Looking to buy 197/200

[BenJeffrey]

Hi guys.
So i'm looking to buy my second car in around May, and have decided on a Clio 197 or 200 as they seem the best hot hatch for the money.

11k budget so :
197 or 200 and why
What to look for when buying?
What factory extras, I want the recaros and spoiler!
What mods are the most popular on here?

Thanks for the help

 

[Knuckles]

£11k should get you a decently specced 200... Or a great spec 197/r27 with change.


the r27 (197) comes with

recaros
cup chassis (introduced to 197s in the r27)
Cruise control
soft touch dash
liquid yellow as an option
renault f1 team decals

deisrable options are

xenons with cornering lights (look for head lit washers)
climate control (look for the screen on the centre consol)
Renaultsport steering wheel insert

marmite options are

RS splitter
RS skirts
cup spoiler


197s (0 options are the same as the r27 bar liquid yellow paint but you could spec speed line alloys


200s have similar options except xenons. People retro fit them from non sports
they also have a marmite anthracite pack which changes the wing mirrors, diffuser, front blade and bumper insert from black to Anth. It's marmite but I think it looks awesome on light coloured cars

the most desirable colours are alien green (discontinued), storm grey (discontinued), liquid yellow, racing blue, ultra red, nimbus silver


200s have 20% stiffer springs and dampers iirc
quicker steering rack
better low down torque for town driving


the recaros on 200s have yellow inserts as opposed to the 197s silver inserts.

the cup chassis in both are identified by red brembos and anthracite wheels

 

[Stefan.]

r27 would be where my money would go!

 

[BenJeffrey]

£11k should get you a decently specced 200... Or a great spec 197/r27 with change.


the r27 (197) comes with

recaros
cup chassis (introduced to 197s in the r27)
Cruise control
soft touch dash
liquid yellow as an option
renault f1 team decals

deisrable options are

xenons with cornering lights (look for head lit washers)
climate control (look for the screen on the centre consol)
Renaultsport steering wheel insert

marmite options are

RS splitter
RS skirts
cup spoiler


197s (0 options are the same as the r27 bar liquid yellow paint but you could spec speed line alloys


200s have similar options except xenons. People retro fit them from non sports
they also have a marmite anthracite pack which changes the wing mirrors, diffuser, front blade and bumper insert from black to Anth. It's marmite but I think it looks awesome on light coloured cars

the most desirable colours are alien green (discontinued), storm grey (discontinued), liquid yellow, racing blue, ultra red, nimbus silver


200s have 20% stiffer springs and dampers iirc
quicker steering rack
better low down torque for town driving


the recaros on 200s have yellow inserts as opposed to the 197s silver inserts.

the cup chassis in both are identified by red brembos and anthracite wheels

Really informative, thanks for that! The F1/R27 seems to tick all the boxes, and obviously money saved is more modding money. Since they're LE i'll just have to see what is around at the time :approve:

 

[Matt W]

Be sure to check the gearbox on the 197's. or budget for a new one.

 

[poru376289]

Is there a difference between the 200 and 197 'box? I mean in terms of the bits that are reported to fail - mine has never shown any sign of failure/stress (197).

 

[ROB91]

I'd go for a 200 if it was my money. Look a lot better IMO but that's just me

 

[Knuckles]

Early 06-07 197 boxes have really short gearing so 70mph in 6th is 4krpm, 57 onwards (including 200s) have slightly longer gearing so 70 is 3.5k

the mods to do are

30mm drop and 25mm spacers, check Christopher's 200

if you get a 200, black vinyl on the lower valance of the front bumper looks ace, check gorms and chappers (iirc) 200s

and speed lines, if you don't get a car with them on.


if you want a cup spoiler, get a car with no spoiler, or a cup spoiler already attached as you can't fit a cup spoiler to a gt spoilered car, they're different bootlids

 

[gez 172]

Be sure to check the gearbox on the 197's. or budget for a new one.

That would stand for any 197 or 200. Some 197's are in better nick than 200's. some people still get a gearbox fail on 200's

 

[Knuckles]

Listen/feel for a crunch between 3rd and 4th above 5k, that's the sign of a gearbox getting ready to s**t itself

 

[MarkCup]

If you want to fit in on here you need Recaros, cup suspension and projector lights as a minimum, probably best seek out some silver visions too.

if however you don't care what anyone else thinks, buy whatever comes along at the right price and just drive the f***ing thing. They're sublime, whatever the spec.

 

[Chrisgti6]

The gearbox issue is definately not unique to the 197! Plenty of low mileage 200s have had them replaced too. It seems very random. My 65k R27 has no gearbox issues and arguably has less 'issues' than a lot of cars with much lower miles.

Moral of the story is don't be scared of something with higher miles.

 

[gez 172]

You missed speedlines too.

 

[Chris_200CUP]

Plenty 200's around for that price, Just check eye out on forums/ Pistonheads and autotrader.

Be prepared to look around abit, i looked at 4 before i handed my money over

 

[Knuckles]

If you want to fit in on here you need Recaros, cup suspension and projector lights as a minimum, probably best seek out some silver visions too.

This.

 

[Kyle 86]

My mate max on here has 1 for sale he has a nimbus 197 for sale £7000 ONO

 

[Kyle 86]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...imbus-197-35k-Miles-%A37-250-ONO-P-X-tidy-182

 

[Spedem]

I went for a 197, all the options on a 58 plate with low miles. Looks better than a 200 IMO

 

[Matt W]

That would stand for any 197 or 200. Some 197's are in better nick than 200's. some people still get a gearbox fail on 200's

Not on the later 'fixed' 200's

 

[MarkCup]

You missed speedlines too.

Argh. Knew there was something else that was life and death important to being accepted on here. It's so important, I couldn't remember it LOL

 

[Gaz_]

........................and spacers that make it look like its running wheels from halfords and fudge up the handling

 

[Matt W]

........................and spacers that make it look like its running wheels from halfords and fudge up the handling

Mental how a couple of years ago the spacorz craze didn't exist, now people are ruining cars left right and center.

 

[N0ddie]

11k budget so :

197 or 200 and why- 200 as its the better car. Did the press rave about the 197? No!

What to look for when buying?- fudged gearboxes, torn door seals

What factory extras, I want the recaros and spoiler!- Recaros make the car (IMO) as do Speedline wheels if you plan on sticking with OEM wheels

What mods are the most popular on here?- On here (CS?). Turinis, silvervisions and such like. Whats popular with MK3 RS owners? Zausts, cams, remaps, spoilers, OZ wheels, springs/coilovers

 

[Chris_200CUP]

under budget and right spec...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...sport-200-liquid-yellow-big-spec-2010/1067812

 

[Inequality Street]

under budget and right spec...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...sport-200-liquid-yellow-big-spec-2010/1067812

I don't like that for some reason. I read the advert and just had an odd feeling about it, not sure why as its my favourite colour etc.. Odd

 

[Knuckles]

Looks a decent spec, at a glance

 

[N0ddie]

It has a silly yellow TRS tow strap so you should at the very least get £500 off.

 

[Chrisgti6]

The fact it says it's 212 bhp but no mention of cams etc would put me off!

Looks a decent car though

 

[MarkCup]

I'd not consider that one because of 'breaks', because of '212 bhp', and because of two owners in 23k miles - how much would either of those have cared about the long term health of things like the clutch etc?

Of course, if you only intend on keeping it for a short time yourself it doesn't matter, you can abuse it too before selling it on.

 

[BenJeffrey]

under budget and right spec...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...sport-200-liquid-yellow-big-spec-2010/1067812

That car or something of that standard would seriously make me consider a 200, not massively keen on the front, but that colour improves it a lot!

 

[R-Sport.]

I have that identical car for sale!

Without the gash tow strap!

S

 

[Inequality Street]

I have that identical car for sale!

Without the gash tow strap!

S

Why didn't you have a LY when I came looking! Haha, would have loved one

 

[Lawro]

Been looking at 197's.. Can't believe how cheap they are now!

 

[Knuckles]

Been looking at 197's.. Can't believe how cheap they are now!

£4.5k s**t ones are going for :dead:

 

[chettle]

If you want to fit in on here you need Recaros, cup suspension and projector lights as a minimum, probably best seek out some silver visions too.

if however you don't care what anyone else thinks, buy whatever comes along at the right price and just drive the f***ing thing. They're sublime, whatever the spec.

Agreed!

Recaros are a MUST IMO, make a very bland interior feel great!

 

[Knuckles]

Agreed!

Recaros are a MUST IMO, make a very bland interior feel great!

lmao :cheers:

 

[Lawro]

£4.5k s**t ones are going for :dead:

Even less than that some of them.. But even decent R27's are well priced now.