Clio 197 info

[Bizarro]

Im looking to buy a Renaultsport Clio. Car will be a daily driver + 2 or 3 trackdays per year.

Im looking to spend no more than £7k so probaly looking at 07/08 197.

Looking for any info that will be of use, normal stuff like common faults, model difference etc
+ what are the cup packs, is it worth paying extra for cup packs? How can you tell if a car was fitted with cup packs from new?
Is it worth paying the extra for Recaro interior over standard?

Is there a good forum specific for Renaultsport Clio's?

Cheers

[nicknameless]

try clio197.net

I bet you can get in a 200 (maybe a cup or higher mileage full fat) for £7k, now, or in the not too distant future.

For example;

http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3468...

A little over budget but not far off.

Great cars.

[C2james]

hey, ive got a clio 197 and really like it. i would recommend you look here as there is a very good buyers guide and is a pretty good website to use.

http://www.clio197.net/forum/


all the info you want to know is on there.


buyers guide
http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1978...






eta: beaten to it

[Bizarro]

Just what im after, thanks

[AGK]

Very thirsty cars. Don't listen to anyone that tells you otherwise.

[C2james]

AGK said:

Very thirsty cars. Don't listen to anyone that tells you otherwise.

Yeah the best I can get on a run is 33mpg on A roads.

[nicknameless]

AGK said:

Very thirsty cars. Don't listen to anyone that tells you otherwise.

Yep but not really the point of the car?

[Lione1 Richie]

An RX8 is a very thirsty car, I averaged 32 mpg over 2 years for a mix of driving in my 197. Not bad for a NA 2 litre engine.

[Technomatt]

With a £7K budget and trackdays planned, I would consider a Megane R26. With a remap, 260 bhp, Recaros and the LSD it's a much faster and all round capable track and everyday car and just as economical.

Plus the Megane will be more dependable as you won’t have to worry about those constant big and expensive gearbox failure issues with the Clio. You will also find Clio Cups are overpriced for what they are secondhand.

[Bizarro]

Yea I did consider a Megane R26, trouble is the styling is a bit of an aquired taste and they just look so dated. At least with an 08/09 Clio it still looks like the just replaced model.

As far as fuel, in the past I have run both an Evo and an Impreza so fully understand how thirsty tuned petrol engines can be!

[C2james]

Technomatt said:

Plus the Megane will be more dependable as you won’t have to worry about those constant big and expensive gearbox failure issues with the Clio. You will also find Clio Cups are overpriced for what they are secondhand.

can you please stop going on about this, its getting quite boring now.

[Technomatt]

Bizarro said:

Yea I did consider a Megane R26, trouble is the styling is a bit of an aquired taste and they just look so dated. At least with an 08/09 Clio it still looks like the just replaced model.

As far as fuel, in the past I have run both an Evo and an Impreza so fully understand how thirsty tuned petrol engines can be!

Yep, the Megane's Duck Arse is certainly a bit hit or miss.

Having run an Evo and Impreza I would have thought you might prefer capability to looks. Both those Japs were hardly beauties in their day.

[Rs2oo]

Technomatt said:

Plus the Megane will be more dependable as you won’t have to worry about those constant big and expensive gearbox failure issues with the Clio. You will also find Clio Cups are overpriced for what they are secondhand.

22,000 miles and half a dozen track days later plus 2 very fast European trips and my gearbox is 100% so too is my mates car, same year 2010, 37,000 miles driven as it should be = no problems. Megane prices are low for a reason, only Stevie Wonder thinks its a good looking car and round a track its no quicker than the multi award winning Clio 200 which up to the current model was way ahead of anything in its class. Just a shame about some of the dealers.

You are right though about the Megane being a good track day car. £6000 can get you a good one and they are good all -rounders.

Edited by Rs2oo on Thursday 4th July 22:59

[Bizarro]

Technomatt said:

Yep, the Megane's Duck Arse is certainly a bit hit or miss.

Having run an Evo and Impreza I would have thought you might prefer capability to looks. Both those Japs were hardly beauties in their day.

Yes very true, the impreza and evo were not front of the que when it came to styling..
I think its more how they make you feel, sit in an impreza or evo and I think of colin mc'rae and tommi makinen.
Sit in a megane and I think Im a driving instrucer

[Technomatt]

Rs2oo said:

Technomatt said:

Plus the Megane will be more dependable as you won’t have to worry about those constant big and expensive gearbox failure issues with the Clio. You will also find Clio Cups are overpriced for what they are secondhand.

22,000 miles and half a dozen track days later plus 2 very fast European trips and my gearbox is 100% so too is my mates car, same year 2010, 37,000 miles driven as it should be = no problems. Megane prices are low for a reason, only Stevie Wonder thinks its a good looking car and round a track its no quicker than the multi award winning Clio 200 which up to the current model was way ahead of anything in its class. Just a shame about some of the dealers.

You are right though about the Megane being a good track day car. £6000 can get you a good one and they are good all -rounders.

Edited by Rs2oo on Thursday 4th July 22:59

The R26 has always been a better track car than the Clio. The power/torque and the LSD gives it a big advantage. In the wet it walks all over the Clio.

As per my first post, a cheap remap gives the R26 about 260 bhp and another leap in capability, something not avaialble with the Clio.

Ref the Clio chocolate gearbox, it’s not a factor you can ignore.

[Rs2oo]

Technomatt said:

The R26 has always been a better track car than the Clio. The power/torque and the LSD gives it a big advantage. In the wet it walks all over the Clio.

As per my first post, a cheap remap gives the R26 about 260 bhp and another leap in capability, something not avaialble with the Clio.

Ref the Clio chocolate gearbox, it’s not a factor you can ignore.

Your unfathonable hatred of a car you have never owned continues (boringly) Lets meet at Brands Hatch for a track day. You bring your Megane ( if you have one which I doubt ) and I'll bring my multi award winning best hatch ever universally praised by the press etc etc Clio 200. You should inialate me according to you especially in the wet ! ! What ? Thanks for making me laugh. mental health is not funny I would like to add.

As for your first post, yes, a re-map will make an R 26 faster. What's the point, is it too slow without a re-map ?

[Technomatt]

Rs2oo said:

Your unfathonable hatred of a car you have never owned continues (boringly) Lets meet at Brands Hatch for a track day. You bring your Megane ( if you have one which I doubt ) and I'll bring my multi award winning best hatch ever universally praised by the press etc etc Clio 200. You should inialate me according to you especially in the wet ! ! What ? Thanks for making me laugh. mental health is not funny I would like to add.

As for your first post, yes, a re-map will make an R 26 faster. What's the point, is it too slow without a re-map ?

No need for a track day to prove what is already obvious:




Just imagine how much faster the R26 will be with 260 bhp.

[Rs2oo]

Technomatt said:

No need for a track day to prove what is already obvious:




Just imagine how much faster the R26 will be with 260 bhp.

RS Clio 3 facelift. What year is that car, the 197 I believe WITHOUT the Cup chassis. Not much of a comparison but if it makes you feel better you are right of course. Where DO you get your stats from You interesting bloke. Note the circuits wher the R26 is over a second faster are power circuits.

Edited by Rs2oo on Friday 5th July 10:32

[Technomatt]

Bizarro said:

Technomatt said:

Yep, the Megane's Duck Arse is certainly a bit hit or miss.

Having run an Evo and Impreza I would have thought you might prefer capability to looks. Both those Japs were hardly beauties in their day.

Yes very true, the impreza and evo were not front of the que when it came to styling..
I think its more how they make you feel, sit in an impreza or evo and I think of colin mc'rae and tommi makinen.
Sit in a megane and I think Im a driving instrucer

And the Clio still does have that link to the Clio Cup race series, something the Megane deffo lacks.

The Meganes ability to cheaply punch above it's weight on a track is a nice feature, particularly if performance is more important than the overall image. Horses for courses.

[Rs2oo]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ7WAoIqQD0

Oh yea, the R26 really trounced the old 197 by a full 10th of a second overv1/4 mile. You win. Imagine what a 260 BHP Megane would have done. Half a second maybe............I'm so embarrassed.