserable 5 months motoring I've ever had. At anything less than 9/10ths it was a dire road car, aweful on the motorways, horrendous ride everywhere, uncomfortable, totally feel-less (unless you're 'on it'), poorly built, poorly designed (cupholders that require you to tilt your coffee to put them in), noisy, poorly mapped, uneconomical and totally gutless around town. I hated it with a passion.
On a track i'm sure its wonderful, when a journalist test drives it across the welsh mountains im sure its pretty good - but as a road car be very wary.
But the fan boys and journo's rave about them, suckering everyone in. Theres a suprising amount with many many owners on the logbook - for good reason.
On the plus side it did look nice, the bluetooth was easy and it came across very nice on the first couple of days.
Was the hype around these cars not about how they drove as a driver’s car, not at how well they did as a day to day run about?The most miserable 5 months motoring I've ever had. At anything less than 9/10ths it was a dire road car, aweful on the motorways, horrendous ride everywhere, uncomfortable, totally feel-less (unless you're 'on it'), poorly built, poorly designed (cupholders that require you to tilt your coffee to put them in), noisy, poorly mapped, uneconomical and totally gutless around town. I hated it with a passion.
On a track i'm sure its wonderful, when a journalist test drives it across the welsh mountains im sure its pretty good - but as a road car be very wary.
But the fan boys and journo's rave about them, suckering everyone in. Theres a suprising amount with many many owners on the logbook - for good reason.
On the plus side it did look nice, the bluetooth was easy and it came across very nice on the first couple of days.
I think it is unfair to criticise a car designed to be driver focused and raw because it didn’t do commuting and comfort well. More down to your own decision making.
For me, this must be one of the last cars that captures to essence of cars like the 205GTi, AX GT, Clio Williams and co.
Possibly the last of the analogue hot hatches in a now digital age, with all the pros and cons that brings.
I'm sure in 10 years the good ones will be quite sought after, if not already.
Possibly the last of the analogue hot hatches in a now digital age, with all the pros and cons that brings.
I'm sure in 10 years the good ones will be quite sought after, if not already.
douglasgdmw said:
davidc1 said:
I had a new 197 cup from mar08 to may 12.
Apart from the air con needing a regas and a bulb going in the dash. Was totally reliable.
Replaced it with a 200 with cup , which I still have.
I get between 32/35mpg from both. 200 has more mid range.
200 has been totally reliable.
Good fun cars , on the rare occasions you can have a play on the commute.
I got the 200 on a hunch the new one would be a munter!
However , I kick myself everyday - I should have held the 197 and bought a boxster spyder .... Hindsight.
Maybe I can put that plan into action if Porsche make another...
Both my gearboxes are fine. The later box from late 07 is the one , so would not touch an early car.
The 200 with cup is a v hard riding car , harder that 197 cup set up
And the quicker steering rack on 200 cup gives an ocean liner turning circle..
They look the t*ts too , a rare sight on the road.
David
My wife has a Clio 200 (full fat but with cup chassis) as her company car. To be honest we are quite glad to see it go in October as not been massively impressed. Has the car coming up to 4 years and has lots of problems: Gearbox, new steering rack, clutch and couple of other things. Main issues has been the poor level of service from Renault as their garages cannot diagnose any issues.Apart from the air con needing a regas and a bulb going in the dash. Was totally reliable.
Replaced it with a 200 with cup , which I still have.
I get between 32/35mpg from both. 200 has more mid range.
200 has been totally reliable.
Good fun cars , on the rare occasions you can have a play on the commute.
I got the 200 on a hunch the new one would be a munter!
However , I kick myself everyday - I should have held the 197 and bought a boxster spyder .... Hindsight.
Maybe I can put that plan into action if Porsche make another...
Both my gearboxes are fine. The later box from late 07 is the one , so would not touch an early car.
The 200 with cup is a v hard riding car , harder that 197 cup set up
And the quicker steering rack on 200 cup gives an ocean liner turning circle..
They look the t*ts too , a rare sight on the road.
David
We love the car when we the perfect road comes up but as a daily its a bit frustrating when you have to be on the boil every time if you want to make progress.
Thought I would love the car but maybe coming from a 385bhp Evo VIII was maybe not the best thing, although the fuel economy was about 10mpg better.
George
PS David you should have put your money into the Spyder, we have one as our weekend car and its absolutely cracking with solid residuals and the ability to keep up with GT3's on the right road, even going up in price now. First car that we have had that has not costs us loads in depreciation :-)
i know , i was waiting 3 years ago for a flat to sell , and this didnt happen until after they stopped building the spyder...
i am now in position to buy , but want to buy the car new , to my spec.
enjoy your one!!
Tickle said:
Was the hype around these cars not about how they drove as a driver’s car, not at how well they did as a day to day run about?
I think it is unfair to criticise a car designed to be driver focused and raw because it didn’t do commuting and comfort well. More down to your own decision making.
I have had a few hot hatches before and loved them (alfa 145 cloverleafs and mk2 golf gtis), because they where still good hatches. Which is the point of a hatch.I think it is unfair to criticise a car designed to be driver focused and raw because it didn’t do commuting and comfort well. More down to your own decision making.
The car was primarily designed to be a fwd practical hatch, a job it became absolutely woeful at with the massive compromises to chase laptimes and emissions figures. As a fwd hatch It should do commuting and comfort to a reasonable level - especially as it was only a good drivers car at the limit (as good as a fwd can be, a non-sporting rwd is more enjoyable...just slower point to point). Reaching that limit was hard work as it was so gutless.
The fact is, if its your only car for probably 95% of driving the clio rs is terrible, not just poor but to the point where you hate driving (I did). Its the only car I've ever had which made me in a worse mood than when I set off without fail.
If you want a raw/focussed car that isn't that good at commuting or popping to the shops you buy a rwd sports car, not a hatch.
Its overweight, slow, 28mpg at 80 (its worse on fuel on the motorway than around town), the gearing is terrible, it kangaroos down the road when cold if running on anything but fresh super, its not that the suspension is too hard (although it is hard) - the amount of travel is terrible and really hampers progress.
Generally its those that haven't really had anything better or live in the sticks and drive like a maniac everywhere that think they're brilliant.
crosseyedlion said:
I made the mistake of buying into the hype for these in January, a very expensive mistake. (200 Full Fat with the cup pack)
The most miserable 5 months motoring I've ever had. At anything less than 9/10ths it was a dire road car, aweful on the motorways, horrendous ride everywhere, uncomfortable, totally feel-less (unless you're 'on it'), poorly built, poorly designed (cupholders that require you to tilt your coffee to put them in), noisy, poorly mapped, uneconomical and totally gutless around town. I hated it with a passion.
On a track i'm sure its wonderful, when a journalist test drives it across the welsh mountains im sure its pretty good - but as a road car be very wary.
But the fan boys and journo's rave about them, suckering everyone in. Theres a suprising amount with many many owners on the logbook - for good reason.
On the plus side it did look nice, the bluetooth was easy and it came across very nice on the first couple of days.
Really? As someone who has an F40...a GTR...and a 197 F1 I completely disagree!The most miserable 5 months motoring I've ever had. At anything less than 9/10ths it was a dire road car, aweful on the motorways, horrendous ride everywhere, uncomfortable, totally feel-less (unless you're 'on it'), poorly built, poorly designed (cupholders that require you to tilt your coffee to put them in), noisy, poorly mapped, uneconomical and totally gutless around town. I hated it with a passion.
On a track i'm sure its wonderful, when a journalist test drives it across the welsh mountains im sure its pretty good - but as a road car be very wary.
But the fan boys and journo's rave about them, suckering everyone in. Theres a suprising amount with many many owners on the logbook - for good reason.
On the plus side it did look nice, the bluetooth was easy and it came across very nice on the first couple of days.
I bought it back in 2007 and simply can't sell it as it's such a fantastic car!
Sure...it doesn't have much torque and needs to be revved a bit...but I have as much fun in the Clio (if not more!) 90% of the time. Just have it above 4k revs all the time - problem solved.
It's also been extremely reliable - I have never had any problems with it...and 40k miles on there are no squeaks or rattles at all.
And yes it's noisey, uneconomical and has a stiff ride - what do you expect? If it didn't it would just be a 1.4 Clio.
I made the mistake of selling my Trophy for a 200. Regretted it almost instantly.
I think renaultsport have gone too far with their road cars now. They're just too capable and need masses of speed/commitment to move around. God knows how fast you must have to pedal a Megane for it to come alive. Great fun for about 1% of the time if your lucky and the (smooth, the cup cant deal with bumps) twisty road ahead is clear.
I used to laugh everyday in the Trophy. I think I cracked a smile once on track with 200.
<shuffles off and looks at trophy classifieds again>
I think renaultsport have gone too far with their road cars now. They're just too capable and need masses of speed/commitment to move around. God knows how fast you must have to pedal a Megane for it to come alive. Great fun for about 1% of the time if your lucky and the (smooth, the cup cant deal with bumps) twisty road ahead is clear.
I used to laugh everyday in the Trophy. I think I cracked a smile once on track with 200.
<shuffles off and looks at trophy classifieds again>
crosseyedlion said:
gregf40 said:
Just have it above 4k revs all the time - problem solved.
Have it over 4k most of the time on normal roads with normal traffic? I'm not into driving like a joyrider around town.I would like to think that most of us on here go for drives for driving sake rather than too and from places.
gregf40 said:
Tickle said:
Drive it out of town?
I would like to think that most of us on here go for drives for driving sake rather than too and from places.
Some people are more concerned with cup holder design.I would like to think that most of us on here go for drives for driving sake rather than too and from places.
One thing to note though which isn't mentioned in the powertrain bit is these are well known along with the rest of the Clio Renaultsport range (not heard anything on the new RS turbo mind) that they never make their power and usually a good 20bhp down. The 200 is very much usually around the 180 mark.
Roma101 said:
I'll get it in early - fantastic car to drive. I wouldn't have one as a daily, but would keep it as a second or third car for when I wanted to actually go and have a drive.
I have one as my only car and I just make every journey a drive! Petrol wise I manage 28MPG average which on the face of it looks bad but I usually end a commute to or from work a lot happier than when I sat in the car - definitely wakes me up in the morning 
(Milltek helps with that)I agree there is a lot of hype about these, a great blasting car, yes, hut compromised as a daily road car as many have said.
The hype has also made people want silly money for them. There are private sale cars in the trader from 2011 with say 20k miles on that people want 12k for. When the 200 was released, no one bought them and Renault dealers did them for 13k with cup pack in solid colour, and interest free finance! People wanting 10k for them near 5 years later are having a laugh.
A nice 182 with decent spec for 3 or 4k is still steep, but makes a better buy IMHO.
The hype has also made people want silly money for them. There are private sale cars in the trader from 2011 with say 20k miles on that people want 12k for. When the 200 was released, no one bought them and Renault dealers did them for 13k with cup pack in solid colour, and interest free finance! People wanting 10k for them near 5 years later are having a laugh.
A nice 182 with decent spec for 3 or 4k is still steep, but makes a better buy IMHO.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff