My 1st lockdown Clio 197 impulse buy
Discussion
Couldn't find many other 197's in readers cars so thought I might pop up my lockdown 1.0 almost impulse purchase. If you're in for an amazing car build this may not be the thread for you, but if you're in for a budget track day toy done on a definite limited budget then feel free to have a looksy.
For a couple of years I had thought about getting rid of my motorbike. I had a fireblade and was enjoying riding it less and less on the roads as time went by so I finally decided to sell it come spring 2020. Then lockdown happened and I also decided I was going to try something I had always wanted, car track days. Then I had to decide budget and what type of car I wanted. I've always grown up around French cars and had numerous hatches, mostly Peugeot, some hotter than others, but mostly luke warm. So hot hatch it was. I'd had most pugs and couldn't afford a 205 so that left 306 GTI-6's on the short list. The other contender was a Clio. I did my research and 172's and 182's were reviewing well against the newer versions. But I'll admit I was sucked in by the flared arches, arch vents and diffuser of the 197/200's so started researching them. I actually prefer the cleaner front of the 197 so it was added to the shortlist.
Budget was whatever I got for the blade (old 2000 model) so was never going to be at the upper end of the price range (or include the recaro option in the clio).
So this was sold:
Luckily I was keeping an eye on prices for both 306's and 197's because prices seemed to be going up quickly. Not sure if it was because everyone was suddenly out of lockdown but Covid tax was hitting hard so decided I should move fast. Armed with the knowledge I knew I needed to look out for worn swivel hubs, f*cked 3rd or 4th gear synchros and cam belt change evidence I moved. As usual, probably too fast but this 97k mileage example was bought for a couple of bags of sand a week or so later:
Still loved the wheel arch vents:
And the diffuser:
So, a couple of days driving it round and it seemed ok. Then I started to notice some slight play from the steering. More on that later. Wasn't so keen on the moon buggy ride height, especially at the rear so when a set of lowering springs came up a few days later on a 197 facebook page I got them bought. Probably too hastily again as they are the H&R springs, known to be pretty harsh. Anyway got them changed out and with some spacers it was sitting a bit better:
I had noticed a cut in one of the tyre sidewalls that I missed when I picked it up so thought I might as well get all the budget tyres changed and as I'd booked for my first trackday, went for some ADO8Rs's. The track day was one of the first to be run after lockdown at Abingdon and it's safe to say I absolutely loved it. Except for the fact I noticed a couple of crunchy shifts from 4th to 3rd. Bugger......
Flo sat on the drive for a month or two while waiting for the next trackdays. I'd booked an evening session at Donington and a day at Mallory. For whatever reason we got shunted off the Donington evening by the organisers and a refund was issued so another month to wait until Mallory. Going to fill up the night before I realised there was a vibration that wasn't there before. Hurriedly took front spacers off and it seemed to solve or at least mask the problem for the time being:
I decided while the wheel spacers made the stance a bit better they were more trouble than they were worth. So started researching wheels. Budget creep initiated... After some research I realised it wasn't going to be easy to pick up a set of truly decent lightweight wheels with the correct offset but read that some Laguna wheels fitted with a nice offset. And lo and behold within a couple of days a set of silverstones came up on one of the 197 facebook groups which just happened to be near to where we were going the following weekend. So they were hastily bought. Spacers were sold for almost what I bought them for and the old wheels sold for just shy of what I got the new ones for as well so the new wheels only ended up costing about £50. Local garage swapped tyres for £20 and hey presto a new look (excuse the bead sealant stuff):
The trackdays seemed to have taken their toll on something upfront. Assumed the swivel joints were the culprits as there was now a distinct clunk. So it went off for an MOT and it turned out to only be track rod ends, inner and outer. Yippee. So these were changed. Other advisories included play in rear bearing, noise from off side rear brake and both front and rear discs worn. As I was expecting swivel joints I had bought a full set so these are going to be changed shortly. And as the front is being taken apart I was looking at adding some powerflex camber and castor adjustable polybushes but these are an arm and a leg. Then someone put up a link to some adjustable top mounts designed for standard shocks that cost less than the polybushes. So these were ordered to go in the same time as the swivel joints are done:
Near the start you may remember I said I preferred the 197 look to the 200 front end. That preference included the OEM Renault bumper lip available from factory new in what I think was termed the "aero" package. I may be weird but I prefer the lines of the mk3 without the "cup" spoiler, but I do like the front bumper extension and side skirts. As you can see from the pics my car had neither, it was as boggo standard as could be. I couldn't really justify the side skirts but treated myself to the front bumper lip over Christmas. Stuck it on this last weekend past and really pleased with how it looks:
Before:
After:
So that's where we are up to. Hoping front suspension will be rebuilt in the next couple of weeks (not attempting myself as don't have the knowledge/tools and it's still cold outside). I'm hoping to upgrade the brakes next, and definitely before the next trackdays.
Where would I like to go with the car? I know its started the dreaded gearbox crunch so new box at some point I suppose. I also didn't check the cam belt evidence thoroughly enough and it's due again this year I think.
Internally I'd like a sort of club sport plus spec I guess, keep all carpets in but maybe remove rear seats and have a half cage. Ultimately would probably like to upgrade seats but that's a long way of yet if it ever happens. It does lack a bit of power so may consider a Meglio conversion maybe in the very very very far off future if the box/engine lunches itself.
At the moment I think the car stands me at about £2700 give or take.
For a couple of years I had thought about getting rid of my motorbike. I had a fireblade and was enjoying riding it less and less on the roads as time went by so I finally decided to sell it come spring 2020. Then lockdown happened and I also decided I was going to try something I had always wanted, car track days. Then I had to decide budget and what type of car I wanted. I've always grown up around French cars and had numerous hatches, mostly Peugeot, some hotter than others, but mostly luke warm. So hot hatch it was. I'd had most pugs and couldn't afford a 205 so that left 306 GTI-6's on the short list. The other contender was a Clio. I did my research and 172's and 182's were reviewing well against the newer versions. But I'll admit I was sucked in by the flared arches, arch vents and diffuser of the 197/200's so started researching them. I actually prefer the cleaner front of the 197 so it was added to the shortlist.
Budget was whatever I got for the blade (old 2000 model) so was never going to be at the upper end of the price range (or include the recaro option in the clio).
So this was sold:
Luckily I was keeping an eye on prices for both 306's and 197's because prices seemed to be going up quickly. Not sure if it was because everyone was suddenly out of lockdown but Covid tax was hitting hard so decided I should move fast. Armed with the knowledge I knew I needed to look out for worn swivel hubs, f*cked 3rd or 4th gear synchros and cam belt change evidence I moved. As usual, probably too fast but this 97k mileage example was bought for a couple of bags of sand a week or so later:
Still loved the wheel arch vents:
And the diffuser:
So, a couple of days driving it round and it seemed ok. Then I started to notice some slight play from the steering. More on that later. Wasn't so keen on the moon buggy ride height, especially at the rear so when a set of lowering springs came up a few days later on a 197 facebook page I got them bought. Probably too hastily again as they are the H&R springs, known to be pretty harsh. Anyway got them changed out and with some spacers it was sitting a bit better:
I had noticed a cut in one of the tyre sidewalls that I missed when I picked it up so thought I might as well get all the budget tyres changed and as I'd booked for my first trackday, went for some ADO8Rs's. The track day was one of the first to be run after lockdown at Abingdon and it's safe to say I absolutely loved it. Except for the fact I noticed a couple of crunchy shifts from 4th to 3rd. Bugger......
Flo sat on the drive for a month or two while waiting for the next trackdays. I'd booked an evening session at Donington and a day at Mallory. For whatever reason we got shunted off the Donington evening by the organisers and a refund was issued so another month to wait until Mallory. Going to fill up the night before I realised there was a vibration that wasn't there before. Hurriedly took front spacers off and it seemed to solve or at least mask the problem for the time being:
I decided while the wheel spacers made the stance a bit better they were more trouble than they were worth. So started researching wheels. Budget creep initiated... After some research I realised it wasn't going to be easy to pick up a set of truly decent lightweight wheels with the correct offset but read that some Laguna wheels fitted with a nice offset. And lo and behold within a couple of days a set of silverstones came up on one of the 197 facebook groups which just happened to be near to where we were going the following weekend. So they were hastily bought. Spacers were sold for almost what I bought them for and the old wheels sold for just shy of what I got the new ones for as well so the new wheels only ended up costing about £50. Local garage swapped tyres for £20 and hey presto a new look (excuse the bead sealant stuff):
The trackdays seemed to have taken their toll on something upfront. Assumed the swivel joints were the culprits as there was now a distinct clunk. So it went off for an MOT and it turned out to only be track rod ends, inner and outer. Yippee. So these were changed. Other advisories included play in rear bearing, noise from off side rear brake and both front and rear discs worn. As I was expecting swivel joints I had bought a full set so these are going to be changed shortly. And as the front is being taken apart I was looking at adding some powerflex camber and castor adjustable polybushes but these are an arm and a leg. Then someone put up a link to some adjustable top mounts designed for standard shocks that cost less than the polybushes. So these were ordered to go in the same time as the swivel joints are done:
Near the start you may remember I said I preferred the 197 look to the 200 front end. That preference included the OEM Renault bumper lip available from factory new in what I think was termed the "aero" package. I may be weird but I prefer the lines of the mk3 without the "cup" spoiler, but I do like the front bumper extension and side skirts. As you can see from the pics my car had neither, it was as boggo standard as could be. I couldn't really justify the side skirts but treated myself to the front bumper lip over Christmas. Stuck it on this last weekend past and really pleased with how it looks:
Before:
After:
So that's where we are up to. Hoping front suspension will be rebuilt in the next couple of weeks (not attempting myself as don't have the knowledge/tools and it's still cold outside). I'm hoping to upgrade the brakes next, and definitely before the next trackdays.
Where would I like to go with the car? I know its started the dreaded gearbox crunch so new box at some point I suppose. I also didn't check the cam belt evidence thoroughly enough and it's due again this year I think.
Internally I'd like a sort of club sport plus spec I guess, keep all carpets in but maybe remove rear seats and have a half cage. Ultimately would probably like to upgrade seats but that's a long way of yet if it ever happens. It does lack a bit of power so may consider a Meglio conversion maybe in the very very very far off future if the box/engine lunches itself.
At the moment I think the car stands me at about £2700 give or take.
Edited by chrisga on Monday 18th January 17:47
chrisga said:
Thanks, may not have the value or appeal of some of the other cars on here but they are a lot of fun for the money! Hope you get back in one soon.
Won’t be soon unfortunately as I’ve just been given a very low mileage 1.4 Jazz as my Grandad isn’t able to drive anymore, so I’ll run that for a year or so then chop it in and see what’s about!I highly recommend the Ktec exhaust which nearly completely got rid of the dreaded flat spot in the Rev range
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