The £2k Clio 197: Spotted
Big miles means a small price for this perennial PH pocket rocket favourite
That there are cheap Renaultsport Clios in the world should be news to precisely no one. Indeed, ropey 172s and 182s have been in Shed territory for so long that the good ones are now approaching classic status - see this 172 Exclusive, priced at £8,990.
What the cheap Clio discussion hasn't yet switched to is the latter 197. Because, well, they're newer, obviously, and therefore have taken longer to fall into the bargain bracket. It wouldn't be a surprise to find fewer of them sold, either, though that's only a hunch.
Moreover, it would probably be fair to say that the 197 doesn't enjoy quite the exalted status of its forebears, and so perhaps attention is diverted away from it as a result. "Why wouldn't you just get a 182?" is surely being asked of laptop screens right this minute. At launch the 197 was criticised by Renault fans for being a bit soft and heavy after the old cars, while even the PH test preferred a Mini Cooper S for its more accessible performance.
However, there's a lot more going for the 197 as it approaches its teenage years. Let's just say, for example, as a track project, which could well be considered as the car gets cheaper. A car that thrives on revs isn't going to be a problem if it's exclusively for circuit, while the host of upgrades now available for the Mk3 Clio could give it the dynamic tenacity many felt was missing at launch. Should the worst happen, too, surely we'd all rather have a crash in a newer Clio than an older one.
This 197 looks like the perfect candidate for an updated cheap Clio track car. One of the later pre-200 cars (with the gear ratios from the Cup), its 133,000 miles mean it's available for just £2,000. Again, if it's only going to be used on high days and holidays, mileage becomes less of an issue; add to that the fact that this car had the crucial cambelt and water pump change in 2017 and you can see what an excellent base it could be.
Even for road use this 197 looks well set, with recent, discs, dampers and tyres. The MOT runs until October and the seller is only getting rid because of "purchase of an unreliable but fast Italian." Which has to be a good sign, doesn't it?
Despite all this, it may well be the 197's stablemates that conspire against its desirability. Because those 172s and 182s are still available for less than £2k, and the improvements ushered in with the 200 facelift may convince many to wait for those to bottom out.
Let's not be too harsh on it though, at the end of the day this remains a presentable example of a great 2000s hot hatch - with a lot of modifying potential - for the price of a fancy holiday. You're not going to get a contemporary Mini for this money and you're not going to want a Fiesta ST instead, so why not plump for a 197? It would be boring if everybody had the same hot hatch, after all...
SPECIFICATION - RENAULTSPORT CLIO 197
Engine: 1,998cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 197@7,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 157@5,550rpm
MPG: 33 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 199g/km
Recorded mileage: 133,000
Year registered: 2008
Price new: £15,995
Price now: £2,000
See the original advert here.
Interesting reading the article to see the sentiment towards the 197 is the same as it was 10 years ago. That being that the changes it brought over from the 182 were undesirable on paper or to road testers anyway, and the 200 as the last of the breed is the perfected model to have.
I tested a 200 prior to the 197 and could not feel any difference in performance or handling. So when the older car was available for about £2500 less, that's the one I went for quite happily.
Interesting reading the article to see the sentiment towards the 197 is the same as it was 10 years ago. That being that the changes it brought over from the 182 were undesirable on paper or to road testers anyway, and the 200 as the last of the breed is the perfected model to have.
I tested a 200 prior to the 197 and could not feel any difference in performance or handling. So when the older car was available for about £2500 less, that's the one I went for quite happily.
I love the shape of the 197's. It's so much more bespoke than the 172's and 182's and doesn't have that ugly front end of the 200's. The problem is that their weight can make the performance frustrating, the MPG is terrible in comparison and they have a few more common and expensive issues.
In terms of getting the best bang for your buck though, the 172's and 182's offer the most value for money. They are starting to get on a bit now.
Drive it properly and you won't be looking at the speedo to see how fast you're going! you'll be lining up for the next corner and giggling as it turns in and catapults you out the other side
May was driving the Clio 200 in Top Gear which might have something to do with it getting beaten by slower cars...
If I had the space or the funds it would've been a great entry point into track days as road legal stripped out track car.
RS Clios are such good value right now.
I still probably prefer the phase 2 cars as the lighter weight just makes them feel more alive.
It doesn't take too much to put them right if they've been neglected.
New Renault Cup spec dampers all round? £130!
New discs and pads front and back are £100.
As long as the all important belts have been done (c.£600 if you shop around) you are good to go.
Breakers have everything else you might need for buttons.
They may not be the fastest hot hatch these days but they are still great fun.
I reckon good ones will start to rise in value.
Well, I live in hope
Drive it properly and you won't be looking at the speedo to see how fast you're going! you'll be lining up for the next corner and giggling as it turns in and catapults you out the other side
May was driving the Clio 200 in Top Gear which might have something to do with it getting beaten by slower cars...
I must be in a minority in that I test drove a Clio 182 back in the day and didn't get on with it massively. I then test drove an early model 197 in 2007 and really loved it. For me during my brief drive, it seemed to have better body control than the 182, better build quality and a nicer sounding engine. I said to the salesman at the end, in spirit (and size) it felt rather like the 306 Rallye I loved driving a few years earlier. I never bought one as I knew one day they'd make a cheap second hand motor and now it seems is a good time to buy.
The 172's and 182's can be ridiculously fuel efficient. Even the MK4 turbo models (200 EDC's and 220 Trophy's) can't get close to them.
Plus:
Fun, yes a 182 is probably a bit quicker, but on a twisty road these are great fun!
Seats - mine had Recaros. Great, comfy and held you in nicely.
Negatives:
Fuel - on a motorway I once saw 40mpg. Normally sat around 30 ish - pushing on mid 20s.
tyres - Jesus wept. Every other bloody month. Hit a pot hole and bang. New front tyre. With the state of our current roads it would certainly put me off
Reliability - well, mine was ok....ish. but as it approached the end of warranty stuff was starting to fail, warning lights coming and going etc...
Would I have another? Yes.
I test drove a cooper S and a 500 before I bought this, and while both seemed quicker in a straight-line the Clio was just more fun. And that one plus of FUN, does outweigh all the negatives. Not a bad little car really. Especially in proper Cup form with no A/C and a bit lighter
I'm not overly impressed with it. As nice as the car is, I can't see myself getting misty-eyed when I sell it like I did with the 172.
The car is great to drive when you're hooning it but for normal driving it gets a bit tiresome, mainly due to the mid-range flat spots which are quite noticeable and the high gearing. I've lost count how many times I think i'm only in 4th to find i'm actually in 6th.
Would love to get it on track one day though, cornering ability is brilliant and once fully warmed up the gearbox is a joy to use.
The kangarooing constantly when cold was pretty annoying (not considered an issue by Renault) and it was hideously unreliable. It also seemed to drink petrol way more than a 2 litre hot hatch had any right to.
Mine could've admittedly just been an unlucky bad one but it put me off ever buying another.
Fun cars to drive but let down in other areas I think.
from lowish torque and higher weight just kills it for me
from lowish torque and higher weight just kills it for me
Wouldn't call it staged at all.
The kangarooing constantly when cold was pretty annoying (not considered an issue by Renault) and it was hideously unreliable. It also seemed to drink petrol way more than a 2 litre hot hatch had any right to.
Mine could've admittedly just been an unlucky bad one but it put me off ever buying another.
Fun cars to drive but let down in other areas I think.
Terrible mapping, ride quality, fuel economy, slow, rubbish ergonomics. It all just smacked of 'that'll do' engineering.
The worst thing was the lack feel at anything less than 8/10ths. Unless you where 'on it' it was infuriating to drive. Unlike my Alfa 145 Cloverleaf(s), Golf Mk2's and pretty much every other hatch I've driven. I even preferred driving my other half at the times corsa 1.2 to the supermarket...and that was terrible.
I think the R.S. Megane was vastly superior.
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