Clio 197 Ultra Red 2007 from Finland. April, time to start driving.

[Pav]

always spotless

 

[Antti O]

always spotless

Thanks, its possible in summertime. Thats why next winter it will be under blanket.

 

[///M]

GORGEOUS Antti, absolutely bloody gorgeous. Even the engine bay looks factory fresh!

 

[Antti O]

Some parts arrived from UK. Thanks @renaultpartsdirect

 

[peter]

you're building a brand new car, antti?

 

[Antti O]

you're building a brand new car, antti?

I would not sell this car, so some money will be throw..

 

[Antti O]

Wheel well clean time

I have last summer holiday free day today and i had nothing to do. So i went for my garage.

Motox petrolium solvant
Brush
60 celsius water



Look how rusty front shocks are




And what i found from left front..
So both front springs are snapped. Luckily i bought 2 springs!

 

[sevenfourate]

Normal place to go right there Antti. Exactly where mine snapped and many others too.......

Funnily enough i hardly noticed mine. I occasionally had a slight creak when stopping on a slight up-slope and then reversing. Apart from that it drove and felt fine

At least you've found it and can now sort it ! Standard Renault springs going on ?

 

[turkie172]

I see shields (back plates) around the rear brake discs I don't think any UK cars have this I knew they are a spare part but I thought they did not fit a 197/200 Clio.

 

[Antti O]

Normal place to go right there Antti. Exactly where mine snapped and many others too.......

Funnily enough i hardly noticed mine. I occasionally had a slight creak when stopping on a slight up-slope and then reversing. Apart from that it drove and felt fine

At least you've found it and can now sort it ! Standard Renault springs going on ?

It is okay to drive.. no strange noises or whatever. I was lucky to find this before mot.
I bought all original parts from renaultpartdirect. Original suspension is so good to drive, i dont want to change aftermarket suspension.

 

[Antti O]

I see shields (back plates) around the rear brake discs I don't think any UK cars have this I knew they are a spare part but I thought they did not fit a 197/200 Clio.

Yep all our cars do have that kind of plates near rear discs..
In fact i have never saw car without.

 

[turkie172]

I agree factory suspension is good enough for normal use. After market I understand used for a purpose for example track use or for looks but there is always a downside I guess in the UK all roads are tarmac except for private lanes or forests where you live gravel roads are normal and the months of snow the rear discs need protection.

 

[Antti O]

I agree factory suspension is good enough for normal use. After market I understand used for a purpose for example track use or for looks but there is always a downside I guess in the UK all roads are tarmac except for private lanes or forests where you live gravel roads are normal and the months of snow the rear discs need protection.

I have some reasons why i keep standard suspension

1. Clio197 suspension was designed with lot of money and testing by Renaultsport engineers.
There is lot of different factors which are suspension related.
Wheel angles and different suspension geometry changes dramatically.
Standard suspension is great compromise between comfort and stifness.
When you do change lowering springs it is almost every time stiffer and more uncomfortable compared with original. Shock working area is altered, and it is not working as it is designed.

2. In my country all special cars are much more easy to sell and more desirable if car is still original. I will not sell clio, but it is important factor.

3. I live in east part of Finland. Unfortunately we have poor tarmacs here. Lot of grooves and potholes. Also all b-roads are bumpy and full of winter damage. I had Gordini clio 200 before and it was with cup suspension. It was like crazy stiff and uncomfortable. It was not problem in highways but b-roads.. too stiff.

I know lot of this forum drivers use different suspension, but it is important to choose correct suspension for each driver. Lowering suspensions are not just my cup of tea.

 

[Big Ben]

My cup shocks with aftermarket lowering springs are too harsh if I'm honest for everyday driving Antti. Sometimes I wish I had standard suspension.

But as my car is a weekend toy and I like to drive spiritedly I'm happy with the extra stiffness. I do put the car on track occasionally as well so as you say it's very dependant on the cars usage.

 

[sevenfourate]

I agree on all points you make Antti.

And living in a fairly rural area with not great roads (Potholes, definitely not smooth tarmac etc) i was VERY wary and to be honest 'concerned' about lowering / stiffening.So much so i held off for 9 (?) months. Not wanting to suffer a harsher ride, crashiness etc.

I cant comment on changing suspension angles and putting extra wear and tear on suspension / steering components, bushes etc. I may or may not get to learn this over time.

But i can hand on heart ; honestly say with Eibach springs only (I believe these were designed around the stock shocks) not only does my car look better IMO. But ride, crashiness and handling are unequivocally better than standard. For my use.

Bering in mind of course - the Eibach springs are possibly the least stiff, and smallest drop of any aftermarket springs available for a MK3. Also the fact i was replacing used (Although not high mileage) springs which may or may not have been at their best.......

As long as you enjoy yours and it's as you want it. Nothing else matters

Good luck

 

[Antti O]

@sevenfourate is your car full fat or cup model?

I have never saw clio 197 or 200 with eibachs in real life.

My 197 full fat is not crashy or stiff.. it is comfortable, but not toyota or citroen comfortable. Just spot on in my opinion.
I have to take some video from our roads.. then you will understand why i like it stock. All goverment money goes anywhere but not roads..

Suspension work is scheduled for thursday. Lets hope everything goes well.
I take my car for specialist who drives rally with renaultsport 182.
I believe he can change parts succesfull. I dont know if he will do only front or both front + rear shocks. He has car lift etc. I will give him good instructions and all necessary torque specs for bolts. Rears are quite easy what i found out from how-to section.
After that i have to take car for tracking again. This is 3rd time in 6 months.

 

[peter]

All goverment money goes anywhere but not roads..

sounds like belgium ...

 

[Antti O]

sounds like belgium ...

I think this is so silly. When i travel in Germany, France or Italy roads are just perfect.
I know autostradas are pay roads, but in general all roads are so fine.
We have to pay car related tax:

-Petrol tax
-Car yearly tax which is co2 related , clio 197 is 400euros.
-Car insurance tax
-Car import/registration tax which is lot. Normal 20-30% added car list price. We have most expensive cars in europe what i know. If i used buy car from Germany and import it, i have to pay taxes of course. Normally 10.000€ car tax is 2000-3500€ euros. 20.000€ car is over 5000€ and so on.. :/
Thats why all cars are mad expensive in my country. For example this clio 197 10 years old was almost 10.000€.

 

[peter]

80% of our roads are disastrous. not only B roads, motorways as well. even resurfaced roads are ridiculously badly done. as if they do it on purpose. i'd love to drive over smooth tarmac like they have in holland.

yup, yearly tax for the clio is just over €400 as well. 10k for a ten year old car is steep, but over here you won't find a sub 10k car unless it has 150.000km. it's just a very rare car in belgium.

 

[Antti O]

@peter
Tell me about rare clios..
Renault finland officially imported 10 RS197 units. 2-3 has been crashed and totaled in trackdays. Renaut never offered clio 200 here.
I was so lucky i found out my car from Finland. Unfortunately it was not perfect. (or good enough for me).. well money helps to fix it.