Buying advice Cliosport 200

[DanielF4R]

Hi guys and girls,

I'm looking to buy a Clio cup 200.

I've found what I think is the one but my only concern is that the car has had 5 owners in 5 years. Would anyone else be concerned by this? I have spoken to 2 Renault dealerships and they say it's not uncommon for cars of this type. It's had the stronger gearbox replacement under Renault warranty aswell as manifold downpipe.

There is also a full fat cup edition for sale with less miles and only 2 owners but no gearbox replacement.

Many thanks!

 

[Matt W]

Mine will be for sale next week, 1 owner with cup chassis and the proper seats.
I would say 5 in 5 years is kinda high.

 

[Knuckles]

I'd recommend against the cup if your going to be using it as a daily, the standard car (ff is including the cup chassis) is a bit more liveable as a daily.

Buy on service history and make sure the belts have been changed, ideally by a specialist.

Test drive both cars, take it above 5krpm in 3rd gear and change to 4th, there shouldn't be a crunch, if there is, the gearbox synchros are starting to wear/worn

 

[Gaz_]

no such thing as a stronger gearbox

 

[Knuckles]

no such thing as a stronger gearbox

I glossed over this, I assumed he was talking about the revised box, but that was brought in with the 57 plate 197s.

Yeah, the dealer is speaking s**t.

 

[DanielF4R]

So the exchange box is just another weak syncro one? It's purely going to be a second car for summer nothing more. I understand the cup is stiffer and don't intend on buying a car like this thinking it will ride like a Mercedes. The salesman I spoke to currently has a renaultsport 200 2012 with 17000 miles and he's the 3rd owner. They sell a lot of cars of this type with high owners. People buy them as a summer toy or 2nd-3rd car expecting to use them on a daily basis then realise how rough they are.

 

[Gaz_]

Yeah, but dont let that put you off.

I've had two 197's, the last one 5 years, the one before for three, and covered around 80k in total. Had a box change in the last one i owned @ around 50k. Do the checks that knuckles said, make sure it shifts cleanly above 5k, if it does, happy days

I'd recommend a oil change on the box every 12 months but that cos i'm ocd about things like that

 

[DanielF4R]

I'm terribly OCD which is why I'm flapping about the owners, then again I'm comparing this with my run of the mill Clio 1.2 daily with hardly any. It's done high 40k miles. Invoices from Renault garages for all work carried out.

I shot myself in the foot spotting the other car with low mileage, it is quite a bit more money and at the end of the day I could buy it and the box can still crap itself.

The high owners may hinder the price When I come to sell.

 

[DanielF4R]

Can anyone supply actual proof from Renault that the new exchanged gearboxes They supply are the same variant as to what was installed prior and as such with the "weak syncro"

I am buying this car primarily over others because of the reasurance that I was told by a salesman.... That the issues with the syncros were rectified in the replacements. Note The dealership isn't benefiting from any custom as I've only phoned for advise on a private sale.

 

[dajones]

Don't listen to the gearbox talk, mines on 46k 60 plate and there's no sign of any issue. It's not as common as everyone makes out.

 

[hsustyle]

Mine is a cup Packed full fat with Recaros and Gt spoiler on 2 owners, 38k miles and I drive it pretty hard.

Original gearbox with zero issues. Only thing I had done was hubs and swivel ball joint under warranty.

Had a powerflex lower engine mount fitted recently due to old one wearing and occasionally knocking.

Hole appearing in side bolster of recaro and a slightly knock from backbox not being aligned properly.

It's Been pretty problem free and one of the best cars I've ever owned.

Id avoid the Cup as a daily, trust me, a cup Packed FF is still pretty hardcore!