Clio 197 - Tell me more.

eidolon

eidolon

eidolon

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I think I'm finally going to succumb to the fact that the type of driving I do doesn't warrant anything expensive (to buy or run) so the Boxster is up for sale and I'm researching what alternatives are out there. My daily drive is 4-5 miles in traffic, then the same back home on an evening. My main other use is to pop to the shops or to my girlfriends at the other side of town (where parking is impossible).

Main criteria is that it must still be fun when I find myself in one of those rare situations that I'm not crawling along in traffic. Additionally it must be able to carry 2 bikes on a roofrack.

Budget is around £10k. At the moment the top contender is another Audi TT but probably just the 225 (only because I don't want another DSG). The only problem is trying to find a decent condition one (the so called "PROBABLY THE UKs BEST PRESENTED CAR" that I viewed today was absolutely atrocious, was really bad condition with dents, scuffs and scrapes on every panel - and it was £2k over priced on top of that!).

So, my other thought is the Clio 197. I've always loved hot hatches and from what I can tell the 197 won't disappoint. My only concern is that interior, it really is pretty poor looking.
I know that some seem to come with Recaros but holding out for one of those might mean waiting ages. Anyone know how common/rare they are? Was it some sort of special edition or just an optional extra?

Any owners on here? Got any tips for me? (while I read copious amounts of threads on Cliosport)
 
Z3M coupe? probably fit a bike in the back and one on a rack :p

although your previous thread about having to drive very carefully in this weather would make me think that it could be a bit lairy for your needs
 
Recaros were an option on normal models but standard on the R27 special edition.

Interior isn't that bad on these, although coming from Audis and Porsches it might seem bad.
 
I would think going from the Boxster to a Clio would be too much of a step down.

Can't think of anything really to fit the bill though, Focus ST, TT, S2000 etc..?

MX-5 if you don't mind the image?
 
eidolon said:
So why the confusion?

I simply don't need the Boxster, it's not the right car for my needs.

Anyway, can we keep this thread on topic please, suggesting a car based on my use/requirements.
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I could understand if you had a 911, but a Boxster to a TT just seems odd.

re Clio, similarily priced Megane R26 would get be my choice. Quicker and handles better helped by having an LSD.
 
I had a 197 for about 1.5years and did about 36k miles in it so now's my time to shine!

The recaros aren't too rare in the 197 as they were only a £700 option but even the standard seats are very comfy and supportive.

Fuel economy isn't dreadful but it's not great either, you'll be looking at between 28-32mpg with mixed driving.

Normally I would say the spec to go for is the normal 197 with the cup pack, this gives it lower, stiffer suspension with anthracite alloys and red brake calipers along with a much nicer interior and lots of nice extras such as keyless entry, cruise control, air con, body coloured bump strips etc.

If you're wanting a more supple ride then a non-cup, normal 197 is the one to go for, it's still very competant. Renault certainly don't make it easy with their nomenclature to decide which one to go for, but the 197 cup really has a bargain basement interior, far less equipment and imo looks worse because of it's non colour coded bump strips etc.

There's been one special edition 197 which was the R27, this came as standard with Recaros, the cup suspension pack and climate control, also was all stickered up and uniquely numbered upto 500.

The engine certainly needs to be worked to get the most out of it but I would say it's far far more forgiving than a VTEC unit and is still torquey enough to bumble around town in.

The gearbox was revised around December 07 I believe which gives a ever so slightly longer 5th and 6th gear, which in reality made little to no difference (I had both types in my car as it was an early 197 which had a relatively common 3rd gear synchro issue).

Trying to think what else to say really, guess I can try and answer any specific questions you have for it!
 
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thepharcyde said:
I could understand if you had a 911, but a Boxster to a TT just seems odd.
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I don't think it's odd, it's just choosing a car which is more appropriate to my needs. The Boxster is a great drivers car, but I rarely get the opportunity to "drive". I've done 3000 miles in 8 months. If I'm realistic I just need a car to get from A to B however I'm not ready to buy a Corsa 1.2 quite yet hence why I'm considering TTs or 197s.

I actually really liked my old TT, it was fast enough, handled well enough and looked good enough for what I need. Sure the Boxster is better in every way but it's in all the ways I don't need.

Anyway, who's going to tell me more about 197s?
 
Thanks for the info spaz, just the sort of thing I'm looking for.

As you say, the spec to go for is the 197+cup pack however for my requirements the normal 197 would be more appropriate.

What's the 3rd gear synchro issue? Is it something to be wary of?
 
Nah I wouldn't say it's something to be worried about, I wasn't the only one with the problem, but it was just a handful really and only on the earlier ones (mine was an early 07 model on a 56 plate).

The later ones with the newer, longer ratio'd gearboxes, seemed to have it cured, all of the 197 cups, 197 + cup pack have this box (around Dec 07 I believe, so a normal non-cup 197 after that age will also have it).
 
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