What are the common problems of the 197 /200 clio rs

[Sportscarmad]

Hi all any info or what to look for would be great for when I go to buy a Clio rs 197/200 to what the common problems etc are on them

 

[mossyv6]

Lots!

 

[mossyv6]

Chocolate gearbox.
Chocolate manifold flexi’s.
Chocolate Hub bearings.
Chocolate steering wheels.
Chocolate Recaros.

 

[Krarl]

Chocolate Indicator stalks
Chocolate Heater blower wiring
Chocolate Front subframe rot

 

[Krarl]

Also

Chocolate sticky rear calipers

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Reading that lot you'd think they break every ten minutes

 

[New2RS]

Reading that lot you’d be better off eating the fukin thing

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Or ignoring the horror stories on the internet they have their issues, but so does every old hot hatch. Mine has been ok so far.

I think you just have to go into it with your eyes open and buy one where the common stuff has been covered.

 

[PAUL JA]

As above plus
Lower ball joints
Pads stuck in Brembos due to poor servicing

All easily sorted

 

[Sportscarmad]

I'd imagine these issues wud be caught and brought up in a mot and service

 

[Krarl]

Depends if they left a crate on the passenger seat or not😂

 

[hipwell]

Depends if they left a crate on the passenger seat or not😂

Sounds like my mot last week after fitting a 421 Mani on the civic lol.

 

[imprezaworks]

Fuel

 

[Sportscarmad]

Lol well I'd like to think a good mechanic would spot them

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Fuel

What do people expect from a relatively highly tuned 2.0-litre normally aspirated engine though?

It's not as good as a 1*2, but it's hardly terrible. I can't think of any 2.0-litre hot hatches that offer diesel running costs

 

[imprezaworks]

Ok fuel in relation to performance.

Saying all this I would try one. Love the looks and don't do the miles.

 

[MarcB]

Chocolate gearbox.
Chocolate manifold flexi’s.
Chocolate Hub bearings.
Chocolate steering wheels.
Chocolate Recaros.

Chocolate Indicator stalks
Chocolate Heater blower wiring
Chocolate Front subframe rot

Chocolate sticky rear calipers

As above plus

Sagging glove box which cases light to stay on.
Keyless entry is temperamental at times / Door handles fade and look sh*t
Gear knob is just as chocolate as the steering wheel
Rear 1/4 window seals let in water if not replaced
Genuine OE parts prices can be very expensive compared to 1*2s
They are utter wa*k on fuel.

 

[imprezaworks]

As above plus

Sagging glove box which cases light to stay on.
Keyless entry is temperamental at times / Door handles fade and look sh*t
Gear knob is just as chocolate as the steering wheel
Rear 1/4 window seals let in water if not replaced
Genuine OE parts prices can be very expensive compared to 1*2s
They are utter wa*k on fuel.

But for an N/A motor, acceptable mpg wise?

 

[Krarl]

And they're slower than a 1*2's too

Then again they're probably worried about trying to get it into 3rd and 4th gear without scattering them all over the road

 

[MarcB]

But for an N/A motor, acceptable mpg wise?

Hmmmm, would you trust a French onboard MPG dash ?

I dont drive mine that much due to having a work van most days but I believe it can be horrendous but that could be down to a pile load of factors.
(Timing Out)

They are a heavier car than the 1*2s but for me its better built than the 1*2s and has slightly less rattles

 

[imprezaworks]

Although I don't do many miles all the above factors always stopped me buying one.

I'd jump to an R26 or wait and save for a 250.

They (197) are good value though.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

And they're slower than a 1*2's too

Then again they're probably worried about trying to get it into 3rd and 4th gear without scattering them all over the road

In a straight line maybe, but round a track I would expect a 197/200 to be quicker.

Hmmmm, would you trust a French onboard MPG dash ?

I dont drive mine that much due to having a work van most days but I believe it can be horrendous but that could be down to a pile load of factors.
(Timing Out)

They are a heavier car than the 1*2s but for me its better built than the 1*2s and has slightly less rattles

I have worked mine out a couple of times and I don't think the trip is that far out if I recall correctly.

 

[Krarl]

In a straight line maybe, but round a track I would expect a 197/200 to be quicker.

You would expect that

But most people that buy 197/200's are scared to drive them properly. God forbid they hit a kerb/apex too hard🙄😂

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

You would expect that

But most people that buy 197/200's are scared to drive them properly. God forbid they hit a kerb/apex too hard🙄😂

Can't say I've ever noticed that. Must be a Yorkshire thing.

 

[Krarl]

Can't say I've ever noticed that. Must be a Yorkshire thing.

I think last year at CSF I got stuck behind 3 197's

None of them moved and none were blue flagged. I'm just glad none of them are hard enough to go to Cadwell😂

 

[Sportscarmad]

What's the difference between the 197 200 and 200 gordini and the. Cup versions

 

[Martin_172]

I love them, not sure id have another, changing the exhaust manifold on the garage floor was f**king horrendous then the centre silencer died and the only way it seemed to rectify it without getting a flat spot was an akrapovic at £1200, which sounded mint then the gearbox went and before I got round to fixing that it blew another flexi. cunting thing

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

What's the difference between the 197 200 and 200 gordini and the. Cup versions

There's a guide here that should help you with that: https://cliosport.net/threads/197-200-model-guide.764458/

The 200 Cup chassis is the pick of the bunch in terms of handling and regarded as one of the best hot hatches around, but all of the 197/200 variants handle well.

 

[Krarl]

The swivel hubs are second to none for handling

One of the things Renault absolutely nailed on the head!