182 v 197 v 200

[Sir_Dave]

My ultimate 1*2 would be a trophy with cable throttle, no air con or ABS

Mines 66% there, no aircon, no abs (needs a sensor iirc), but no cable throttle ... yet. Maybe when it gets to 200k.

I really like the 200 - I think it looks great. I know alot of people don't, but I think it looks better than the 197, just can't bring myself to spend that much on a Clio.

I'm in a similar boat, the 200, whilst god damn ugly when it 1st came out, has really grown on me. To the point now where i actually prefer it to the 197!! BUT, for me, the clio is about cheap fun, a great all rounder, something that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up whilst popping down to the shops, & costing 9/10's of bugger all to run. Thats why i couldnt drop £20k on a 200, or even £12k.

By buying a 197 instead, for less than £10k all in, i can also keep the Trophy, which lets be honest, is always going to be a classic.

Is a 200 better than a 197, a Trophy & 10 trackdays? I very much doubt it.

 

[Ian_R]

The differences between the 197 & 200 i am led to believe are the certainly the front end, rear end, steering, tweeked the gearbox, and also done some head work on them, hence being better low down than the 197. 95% of parts from the 200 will fit the 197. So for me IMO i could not see me having a 200 - there just aint that WOW factor between the two to justify the cost. As said the cost of them is going to drop dramatically. Yes the 197 is terrible low down in the rev range, but you soon learn to deal with this and to keep the car in the power driving it.

If you really want a 200 - hold off for a year and they will be bottoming out in price just like whats happening with the 197's

 

[Christopher]

I'm in a similar boat, the 200, whilst god damn ugly when it 1st came out, has really grown on me. To the point now where i actually prefer it to the 197!! BUT, for me, the clio is about cheap fun, a great all rounder, something that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up whilst popping down to the shops, & costing 9/10's of bugger all to run. Thats why i couldnt drop £20k on a 200, or even £12k.

By buying a 197 instead, for less than £10k all in, i can also keep the Trophy, which lets be honest, is always going to be a classic.

Is a 200 better than a 197, a Trophy & 10 trackdays? I very much doubt it.

:dapprove:

What kind of cat-stabbing mentalist would spend that?

 

[Stu-]

Why were you underwhelmed?

Cause he's a homo!


Only joking Turnips. X

 

[Christopher]

LOL. The 197 just didn't excite me... the R27's looked nice though.

The 200 makes you want to drive it like a lunatic all the time. It's like a big RS Twingo with almost infinite grip and huge brakes.

Just found out that they've sold the Nimbus one that I drove twice before ordering mine. Poor bloke.

 

[Stu-]

LOL ! It'll not be long for yours now is it? 3/4 Weeks?

I think i'll get a 197/200 next year when i've saved up a few pennies :lolup:

 

[Christopher]

April 24th is the date at present mate.

They've delivered one yesterday that ordered at the start of February, so the lead times seem to be quite short at the moment!

TBH, as long as it's here for Le Mans, I'm not that bothered.

 

[Lee]

I see Chris Harris has added one to his fleet: https://twitter.com/#!/harrismonkey/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com/j5tjScZz

He liked it: [video=youtube_share;z3e_mYY7Yr8]http://youtu.be/z3e_mYY7Yr8[/video]

As did Steve Sutcliffe [video=youtube_share;Ae4RqTW5UDU]http://youtu.be/Ae4RqTW5UDU[/video]

I know they've been posted dozens of times, but always worth a watch.

 

[Christopher]

Yeah, I might have watch those both a few times now.

 

[Sir_Dave]

:dapprove:

What kind of cat-stabbing mentalist would spend that?

Ah yes, but you'll keep it for 5 years.

If mine stays for 12 months ill be amazed - buying new would lose me about 8 grand in depreciation lol.

I have made a shopping list of choice parts already though, i just cant help it

 

[Christopher]

Fair point. lol.

 

[Martin_172]

ive had some quick 172's but id be kidding myself if I said the 200 was slower! they are quick quick cars, my first engine wasn't quite as good as the 2nd one but obviously it had issues from day one, the current engine is a cracker. pitty Arnold clarks workman ship is terrible for the actual fitting!! 130mph in 5th gear, change into 6th and the thing just keeps pulling!

 

[Christopher]

Yeah, the gearing really helps. The 200 I drove a fair few times felt quicker than my 182 and it only had 80 miles on it.

 

[Silent_Scone]

200 without question, if you get an R27 you'll be just as happy but it'll bug you in the end I guarantee it.

Obviously in reality the ph1 is the best Sport model ever made, and anyone who tells you otherwise has a serious mental illness and can't really be taken seriously

 

[Lee]

After mentioning Chris Harris having a 200, he's jus tweeted he's took it with him to the ring this week:

https://twitter.com/#!/harrismonkey/status/182484026311970816

 

[Bobby.]

For me I love the thought of a 200 but the chocolate gearbox and depreaction would come in to my mind too Much for me to enjoy it. For that reason I'd get a 1*2 or 197 and wait a couple years for the 200 to drop in value.

 

[CabinFever]

For me I love the thought of a 200 but the chocolate gearbox and depreaction would come in to my mind too Much for me to enjoy it. For that reason I'd get a 1*2 or 197 and wait a couple years for the 200 to drop in value.

You're right, the Gearbox is terrible.

I had a replacement in my 197 and 200, both changed under warranty. I'd never go back to one after owning the 26 though!

 

[Silent_Scone]

They're terrible in all of them though. It's not exactly a reason to buy a mk2, it'll cost you the same to replace it. At least with a 200 it'll be in warranty.

 

[Sir_Dave]

They're terrible in all of them though. It's not exactly a reason to buy a mk2, it'll cost you the same to replace it. At least with a 200 it'll be in warranty.

Surely if you heel & toe on downshifts it will help stop the gearbox was cr4pping itself? Its the synchro that goes iirc.

Bit of mechanical sympathy, etc.

 

[Lee]

For me I love the thought of a 200 but the chocolate gearbox and depreaction would come in to my mind too Much for me to enjoy it. For that reason I'd get a 1*2 or 197 and wait a couple years for the 200 to drop in value.

Why would you buy a 197 which would be out of warranty, when the chances of gearbox problems are fairly high?

One of the reasons I got rid of mine was that it had already had work on it, and wasn't feeling great, so at least now I'm covered again.

Dave, it was the synchro that went on mine. Screw heel and toe changes all the way in to Birmingham every day! It's fine when pushing on, but in traffic jams, that would be a pain in the ass.

At least the boxes in the 1*2s were pretty much bulletproof.

 

[Christopher]

Yep. Spot on.

JC5 boxes aren't exactly a paradigm of quality either. Mine shat itself after 82k and I barely drove the car hard.

 

[Lee]

Yep. Spot on.

JC5 boxes aren't exactly a paradigm of quality either. Mine shat itself after 82k and I barely drove the car hard.

My 172, 182 and Trophy were fine, and they all did 1/4 mile, track days and got thrashed on the roads.

The 197 lead a really easy life and that died!

 

[Dan]

Really tough choice for me this question but what nags even more is the R26 Megane ain't far off the price of the 200 :S

 

[Sir_Dave]

At least the boxes in the 1*2s were pretty much bulletproof.

I dunno, a lot of people moan that the 1*2 one is made of french cheese as well lol ...

Agency Transmissions do a roaring trade from people on here!

The 197/200 one clearly isnt brilliant, so im thinking of ways to prolong the inevitable (although the one im buying does have a relatively new box under Renault warranty iirc), so thinking that with regular gearbox oil changes & heel/toe literally everywhere it might help it out a little !!!

 

[Dan]

How many boxes has the trophy gone through Dave?

 

[Sir_Dave]

How many boxes has the trophy gone through Dave?

None, still on the original gearbox & clutch at just under 183k miles
(Touch wood)

 

[Christopher]

29.

 

[Christopher]

Really tough choice for me this question but what nags even more is the R26 Megane ain't far off the price of the 200 :S

I drove the R26 and the 250 and preferred the 200 to either.

They feel like a MUCH bigger car IMO. Even more than they actually are.

Awesome things, but just not for me. The 200 feels like a 133 with everything turned up to 11. I love that.

 

[Dan]

None, still on the original gearbox & clutch at just under 183k miles
(Touch wood)

See you have a good JC5 then and also bring hope to other 182 owners lol

And ye about the R26 I have never had a really good go with one just a few short blasts but tbh the same goes for the 200 I need to really get to grips with them both before I make any choice.

 

[Bobby.]

Why would you buy a 197 which would be out of warranty, when the chances of gearbox problems are fairly high?

One of the reasons I got rid of mine was that it had already had work on it, and wasn't feeling great, so at least now I'm covered again.

Dave, it was the synchro that went on mine. Screw heel and toe changes all the way in to Birmingham every day! It's fine when pushing on, but in traffic jams, that would be a pain in the ass.

At least the boxes in the 1*2s were pretty much bulletproof.

Well the gearbox point fair enough but I still couldn't live with the depriation

 

[Lee]

Well the gearbox point fair enough but I still couldn't live with the depriation

I lost an obscene amount on my 197.

 

[MarkCup]

Buy a low miler at £10k, keep it until it dies. Depreciation ceases to be a factor.

That's what I did/plan to do. As for chocolate gearboxes, I'm happy to take my chances. Simple rev matching (not necessarily heel and toeing) will prolong the life of just about any gearbox, as they're designed to soak up the abuse from the masses that don't/won't rev match.

 

[alanc1000]

I'm in a similar boat, the 200, whilst god damn ugly when it 1st came out, has really grown on me. To the point now where i actually prefer it to the 197!! BUT, for me, the clio is about cheap fun, a great all rounder, something that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up whilst popping down to the shops, & costing 9/10's of bugger all to run. Thats why i couldnt drop £20k on a 200, or even £12k.

By buying a 197 instead, for less than £10k all in, i can also keep the Trophy, which lets be honest, is always going to be a classic.

Is a 200 better than a 197, a Trophy & 10 trackdays? I very much doubt it.

thats a man talking with his brain and not his heart. I like!!

 

[Lee]

Buy a low miler at £10k, keep it until it dies. Depreciation ceases to be a factor.

That's what I did/plan to do. As for chocolate gearboxes, I'm happy to take my chances. Simple rev matching (not necessarily heel and toeing) will prolong the life of just about any gearbox, as they're designed to soak up the abuse from the masses that don't/won't rev match.

I wanted shot of the 197. I couldn't find anything else I wanted other than a 200, but there was no way I was going to buy a brand new one this time. Mainly because it's a stop gap for a couple of years max. So I bought Jeremys old one with everything on it. £21,550 original RRP, and I paid a hell of a lot less. It's still got 2 years warranty left on it, and the spec will help it hold it's value. Buying new each time was fine when I swapped every 12 months, as I got the cars so cheap I barely lost anything. I ran the 182 for 12 months, 18k miles and a lot of track days and it lost £1k come trade in!!

 

[Tom]

Yep. Spot on.

JC5 boxes aren't exactly a paradigm of quality either. Mine shat itself after 82k and I barely drove the car hard.

One of mine did 110K+ and i drove it harder than you. Trust me.

 

[paul]

you lot havent made it any easier you know....

and know lee i never listern.

 

[Bobby.]

I lost an obscene amount on my 197.

so you didn't learn the first time round then

 

[Jimbo_M]

That vid of the 200 chasing down the RS is quality!

 

[Lee]

so you didn't learn the first time round then

My mistake was liking and using it so much. I should have sold it earlier. I bought the 182 and Trophy on friends and family so saved loads on both of them. The 197 was massively discounted too.

I never consider resale or the next owner. I just enjoy it while it's mine.

 

[JayR]

Knowing what i know now i'd have kept my 182 all day long rather than chopping it in for a 197 (as good as it was).

If you've got spare cash there's no questions that a well spec'd 200 is the best however if you havnt and a cars not a massive priority i wouldnt poor more money into another RS.