Picking a good Clio 200?

[Infernouk]

Hey guys

im Looking at a clio 200 for a weekend car that will perhaps do 2k miles a year.

budget around 5-6k, however I wanted to seek advice as I’m quite concerned about the gearbox issue that seems to plague the cars.

how can I best set my self up to not fall victim to this? As mentioned the car will be rarely used, so if it were to break I’m in no rush to fix it but I don’t want to spend 6k then get a bill for 1k within months, also how do they fair with mileage over lifespan? Am I safe getting a 60k+ mile model assuming I won’t put more than 10k on it in my ownership?

I’m addition I wanted to know how I can tell from pictures if a car is FF with cup chassis? I see many on auto trader that either don’t state what the car has, or say cup pack which I’m not sure if is the same thing?

appreciate any help and guidance here whilst I’m on the search!

 

[imprezaworks]

Ref gearbox. Either get one with proof it's been done. Or budget 750.

 

[R-Sport.]

Also - ensure when you buy one you fully engage the clutch - the clutch pedal once depressed at the bottom usually has a bit more travel
So just engage the gears properly...

 

[Infernouk]

Is it worth buying a car 800 under budget with higher miles and just do the gearbox? Or better to spend as much on the car as possible and hope for the best? I don’t see too many for sale with the gearbox done

 

[imprezaworks]

Try and get the nicest within budget. It's a lottery tbh. Maybe try the 197 forum. I've been looking on and off for a replacement and the 200 Is on the list. I struggled to find a nice car tbh

 

[Ben Cook]

Red Brembo’s are cup chassis cars. But to be certain you’d need to look at the front springs as cup springs have a orange and blue mark on then.

 

[Infernouk]

I’m not a fan of the 197 visually so set on the 200, just not sure about playing a lottery with it

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

£6k ‘should’ get you a good one. But for that money you should really be expecting Recaros and Speedline alloys.

In my experience the big repair cost comes from the front suspension. Swivel hubs are roughly about £500 quid to have done and ball joints aren’t cheap either. Then the cost of top mounts as well, it all soon adds up to a bill in excess of £1k

As Mick at diamond motors said, these are great cars but maintenance costs are high.

As long as the previous owners have kept on top of the required maintenance and not let them build up to ‘one big bill’ you’ll be fine.

 

[Infernouk]

£6k ‘should’ get you a good one. But for that money you should really be expecting Recaros and Speedline alloys.

In my experience the big repair cost comes from the front suspension. Swivel hubs are roughly about £500 quid to have done and ball joints aren’t cheap either. Then the cost of top mounts as well, it all soon adds up to a bill in excess of £1k

As Mick at diamond motors said, these are great cars but maintenance costs are high.

As long as the previous owners have kept on top of the required maintenance and not let them build up to ‘one big bill’ you’ll be fine.

Cheers are there reputable dealers of the 200 I could go direct to? Everything on auto trader seems a bit of a miss

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Cheers are there reputable dealers of the 200 I could go direct to? Everything on auto trader seems a bit of a miss

@R-Sport. is your man.

He charges a premium for his cars but there’s good reason for it. They’re all top end 200’s mainly with all the options ticked.

 

[R-Sport.]

Cheers mate-

Sold the Gordini today.

The best 200 ive had with the least amount of interest....

 

[Infernouk]

Cheers mate-

Sold the Gordini today.

The best 200 ive had with the least amount of interest....

View attachment 1437742

Do you list stock anywhere? I’d be interested in following for something of interest

 

[R-Sport.]

On the 197 -200 forum / Pistonheads-

Sadly that was probably the last car of the year-!

 

[Martin_172]

I bought the best 197 I could and it bit me a few months later, in all honesty if I was buying another id buy the cheapest, straight one I could find in the colour I wanted and just keep the rest of the cash for the common faults as they come.

doing an exhaust manifold on my mums driveway in the rain in winter will never leave me!

 

[Not a Diesel!!!]

Agreed I went to look at one. It was as close to new as you could get and it was 6 years old.

With the level of refurb & prep I cannot understand how he makes any money.

Only thing that stopped me was the wife had last minute jitters about selling her own car.