RE: Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup vs Ford Fiesta ST

[Red 4]

magooagain said:

Red 4 said:

magooagain said:

I have a white Clio rs 200 on a 2011 plate. It sits in my barn most of the week,it may get used once a week by the mrs.

I still don't know if it's a cup model mind,it says nothing on the log book.

Er, if it's a Cup it will be as sparse as a mud hut inside.

If it's a full fat 200 with a Cup chassis it will have red (Brembo) callipers.

If it's a standard 200 it will have silver calipers and sit a bit higher.

Ok thanks. Seems I have a full fat rs 200 cup chassis then.

You do.

Body coloured rubbing strips, piano black door mirrors and front fogs are the other external clues.

Climate control (and a different dash ) also confirm you have the ultimate Renaultsport Clio 200.

There are other models though ! I never really understood the Gordini. I thought it looked crap compared to what you have ( you just need some Recaros, a set of Speedines and a roof spoiler ).

Nice car.

Edited by Red 4 on Wednesday 26th December 01:10

[magooagain]

Yep it's got the fog lights. Thanks.

[gigglebug]

Red 4 said:

Hmm. Good question.

To be fair I only owned mine for a year and sold it when it was 2 years old.

I had zero issues with the car reliability wise. It was driven hard.

However, as these are not new cars now you are (obviously) looking for an older car .

The Clio RS200 probably isn't any more unreliable than any other hot hatch of the same age.

Show me a performance car that has no built in/ design flaws ... Focus ST, block issues, weak driveshafts, ABS pump, etc etc.
Civic Type R, rusting doors, dodgy clutches, etc etc
The list goes on ...

They do have synchro issues and need regular cambelt and dephaser changes.
That's about it really.
The interior does feel cheap though. If you're handy with superglue and cable ties you'll probably be OK
Just look for the best car you can find (one that has been really well looked after) and be prepared for it to throw you the odd bill.
Same applies to any older car ...

If you are happy to sacrifice refinement for the best handling small hatch of the era they are definitely worth a look.

Edited by Red 4 on Tuesday 25th December 14:47

Thank you for the reply. A bit more research into the differing options available on a few forums has certainly shed new light on the examples I'd been interested in for sale in the various classifieds. I've found it slightly amusing that to many the genuine cup examples are considered to almost be the cheapskates option as oppose to being a hard-core, enthusiasts choice when compared to a full fat version with the cup package fitted. It comes across as the exact opposite to how say Porsche cars are viewed where it's a case of less is more.

It looks like a late Full Fat with the cup package, Recaros, Speedlines and the cup spoiler would be the ultimate but there doesn't appear to be a low mileage example available with all of the above as it stands.

I'll go and try the nearest cup specced car to me anyway though and see if it lives up to the praise.

[Tickle]

lee_erm said:

Tickle said:

One bugbear I did have when I had my Renault Sport Clio, was people refering to them as RS200's.

They both have plastic front wings to be fair

And both available with speedlines.

As much as loved mine I would of gladly swapped it for a actual RS200

[magooagain]

OH yes that looks smart and a very nice colour too. I have a pal that does various sticker kits for cars and I was thinking about one but can make my mind up what to have.

Mind you I might sell it in the spring.

[ezi]

Butter Face said:

blade7 said:

Red 4 said:

Show me a performance car that has no built in/ design flaws ...

Hasn’t that got the 1.6 Ecoboost that catches fire?

They are underbraked as standard too. And hilariously easy to steal.

[blade7]

ezi said:

Butter Face said:

blade7 said:

Red 4 said:

Show me a performance car that has no built in/ design flaws ...

Hasn’t that got the 1.6 Ecoboost that catches fire?

They are underbraked as standard too. And hilariously easy to steal.

Brakes are fine, and the OBD port issue is easily resolved.

[Butter Face]

blade7 said:

ezi said:

Butter Face said:

blade7 said:

Red 4 said:

Show me a performance car that has no built in/ design flaws ...

Hasn’t that got the 1.6 Ecoboost that catches fire?

They are underbraked as standard too. And hilariously easy to steal.

Brakes are fine, and the OBD port issue is easily resolved.

But would you say the OBD port issue is a ‘built in design flaw’ or not?

[Ahbefive]

Butter Face said:

But would you say the OBD port issue is a ‘built in design flaw’ or not?

That is an issue found in every car on sale for the last 15years. It's like saying that it is an "in built design flaw" that cars use fuel or the tyres wear out or they require a cambelt etc etc.

[Red 4]

Butter Face said:

But would you say the OBD port issue is a ‘built in design flaw’ or not?

Blame the EU.

To be fair, the Renault is probably just as easy to nick as the Ford.

FF are keyless. The Cup could probably be opened by a French peasant using an onion.

[ezi]

blade7 said:

ezi said:

Butter Face said:

blade7 said:

Red 4 said:

Show me a performance car that has no built in/ design flaws ...

Hasn’t that got the 1.6 Ecoboost that catches fire?

They are underbraked as standard too. And hilariously easy to steal.

Brakes are fine, and the OBD port issue is easily resolved.

The brakes aren't fine as they are incredibly easy to get fade after just a few minutes of pushing them to the limit.

[blade7]

ezi said:

The brakes aren't fine as they are incredibly easy to get fade after just a few minutes of pushing them to the limit.

On a road car that is absolute nonsense. Have you owned a MK7 ST?

[Patrick Bateman]

Always liked the 200, swayed with swapping the Trophy for one for a while but was advised against it by those who've had both.

Would love a shot of one though, short gearing must be ideal on the roads where it excels.

[LuS1fer]

blade7 said:

ezi said:

The brakes aren't fine as they are incredibly easy to get fade after just a few minutes of pushing them to the limit.

On a road car that is absolute nonsense. Have you owned a MK7 ST?

I find the brakes perfectly adequate for road use. If I wanted to track it, I'd fit Ferodo pads but they would be overkill for a road car.

I've never seen any ST go up in flames but had a recall notice on my 13 model so swopped it for a 15 model which has no need of it. Not that there was any obvious danger of any issues that were ever apparent.
Wasn't the OBD issue to do with the ST3?
Regardless, after ST2 ownership for 3 years, nobody has ever tried to steal either one.

The only issue with my 13 model was a crap handbrake and that was a duff rear caliper on one side.

[Red 4]

LuS1fer said:

I find the brakes perfectly adequate for road use. If I wanted to track it, I'd fit Ferodo pads but they would be overkill for a road car.

Ferodo pads ? Overkill ?

Um.

Er.

Yup.

OK then.

Re; your ST3 OBD port comment - does the ST3 have a different OBD port to lesser models ?

Um.

Er.

Nope.

[smig12345]

I would take the Fiesta ST as a daily personally.

[LuS1fer]

Red 4 said:

Ferodo pads ? Overkill ?

Um.

Er.

Yup.

OK then.

Re; your ST3 OBD port comment - does the ST3 have a different OBD port to lesser models ?

Um.

Er.

Nope.

Given the ST is built to a price and DS2500 pads, front and rear are about £250 a set, in a world where Ford think nothing of saving pennies, it seems largely inconceivable that Ford would need to fit them as standard given that the vast amount of ST buyers will never have an issue with the ones they fit.
I have seen no evidence of a plethora of STs buried in hedges or lamp-posts to cause significant alarm and in 3 years, I have never had cause to even mildly worry about the brakes. there again, good drivers don't need to drive on the brakes all the time.

Agree the OBD point, I was confusing it with the continual signal on the ST3 fob, allowing thieves to capture the signal, even inside the house, unless a Faraday bag is used. Again, never had a single issue or attempt to steal my STs,in 3 years and the only cases I have ever dealt with, revolving around STs tends to be theft of the body kits. Can't actually recall any case,in the past 5 years,involving an ST being stolen - not that I am saying it doesn't happen but car thieves tend to target high value cars like Audis and Mercs and classic cars.

[mooseracer]

Isn't the particular issue with the Fiesta that it's ODB port is in an alarm 'dead zone'?

[MrTouring]

Red 4 said:

gigglebug said:

It has been very interesting to read the comments from the genuine owners of these.

I've put a 200 cup with Recaros and Akrapovic on my shortlist for my next runabout car but having read this thread I'm now having second thoughts as to whether it would make sense or not. I see it as a car that I wouldn't be tempted to modify as it ticks all of my relevant boxes as standard but I have genuine concerns now that it might be too fragile/expensive to maintain when used as a daily driver?

A spartan, dull interior wouldn't be of any concern, it will be replacing a Puma so not a great deal to live up to if I'm honest. Would these hold up to doing 8000 miles a year without throwing up expensive bills or are they just best left for being occasional weekend toys?

Hmm. Good question.

To be fair I only owned mine for a year and sold it when it was 2 years old.

I had zero issues with the car reliability wise. It was driven hard.

However, as these are not new cars now you are (obviously) looking for an older car .

The Clio RS200 probably isn't any more unreliable than any other hot hatch of the same age.

Show me a performance car that has no built in/ design flaws ... Focus ST, block issues, weak driveshafts, ABS pump, etc etc.
Civic Type R, rusting doors, dodgy clutches, etc etc
The list goes on ...

They do have synchro issues and need regular cambelt and dephaser changes.
That's about it really.
The interior does feel cheap though. If you're handy with superglue and cable ties you'll probably be OK
Just look for the best car you can find (one that has been really well looked after) and be prepared for it to throw you the odd bill.
Same applies to any older car ...

If you are happy to sacrifice refinement for the best handling small hatch of the era they are definitely worth a look.

Edited by Red 4 on Tuesday 25th December 14:47

Where are you in the uk?

I have a white FF cup with recaros and akrapovic you’re welcome to have a go in

It’s my daily runaround and I still haven’t stopped grinning!

[gigglebug]

MrTouring said:

Where are you in the uk?

I have a white FF cup with recaros and akrapovic you’re welcome to have a go in

It’s my daily runaround and I still haven’t stopped grinning!

Many thanks for the offer, I'm in South Norfolk.