RE: The best used Renault Sport cars to buy in 2021

[The Vambo]

SeekerOfTruthAndPies said:

I had a Mark 2 Clio 172 once - only car I've ever spun. I was driving like a fool in the rain though.

Your rear damper were likely shot too, how do I know?

You were driving a Clio 172

[The Vambo]

plenty said:

DrWildare said:

It still amazes me people continually praise the Megane F1 R26 when the first Megane F1 Team Limited Edition RS225 was a superior vehicle and more exclusive the Alpine Blue was also a far more becoming colour than Victory Yellow.

among other inaccuracies, neither “Alpine Blue” nor “Victory Yellow” are actual names of colours.

Defeat yellow?

[pinseeker]

I had an RS 172 Exclusive which I sold for an 8L S3. Never have forgiven myself, I loved that little Clio.

[Derek182]

Darren61 said:

Was this YS54RVT by any chance?

I did own YS54RVT but it wasn't the one I bought new in 2005, that was WP05BYY!
Trying to remember when I had YS54RVT, I think I had just sold a rally car and was looking for something fun for weekend fast road/trackdays. It was quite a tidy example, standard interior, spax coilovers, uprated engine mounts, an exhaust and a remap if I remember correctly. I do remember a great day in it at Silverstone GP, it was so well set up and carried great speed through the corners

[Darren61]

Derek182 said:

Darren61 said:

Was this YS54RVT by any chance?

I did own YS54RVT but it wasn't the one I bought new in 2005, that was WP05BYY!
Trying to remember when I had YS54RVT, I think I had just sold a rally car and was looking for something fun for weekend fast road/trackdays. It was quite a tidy example, standard interior, spax coilovers, uprated engine mounts, an exhaust and a remap if I remember correctly. I do remember a great day in it at Silverstone GP, it was so well set up and carried great speed through the corners

Ahh I thought it was you by the username. I own YS54RVT now and you’re right it was/still is a tidy example. The chap I bought it off, showed me some pics of it initially and I think they were your pics as it talked about a Westfield as a replacement. The Spax Coilovers were pretty crusty and unloved when I got it. But other than that it was great and I’ve just been giving it the TLC it needs.

It’s actually now a dedicated track car (and garage queen). Rear cage, buckets, harnesses etc. Really love the colour and way it drives when I get the chance to take it on track! Here I am at Donington last year...

If you’re on Instagram, it’s got a dedicated page @clio182cup if you fancy seeing some more of the progress...

[Derek182]

Glad to see it's looking good, I may join Instagram just to look at it!
I had to put 2 new front Spax on it when I bought it, they really don't seem to be a long-term, reliable proposition!
Yes replaced it with a Westfield, most awesome car I've ever owned, had a 180bhp Zetec in it until it put a rod out the side of the block on the main straight at Snetterton! Replaced it with a 200 bhp ST170 motor, ran out of money and sold it.
I've just bought a Clio 200 Cup to be my daily/occasional track car, I'm booked at Bedford on 17th April and Snetterton on 2nd June, can't wait!

[white_goodman]

I like the Clio 182s but I still struggle with the idea of paying 4-5k for one. Quite tempted by a mk3 Clio RS200 though. Stiffer shell, more power, more modern tech and chassis technology. Seen a few around which look decent for around 5k, up to 10k for a really mint, low mileage one. Genuinely not sure if I would go for one of them or a mk7 Fiesta ST for the money. Which is the better car?

[plenty]

white_goodman said:

I like the Clio 182s but I still struggle with the idea of paying 4-5k for one. Quite tempted by a mk3 Clio RS200 though. Stiffer shell, more power, more modern tech and chassis technology.

I paid more than that for my 182. It replaced a Lotus Evora as my primary weekend car, and it's not a downgrade. But then I do prefer small, light, older and rawer cars with less tech.

Note an RS200 has slightly more power but it also has 100 kgs more to lug around, so power to weight is actually slightly down compared to a 1x2.

[white_goodman]

That's very true. Still quicker stock around a track though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBF83bhOxbE

and managed to keep a hard-driven Focus RS honest on a twisty "B-road".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae4RqTW5UDU

[plenty]

Yes the 197/200 platform is far more advanced than the 1x2, including for example the Revo-knuckle style front swivel joints. The 1x2 is much closer in character to '80s-90s hot hatches with some rough edges such as bump steer and chronic wheelspin out of corners. Both platforms have no trouble keeping up with far more powerful machinery on your average B-road.

As always pick what floats your boat - sophisticated, planted and modern vs raw, feisty and old-school.

[Derek182]

white_goodman said:

I like the Clio 182s but I still struggle with the idea of paying 4-5k for one. Quite tempted by a mk3 Clio RS200 though. Stiffer shell, more power, more modern tech and chassis technology. Seen a few around which look decent for around 5k, up to 10k for a really mint, low mileage one. Genuinely not sure if I would go for one of them or a mk7 Fiesta ST for the money. Which is the better car?

I had a similar choice recently, looking to spend around £7500 on a fun daily/occasional track car and came down to a Mk7 ST or a Clio 200. The ST would have made a lot of sense, more modern, better tech, more economical, cheaper tax but I bought a Clio, hopefully I've bought a really good one for £6500 which doesn't get a great ST and it may still be worth £6500 in a couple of years time which an ST wouldn't be.
Overall the Clio feels a lot more special, it's rarer and I just got more excited about owning one than a Fiesta!

[white_goodman]

Derek182 said:

I had a similar choice recently, looking to spend around £7500 on a fun daily/occasional track car and came down to a Mk7 ST or a Clio 200. The ST would have made a lot of sense, more modern, better tech, more economical, cheaper tax but I bought a Clio, hopefully I've bought a really good one for £6500 which doesn't get a great ST and it may still be worth £6500 in a couple of years time which an ST wouldn't be.
Overall the Clio feels a lot more special, it's rarer and I just got more excited about owning one than a Fiesta!

The Clio is certainly rarer and possibly less of a theft target? I can see why you would think the Clio more special. Did you also try the Fiesta? I'm intrigued with how different they might drive. The Clio you would need to work harder and rev out more and the Fiesta should have a bit more low down torque/punch. The gearbox is supposed to be a bit fragile on the Clio but other than that, they're both fairly robust cars? I've owned and enjoyed cars with both types of power delivery and have owned neither a hot Renault or Ford before, so I'm genuinely not sure which one I would prefer.

[bungle]

Derek182 said:

I had a similar choice recently, looking to spend around £7500 on a fun daily/occasional track car and came down to a Mk7 ST or a Clio 200. The ST would have made a lot of sense, more modern, better tech, more economical, cheaper tax but I bought a Clio, hopefully I've bought a really good one for £6500 which doesn't get a great ST and it may still be worth £6500 in a couple of years time which an ST wouldn't be.
Overall the Clio feels a lot more special, it's rarer and I just got more excited about owning one than a Fiesta!

Same situation here. Also went for the Clio, got a great one for £4500, gets delivered today, I feel like a kid in a sweet shop!!

I'm hoping to enjoy it, and not lose a fortune on it... though like every car I buy, I always think I'll keep it forever (which in reality I won't).

[Derek182]

white_goodman said:

The Clio is certainly rarer and possibly less of a theft target? I can see why you would think the Clio more special. Did you also try the Fiesta? I'm intrigued with how different they might drive. The Clio you would need to work harder and rev out more and the Fiesta should have a bit more low down torque/punch. The gearbox is supposed to be a bit fragile on the Clio but other than that, they're both fairly robust cars? I've owned and enjoyed cars with both types of power delivery and have owned neither a hot Renault or Ford before, so I'm genuinely not sure which one I would prefer.

I didn't test drive a Fiesta, if I had I'm sure I would have liked it. Your analysis sounds right, the Fiesta would have more turbo torque lower down while I do need to rev the Clio to get it moving. The theft problem did worry me about Fiestas, as did the chocolate gearbox of the Clio, mine has had 2 gearbox rebuilds in 76000 miles, one quite recently so hopefully I'll be ok for a while.
Given that they are older cars I would look out for badly modified and/or maintained Clios, the cam belt is a £600 job if it needs doing, mine had a great history and loads of bills but I've still spent £1500 on a full check over and service at a Renaultsport specialist, including 4 new tyres, all new brakes with Ferodo 2500 pads, an extra silencer in the exhaust to keep it civilised instead of the boy racer system a previous owner had installed, gearbox oil seal, 4 wheel alignment and so on

[Court_S]

white_goodman said:

Perhaps I'm a bit out of touch with the 5k used market but could you not get something faster/more exotic for 5k? Audi TT, BMW 130i/E46 330Ci, mk5 Golf GTI, mk3 MR2, EP3 Civic Type-R, RX8/350Z, maybe even an early mk7 Fiesta ST/Mk2 Focus ST?

Edited by white_goodman on Sunday 21st March 01:25

Edited by white_goodman on Sunday 21st March 01:28

Things like the 130 seem to be going up in value; the £5k ones seem to be stters mainly (or at least they were in January when I was looking). There are some very ambitiously prices ones out there (like the £12k LE for sale at Church’s).

The RS cars have much more of a following than the 130’s did so I can see why prices are on the up.

I’ve never owned a fast Renault but have come close; I nearly bought a blue full fat 182 but we couldn’t sort the figures out and I ended up with an E46 325ti instead. Also came close to a silver 182.

Always liked the look of the 197/200 especially with the funky Recaro seats.

I love the R26R, I fact I really like that shape Megane. There was a lovely black one parked outside my little boys school today. Still looked pretty fresh.

I love the V6 Clio’s, they’re just so cool and a bit mental. I can’t believe the current prices.

Renault have done some awesome colours too as mentioned.

Edited by Court_S on Monday 29th March 20:38

[Prohibiting]

Court_S said:

white_goodman said:

Perhaps I'm a bit out of touch with the 5k used market but could you not get something faster/more exotic for 5k? Audi TT, BMW 130i/E46 330Ci, mk5 Golf GTI, mk3 MR2, EP3 Civic Type-R, RX8/350Z, maybe even an early mk7 Fiesta ST/Mk2 Focus ST?

Edited by white_goodman on Sunday 21st March 01:25

Edited by white_goodman on Sunday 21st March 01:28

Things like the 130 seem to be going up in value; the £5k ones seem to be stters mainly (or at least they were in January when I was looking). There are some very ambitiously prices ones out there (like the £12k LE for sale at Church’s).

The RS cars have much more of a following than the 130’s did so I can see why prices are on the up.

I’ve never owned a fast Renault but have come close; I nearly bought a blue full fat 182 but we couldn’t sort the figures out and I ended up with an E46 325ti instead. Also came close to a silver 182.

Always liked the look of the 197/200 especially with the funky Recaro seats.

I love the R26R, I fact I really like that shape Megane. There was a lovely black one parked outside my little boys school today. Still looked pretty fresh.

I love the V6 Clio’s, they’re just so cool and a bit mental. I can’t believe the current prices.

Renault have done some awesome colours too as mentioned.

Edited by Court_S on Monday 29th March 20:38

I wouldn’t say anything out of that bunch is more exotic or faster, but if I had to choose it would be the Civic Type R. Not sure what benefits you’d get from any of the others? Golf GTI maybe quicker in a straight line but other than that, I’ll pass on them all.