The Renault Sport Clio 200 Ownership Experience - on my next car shortlist

[RS200curious]

I'm currently running a Porsche 968 Sport as my daily driver and its a great car - not insanely powerful or fast but a truly fabulous driving machine - the most detailed steering I've every experienced in a mass produced car and beautiful rear drive handling balance with a bit of playful-ness at reasonable speeds. It is also moderately practical with an ok ish boot and room for my little kids in the back.

Issue is that at nearly 19 years old it is a tinkerers car, there is always a to do list of things that really want attending to. I have a Caterham as well and I simply do not have time for 2 tinkerers cars!!!

So onto the RS200, I gather they're a bit special to drive but what are they like to own? Can you draw any comparisons on the driving experience? How many problems have you had with the car or does it just go to to the garage once every year or two? I'm naturally a bit wary of Renault build quality and reliability but suspect not all of these concerns are well founded? Are the electrics flaky? I'll be looking at a nearly new to 2 year old example. Does anyone know how the warranty situation has changed? (when was 4 years introduced?)

Many thanks,

Jon​

 

[Chris-Mk2]

I only owned my 200 less than two months due it being stolen. But in the short time I had no problems at all, barely even a rattle. The build quality I didn't see as an issue as it isn't what the cars are about, however, the quality is much better than french cars as of 15 years ago! Just a regular service every year, depending on track days etc.

Mechanically, these engines are a tuned version of the 1*2, different intakes, cams, exhaust etc. Still use the same F4r base. Superb engine in my eyes, but responds well to remap just to take out the flat spot. Still very easy to drive round town and okay on the motorway if needed, but of course the B roads are the better route to take.

My RS200 had Recaro seats too and the cup chassis, which was pretty stiff, but fine for day to day use, but this is obviously down to your own opinion. The seats are fine to live with every day but the normal seats are more comfortable. The 4 year warranty only comes with the Renault 4+ package, otherwise it's a three year warranty.

 

[Adam.]

Lasted a month with mines before selling it. RUK are dogshit when things go wrong and believe me they will go wrong. I was in for warranty work after 700 miles at only 1 week old!

 

[Chris-Mk2]

what happened with yours Adam?

 

[Adam.]

Where do I start lol.

Lock buttons on the door handle stopped working so couldn't lock the car as it was keyless and the button was dead.

They broke the window when fitting the replacement.

The new one broke when fitting but they still carried on fitting it.

It went back quite a few times for this.

The drivers seat belt locked up and wouldn't come out.

It went in for a replacement which involved a "road test" and this is where things spiraled out of control with clutch issues after that. RUK told me it was not a performance car and was not designed to be revved above 3k.

I had enough time to order a brand new Audi A3 Black Edition in the time I waited for RUK to return my call.

Ugh.


In the end Renault Ness a family run place diagnosed everything that I listed as wrong that the other garages said was fine.

Will never buy another new Renault as their after sales is gash.

 

[Gaz_]

Both of mine (197's) have been fine. Nothing out of the ordinary. Dont expect German build, but its acceptable. They do have one thing the Germans cant do though, its called a soul

 

[RexinaTrophy]

Both of mine (197's) have been fine. Nothing out of the ordinary. Dont expect German build, but its acceptable. They do have one thing the Germans cant do though, its called a soul

Obviously you have never owned and run a C63 AMG. I do, and owned a 182, 182 T, 197 and 200. All FIVE cars have soul .

 

[S2H]

Wait so the button on the door handle and the button on the key card both stopped working? Lol

 

[Tree200]

I got mine beginning of January and I've loved every minute of it, just past 3 years old and not a single issue other than a head light bulb. It's a full fat with cup pack an used daily on mainly B roads but have done long journeys an just eats up the miles, great fun is all I can say. If you haven't already, have a look on clio200.net

 

[Chris-Mk2]

Adam, you seem to have been really unlucky. I haven't heard of anything that bad with the 200''s. They seem to be far better than the 197's in which my friend has gone through 3 gear boxes in less than 40k miles.

After 3 weeks of owning a german car (BMW 118d Coupe) Im possibly buying another RS200 tomorrow purely down to how much fun they are!

 

[Gaz_]

Dont be so sure. All Mk3 RS's can suffer with bad gearboxes, just look on the Renaultsport forum. Infact, the 200 seems more problematic from what i've seen.

 

[Matt W]

Mine has been perfect, 5 months and 6k now, not a single rattle either

 

[Gaz_]

they will come. Not MK2 bad, but they will

 

[Adam.]

Wait so the button on the door handle and the button on the key card both stopped working? Lol

Well the key worked to lock but it would immediately unlock as you were beside the car. A proper retarded combination.

Adam, you seem to have been really unlucky. I haven't heard of anything that bad with the 200''s. They seem to be far better than the 197's in which my friend has gone through 3 gear boxes in less than 40k miles.

After 3 weeks of owning a german car (BMW 118d Coupe) Im possibly buying another RS200 tomorrow purely down to how much fun they are!

There isn't much problem wise here but check the renaultsport forum.

 

[Inequality Street]

Mine has a few rattles now, not gunna lie. Couldn't care less though tbh, still fantastic.

 

[mark smith87]

I don't rate the local main dealer here. They sure know how to charge for any work. My Renault Trafic went there for its 36000 service. Had to wait over an hour to collect it and got charged way over the odds. Won't be going back there in a hurry. Also they have no sense of urgency. The Trafic is a licensed taxi so I can't afford to be off the road any length of time. I take the 172 to Birchdown for any specialist work it needs.

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

I don't rate the local main dealer here. They sure know how to charge for any work. My Renault Trafic went there for its 36000 service. Had to wait over an hour to collect it and got charged way over the odds. Won't be going back there in a hurry. Also they have no sense of urgency. The Trafic is a licensed taxi so I can't afford to be off the road any length of time. I take the 172 to Birchdown for any specialist work it needs.

Did you not ask/agree to any work prior? They can't actually carry out any work on your car unless you instruct them to.

 

[marshall878]

Ha...it appears Adam was in the same boat as me with his...Friday afternoon car i believe.

First 6k, faultless, loved it, total dream to drive. 2500miles around Europe, didnt once regret buying. Didnt agree with Clarkson's comments about the 200 being over assisted and the steering having no feeling.

2 weeks after Europe, 6k old, clutch slave cylinder goes. Towed to garage. Gets repairs. Complain of heavy clutch feel, told its ok.

13k, syncro in 4th goes. Gearbox replaced without any issues. Took back straight after with a clonk from the front end. Suspected lose subframe, found nothing. (Im still complaining about this clonk at 27k)

Car struggled to idle properly with any load on it (lights, A/C etc) Turns out the main connector to the battery bhadnt been done up so was struggling to draw power required to run all the sensors at idle.

Car overheated on the M25, turned out the fan hadnt been connected back up correctly (fuse missing apparently)

Various window seals replaced.

Spoiler end caps ballooned up and replaced.

Glovebox sagging, replaced twice.

ITG Panel filter replaced at service even though its visibly different to a standard one.

Temp gauge no longer sitting bolt up vertical, limiter cutting in early...renault change the instrument dials...alas no change. Why wouldnt you change the cheaper thermostat and sensor first i dont know :/

Steering knock is still on going however difficult to reproduce. Been heard numerous times though by service managers and head technicians.

Steering is also loads heavier than it ever was, either powersteering motor on its way out or the sensors that tell it to adjust the assistance. At standstill its bareable, but at 60 when making little corrections its real heavy....always being told "its normal"

Awaiting to hear back from service manager tuesday with regards to replacing the steering column. As to whether itll be done i dont know.

HOWEVER stupidly im still in love with the bloody thing. It looks the part, when im feeling playful i forget the steering issues and just enjoy it, and i love it. Its just when driving normally 90% of the time, every little thing gets to me.

RUK i do not get on with. The amount of times iv heard "the clio is sold in the millions across the world" and we dont have any known problems with the steering. Read the forums love, there is alot out there with issues.

I dont give a flying f**k tbh. Im having problems with MY Renaultsport 200, it doesnt feel the same as it did when I took delivery when brand new. I know my car better than anyone. I know its not 100%. But alas they just fob me off and close my case without resolving it.

Cause a stir on the official renaultsport forum and you'd be surprised how many PMs you get regarding people selling up due to steering faults...

/Rant

 

[Sargara]

My 200 Cup was faultless for the 16 months i owned it. But then i never went near a Renault dealership, all my work was down via independants to avoid that headache entirely!

 

[R-Sport.]

Marshall it will be the rack 100%.

 

[marshall878]

Marshall it will be the rack 100%.

Oh believe me ive tried to get that across to them but they are adament that the clonk theyve heard is from the column. They refuse to agree that there is issues with the rack.

I believe its the rack. The clonk is pretty substantial when it happens. Felt right through the car. Usually as the torque is taken off the rack when returning from full lock.

Been complaining for a year. RUK wont do anything because they just go by what the dealerships say.

 

[R-Sport.]

Its the pinion where the rack meets the column.


why dont you buy a rack and get them to fit, when clonk goes they know its the rack. Ive had 2 racks fitted now, 1 fitted by my mechanic and 1 by renault maidstone after masters cocked it up and both cars felts brand new after.

S

 

[Advikaz]

Mines been alright. I've done over 10k in mine & it's developed the squeeky slave which it's going in for in a few weeks. The guy I've dealth with @ Maidstone Renault has been good as gold.

 

[marshall878]

Its the pinion where the rack meets the column.


why dont you buy a rack and get them to fit, when clonk goes they know its the rack. Ive had 2 racks fitted now, 1 fitted by my mechanic and 1 by renault maidstone after masters c**ked it up and both cars felts brand new after.

S

I shouldnt have to though should i. Ive got a year of warranty left. Knowing my luck id buy off my own back, pay them to fit it and they wouldnt accept that it drives any differently.

Would that pinion have been disturbed at a gearbox change? As everything seems to have stemmed from that job.

 

[MarkCup]

Apart from needing new front ball joints from being overly greedy with kerbs on track, mine has been faultless over the 24k miles I've covered in it.

 

[marshall878]

Reply from Renault this morning..

Good Morning Lee,
I have spoken with the guy dealing with your Clio and Renault Technical department.
They have asked us to carry out a specific operation on the lower joint of the steering column and to report back on any difference this makes to the noise.
We will need the car for 1 day to carry this operation out. Let me know When is convenient and I will arrange a car for you. We are booking from Monday the 25[SUP]th[/SUP] onwards.

R-Sport....sounds asif you and them are finally singing from the same hymn sheet...fingers crossed!

 

[R-Sport.]

When they take the rack off they will turn the top part of the rack manually-

I had mine in my garage ( after the new one went on from my mechanic ) & it was notchy as fu*- wish id have kept it-

Remember also a new rack comes with track rod ends as well-

It will be the rack not the column- if it gets changed give me a shout/mention on 197 forum

S

 

[marshall878]

Sigh. I enquired as to whether the investigation will be carried out on the rack or column and this is the reply

The pinion is inside the steering rack, and as such isn’t related to the repair we are looking at. We will be looking at the lower column clamp, and bonding it on to make sure there isn’t any movement.

It’s a modification we used to do on Scenic but its never appeared before.

Will have to wait and see whether it makes a difference. Cant see it myself tbh.

Dont worry once i finally get a solution ill be mentioning you. Just like ill be trying to claim back a years worth of petrol too and from garages. A years worth of phone calls, and ultimately a years worth of monthly finance payments for a car i was unhappy with and just being fobbed off...

 

[marshall878]

Sorry RS200curious for slightly taking over your thread...atleast its giving you an insight into Renault and their workings!

 

[R-Sport.]

Yes it is --

you can only adjust it & test it if the rack is seperated from the bottom of the coloumn which means taking the whole lot off I think-
But once off you know its fooked-

the only other thing is loose subframe bolts-

S

Sigh. I enquired as to whether the investigation will be carried out on the rack or column and this is the reply



Will have to wait and see whether it makes a difference. Cant see it myself tbh.

Dont worry once i finally get a solution ill be mentioning you. Just like ill be trying to claim back a years worth of petrol too and from garages. A years worth of phone calls, and ultimately a years worth of monthly finance payments for a car i was unhappy with and just being fobbed off...

 

[RS200curious]

No worries guys, thanks for yourr comments and the amusing hijack. I took a Renaultsport Clio 200 FF with Cup pack out at the weekend and while a good car - better than the GT86 in my opinion it wasn't for me. I think my power / torque lust is too great and it just wasn't fast enough!

Enjoy your cars! I hope they don't spend too much time at those nasty Stealers - I was thinking that if I did get one I would be frequenting K-Tec which is just down the road from me

 

[Martin_172]

2500 miles, engine spun a bearing and destroyed its self. bodged back together by ARNOLD CLARK STIRLING (IDIOTS) was given it back with the steeringwheel sitting at 2 oclock when going straight, they massively adjusted tracking to "fix it" however it was actually the full subframe being on squint not located in its dowels. tried to kill me every time I braked.

Renault UK were useless always saying if the dealer said there is nothing wrong then theres nothing wrong! dealer after dealer said the same thing, suspension geometry specialist took one look at it and said im not touching that until ive spoke to Renault to explain how dangerous this is, they told him that if the dealers said it was fine then his machine needs recalibrated. he stripped it, repaired it and it was 10x better but still never perfect.

I lost a fortune trading it in 10 months old.

ill never buy a brand new Renault again unless there is a serious change in the dealers, and silly dealers with renaultsport jackets who will take your money but not stock any renaultsport cars to demo for you calling themselves renaultsport dealers are not the change im talking about!

 

[marshall878]

YES!

I feel your pain mate. Unbelievable the way they just say theres nothing wrong, Its insane. They dont have a clue.

If my fault was more apparent id have sorted it myself. But like the dealers im not willing to change parts without being certain whether its the rack or the column...but one thing i do know is it doesnt feel anything like it did.