Clio 200 test drive

[Seddonk]

I'm an owner of a 182 cup and thought I would test drive the clio 200 today and see for myself just how good this car is,

My first thoughts was that it feels very solid and can handle very well, also the brakes are fantastic no brake fade at all!

What i did find though was the power delivery was pretty poor compared to the 182! I found that it was pretty flat even flooring it to the recommended gear change bleep! Which dissapointed me slightly .

I think the car looks fantastic and comfortable especially with the recaro's.

I did take the opportunity to ask the renaultsport specialist about future Clio engines and he told me that there are rumours for the next Clio being a possible 1.6 twin turbo engine. How true this is, is yet to be seen.

Overall I don't think I'd change the 182 for a clio 200 as I feel I would be taking a downgrade in pullin power.

Has anyone else experienced this or thought the same thing?

 

[The Boosh!]

The power delivery in the clio 200 is much smoother than the 182 so doesn't necessarily feel as 'exiting'. I'ts no slower though. A college has a 200 and if anything his is slightly quicker than my 182.

Has more torque lower down the revs too.

Much better all round car imo; would love one.

 

[Seddonk]

You are spot on about the power delivery it is alot smoother maybe i needed a little longer to drive it and get used to it i thought it seemed a little strange! thanks for getting back to me on that one

 

[Sanders]

It doesnt feel as 'raw' as a 1*2 but feels as fast, if not a bit quicker

 

[KMB]

Also, if it was at a dealer it will probably be virtually new and have no miles on it, these 200's are incredibly tight in the engine dept, mine now has 8.5k miles and is starting to feel much more free revving... it's getting better every time it goes on a nice long journey

 

[s4lancia]

Ah this has saved me starting a topic with the same 'concerns'.

Having had my beloved 172 (non cup) written off following a smash 6 weeks ago I thought I would treat myself to a test drive in a 200 (not a cup but with a cup chassis :S).

Gave it a damn good thrashing during my 10 minutes in the driving seat. Plus points were it felt and drove absolutely spot on, usable torque through the gears. Minus point (and it surprised me) the power delivery left me feeling very underwhelmed indeed. I suppose I loved the rawness that the 172 gave so maybe it's a case of accepting it for what it is but it put me off going through with the deal that's for sure.

What do people think? I want something newer than a 172 but I need to have similar feeling that that car gave me and tbh the 200 did not , a 182 or 197??

 

[skiddusmarkus]

If a 1.6 had a twin turbo they'd have to be tiny little yoyo sized things.A 4 pot doesn't lend itself to a twin setup really.

 

[R-Sport.]

Ah this has saved me starting a topic with the same 'concerns'.

Having had my beloved 172 (non cup) written off following a smash 6 weeks ago I thought I would treat myself to a test drive in a 200 (not a cup but with a cup chassis :S).

Gave it a damn good thrashing during my 10 minutes in the driving seat. Plus points were it felt and drove absolutely spot on, usable torque through the gears. Minus point (and it surprised me) the power delivery left me feeling very underwhelmed indeed. I suppose I loved the rawness that the 172 gave so maybe it's a case of accepting it for what it is but it put me off going through with the deal that's for sure.

What do people think? I want something newer than a 172 but I need to have similar feeling that that car gave me and tbh the 200 did not , a 182 or 197??

If you dont get enough of a thrill out of a 200 then the 197 is even less likely as a potential buyer as they are even less exciting-

If you want that raw feel then buy a phase 1 or 172 & spend a few £££ on nice mods- if you want an epic handling car with the cup chassis- buy a 200

S

 

[Sanders]

Ah this has saved me starting a topic with the same 'concerns'.

Having had my beloved 172 (non cup) written off following a smash 6 weeks ago I thought I would treat myself to a test drive in a 200 (not a cup but with a cup chassis :S).

Gave it a damn good thrashing during my 10 minutes in the driving seat. Plus points were it felt and drove absolutely spot on, usable torque through the gears. Minus point (and it surprised me) the power delivery left me feeling very underwhelmed indeed. I suppose I loved the rawness that the 172 gave so maybe it's a case of accepting it for what it is but it put me off going through with the deal that's for sure.

What do people think? I want something newer than a 172 but I need to have similar feeling that that car gave me and tbh the 200 did not , a 182 or 197??

As been said before, the 200's are tight when new, try and test one with a few thousand on the clock and see what you think to that

 

[.Stevo.C.]

Yup I think I need to test drive one with a few thousand miles on it I had a drive of one a couple of months back and it only had 200 miles on the clock felt unbelievably tight (lol).

 

[Munson]

They are what they are. Not especially rapid. A 182 will always feel quicker.

 

[Richy_Boy]

When I test drove a 200 at the end of last year the car has 10 miles on the clock and the engine felt horribly tight. Didn't really want to rev at all. Having bought one and put 4000 miles on since March, it's loosened off nicely and feel much more torqey and loves to be 6000 rpm + where it screams along.

Rich

 

[Adam.]

Try and find a 2nd hand one at the dealers to test drive.

 

[ScoobyGib]

Besides the few thousand miles on the clock the 200 needs to be warmed up quite a bit so you get the most out of them.

Also as said you might feel it is less fast as it is more comfortable, bigger and has a smoother power delivery than the 1*2

But if you feel it is not right simply don't go for it just because it is a Clio. Test drive other things see how they compare, Fiat 500's are faster

 

[.Stevo.C.]

Try and find a 2nd hand one at the dealers to test drive.

Where did you buy your's from Adam?

 

[Adam.]

Where did you buy your's from Adam?

I got it from the AC in Glasgow. Official RenaultSport dealer and the only place that would offer me a test drive. + they are 2 minutes from my office!

 

[FatRS]

The 200 is a lot heavier and it shows when pulling away. It doesn't appear to have the same urgency about it but once it is run in it's fantastic. Drive it high up the revs, listen to the glorious exhaust note and you'll soon forget the 1*2. There's also a lot more sound deadening to it and build quality is far better along with a higher positioning from the road, These all have an effect to appear to slow down the response of the car but as mentioned above it is no real different to a 1*2. I drive a 172 with slight mods for track use and I drive a 200 as my company demo for a Renault dealer and the difference between the 200 on the 1st of March and now on 7K is massive. Definitely recommend.

 

[mike1pow]

When i had my first test drive in a 200 I thought it felt better in every way apart from power. It felt numb compared to my 172 Cup but that had be mildly modded and stripped. I ended up getting a 200 Cup when the 172 died on me. Its like any other car, it takes a while to adapt to but find it more rewarding now than the 172 ever did.

 

[Seddonk]

I completely agree with you skiddusmarcus does seem a little strange for such a low engine but the dealer said it's only a Renault rumour at the min :s I actually had a drive of the seat Leon cupra r 225 on an 05 plate recently and thought that felt rapid! I never had the opportunity to test the megane RS250 I know the power is significantly more in the Megane over the Clio 200. Does anyone know how the two cars compare?