My first Mk3 - Ultra Red R27 with Akrapovic

[Djw John]

Decided it had been a while since I bought anything and asked some questions about 197s on Sunday night in a group chat. On Monday night I drove this home ? not sure it was meant to happen that quickly!

It used to be @Martin_172 and @Fraser.J. so its got known history. Dunno if that's a good thing or not.

Only mods I know of atm are 20mm spacers and the akrapovic. As you'll see it did have wind deflectors but I've just taken them off in the car park. Non original Stickers are next
to go

 

[Djw John]

Oh and some actual decent pics from the ad

 

[PP200t]

Very nice, love the Recaros. Really like these. Almost bought one a while back, gutted I’ve not tried one.

 

[cat171]

Cool!
It'll look great with a little spoiler on the boot, it'll really finish the back off.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Like it. Into these at the moment.

 

[Martin_172]

I think this is probably my favourite car I owned out of all the rs clios Ive owned, I put a pair of brand new genuine 200 cup front dampers on it not long before I sold it. That transformed the handling. That was the only mod other than the akrapovic that I fitted. It had a panel filter when I bought it too.

 

[Starlet_gt]

I remember test driving a r27 when they first came out. Wished I'd bought it. Lovely cars.

 

[imprezaworks]

I need and will try one of these.

How you finding it

 

[v15ben]

Very nice.
Bet the Akrapovic is nice and quiet haha!

 

[197.]

In terms of mods, it also looks like it has got those little carbon fibre spats on the side skirts and the renault sport door trim has been painted. Looking good though, a set of projector headlights with the black inserts would transform the front end

 

[Djw John]

Yeah @cat171 I fancy a Sprint one, not the cup spoiler.

Those wee carbon spats will probably come off.

Looks way better without the sunstrip, wind deflectors and rear window sticker.

What an introduction to 197 ownership though. My daughter was desperate to go out in it so we put her seat in

Got her to press the start button and nada. Nothing. Square root of f**k all happened. I was not pleased. Tried bumping it since I live at the top of a hill and that didn't work either.

So after 12 years and 98500 miles the tow hook looked like this

Until 21 hours into my ownership

The cause? A garage fitted a new starter fairly recently and totally gubbed the thread on the exciter signal stud

Which after quite the faff

Got sorted

What a total pain in the dick.

 

[imprezaworks]

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Shame but at least it's sorted now. Just get it out on some decent B-roads and you'll soon forget the setback!

 

[Djw John]

Yeah @Djw Dave and I quickly nipped out last night and both had a shot. You can defo see it's potential, corners very differently to a 172.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Yeah they're a very different beast really. I do prefer them overall I think though. They just give you endless confidence to push.

 

[imprezaworks]

Hopefully going forward it behaves itself lol.

Really like these and the 200. But I'm sorely tempted to up the budget for a 250 cup. Mmmm.

 

[Djw John]

I've only done about 130 miles so far and only given it a little twice so too soon to say really but I think it'll be good fun. Better than my R53 anyway.

You should just buy something @imprezaworks anything! I hope these are at the point where they're not gonna plummet in value so can always sell on if its not what you're after. although this one is about to tick over 100,000 so its about to be worthless!

 

[Short Norman]

think I might try one of these next (albeit not a R27 version), looks great in red. I prefer the 197 front end to the 200 which is a plus on the budget front LOL.

Can't make my mind up about roof spoilers on them though.

What's the easiest way to differentiate between cup and non cup versions.

 

[Djw John]

Massive order placed with @renaultpartsdirect which will hopefully make the courier cut off time before the bank holiday! Also some RBF600 ordered from Amazon for the brakes and clutch.

Will need to find out how to bleed a clutch!

 

[Djw John]

think I might try one of these next (albeit not a R27 version), looks great in red. I prefer the 197 front end to the 200 which is a plus on the budget front LOL.

Can't make my mind up about roof spoilers on them though.

What's the easiest way to differentiate between cup and non cup versions.

I think its the colour of the calipers but tbh I don't know! I didn't really research, just asked some mates, got sent a link and peer pressured into buying it!

 

[Martin_172]

They take a wee bit of getting used to even coming from an n/a 172 I always thought it loved that last 1000rpm just where the 172 would start to run out of puff.

I can't remember if it was this or my 200 but I had one of them on the rollers at extreme and it made peak power at the limiter!!

 

[Djw John]

Yeah it defo pulls well right at the top.
What did whichever car it was make?

 

[Djw Dave]

I think it'll make a great car, not the best start to any ownership. Hopefully passed that now.

 

[Martin_172]

Yeah it defo pulls well right at the top.
What did whichever car it was make?

202hp I remember that an FN2 Type R made 210hp on the same day so id say bang on the money at 190hp ish! im sure it was the R27 as I dont think the 200 lasted long enough to get near a set of rollers!

 

[yeecup]

Nice. Fancy an ag200 cup myself

 

[Djw John]

Yeah an AG would be lovely but way out of budget for me.

Managed a wee bit more to it today, Started out like rhis

Wee bit of elbow grease later

Fitted silvervisions but forgot to take a pic.

Then later on decided to remove the carbon spats and found why the tyres were down at 13psi

f**king yay.

But I cleaned it anyway.

Just a quick AG snowfoam and wash. Wheels are fucked so I'll need to decide what to do. Budgets on the front and punctures on the rear.

 

[cpaterson76]

think I might try one of these next (albeit not a R27 version), looks great in red. I prefer the 197 front end to the 200 which is a plus on the budget front LOL.

Can't make my mind up about roof spoilers on them though.

What's the easiest way to differentiate between cup and non cup versions.

I liked the subtle spoiler the AG had, off a dynamic.... have never been a fan of the larger options

 

[Djw John]

I liked the subtle spoiler the AG had, off a dynamic.... have never been a fan of the larger options

Got a pic to remind me?

 

[Martin_172]

budgets will be ruining that big time get some PS4 on it!

 

[Djw John]

That's what I'm looking at but as usual I've spent the entire budget buying the thing!

 

[cpaterson76]

Got a pic to remind me?

 

[cpaterson76]

Got a pic to remind me?

 

[Djw John]

I think that's what my mums mk3 had on it too actually.

Not much has happened to this what with being busy with family life and that.

Rbf600 arrived today for the clutch and brakes and the RPD order arrives tomorrow so that'll keep me occupied too.

After removing 5 of the 6 air fresheners I thought I should chuck in my alpine so I can stream music and have hands free again, something I've really missed in the civic.

It was whilst fitting it I realised it's not quite DIN size. Ah well.

 

[197.]

Megane MK2 single DIN fascia adapter will sort that gap out

 

[Djw John]

Cool good to know, thanks

 

[Djw John]

Wee bit done to it tonight.

Main thing was a new top mount for the nearside, bought both though, I'll fit the offside when I fit springs.

The first thing I noticed is how much more garage it takes up over the flamer!

The top nut was mega right but it can't be stuck there if it's liquid right?

And then a few odds and ends like oil and thermostat change, reseating the slave cylinder bleeder bit, new wipers and jdm'ing the arch guard

 

[Djw John]

Top mount has done the job, new more knocking, thermostat has kept temps nice and steady bang in the middle instead of 1/4, actually securing the slave cylinder seems to have worked too. All helps towards feeling more confident with the car.

And just now it's new tyre day

Gone for pilot sports at Costco

 

[Pistachio]

Looking better and better! Those grey grills need some lovin' though


How much do PS3's go for at costco?

 

[imprezaworks]

What's the exhaust like?

Interested in a 200 which has the option to pay more with it on.

 

[Djw John]

The grills are very much on the list, just need to decide if I should quickly treat them or take them off and paint them. Do it once and do it right.

Dunno about ps3, I went for PS4 in 225/45/17 which is a size up from standard but cheaper. Was £313 or something like that.

Exhaust is nice @imprezaworks it idles so quietly but comes alive when giving it some. Gets a bit loud at 75 going up hills but it is sitting at 4K then, stupid box!