Clio RS200, motorway?

[Axionknight]

Hey all, I'm currently looking for something small and pokey for a bit of fun - I started a new job recently and have a Volvo V40 diesel as a daily knocker - great car by the way. But I'm looking for something else as a second motor, it'll need to be something that is suited to the odd long trip if I decide to drive it back home (Aberdeen-Huddersfield, about 370 miles), or the odd long country blast. The missus will need to use it on occasions too and she seems to like 'em, so I'm making hay whilst the sun shines! :P:P

I've been looking at Clio 200's, about a 10/60 plate. Can any owners tell me how they cruise on the motorway, for the odd possible longer journey? I've had a quick sprint in one from a garage but nothing more so didn't get a good feel for the car in all situations.

Cheers,

Ax

[roystinho]

I travelled for a weeks holiday in Scotland from Leeds with Mrs and 8 month all and all the gear that comes with both of those 2 no problem in mine

ETA - it sits quite high in the revs at motorway speeds, but I averaged about 39mpg on the motorway part. It drops to about 25 when you're having a bit of fun, and less when you're having lots

Edited by roystinho on Sunday 1st September 19:27

[Axionknight]

Was it noisy, at 75mph on the motorway?

MPG doesn't sound too bad, I remember the C30 I had before my company car, I bought it when I was 20, only a 1.6 petrol - great car but terrible economy due to the car being heavy, and slow as **** to boot.

[roystinho]

I suppose it depends on your noise tolerance levels. I found it fine, but compared to a german motorway barge it maybe a bit less refined. Did 20k in 2 yrs before I changed it. Thinking about it, Mrs r never complained about the noise so it can't have been bad at all

[Axionknight]

The C30 wasn't exactly quiet, I can't see it being much worse - only a small engine so it revved quite high at 75-80mph. The V40 is excellent but that's what it is for I suppose!

I appreciate your help,

[philmots]

They're fine.. Mine was a 197 with rhe revised gearbox so iirc 5th and 6th ratios are the same as the 200. II found mine a bit boomy around 60-65mph, at 70-75 it disappeared and was ok.

If its only now and then you'll have no bother. Right laugh on the back roads though, you have to keep it revving though.

[TrackTalentUK]

A 200 will do ~3300 revs at 70 in 6th gear. I like driving mine. If you were to buy one, I would spec one with Recaros.

[Axionknight]

I'm 100% wanting one with Recaros if I can find one!

Yeah should be fine for a the odd trip now and then - it's jsut to break up using the V40, I can always drop of the motorway early and hit the back roads for some fun you see

[Rs2oo]

If you get one with a Cup chassis, keep to about 80 or 90 max on UK roads. Anything above that and you will NEVER doze off ! French motorways are totally different, nice smooth roads. In the UK, you will bounce at high speeds on our crap roads.

As far as noise is concerned, they ain't bad at speed

Technomatt will be along soon with a gearbox comment and how much better a Megane R26 is and why you don't buy one insteadZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Edited by Rs2oo on Monday 2nd September 20:42

[Axionknight]

I'm not interested in what he has to say - I've seen his spouting, lol :P

90mph? SIR! The limit is 70!

[AGK]

I bought one and used it on my daily commute for a month. It wasn't comfortable at all. I got out feeling agitated and exhausted.

I sold it a month after I bought it.

[CarCluster]

cruise control helpful, and the top gear ratio did get upped a couple of times over its evolution - the initial 2006 version put me off just for that reason - 70MPH was over 4000RPM.

[Technomatt]

Axionknight said:

I'm not interested in what he has to say - I've seen his spouting, lol :P

90mph? SIR! The limit is 70!

That's right, you are much better off listening to a run of biased inputs.

You will get what you want to hear. No issues.

[Technomatt]

Just as a general point here, the best course of action is to actually drive one in the cruising situation that causes such great concern.

A few inputs here is about as useful as tits on a nun. One person's acceptable motorway cruise is another person's nemesis.

[CarlT]

I used to do a 200 mile round trip daily commute in one with no problems whatsoever!

[alexjb99]

I've got a cup chassis on my 200, it bounces around something rotten when making progress on the motorway. Superb on the back roads, tiring on the motorway. I do around 30 miles motorway a day in mine, can't achieve higher than 24mpg, and yes it revs high at 70 in 6th, that said, it's only done 6500 miles! I love the car, in fact, I adore the car! I just would prefer something more comfortable for cruising up the motorway, it's not its natural habitat and it likes to let you know.

[roystinho]

24 mpg. That must be a total of mixture driving with stop starting. Resetting and going for a long motorway drive should see way more than that. If not something is wrong

[alexjb99]

Yep, that's what I've been telling Renault. They said come back when it's done over 6k if there's no improvement, so yeah, I shall be going back!

[roystinho]

Just to be clear, you're getting 24 average, or 24 when cruising on motorway?

Mine averaged about 25 day to day. Only resetting when I was up to speed and for 200 miles in one go did it read 39...

[GrumpyTwig]

Technomatt said:

Axionknight said:

I'm not interested in what he has to say - I've seen his spouting, lol :P

90mph? SIR! The limit is 70!

That's right, you are much better off listening to a run of biased inputs.

You will get what you want to hear. No issues.

Bitter much?