which clio sport?

[pitbull turbo]

hi.
i have been in the market for a decent super mini and i have norrowed it down to a clio sport. i have driven a 172 a while ago but it was a very short drive and nothing i could see what the haddling was like. today i test drove a 197 sport and had a decent test drive and i really liked it, handled lovely and the recaro seats sublime for my big frame. it just had about enough power for me. it had a decent boot and enough room for the baby seat as we are due our first baby in november. my other half will be learning to drive in it to and it seams very easy to drive as well.
main thing is i don't know if i should go for the earlier 182 cup as we have seen one from renualt for alot less which is always good wityh a baby on the way. also not sure if its worth going for a cup or a standard clio.
also i have seen a clio 200 cup just in the price range but i don't what they are like.

do all 197's come with the recaro's?

whats the best drive and whats the most practical?
are they tunable?
are the reliable?

thanks guys

[Conceited]

The 200 Cup is meant to have been a step in the right direction after the 197. I've driven both the 182 and the 197; Both were fantastic.

Test drive the 200.

[TheRoadWarrior]

Agreed, take the 200 out for a drive. On all accounts its a 197 turned up to 11. If your budget cant stretch to the 200 then the 182 might be a better bet if you dont need the increased space of the newer car (Unlikely I guess with kids on the way) given it has similar power but is ligher overall.

The recaros were an ~£850 option. The standard seats are also good, but the recaros look and hold you better.

[David87]

The 182 Trophy and 200 are the best ones to go for. Nothing wrong with a 197, but it's not as good as it could be.

[150bhp]

I had a 172 and loved it but had to sell it after my son was born due to very small boot. Best handling car i've had. Down side to these cars apart from boot space are parts prices. The ECU in mine got renewed under warrenty from the 2nd hand dealer i bought from and it cost them £680.00, also exhaust cat back was done by them at a very high cost. Can't remember exact price but my friend has a 182 cup and he was quoted £690 cat back for his exhaust, he ended up with a Milltec exhaust fitted for £460(still very steep). His gearbox went b4 christmas there and was quoted £3400 from local Renault dealer! He got it done by a friend of a friend for £1800, again not cheap. Hope this helps but to be honest as you said you have a large frame you'd prob be more comfy in the 200.

[SwineFluPirate]

David87 said:

The 182 Trophy and 200 are the best ones to go for. Nothing wrong with a 197, but it's not as good as it could be.

This.

I've owned 172 Cup, 182, 197 & now my 200; The 200 is the best Renaultsport i've driven by some margin!

They're not hugely tuneable, but the reliabilty has moved on in the Clio 3's, despite what some would have you believe!

Edited by SwineFluPirate on Sunday 25th April 21:13

[pitbull turbo]

hi. thanks for the replies
i have been looking at theseat some depth still and im still not decided. i feel the 200 cup is a bit to expensive for me and really is right at the top of my budget. the 197 was nice but alot of people and reviews firmly point to the 182 cup or the 200 cup as the best drives so that leaves the 182 cup but im worried as its older it will be unreliable and costly to fix which i don't fancy.
i would be buying the car from a renualt main dealer and it will have a years warrenty with it but im worried about when that runs out as when i swap to my next car in say 3-5 years time the clio might be getting old and long in the tooth?

i also have been thinking about a megane 225 or maybe a 230 f1 r26 but will this have higher running costs and will it drive better?

[pbirkett]

I wouldn't sweat it about the 200 model... it really is spectacularly ugly, which lessens the appeal a lot for me, and I can't see it being THAT much better to drive. The 197 is a really nice looking car, it looks quite squat and sporty without being a barry boy car.

I had a 182, and it was a nice enough car. Quite fast, lots of grip, and reasonable handling. The electrics and build quality left much to be desired though. I sat in a 197, and it felt better built.

[Shropshiremike]

Just for interest they have a Track Battle in the new EVO mag between the 172 Cup and 200 Cup. Timings and impressions - pages 148-151

[ortontom]

i always have had a rule with french cars - they last 5 years.....



but having owned - Clio 172 cup, Williams 2, and a Clio 172 mk1...

I would buy a trophy or a 200 cup........the early cars had better low rev response, later 197 & 182 felt a bit too revy.......

I do miss my clios, i use to love taking them back to the garage i bought them from after a weekend of track days and several parts failing......all replaced under warranty - top engine mount was an easy one to break.

[David87]

Honestly, don't worry about the reliability with them. I did a lot of hard miles in my 182 Trophy in a fairly short time and it never missed a beat. In fact, I've never had a single problem with any of the Renaultsport cars I've owned, save for a slightly worn Recaro seat bolster in my 197 (try and find one without it!). When I can afford it I'll be back in one - they are great cars. The 197/200 are more substantial cars than the 172/182, but for pure thrills I'd go for the older cars. As proved by Evo this month, however, the newer ones are faster over ground, if not necessarily in a straight line.

Not a day goes by where I don't miss my Trophy - it really was a fabulous car. The 197 was a competent machine and the R26.R ruthlessly focussed, but the Trophy was just magical.