Clio 200 to replace my Swift Sport?

[Reks]

As above, thinking of replacing my Swift Sport with an RS200 (Clio 3). Can anyone give some advice?

Budget is around £8k and I'm thinking a "full fat" with cup chassis. Is this a decent budget to get a good one?

Also heard about synchromesh issues. Can anyone shed a bit more light on this? How much would I expect to pay if I had issues and how likely am I to have issues?

Anything else I should look out for?


Currently doing around 5k miles a year so fuel consumption shouldn't be a big issue. Other car I'm considering is FN2 Type R.


Cheers

Edited by Reks on Tuesday 25th March 09:22

[HJMS123]

It will handle better than the Type R whilst also having better ride comfort. I prefer the K04 engine in the type r as it's so lively, it also has a bettr seating position and more goodies.

It's horses for courses but either way you won't be disappointed

[Tickle]

Had mine coming up for two years, no issues at all. Servicing done by a good independent is cheap and IMO better than the main dealers. I wasn't impressed with them when I took my Trophy.

If your likely to have Syncromesh issues and how much? - how longs a piece of string!

You may find a car that's had the syncromesh swapped but that doesn't mean it will last. I have had my gearbox oil changed to Fuchs Titan fully synthetic which does loosen a tight box up a little. I nurse gear changes when the box is cold and block shift from 2nd to 4th until everything is warmed up. There is quite a difference between shifts from a warm car and cold car. Not sure if it will prolong the syncro life but it makes sense to me rather then forcing a shift through a tight gate.

Maybe look at cars privately sold and see how the owner drives the car from cold, see how mechanicaly sympathetic they are.

I too have quite a small commute but I chose a cup spec car over a FF, I didn't see the point in the FF in a car like the Clio, especially as I wasn't doing any distance in it.... plus when out on a Sunday blast I don't care what the interior is like!

Had a couple of Type R's albeit not Civics. Been in FN2 a bit different to the Type R's I've had, but they certainly aren't bad, just not as focused as Integras (or Clio's) I was used too.

The FN2 will have plus points of the Renault and visa-versa for what you want it for.

Drive both if you can in a short space of time so they are fresh in your head.

This is all my personal thoughts of course.

Good luck in trying and buying.

Clio197.net will have all your answers and more if you register, brilliant for info.

[Stevoox]

Pretty much as above!

I had my clio 200 nearly a couple of years and not once did i have a problem - moved on to a 265 Trophy though!

Its really hit and miss with gearbox problems as many of the owners on clio197.net will tell you. You can have one and do high mileage and never see and issue, but on the other hand could be low mileage and come into problems.

Just go for one thats been well cared for.

Personally I'd go for the full fat with cup chassis, Recaros and speedlines - they are the most desirable things.

When i sold my 200 i could have taken the Recaros out and sold them for over 1K and just put standard seats back in - but no one, not even dealers wanted the car without recaros!

Only other things i can think to look would be any rattle/knocking type noise from the wheels which would could then mean an issued with the hub/bearings - fairly common on the Renault Sports

[nicknameless]

Great cars. Love mine. And yes that is a reasonable budget. Really good car out of the box for some track days too. Mine is standard other than pad and fluid upgrade, some decent buckets and harnesses.

Personally I don't think the recaros are actually that good, but they do seem to be a must have. Am sat in my living room on the standard driver's seat. Very comfy armchairs!