Sooo... just test-drove a 220 Trophy AGAIN

[nutnutwelshman]

You need to put it in Race mod and abuse the S##T out of it you have to drive it hard for it to come alive that's why my playground suits it

 

[Yiannis197]

Nice review that.

I really don't know how I was using my car every day for commute..maybe because I was on shift and didn't actually have to drive to work every day, nevertheless it was such a waste of everything. Petrol, wear (brakes, suspension parts) and of course patience. But a point came when road rage was part of my every day driving experience from frustrated drivers following me as I was driving really slow, literally stopping in front of a speedbump, avoiding potholes etc. So I said enough is enough and i bought a shed. And that the best thing I ever did in regards to motoring experience in my life.

In reference to the above, and if someone told me that I can only run one car that would be a 220 and not a mk3. An 197/200 excels only at its looks and when you are on it, but it does excel like nothing else. On anything but that is below average and that's why we've seen short ownerships through the years. Crazy fuel bills, stiff suspension, weird gearbox ratios, temperamental gearbox and Kangarooing when cold are just a few examples.

But boy, give it a B road and a driver in the right mood and you got some pukka motoring bliss.

 

[Jimmy]

Cracking post, @Yiannis197 , a lot of good points, very well made. Your criticisms of the mk3 are valid and they definitely go a long way to explain why people throw the ownership towel in quickly, in some cases. On the other hand, I personally class these more like 'quirks' that make up the appeal and character of owning and running a car like this.

Mine is a daily and gets used like that 90% of the time - thankfully my shift hours and location where I work/live don't mean I sit in bumper to bumper traffic, like I imagine it is in London where you are Yiannis. The stiff ride only bothers me when I have a passenger in, because I usually sense them wincing over a rough bit of road - I like this though, it reminds me that I'm in a car that's different from the rest.

The kangarooing on a cold start again is a little reminder that you have to treat this car differently to A N Other. As for fuel...well I knew it wasn't going to be cheap to run, but I still like the fact that it needs Super, for the same reasons as above.

And as per your last sentence Yiannis, that 10% of the time when I take her out over the Yorkshire Dales and drive her like the engineers intended, or when someone's head turns as you drive past, it's worth every jarring pothole, every embarrassing kangaroo hop, every extra pound spent on V-Power and every minute spent wondering when the next bit is going to break and needs repairing...

 

[Yiannis197]

Totally agree @Jimmy. What needs to be highlighted is that if my commute was on a nice A/B road then I wouldn't have even dreamt of getting a shed, clio would just do the job awesomely. Stiff suspension does not bother me either, not at the slightest when it reads the uneven surface of roads but trust me, when you facing speedbumps every 200 yards then it's a different thing altogether.

Petrol prices, well, I knew prior to buying that the f4r is not the most economical engine in the world and I honestly would not mind if I was getting any pleasure out of driving but as you said, doing 20-30mph and being stuck in London's traffic does not give any returns at all.

mk4 clios are totally efficient super all rounders with great track potential hands down, however mk3 clios must be the most special machines this price range can offer.

 

[jasonlovesfrench]

Cracking post, @Yiannis197 , a lot of good points, very well made. Your criticisms of the mk3 are valid and they definitely go a long way to explain why people throw the ownership towel in quickly, in some cases. On the other hand, I personally class these more like 'quirks' that make up the appeal and character of owning and running a car like this.

Mine is a daily and gets used like that 90% of the time - thankfully my shift hours and location where I work/live don't mean I sit in bumper to bumper traffic, like I imagine it is in London where you are Yiannis. The stiff ride only bothers me when I have a passenger in, because I usually sense them wincing over a rough bit of road - I like this though, it reminds me that I'm in a car that's different from the rest.

The kangarooing on a cold start again is a little reminder that you have to treat this car differently to A N Other. As for fuel...well I knew it wasn't going to be cheap to run, but I still like the fact that it needs Super, for the same reasons as above.

And as per your last sentence Yiannis, that 10% of the time when I take her out over the Yorkshire Dales and drive her like the engineers intended, or when someone's head turns as you drive past, it's worth every jarring pothole, every embarrassing kangaroo hop, every extra pound spent on V-Power and every minute spent wondering when the next bit is going to break and needs repairing...

Excellent, this sums up my relationship with mine for sure. I'm not over the moon with the fuel bills but hey we only live once.

 

[peter]

thing i like best about a mk3, is the fact that it's the last of a dying breed. NA and manual (even suzuki is putting a turbo in their latest model swift.). which, to me, makes it just that bit more special.

i'd love to have a go in a mk4 around spa, bet they are bonkers fast. just unsure if i'd have as much fun as in a mk3.

 

[Mattb_197]

The Clio 197/200 is more of an old school hot hatch, as said above a 'dying breed'. They don't and won't make them like that ever again. Look at the new Civic Type R. It's just lost something and while it's a very capable car I don't think it would excite me like my old one did. Times move on and cars evolve, the new ones are simply an evolution of the hot hatch to tailor to the masses. Capable but comfortable, fun but frugal.

Now given a twisty A/B road on a summers day, I'd take the keys to the Clio no questions. But the rest of the time I'd rather be in something a bit more modern and refined with the creature comforts.

 

[Dmonk197]

All this talks makes me love my MK3 so much- and the only reason i went for it is its as modern and hardcore as they get for hot hatch- wanted the best before the new breed of turbo and auto takes over.

 

[nutnutwelshman]

I've had 9 RS Clio's and two Megane's and tracked my 182/197/200 and my 200T/220T.But I've have to say the 220T with it in Race Mod is the best one I've had it's fantastic on track especially you do need to abuse the hell out of it but it's a great car on a day to day basis too

 

[Dmonk197]

i think the above is what it comes back to- the MK3 is the more involving and fun drive (if you like basics) but its not perfect if you use it as a daily. (i commute on a vespa on a daily)

 

[nutnutwelshman]

i think the above is what it comes back to- the MK3 is the more involving and fun drive (if you like basics) but its not perfect if you use it as a daily. (i commute on a vespa on a daily)

If you're doing three figures though corners it's involving I promise

 

[Dmonk197]

If you're doing three figures though corners it's involving I promise

Ha Ha- exactly you need to go that fast to feel involved. in the MK3 you dont.

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Ha Ha- exactly you need to go that fast to feel involved. in the MK3 you dont.

No because the Cadburys gear box would fall out had two in my 200 in 27k

 

[sevenfourate]

No because the Cadburys gear box would fall out had two in my 200 in 27k

Just lol (And this from a 200 owner !)

Classic.

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Just lol (And this from a 200 owner !)

Classic.

That's why I got rid of it after the second box @sevenfourate

 

[Micah]

If you're doing three figures though corners it's involving I promise

I don't think too many of us fall into that category Kev, unless @Jimmy's feeling brave hammering through those Yorkshire 'Broads'

 

[Jimmy]

I don't think too many of us fall into that category Kev, unless @Jimmy's feeling brave hammering through those Yorkshire 'Broads'

To be fair, if you are tackling a Yorkshire 'Broad' then speed is of the essence - you don't want to spend a second longer in them than you have to....

 

[Dmonk197]

No because the Cadburys gear box would fall out had two in my 200 in 27k

cant get more involved than sticking your legs out and running like the Fred Flintstones.

 

[sevenfourate]

cant get more involved than sticking your legs out and running like the Fred Flintstones.

Very good.......

 

[nutnutwelshman]

I don't think too many of us fall into that category Kev, unless @Jimmy's feeling brave hammering through those Yorkshire 'Broads'

@Micah I buy my cars for one reason too rag the living daylights out of them ask anyone who been in a car with me hence Spa is my favourite place because it's the only place that can scare the crap out of me