gez 172
ClioSport Club Member
Defender 110
Hi all,
i thought I'd write a review on my experience on ownership of the Renaultsport Clio 200. Not sure if it will be of interest to many of you, but I thought it may be good help for those who have a 172/182 or a 197 maybe thinking of upgrading.
I've driven the car many miles already, clocking up a yearly average within 6 months; this has also included a South of France 2500 mile drive in 14 days.
2012 Renaultsport Clio 200 FF. Recaro's and Cup Chasis extras.
These cars are so well though out by Renault, you can really see why these win hot hatch of the year awards.
ive owned a PH-One 172 for a few years, so I'm comparing it to that to in areas.
The handling and brakes;
I think the Cup Chasis is a must to get the real 'hot hatch' feel, with the car being so firm and direct in handling, it really gives you confidence through a bend. I feel in control of the car, there's no light, skippy back end feel to it, it's a really stable car. It almost makes you loose sense of the speed your doing, I think this is where the cars get the negative comments for not 'feeling' as quick as a 1*2, there no fight as such with the car to keep it under control, whereas with a 1*2 your re-adjusting to keep the back end in line. Then, there the brakes, these brembos really just finish that department off, there's so much feel and bite to them, unless your doing trackdays, there's no need to upgrade the pads or disks, as standard they're more than capable to handle to odd back road blast up mountains.
The Negative; the Cup Chasis is quite a stiff option, if you get onto your average bumpy road, then it really is bumpy and uncomfortable, leaving you to slow down even further to avoid as much as possible. I can see why some people do not want the Cup option if they are that little older or do tend to use the back seats for passengers on regular occasions.
Ending on a high, I'm 21 and love the stiff suspension
Engine:
Ive always been one for a naturally aspirated, high revving engines, the Clio engine does it perfect!
You can't beat the sound of an engine producing more power the higher it revs, especially with the Clio 200 sounding so grunty, cammy (assuming its a word) up on the high RPM. The 6 speed gearbox compliments it perfect, keeping the car in band on each gear change, I found that the 5 speed in the 172 felt a little long and the rev dropped a considerable amount on each change, and with the lower set rev limiter.
I can see where people say 'the Clio 197/200 doesn't feel quick, it does feel as if the car could do with more power, but
i feel that with every car, everyone wants more. More is more expensive and this when when being a 'cheap' hot hatch would become expensive. This is when you look at the speedo and realise what actual speed you are doing, i cannot express how well built the Chasis side of the car is. I always see myself getting carried away then as soon as I look down, I find myself easing off the throttle quite quickly.
Combing them both; This is where I agree the car doesn't feel as quick, or so to speak 'rewarding' as a 1*2 because you loose the sense of speed, the car gives you so much confidence, it leaves me thinking where are its limits? You really have to push the car or do something drastically wrong to crash or come near to it. Obviously I'm referring to all this from road driving, no flat out track sessions/days where you can go to the limits, and probably get on them quite easy. I'm giving my opinion as an everyday use car and the back road blast for the average buyer. There's night and day difference comparing the 200 to the 1*2's for handling and brakes. It's the straight line that is very very similar, and the 1*2 having the weight advantage.
Interior;
we'll it's my first brand new car, and coming from a ph1 172 it's quite an upgrade.
Yes, it's quite plastic built inside, but it's functional. The car has everything inside that I need, the climate control, air con, cruise control, speed limiter, alloy pedals and the Recaro's. I don't feel there's too much to say about the seats as people know what they are,
i love them and wouldn't have the car without them, they look amazing and feel amazing to sit in. Driving hours on end in a day and I still feel flexible and not numb. But as I've said, some people find them too thin or can't justify the price of them. So that's personally preference.
Its nice and quiet inside while on a motorway run, no wind noise or just general noises inside the cabin, it's pretty quiet
and relaxing to drive whereas I found the 172 becoming a bit tedious on a long run.
Then the day to day questions.
I average 34Mpg in the Clio on my daily commute on 60Mph B roads, no stop/start traffic involved.
i know some rant at the poor Mpg, but it completely depends on your commute. In this current cold month, the car has gone down, averaging around the 29-30mpg. Best I've managed is 418 miles to a tank before getting scared and pulling in to put fuel in.
Tax, £249 for the year.
Tyres, totally depends on how you want to spend your money. 215/45-17 tyres.
You can go at the top end and pay £260 for a pair of continental sport contact 3,
mid range tyres such as the Hankook evo V12 for £180 for a pair,
then down to the rock bottom budget tyres for £45 a tyre, which I would not recommend on a car that's known for its handling.
Insurance, I found the 200 cheaper to insure than a 197, i think it's down to the 4 seats, rather than the 5 in the 197.
im 21 with a clean licence and I'm paying around the £700, just under, that's fully comp
after a long day in work, realising you get to drive it home puts a smile back on your face; that's if your commute involves a country road drive, not a bumper to bumper city drive.
I think that's most things covered?
Hope it's of some use to CS
Thanks
Gez
i thought I'd write a review on my experience on ownership of the Renaultsport Clio 200. Not sure if it will be of interest to many of you, but I thought it may be good help for those who have a 172/182 or a 197 maybe thinking of upgrading.
I've driven the car many miles already, clocking up a yearly average within 6 months; this has also included a South of France 2500 mile drive in 14 days.
2012 Renaultsport Clio 200 FF. Recaro's and Cup Chasis extras.
These cars are so well though out by Renault, you can really see why these win hot hatch of the year awards.
ive owned a PH-One 172 for a few years, so I'm comparing it to that to in areas.
The handling and brakes;
I think the Cup Chasis is a must to get the real 'hot hatch' feel, with the car being so firm and direct in handling, it really gives you confidence through a bend. I feel in control of the car, there's no light, skippy back end feel to it, it's a really stable car. It almost makes you loose sense of the speed your doing, I think this is where the cars get the negative comments for not 'feeling' as quick as a 1*2, there no fight as such with the car to keep it under control, whereas with a 1*2 your re-adjusting to keep the back end in line. Then, there the brakes, these brembos really just finish that department off, there's so much feel and bite to them, unless your doing trackdays, there's no need to upgrade the pads or disks, as standard they're more than capable to handle to odd back road blast up mountains.
The Negative; the Cup Chasis is quite a stiff option, if you get onto your average bumpy road, then it really is bumpy and uncomfortable, leaving you to slow down even further to avoid as much as possible. I can see why some people do not want the Cup option if they are that little older or do tend to use the back seats for passengers on regular occasions.
Ending on a high, I'm 21 and love the stiff suspension
Engine:
Ive always been one for a naturally aspirated, high revving engines, the Clio engine does it perfect!
You can't beat the sound of an engine producing more power the higher it revs, especially with the Clio 200 sounding so grunty, cammy (assuming its a word) up on the high RPM. The 6 speed gearbox compliments it perfect, keeping the car in band on each gear change, I found that the 5 speed in the 172 felt a little long and the rev dropped a considerable amount on each change, and with the lower set rev limiter.
I can see where people say 'the Clio 197/200 doesn't feel quick, it does feel as if the car could do with more power, but
i feel that with every car, everyone wants more. More is more expensive and this when when being a 'cheap' hot hatch would become expensive. This is when you look at the speedo and realise what actual speed you are doing, i cannot express how well built the Chasis side of the car is. I always see myself getting carried away then as soon as I look down, I find myself easing off the throttle quite quickly.
Combing them both; This is where I agree the car doesn't feel as quick, or so to speak 'rewarding' as a 1*2 because you loose the sense of speed, the car gives you so much confidence, it leaves me thinking where are its limits? You really have to push the car or do something drastically wrong to crash or come near to it. Obviously I'm referring to all this from road driving, no flat out track sessions/days where you can go to the limits, and probably get on them quite easy. I'm giving my opinion as an everyday use car and the back road blast for the average buyer. There's night and day difference comparing the 200 to the 1*2's for handling and brakes. It's the straight line that is very very similar, and the 1*2 having the weight advantage.
Interior;
we'll it's my first brand new car, and coming from a ph1 172 it's quite an upgrade.
Yes, it's quite plastic built inside, but it's functional. The car has everything inside that I need, the climate control, air con, cruise control, speed limiter, alloy pedals and the Recaro's. I don't feel there's too much to say about the seats as people know what they are,
i love them and wouldn't have the car without them, they look amazing and feel amazing to sit in. Driving hours on end in a day and I still feel flexible and not numb. But as I've said, some people find them too thin or can't justify the price of them. So that's personally preference.
Its nice and quiet inside while on a motorway run, no wind noise or just general noises inside the cabin, it's pretty quiet
and relaxing to drive whereas I found the 172 becoming a bit tedious on a long run.
Then the day to day questions.
I average 34Mpg in the Clio on my daily commute on 60Mph B roads, no stop/start traffic involved.
i know some rant at the poor Mpg, but it completely depends on your commute. In this current cold month, the car has gone down, averaging around the 29-30mpg. Best I've managed is 418 miles to a tank before getting scared and pulling in to put fuel in.
Tax, £249 for the year.
Tyres, totally depends on how you want to spend your money. 215/45-17 tyres.
You can go at the top end and pay £260 for a pair of continental sport contact 3,
mid range tyres such as the Hankook evo V12 for £180 for a pair,
then down to the rock bottom budget tyres for £45 a tyre, which I would not recommend on a car that's known for its handling.
Insurance, I found the 200 cheaper to insure than a 197, i think it's down to the 4 seats, rather than the 5 in the 197.
im 21 with a clean licence and I'm paying around the £700, just under, that's fully comp
after a long day in work, realising you get to drive it home puts a smile back on your face; that's if your commute involves a country road drive, not a bumper to bumper city drive.
I think that's most things covered?
Hope it's of some use to CS
Thanks
Gez
