New clio 197 watcha think?

[supercharged spaniel]

I absolutly love the new clio 197...in white, black wheels with the cup suspension and recaro bucket seats!  according to th dealers (yes ive been in) clios sold with black wheels have the optional or r27 version suspension upgrade.  i think they look sooo good!  not keen on the decals to be honest.

however my girlfriend can get any car on a car scheme through work and she may listen to my advice on getting one?  looks are all well and good but what do they drive like?  if she does get one im gonna absolutly kick its head in...love it.  other than this as a new car what other new cars are as good?  i know it would make sense to buy second hand but it doesnt really matter its through work.

[wozzaG40]

I think they look pretty smart, but remember they are french. I was speaking to my friend early this week and he was telling me that over 70% of the cars he has to fix are french (not old cars either). Stupid things going wrong all the time.

Plus if she buys it never ever offer to do the cam belt, they are a complete bi@ch, my girlfriend has a 182 cup and she has had garages turn her away when she mentioned the cambelt or quote some silly price at her.

But if the ride on the new ones is anything like the 182 then you cant really go wrong, its comfy and handles surprising well, only one down side is the power kicks in at 5500rpm untill 7500rpm which means get it there and keep there otherwise it feels like your normal 1.2. Reading the Cliosport website (she insists i read it honest) its apparantly the called the magic 5500 or something along those lines i wasn't paying attention, she was boring me with the French car show by this point. 


Overall i think it is a nice car.

Just my opinion though.

[supercharged spaniel]

hmm interesting...im not fussed about about being 'french' i think thats a little old wives tales myself...sure they have their fair share of problems as every other car...as for servicing and stuff. it would have gone the distance by the time it needed owt like that so again not a worry...that 5500rpm thing doesnt seem so appealing though but its hard to gauge as experience is what counts...thanks for the advie though...they do get mixed views when you talk to people!

[wozzaG40]

old wives tale or not it is all i here, having mechanics as friends that is.

Oh an i guess i will be seeing you at the French car show then, bring the G40 we can have our own little meet 

Like you said its the experience that counts, i guess what i like about it is you can just get in a drive it, do not have to worrie about anything, and there is the power there if you really need it. Oh an it saves taking my car everywhere, being driven around is nice for a change. Surprising the amount of looks it gets aswell.

I will shut up now an stop pluggin clios on here.

Good luck what ever you decide on.

[supercharged spaniel]

nah..talk clios...people should be open minded there are many other good cars out there that deserve a fair mention

[Max]

I really fancy a go in one, might try and blag a test drive 

[supercharged spaniel]

id like to but would feel crap just testing one with no intention of actually buying one myself.

[Alex]

Just say you've bought something else if they chase you up.

I've got a new-found respect for French cars recently. We're doing a project at the moment, based on an R-reg Clio. This car hadn't been serviced for ages, it had been flooded at Glastonbury, run around unserviced and then abandoned in the office car park. We were expecting it to be knackered.

However, I changed the battery, turned the key, and it fired up first time! Put it in reverse, and the brakes came unstuck. Smooth and quiet idle, and all the electrics worked too!

It failed its MOT on brakes (expected after a long time spent standing), a sidelight and brake bulb, empty screenwash bottle and three failed exhaust hangers (the rear beam was the only thing holding the system on!). Other than that, it was fine!

We've changed the cam and auxiliary belts to be on the safe side, and given it a full service, and it's been absolutely on the money since. I reckon it needs a CV joint soon though.

How many of you reckon your Polo would last a year in a car park and be near faultless afterwards? I know mine would get the hump.

[rocore]

I had a Traffic light moment with a Clio Cup the other night in Exeter... G40 1 - Clio 0 

[lance]

i had a go in one just a sport tho nothing too fancy! handling was fatastic tho an all that shit talk about french cars are shit an jap crap an all that normally starts from people with vw's they are very blinkerd!!!

[wozzaG40]

I think a skyline has to be the way forward im all for Jap cars, just thing the whole subaru scene has been a bit overdone.