Why a clio?

[Tarticmonkey]

Reyt,

Question of the day. What is it about clio's that keeps you sticking with them and coming back for more?

Recently I've been finding myself having wandering eyes looking elsewhere at different cars. Predominantly a mk7 gti or mk3 meg or even an R26. But I do not think I could bring myself to part with my 197.

So I am intrigued to see why others stick with these little french baguettes

 

[Maidens1979]

For me it’s how it looks. Bigger arches, I know that sounds simple but any version of a car that is given bigger arches always makes me want it.
Example: Impreza 22b, Ford Puma Racing etc etc

 

[Beany]

Cheap(ish), look great, handle like a dream and take a damn good spanking

 

[burrellbloke]

Cheap(ish), look great, handle like a dream and take a damn good spanking

This.

They are cheap enough to abuse and replace parts. An engine is less than £1,000 if it blows.

There is something about driving a slow car fast - or in my case a slow car slow.

 

[Helpimonfire]

For me it was the first proper hot hatch I'd owned, I've always loved the revvy NA engine, short ratio 'box and the nimble handling. So much so that up until I bought mine I'd always changed cars every 6-12 months. The 197 I've now owned since 2016 and I can't see myself getting rid of it.

Like Gav said, an engine is sub-£1k if you blow one up, they're easy to work on, parts are relatively cheap and the main draw for me is that they aren't a Fiesta ST/Corsa VXR/Civic Type R. You don't see them very often and unless you know what they are, they blend into the crowd.

 

[matt9566]

I think the 'There's something about driving a slow car fast' comment hits the nail on the head and is exactly what comes to mind when I think of my old R27 and it's kind of something I've missed since I sold mine a few years ago now.

I've had lots of different stuff since, R26, Mk3 Meg, M4, RS3 etc, and when I've been out in them blasting down a B-Road I've always looked back a bit and kind of wished I was in the older and slower R27 I used to have. The N/A noise, the fact you can run it up to the redline in most gears and not be at 100+ instantly, the handling & analogue feeling of the car, not to mention the 197/200 is ageing like fine wine.

We're in a generation of people wanting the 'fastest' 1000hp car to post dragy times on TikTok, when in reality a little 15+ year old Clio can be just as much fun on the right road and the right day. God I could never daily one again, but 9 times out of 10 it would be the car I'd want in my garage for a 6am Sunday drive.

 

[link]

For me hot hatches have always fitted the bill; do anything, go anywhere, usually with detour down a favourite B road...

Why are clio? Ive had several over the years but nothing about the Mk4 perks my loins and the fact they sacked off the Renault Sport brand for some poxy Alpine bollox sums it up really. Probably the main reason I've owed a Mk3 for the last 10 years; the last proper 3 door NA hot hatch.

The Mk3 has some flaws, its like a women at times... expensive, high maintenance, drinks too much and not suited to motorway driving.

I like the fact the 197 has a few styling ques to the past, the wheels make me think V6, the arches have a hint of clio williams, the wing mirrors are like daft dog ears...

 

[Marsch]

 

[Helpimonfire]

Today was a good example of why I love the Clio.

Trackday at Snetterton, I beat the absolute snot out of the car, my mate drove it like he stole it, I took passengers out and battered the hell out of it. Didn't miss a beat all day long. Tyres are dead, front pads are dead, there's about half a tyres worth of rubber pickup wedged in the arches and the front end is covered in rubber marks, dead things and the other usual stuff you find on track.

So yeah. Mega.