Clio 197

[kap01]

Afternoon all,


I currently own a 1.5 dci 100 daily (work horse) and honestly its brilliant! Whilst I’m a fully-fledged Honda fan boy, I can’t help but notice what great value the 07/08 197 is ? Ideally the car will be a weekend/Friday treat with the odd track days. I would like to build on this slowly over time to make a proper track day car. Never actually driven the car yet but it looks like a hoot!


So far I am hearing bad things about the gearbox, I can see Renault did a partial payment towards repairs. So when looking at cars should all cars have had the gearbox changed or is it a case of only some cars were effected? A little more information on this would be helpful.


Apart from the usual Service history and belts, is there anything else to look out for?


Thanks!

 

[Knuckles]

@Typhoon has one of these in the second best colour.

He'll be able to best advise you.

There's a 197/200 model guide stickies at the top of Clio discussion if you fancy a read

 

[kap01]

whoops lol

 

[Typhoon]

whoops lol

@Knuckles is half correct. I do own one of these. In the best manliest colour, not the girly liquid yellow. Mines also an 07.

In regards to the gearbox, it's all a bit hit and miss. Renault did a gearbox revision I believe at the end of 2007 so it is the early 07's that are affected.

Having said that, it's completely hit and miss. I've abused my car on occasion and the original gearbox is mechanically sound. When/if you test drive one, get the revs up to 5,000RPM in third gear and change to fourth. If it crunches that'll give you a small indication that the gearbox may be on its way out.

Things to check:

Gearbox (5000RPM method)

Flexis from the exhaust seem to be made from tracing paper. Have a listen if there is any blowing. It's at the bottom of the manifold down pipe. A visual inspection if you can jack it up would help. Mine went and I think with a second hand manifold and labour I paid roughly £200.

Also, consider MPG. They're known to drink petrol like a kid with coke at a birthday party. I average around 22MPG. IIRC you'll be hard pushed to get 30+ even if you drive like a pensioner.

Finally, ball joints. Check the wear on these. You can buy the ball joint separately from R sports for £60 I believe and a certain few people can press them in such as @markfishy ! Renault will only sell the full hub assembly. Best giveaway for knackered ball joints is a squeak on turn.

That's your four main "bad" points. The cars awesome mate. I've had opportunities to buy other cars such as the Elise and so on but for the life of me can't seem to unattach myself from the 197. The handling is amazing and for a car weighing 1.8tonnes it's pretty nippy.

Also, as you've mentioned, cambelt. 72k miles/5 years. Make sure it's done by a specialist. 197's have the floating VVT pullies so if a garage uses a universal locking tool then it's likely it's mistimed. Cost to have this done is around £550. Factor that in to the price you pay if they haven't been done/not done by a specialist.

I can't see your location but if you're anywhere near South London then I'd be happy to let you have a play in mine as you're yet to drive one.

Any questions, let me know and good luck on your hunt mate.

 

[Knuckles]

Just a heads up that the revised box is still prone to shitting itself, they just changed the 6th gear ratio to drop the rpm at 70mph for cruising speeds.

 

[montana]

Typhoon covered it really, MPG is not as bad as people make out (I have a 30mpg average over the last 2.5k). I was surprised in a good way at the handling of mine out of the box with tired suspension (mines a non cup). Brilliant cars, there also seems to be a lot of cheap ones floating around at the moment too.

 

[Knuckles]

How do you get 30mpg?

I'm stuck at 24 regardless of how I drive.

I can only ever fondle 30 on a long, slow motorway journey

 

[montana]

How do you get 30mpg?

I'm stuck at 24 regardless of how I drive.

I can only ever fondle 30 on a long, slow motorway journey

I don't know , it's dropped slightly recently with the colder weather. That's with a 6 mile commute and worked out correctly (fuelly) rather than the OBC (which says high 20s.)

 

[kap01]

Thank you Typhoon and all, pretty much what I needed. I am still tempted by the FN2 type r also..... hmmm !

 

[irish boy]

I've just bought a 197 also, heard a lot about the box, haven't researched properly what to do if it goes tho I had a synchro go on my panda 4x4 and I took it to a local gearbox specialist who put a full set of synchro rings in for £350 so can't be the end of the world?

Mpg I'm averaging 30, tho I did a high speed 250 mile motorway trip yesterday in the south of Ireland and I averaged 27, tho the rpm rarely dropped below 4500. Surprisingly quiet at those engine speeds tho.

 

[Typhoon]

I've just bought a 197 also, heard a lot about the box, haven't researched properly what to do if it goes tho I had a synchro go on my panda 4x4 and I took it to a local gearbox specialist who put a full set of synchro rings in for £350 so can't be the end of the world?

Mpg I'm averaging 30, tho I did a high speed 250 mile motorway trip yesterday in the south of Ireland and I averaged 27, tho the rpm rarely dropped below 4500. Surprisingly quiet at those engine speeds tho.

Gearbox rebuilds (including removal and refitting) are near enough a grand on these.