Clio RS200 - Cup
Discussion
Simple post.
Looking to replace my impreza with something fun and agile to drive.
I've heard nothing but good things in that dept.
Looking for any owners that have stories. Opinions. Advice. Etc...
Also. If anyone happens to have one they'd like to sell i have £5-6k in my pocket right now 😁
Looking to replace my impreza with something fun and agile to drive.
I've heard nothing but good things in that dept.
Looking for any owners that have stories. Opinions. Advice. Etc...
Also. If anyone happens to have one they'd like to sell i have £5-6k in my pocket right now 😁
Most are coming up on 10 years old now so if you can get one up on a ramp and check suspension and exhaust manifold / flexipipes you'll have an idea what needs done.
Most owners should have done the timing / aux / dephaser by now, if that's not in the service history then knock £600+ off the asking price.
Check gearbox on a test drive changing 2-3-4 for any reluctance, again though any crunchy boxes should have been replaced by now.
Other than that they're pretty solid, well screwed together ( hand built ) and ridiculous fun. Gear change is stiff and challenging at first but becomes like an extension of your arm with time. Just don't expect to beat an M3 or Golf R off the line, but you'll catch them on the bends. Drives them nuts.
Nice and roomy inside too, confounds many people who think you can't fit four adults into a Clio. Only annoyance for me in the cabin is that it's awkward to wire in any USB devices due to the position of the power outlet aft of the handbrake. People rave about the Recaro seats but I'm not a fan; the stock Renaultsport seats are very supportive even on five-hour journeys. Not that you'll manage many of those because MPG rarely gets out of the low 20s of you're having fun.
Mrs Wife briefly thought about an MX-5 but decided on another Clio 200... They're just that good and a perfect size for narrow country C-roads where a Mégane would be too big.
Most owners should have done the timing / aux / dephaser by now, if that's not in the service history then knock £600+ off the asking price.
Check gearbox on a test drive changing 2-3-4 for any reluctance, again though any crunchy boxes should have been replaced by now.
Other than that they're pretty solid, well screwed together ( hand built ) and ridiculous fun. Gear change is stiff and challenging at first but becomes like an extension of your arm with time. Just don't expect to beat an M3 or Golf R off the line, but you'll catch them on the bends. Drives them nuts.
Nice and roomy inside too, confounds many people who think you can't fit four adults into a Clio. Only annoyance for me in the cabin is that it's awkward to wire in any USB devices due to the position of the power outlet aft of the handbrake. People rave about the Recaro seats but I'm not a fan; the stock Renaultsport seats are very supportive even on five-hour journeys. Not that you'll manage many of those because MPG rarely gets out of the low 20s of you're having fun.
Mrs Wife briefly thought about an MX-5 but decided on another Clio 200... They're just that good and a perfect size for narrow country C-roads where a Mégane would be too big.
Edited by FA57REN on Sunday 7th June 21:01
Just to add , don't turn your nose up at the non-Cup chassis. The basic Sport config was tuned over the country roads of Brittany and soaks up anything the UK roads can offer. It's unflappable and was the majority seller on the Continent.
The Cup chassis was developed for the UK market that wanted something more hardcore and trackable. But it's not really needed for road use and even on a track the basic chassis will perform excellently.
You'll save a packet going for Sports chassis + standard seats because that combo is seen as less desirable.
Also stay well away from any jokers who have further lowered the Cup chassis on coilovers. Renaultsport knew what they were doing. Same deal for remaps, the F4R engine came out of the Dieppe factory tuned to the limit and remaps mainly just move the peak torque around. Max gain is about 10hp, hardly worth it for the insurance issues.
The Cup chassis was developed for the UK market that wanted something more hardcore and trackable. But it's not really needed for road use and even on a track the basic chassis will perform excellently.
You'll save a packet going for Sports chassis + standard seats because that combo is seen as less desirable.
Also stay well away from any jokers who have further lowered the Cup chassis on coilovers. Renaultsport knew what they were doing. Same deal for remaps, the F4R engine came out of the Dieppe factory tuned to the limit and remaps mainly just move the peak torque around. Max gain is about 10hp, hardly worth it for the insurance issues.
Edited by FA57REN on Monday 8th June 17:41
I had a 200 and a WRX Blob with PPP at the same time. I only have the WRX now and don't miss the 200 at all. Brakes and handling were great but I found it tiring to drive quickly and not particularly fast. The WRX needed some sorting but it is a characterful car that I actually want to drive just for the sake of it and it's quick! After getting the WRX, the Clio spent 5 months in my garage untouched which tells you a lot. A Clio 200 with a Mégane 250 engine would be interesting though!
It's a different type of car. Having driven both, the WRX is easy to drive hard and fast, whereas the RS200 has to have its neck wrung to get the best out of it. And therein lies the pleasure of owning one of those: working with the car and learning how to drive it quickly. In the bends, I'd say there is very little between it and a WRX.
Each to their own, but to me the Clio was a much more satisfying car to drive.
Each to their own, but to me the Clio was a much more satisfying car to drive.
My 200 Cup is the only car I regret selling. White with no recaros wouldn't normally be my spec but it was a brilliantly little car that was huge fun with pretty incredible grip. I still search for it to see if it comes up for sale. If anyone sees CK60VSV floating around....let me know!
I've had a couple, mostly used in France. Although my current one is currently in the UK.
Bought the first one in 2010, purely as a fun runaround, alongside some more serious machines, and loved it - one of my most affectionate cars of all time, whether nipping around town, rural fun, or crossing France in a day.
Agree, it doesn't have to be a Cup, especially in the UK. My current late 2012 model is a Cup, but I asked Renaultsport to replace the springs and dampers with the standard sports equipment, but retained the quicker rack and roll bars. This gives the best handling/ride balance.
Bought the first one in 2010, purely as a fun runaround, alongside some more serious machines, and loved it - one of my most affectionate cars of all time, whether nipping around town, rural fun, or crossing France in a day.
Agree, it doesn't have to be a Cup, especially in the UK. My current late 2012 model is a Cup, but I asked Renaultsport to replace the springs and dampers with the standard sports equipment, but retained the quicker rack and roll bars. This gives the best handling/ride balance.
stevekoz said:
Thanks for all the replies.
I ended up with a Mk 2 Renault Megane f1 r26. I needed a bit more rear leg room for the kids than the clio. That was the clincher.
Very Very happy with my purchase so far. Astounding car for the money driving wise.
Excellent choice (from a 2 time owner). Like the Clio but with some decent power.I ended up with a Mk 2 Renault Megane f1 r26. I needed a bit more rear leg room for the kids than the clio. That was the clincher.
Very Very happy with my purchase so far. Astounding car for the money driving wise.
i can think of better commuter cars tbh...... i used mine for around a year going to and from work, but it was only 14 miles of dual carriage way.
it returned 33ish mpg and was fine, though 70mph in 6th is 3500rpm in the early 197.
there are 3 different gearbox ratios in them. Early 197 had the shortest 6th, late 200 had the longest 6th, and late 197/early 200 had one somewhere in the middle.
it's just a clio at the end of the day....... a shopping car.
it returned 33ish mpg and was fine, though 70mph in 6th is 3500rpm in the early 197.
there are 3 different gearbox ratios in them. Early 197 had the shortest 6th, late 200 had the longest 6th, and late 197/early 200 had one somewhere in the middle.
it's just a clio at the end of the day....... a shopping car.
My 200 cup (Proper cup not cup pack) lives in the garage, but I commute in it occasionally and take it out maybe once a week in the evening.
It is an utter joy to drive, even on a short 6 mile run to work. So planted and well balanced, lovely turn in. Look forward to every bend / roundabout.
When I first bought it I wasn’t sure, the interior felt too cheap, struggled to get used to the cabin noise. For a while I regretted buying it. I’ve adjusted to it over time though. To the point where it’s a non issue.
It also felt underpowered. I’ve since invested around 2.5k on a PMs manifold, sports cat, custom tig welded exhaust, cat cams and mapping. Went from 185 bhp to 215bhp and it makes all the difference. Well worth the money, car now has the power it should have come out of the factory with.
Absolutely love driving the thing now. Might have to sell due to house move but will try to keep hold of it at all costs!
I get the impression from reviews etc that the 197 is not quite as good, and that the 200 fixed many of of the 197’s shortcomings to make a near perfect car.
It is an utter joy to drive, even on a short 6 mile run to work. So planted and well balanced, lovely turn in. Look forward to every bend / roundabout.
When I first bought it I wasn’t sure, the interior felt too cheap, struggled to get used to the cabin noise. For a while I regretted buying it. I’ve adjusted to it over time though. To the point where it’s a non issue.
It also felt underpowered. I’ve since invested around 2.5k on a PMs manifold, sports cat, custom tig welded exhaust, cat cams and mapping. Went from 185 bhp to 215bhp and it makes all the difference. Well worth the money, car now has the power it should have come out of the factory with.
Absolutely love driving the thing now. Might have to sell due to house move but will try to keep hold of it at all costs!
I get the impression from reviews etc that the 197 is not quite as good, and that the 200 fixed many of of the 197’s shortcomings to make a near perfect car.
Of the cars I've owned I only really miss the Clio 200 (non cup) and the Z4 35iS.
Not sure I would go so far as to say best car ever - but certainly a lot of fun on twisty back roads.
My commute is/was twisty backroads - not sure the 200 cup would be a lot of fun on a boring m/way type commute.
Not sure I would go so far as to say best car ever - but certainly a lot of fun on twisty back roads.
My commute is/was twisty backroads - not sure the 200 cup would be a lot of fun on a boring m/way type commute.
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