197: Thinking about selling my 197...

[Doogle]

Hey all,

I have had my 197 for a few years and thoroughly loved it. Its an awesome little go kart and its flaws make up its character. Unfortunately my lifes is changing; I'm getting married in September and after this saving for a house (grown-up) with the plan to trying for kids (really grown-up)

The Clio is not a bad car, not even an impractical car as car's go. I get a fairly decent economy (350 miles from brimmed to red light. Insurance isnt massively pricey (early 30's means most things are much cheaper) and tax is about average for a performance car.

However, I bought it for a fast road/track project. Currently, I find myself commuting 5 miles to work and back with monthly commutes about an hour up and down the motorway. I never use it for its intended purpose. For town commuting the Cup suspension is a bit rough and for future purposes, the costs of keeping it going is not the cheapest (new wiper linkage this month cost me £150) and there always appears to be something that needs doing/repairing/changing. The lack of toys is ok but as I get older I find myself disliking the drone from the exhaust and low gear ratio's on the motorway, combining with the suspension it gets tirering.

For all these reasons I am in the dilemma of whether to sell. Unsure at the moment what i'd replace it with, I have considered a few different cars but I've seriously considered a mk5 Golf GTI 5 door. Economy appears to be a little better, about the same for insurance and tax. slightly bigger boot, easier to live with on a day to day basis, engine's appear to go on and on if serviced regularly, no issues with crunching gearboxes, wiper linkages seizing, etc. Potential for more power with a simple remap, still appears to handle quite well for what they are, comfier interiors, more compliant ride over the bumpy stuff and quieter on the motorway.

Sorry for the long post, just airing my thoughts really. I am aware theres a point with a car that you get so used to it that it fails to make things exciting or you start considering if the grass is greener on the other side. Therefore, does anyone have any experience with a mk5 Golf GTI? I dont want to rush to replace the Clio (They are worth bugger all now) as I could be jumping from one expense to another.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[Dean Cohen]

Hey all,

I have had my 197 for a few years and thoroughly loved it. Its an awesome little go kart and its flaws make up its character. Unfortunately my lifes is changing; I'm getting married in September and after this saving for a house (grown-up) with the plan to trying for kids (really grown-up)

The Clio is not a bad car, not even an impractical car as car's go. I get a fairly decent economy (350 miles from brimmed to red light. Insurance isnt massively pricey (early 30's means most things are much cheaper) and tax is about average for a performance car.

However, I bought it for a fast road/track project. Currently, I find myself commuting 5 miles to work and back with monthly commutes about an hour up and down the motorway. I never use it for its intended purpose. For town commuting the Cup suspension is a bit rough and for future purposes, the costs of keeping it going is not the cheapest (new wiper linkage this month cost me £150) and there always appears to be something that needs doing/repairing/changing. The lack of toys is ok but as I get older I find myself disliking the drone from the exhaust and low gear ratio's on the motorway, combining with the suspension it gets tirering.

For all these reasons I am in the dilemma of whether to sell. Unsure at the moment what i'd replace it with, I have considered a few different cars but I've seriously considered a mk5 Golf GTI 5 door. Economy appears to be a little better, about the same for insurance and tax. slightly bigger boot, easier to live with on a day to day basis, engine's appear to go on and on if serviced regularly, no issues with crunching gearboxes, wiper linkages seizing, etc. Potential for more power with a simple remap, still appears to handle quite well for what they are, comfier interiors, more compliant ride over the bumpy stuff and quieter on the motorway.

Sorry for the long post, just airing my thoughts really. I am aware theres a point with a car that you get so used to it that it fails to make things exciting or you start considering if the grass is greener on the other side. Therefore, does anyone have any experience with a mk5 Golf GTI? I dont want to rush to replace the Clio (They are worth bugger all now) as I could be jumping from one expense to another.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

How about a Clio 200EDC? (not only because I'm selling mine) but coming from someone who started with a 200EDC and downsized to the 197 I would say the 200EDC is a way more refined car in terms of comfort and more modern features.
If you are interested: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201906048665644 Price is fairly negotiable.

 

[Doogle]

How about a Clio 200EDC? (not only because I'm selling mine) but coming from someone who started with a 200EDC and downsized to the 197 I would say the 200EDC is a way more refined car in terms of comfort and more modern features.
If you are interested: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201906048665644 Price is fairly negotiable.

Thanks for the reply Dean. I'm not against staying with Renault at all and briefly considered a mk2 Megane Turbo a few months back. Initial cost is what restricts me with anything like this, a good mk5 Golf GTI seems to be between £4500 and £6k. As it stands, Ill probably only get £2500 - £3000 for the Clio, this is also what is stopping me from changing as its using some of my savings anyway...

 

[Sideshowfred]

Hey all,


For all these reasons I am in the dilemma of whether to sell. Unsure at the moment what i'd replace it with, I have considered a few different cars but I've seriously considered a mk5 Golf GTI 5 door. Economy appears to be a little better, about the same for insurance and tax. slightly bigger boot, easier to live with on a day to day basis, engine's appear to go on and on if serviced regularly, no issues with crunching gearboxes, wiper linkages seizing, etc. Potential for more power with a simple remap, still appears to handle quite well for what they are, comfier interiors, more compliant ride over the bumpy stuff and quieter on the motorway.

I came from a 3 door MK5 Golf GTI to the Clio when it was my daily car. They are much more civilised in terms of comfort, fuel economy is a little better but not hugely. As for boot size, i actually think the boot in the Clio is bigger, if you park a Mk3 Clio next to a MK5 Golf you will be shocked at the lack of size difference!

If i was looking for a daily runabout hot hatch i would go back to a Golf in a heartbeat though

 

[Doogle]

I came from a 3 door MK5 Golf GTI to the Clio when it was my daily car. They are much more civilised in terms of comfort, fuel economy is a little better but not hugely. As for boot size, i actually think the boot in the Clio is bigger, if you park a Mk3 Clio next to a MK5 Golf you will be shocked at the lack of size difference!

If i was looking for a daily runabout hot hatch i would go back to a Golf in a heartbeat though

Thanks Fred, how reliable was it? What about cost of things like dampers, springs, bushes etc? General servicing? Im guessing insurance was about on par?

If my Clio was a weekend toy it wouldn't be an issue but its not. I sometimes ride my bike to work but most of the time its the car due to shift work. I know it might only offer maybe 70% of the fun of the Clio but what it loses there its easier to live with day to day. Interesting about the boot too.

 

[AmosMoses]

If you're doing driving like that a GTi with the DSG would be perfect. They're not bad to drive, they don't have the character of a 197/200 but they are a solid overall package.

I'd go drive on first before you make any decisions, one thing i've really struggled with is finding a car with the character these Clios have.

 

[Sideshowfred]

Thanks Fred, how reliable was it? What about cost of things like dampers, springs, bushes etc? General servicing? Im guessing insurance was about on par?

If my Clio was a weekend toy it wouldn't be an issue but its not. I sometimes ride my bike to work but most of the time its the car due to shift work. I know it might only offer maybe 70% of the fun of the Clio but what it loses there its easier to live with day to day. Interesting about the boot too.

In the three years i owned it the only issue i had was the rear wheel bearing letting go and throwing up an ABS light. It tended to eat tyres but that might have been because i was in my early 20's with my first hot hatch! Never had to replace anything suspension wise but there are plenty of options out there (i always wanted a set of H&R springs for it). Insurance was pretty much the same on both cars. Servicing is all pretty usual cost other than factor in the cam follower every now and again.

Its a completely different car to the Clio so don't expect it to feel as exciting but the best thing to do is take one for a drive and see what you think.

 

[Doogle]

If you're doing driving like that a GTi with the DSG would be perfect. They're not bad to drive, they don't have the character of a 197/200 but they are a solid overall package.

I'd go drive on first before you make any decisions, one thing i've really struggled with is finding a car with the character these Clios have.

I was going to go for a manual as the DSG is something else potentially to go wrong, even though they seem to be reliable when serviced.

I know, this is why I wanted a reality check as to whether its just me thinking the grass is greener. In the summer, the Clio is great but seems to get hot so easily which kills any power and means using more fuel. But up on the moors on national speed limit roads its bloody awesome but for me, its once in every few months and thats not going to change for awhile. In the winter however they are a sod. The kangarooing is bad when its really cold and the thermostats, even when new, are a bit weak too. Even the rear demister is typically French.

Years ago I also had a VW Bora PD TDi Sport and loved it. Massive mileage on it but it generally felt tight.