197: Advice!

R

rdaniel

Looking for some buying advice....

I have £7,000 to spend on a Clio 197. I currently do 40 mile round trip per day with 2/3rds of this on the motorway. What economy are people getting on motorway journeys and round town? also what other costs are associated with 197 ownership, insurance isn't a problem but just general maintenance, decent tyres and servicing ect..

Ryan
 
Get my f1 for a bargain price if your quick! Goes for part ex tomorrow evening! It's on autotrader for 5300
 
Realise that you will probably get gearbox problems and it isnt a cheap fix

If you do 70 on the m.way you wont get better than 32mpg

Around town stop/start, 26-30
 
Thanks,

I have seen it on AT already, unfortunately I wont have my money for the next couple of weeks. Its a good price though, surprised you haven't sold it tbh.

Ryan
 
shotgunsjay said:
Realise that you will probably get gearbox problems and it isnt a cheap fix

If you do 70 on the m.way you wont get better than 32mpg

Around town stop/start, 26-30
Click to expand...

You'll get more than 32mpg at 70 on the motorway.

I do a weekly 180mile round trip (up and down the M3 plus some M25), I set the cruise at 77-80 leptons depending on how many ****wits there are who are unable to maintain a speed and what that exact speed is, so I set it above them enough to clear them. Anyway,,, 33/34mpg is the average (32-35 are the extremes) all over the same journey over a year. Cruise is also meant to sap it a bit.
When I first got it I drove at about 65 (no cruise) for a test and got 39mpg.

Around town/short journeys yeah 27 is typical.
 
From what I've read it's the later cars that are having the most problems with the gearboxes. If you get an early one you might find it more reliable and a lot cheaper to purchase. On a motorway at 70 you should expect around 34mpg providing it's quiet
 
I had similar concerns as you when I was looking at a 197, however since buying an F1 I've found the costs really aren't that bad. Economy is a lot better than I expected and that's from shortish journeys with a good run at the weekend.

As for servicing, I don't believe the costs are too expensive, and good spec/brand tyres can be had for ~£100 each.

The buyers guide on here is very good, as linked to by mentalpen.
 
Your journey sounds very similar to my wifes, she gets 34-36mpg on her commute to work (40-50miles, mostly Mway, some A road, couple of roundabouts). Before she had this job it was smaller journeys and I spent more time driving the car so we used to get 27-30mpg then. TBH if you're well behaved they don't have to be THAT impractical. Running costs by hot hatch standards aren't too bad, tyre's are an average size and cost £70-110 depending on your preference, servicing is decent value and there's almost always a specialist near you that I'm sure one of our members will recommend. The gearbox and manifolds are really the only big bills you might need to be wary of, but if you read the buyers guide and choose your car wisely you should be fine, other than that it's the usual mounts/bushes/bearings you would expect from a hot hatch with stiff(ish) suspension and decent(ish) power.
 
megane > clio for MPG all day long. You'll be surprised, more power some how equals more mpg. Noticeable mpg i'll add (the magic of turbo's).
 
Azagedon said:
megane > clio for MPG all day long. You'll be surprised, more power some how equals more mpg. Noticeable mpg i'll add (the magic of turbo's).
Click to expand...

So if I buy an F40 with 2 turbo's I'll get more MPG and save the planet.. bingo :thumbsup:
 
I'm sorry am I missing something ?? If your worried about mpg oh buy an oil burner , the meg one is quite nice , you will never get for ages what u should get as u will be ragging it !! We all do !!!
 
Now that's the Scoob angel !!! Cracking ain't it my truck get about 9 with a light load , I'm off up chesterfield tomorrow fella , u getting the beers in ???
 
Around town I get around 31- 33mpg, on a run anything Upto 40mpg (yes, really! :wink:)

Recently bought 4x toyo proxy T1 tyres for £280 fitted (through my work, so slight discount). Parts are surprisingly cheap too.
I love my little clio. It does everything I've asked of it without complaint Upto and including tip runs, removals and pretending to be a sensible family car!
All that and it'll keep a fair few sports cars honest on a good B road :smiley:
 
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