Getting another Clio after a near enough 20 year break

So after a near enough 20 year break I’m looking for another Clio as fun thing for the odd track day and some spirted weekend driving. Back in 2005 I bought my first Clio, a silver PH1 reg W744WTR. It’s was the long term test car for evo before I got it. I sold this after 2 years and bought a 182 FF which I had for 6ish months but sold it due to a lack of money. After going to SPA earlier in the year with some friend it made me want to get another car for some enjoyment. The discovery and hilux I drive don’t really scratch the itch. I went and looked at a PH1 yesterday which was cosmetically a fantastic car but the guy selling it neglected to mention it wouldn’t always start. I’m now looking for either a PH1 or a 172 cup in around the £6k range. While looking I’ve also noticed that the newer 200’s fall into this rough price range. I’ve never driven one so wondering if these off the same level of fun as the 172’s do.

Cheers all.

Decent 172 ph1s rarely come up for sale. Personally I think a Cup drives better, couldn’t comment on a 200 though.

Having owned a mk2 cup and a mk3 200, the chassis on the mk3 is superior to the mk2. The brake setup of the mk3 is also better, but that’s what you would expect when you’ve got 4 pots up front. And let’s be honest, the brakes on the mk2 can be made to be awesome with the right disc/pad combo!

But the mk3 has one big downfall. It’s a bit of a fat lad in comparison to the mk2, and that shows. You constantly need to keep them in the sweet spot when you’re pushing on, so that means using the gearbox to keep it in that spot.

If you can peddle, a mk3 with recaros is a very entertaining drive though.

I went out today and picked up a car. Found a 172 cup relatively local to me. Hasn’t been on the road in over a year so need a little freshen up plus getting the belts done. Hopefully be on the road in a few weeks.

NorthloopCup said:

Having owned a mk2 cup and a mk3 200, the chassis on the mk3 is superior to the mk2. The brake setup of the mk3 is also better, but that’s what you would expect when you’ve got 4 pots up front. And let’s be honest, the brakes on the mk2 can be made to be awesome with the right disc/pad combo!

But the mk3 has one big downfall. It’s a bit of a fat lad in comparison to the mk2, and that shows. You constantly need to keep them in the sweet spot when you’re pushing on, so that means using the gearbox to keep it in that spot.

If you can peddle, a mk3 with recaros is a very entertaining drive though.

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I never found the 197/200 brakes to be better than the mk2 in terms of stopping power, but they definitely cool faster.

Kind of makes sense as if you do the maffs 197/200 brembos have 5024mm2 piston braking area, whereas the standards have 2827.43 mm2. The sliders double the brake efficiency so you'll be at 5654mm2 on standard 182 calipers.

Never driven a mk3 with them in mind, just from swapping calipers on the 182.

Louis said:

I never found the 197/200 brakes to be better than the mk2 in terms of stopping power, but they definitely coolest faster.

Kind of makes sense as if you do the maffs 197/200 brembos have 5024mm2 piston braking area, whereas the standards have 2827.43 mm2. The sliders double the brake efficiency so you'll be at 5654mm2 on standard 182 calipers.

Never driven a mk3 with them in mind, just from swapping calipers on the 182.

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If the mk2 had the same chassis as the mk3, the mk2 would be the king without a doubt.

NorthloopCup said:

If the mk2 had the same chassis as the mk3, the mk2 would be the king without a doubt.

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Everyone i know with one says they're just proper slow in comparison. Not that a mk2 is fast 😂

They arguably look nicer though...

Louis said:

Everyone i know with one says they're just proper slow in comparison. Not that a mk2 is fast 😂

They arguably look nicer though...

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You can 100% feel the Terry that they’re carrying in comparison, but if you keep them on the boil, they’re a good car. More of a drivers car I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yeah I prefer the look of the 197 over the 200. If the 197 came from the factory in AG, I’d have had a 197 over the 200 lol

I'm in the same boat, had a 182 9 years ago which I regret selling.

Went and looked at a 172 Cup but needed a lot of work for the price they wanted so not one for me.

Noticed for slightly more 197 creep into the search. Feels live more value for the money having the Recaros and Brembos. I need to go find one to test drive to see how they are.