France's Finest Hot Hatch? The Renault Sport Clio Gordini 200 

CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

I owned one these for 6 years. Those were the best times of my life

I remember being astounded at the cornering performance of this thing from a video of Autocar in which they tested it on track against a focus rs of the day. The focus flew down the straights, but every time a corner came up the Clio ate back 20/30 meters, it was incredible

I've got a Clio 197 (in LY) with a Megane 2.0 turbo in it (267bhp). As it should have been out of the factory. If you're intersted in driving, I'd be happy to loan it you.

I literally just brought a 197 RS last week. The gearing ratio is super weird, you can do 50kph in 6th gear and 100kph you will be at neatly 4k rpm. But, once you take it out on a windy, twisty technical road you find out exactly why they did this. It turns into a completely different car. The turn in, feedback, sound and braking are absolutely phenomenal. I own several other cars 300-500hp and the little Clio could make a couple of them look a bit silly given those conditions.

I had a 200 genuine cup for over a year. Motorways weren't much fun with the gearing but the ride was fine with the cup chassis. When you got it on the right road, twisty, up and down with cambered blind bends it just became awesome. It felt like an extension of your body and responded to every input almost before you asked it. There are also plenty of cars around nowhere near the prices mentioned here which makes it, for me, a very tempting choice again. It's different, great to drive, not that expensive to run and is very practical. I think it's a great, great car.

In 2013 I bought brand new Clio 3 RS Cup Akrapovic edition, No 8 out of 50 made. From then I have changed multiple cars but this little guy will saty with me forever. That 2.0 NA engine is pure joy to drive.

Classic hot hatch with sound included. Good engine note. This looks like quite a lot of fun to throw around!

10 grand! That's what I paid for my 2017 308 GTi 270 late last year.

Some people might swear with a german car but the French will forever have my love when it comes to hot hatches and sports cars like the Alpine

Absolutely love these cars, I've been waiting for you to review one for ages! A while back I was on the market for one and was going to offer it for a review but I found myself with a fiesta st-3 instead. Great content as always, thanks James! 😁👍

Drove all the hot clios and there's only one that made the hairs stand up and laugh like a child and that's the greatest hot hatch ever made - Clio Williams ❤

Megane 3 275 Trophy R torque steered! That thing was a riot!

I loved my 197, absolutely awesome cars. I drive an E92 M3 now, but I still miss my Clio regularly.

I remember seeing a Gordini Clio in one of your older video (XJ220 review, if my memory serves me well). Finally got to watch you review one. This is my favourite generation of Clio 200. I especially love the one Mr. May drove in series 17 episode 2 of TopGear, with that lurid green paint and Recaro Sportster semi-buckets.

Well said re quick “soulless” cars, a la many EV’s. My restored E36 Beemer is not that fast but the handling, feedback and overall driving experience on twisty back roads…amazing! The current obsession with outright acceleration & HP is also completely unrealistic for legal, safe road driving where we all spend 95% of our time.

I had a Twingo RS Gordini with the cup chassis, it was excellent & I loved it

After many hot hatches including various 205 and Golf, I bought a Megane RS265 and was the best car I ever had. Very very fast and so much fun, always put a smile on my face. I should have kept it

I took part in a shakedown run of a Clio 197, that me and another chap had built into a Clio cup spec race car. We were at Elvington airfield. The car was absolutely eating everything alive at the circuit apart from a brand new 458, and the only reason that stayed ahead was because of the long straight. I can say with certainty that without that striaght, the Clio would have decimated the Ferrari. The handling was so great in these cars.

Owned a 200 (Cup) and afterwards a modified Megane 250. Both great handling cars in their own right. Agree with @JayEmmOnCars points on high driving position and cabin quality but of the two for British roads I just thought the 200 was way more fun. In the 200 its was all about staying high in the revs due to the limited BHP, it made you work, whereas the Megane had a very low redline. The Megane was also considerably wider on our b-roads and whilst the wider track gave more stability you'd really need to be on a track to push the Megane.

I own a Clio 197 for 3 years now, its my first car and its great! Only had some electrical problems :)

The only must have if I was going to buy a Clio 200, is it must have the Recaro seats, they were an £850 option & are some of the best seats in any car of any price, just so comfortable yet very supportive

That blue is beautiful. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

I appreciate learning about another car never sold in the US. Living in Texas I occasionally see a Renault registered in Mexico but have no idea what they’re like. Happy Fourth of July from your erstwhile colonial subjects, y’all.

Love it james always finding the niche one we don’t already know about! 😅

Fun fact the 197 had the cruisecontrol button next to the ESP

I had a 200 cup which is sold to buy my e46 m3. Don’t get me wrong I love the e46 but the clio really is the only car I ever regret selling

I just love the reviews of old cars, not many cars excite these days. Own mine since 2011 and for the last 4 years alongside a v6 cup which is a thoroughbred. Got to say, on a twisty b-road where you can carry speed, the clio is more dun to drive. They are at home on a right road but far from ideal for a daily or motorway cruising.. Arguably they need a suspension, cup is bumpy and unsettling at times, non cup too soft. A 2 way AST, a plated diff and an Akrapovic transformed the car.

They definitely need a few basic mods to bring them to life and give you that old school hot hatch experience

Two of my friends have had a 197/200 cup's! Absolutely fantastic cars to drive, and when they have a Meg lump chucked in them, boy them move!! If I was to ever replace my Almera GTI track car it would be with a 197/200

Great video, on the 197 the cruise and speed limiter switch is next to the tc button where the blanking plate is, also the 197 does not have the bleep. Hope you enjoyed them. Love my Clio 197 :))

My criteria for a good driver's car is simple. If you don't need a destination when you take it out for a spin, it's a worthy driver's car. My 1995 900SS Ducati was like that. Just being on it was enough...you didn't need somewhere to go.

Thanks J, does seem to be swings & roundabouts for if the particular Clio version is good or not! 🙏🙏

Thanks that's a fair assessment and I can say that as I own one (a Gordini too). I have the optional Recaro seats and it's been very mildly breathed upon with come fast road suspesion mods and a sports exhaust. Let's be frank they're not a daily a driver - it's my weekend toy where I search out a good B road or a twisty track. In fact when people ask me should they buy one and state it needs to be daily driver I point them in the direction of Fiesta ST Mk7 which is much more drivable machine with lots of low down torque. But if you want to have a bit of fun then it's screamer of an engine (coupled with a sports exhaust) and will always put a smile on your face. To get the best out of it you are usually operating within 3500 and 7800 rev range where the engine is on full song. Suspension is amazing it has never given me any undue surprises - yes you can provoke it into lift-off oversteer but you've really got to try and when it goes its very controllable. Generally it makes me feel a better driver than I have any right to think I am. I've had it for 5 years and no regrets that I bought it but it was always destined to be my second car.

I also have a rs200 cup and its brilliant. Its my 2nd one... Recaro pole position seats, Ktec suspension and a scorpion exhaust with PBS pro race brake pads and some other not to mention the cage and i love it. My daily is a Alpine a110S with some mods and sometimes my Megane rs Trophy r. you can see from this that I dont rate German tanks and all that fat.

Particularly enjoyed the Scatman John Audi R8 impression 😂😂 great review as always !!

Yes it is! But you need the optional Akrapovic exhaust for the sweet tunes. I have KW V3 coilovers and a Quaife LSD on mine and it just makes the car even better.

This is a tune n half. Love it man

I like what you said and agree with most of it, but I do love mine (no 21) and think it's a an awesome drive

Distracted by the shirt James, you must try to blend in😂. I propose that you do a shirt vlog on the second channel. I had one of the first Clio 16v variants (pre-Williams editions - no fancy names back then) in the UK and it was an amazing little car! Cheers, Kevin

I agree with this. It is a middle ground from the 182 (exciting) and 200 EDC (sensible). For me that falls into a a great category. Unfortunately not a huge fan of the Gordini’s looks. And a set of spacers and lowering springs transforms the stance but also keeps the great steering feel: handling. I got mine as I had ~£7.5k budget and wanted something either quick or interesting. The 200 fit the bill and with growing up and reading all about them in EVO it had to be the car I got. I have fallen in love with it as this driving tool that’s just a hoot but that’s probably because it’s my first proper car, even with it’s Frenchisms

You really should try to get hold of a 197 R27 F1 team to try out. I think it might tick most of the boxes you didn't like on the Gordini. I've had my one for 14 years and it never fails to put a smile on my face. Its an awesome car.

I used to have a 200, my first 'fast' car. Really didn't appreciate it enough at the time, think I'd have one again - just not as a daily!

My first car was a 200, cup chassis. Like James I found the engine incredibly exciting and loves to rev. The ride was definitely stiff around town and going over speed bumps, but if you were willing to put up with that, you’d find it just breathes so well with the road at speed. I’ve now moved onto a 125i of which James’ review is mostly responsible for, and whilst it is a big improvement in most ways, I’ve found myself modifying it to recreate some of that magic I felt in the clio.

To be fair, the Clio III, back in its time, was the most luxurious interior materials wise in the B segment

The 200 EDC was fun. Even the GT 120 was fun. Moved up to mk4 Mégane trophy 300 and that was a different beast 😂

Renault Espace F1...that is a Monster 😎

James should drive a 200 version with the optional cup chassis and optional Recaro seats. It would feel like a totally different car. BTW I have a 200 cup. Love it. Not super quick in a straight line but the cornering is magic.

Came quite close to buying a gordini a few years back

I do rather love this channel and i have been wanting and waiting for a 197 review, i do feel perhaps the wrong model version was possibly chosen though here. These are a brilliant car, very capable and fun, we wont see the likes of the 172, and the 182 again sadly and although not too many years apart from these 197/200's comparing them takes away the fact that the 197/200 are extremely good cars in their own right. Ridiculously good turn in and they ride really well, i enjoy how my cup "flows" yet feels hardcore at the same time (for a mass produced road car). Stone automotive on here have a series of very good videos about how to wake these cars up, im contemplating spending some time on doing just that to mine after owning it in srandard form for 4 years now as a daily driver.Its embarrassingly slow until you allow it to warm up, even then its not great really (is this just mine?) but i love how it drives and its really good fun at 20_25mph, i love the bespoke cast aluminium suspension bits, the diffuser and those wings!😂😂

I had a 197 Cup , such a fantastic little car Never liked the looks of the Gordini but these cars are so underrated!

The ones to go for are the r27 and cup. This one as all the weighty options and no cup châssis

They are definately great but they aren't the greatest hot hatch that France had to offer... in my opinion that was the Peugeot 306GTi6. Literally everything you need in a car. Practical and exciting to drive and it does both of those things really well. I'd have another in a heartbeat if I could find a good one.

A agree that the 182cup is the pinnacle of the Clio sport range

I had a 200 with the Cup chassis and the Recaro seats. Even on Austria's pristine roads I quickly regretted optioning the Cup chassis lol. BOY was it stiff lol. Most fun car I ever owned tho

Awesome car, Awesome video! Please try a Clio 3 RS ph.2 sport with CUP pack (full fat), Recaro's and the factory Akrapovic exhaust soon! That would be awesome! And a very good comparison to this.

Got a chance to daily drive a Williams Clio during my time in France. Absolutely one of the best old school hatches I’ve ever driven 😊

Was looking forward to watching this, even though I'd offered James my own 200 Cup to try out last year and never heard back. I've run a '61 plate Cup for 18months roughly, and if you're in the mood it's a hoot. If I could go back I'd probably get a standard 200 instead, I can live with the stiffer chassis, hard plastic dash, lack of front fogs, manual mirrors, no rear headrests, crappy horn ... but I do miss the reach adjustment on steering. Mine's run as my daily, and I average around 34mpg using 97/98 fuel, wo probably not trying hard enough. The JCW Clubbie in my pic got 40mpg all day long.

Clio Williams had an F7R, Clio 172 onwards used the F4R and were quite different to the 7R

Hey James, nice review, always had a soft spot for the Gordini (owned a Clio 200 Raider myself). On an unrelated note, any plans to test the Alpine A110S?

I recently sold my Twin Turbo Subaru Legacy as the rust repairs were getting out of hand. Replaced it with a RenaultSport Clio 197 and i havent had this much fun in ages, and thats coming from a variety of 300+bhp japanese imports and multiple genertions of TYPE Rs over the years! Just wish it was a tad better on fuel 😬

Thanks for the review. Always fancied a clio 200 but was concerned it might be a bit Meh on a day-to-day basis. Sounds like that’s pretty much your conclusion too. I ended up buying an R53 Mini and still think it was the right choice..

James, please allow me to massage your ego. Your videos are amazing, as you are. You are so genuine, likeable and also very funny at times (the bit where you were explaining how firm a car was when you put it in sport mode, and you just 'held' yourself). My wife who has absolutely no interest in cars also loves you. Please never stop. X

This is as much a review of Jay’s driver profile as the car itself. Personally I’ve owned all sorts of exotic and fast stuff, I enjoy occasional track days and don’t care too much about everything being covered in leather. My daily driver and currently only car, an RB7 Clio 200. It’s almost perfect for me and my driver profile. Reviews aren’t absolute, they’re an opinion.

Not long sold my latest daily driver Twingo RS Gordini for an Abarth 595 due to the tuning capabilities. I must say the Twingo was the most fun car I’ve ever owned or driven. The yearly gearbox builds put me off a Clio 200 but it was a great drive, just not as fun or raw as the Twingo

Can't help but think you should have driven a 'Cup packed" 200 with Reacro's.......

I was in the fortunate position of choosing one of these in 2008, i picked a corsa vxr instead complete with a chocolate engine😅

One decent mod would be to install a subframe that does not rust VERY prematurely,

I test drove a 200 Gordini here in Australia. It drove well. I love the paint and stripes. I could have got it for a decent price. But I really wanted one with OEM Recaros + Akrapovic Exhaust. And the price differential between the models often isn't that large. I think if you were going to run it daily. The standard spec would be a great buy if you get it for a good price.

i just bought a clio 200 and now this comes up on my suggested, wow

I’ve driven that one (pre face lift) once and it’s not a group B but defo has a rally feel to it and it was scary even behind the wheel (even on tarmac ffs) !!!!

Still miss my RS 200. The brakes I thought were the best part, along with the handling, nicely adjustable on trailing throttle like the best hot hatches. Hoping that my incomimg GR86 can combine the best parts of this & my current M235i

The MPG on these mk3 RS's is the main reason i'd opt for a mk2 RS.

Hey Jay, I'm somewhat disappointed that you aren't in love with this as I truly revere your reviews and I have an RS Clio 200 Cup and adore it. Maybe I need to drive a 182 and compare.............😢

Almost bought a 200 Cup in 2010 but got an Abarth 500 Esseesse instead as it was much cheaper to run. Never drove the Clio. The Abarth got replaced by my Megane 275 Trophy, woefully unreliable but awesome to drive

I think I'll get one next time I have a midlife crisis 👌

You should try a Daihatsu Copen

I have a Formula Renault with the same engine, its an exciting powertrain

Easter egg at 17:42 when James switches camera to let us see a van drive past with a backdoor open

Loved my RS200 cup. Unfortunately alot of things went wrong with it, gearbox, engine mounts, climatecontrol, exhaust manifold...

If I remember correctly, on my RS182 I could deactivate cruise control with gas pedal full depressed and you could feel a click under your foot.

I've got a Renault clio mk3 dynamique s 2 litre only 120 left in the uk

Clio 197 is an amazing car and best Clio choice of all time. recaros look good but sit way too high. Lower on H&R springs for perfect stance. Terrible on fuel and way too revvy to use every day. I sold my low mileage 197 last year and still regret it - a really special little car and underrated modern classic !

2:15 before the super 5 gt turbo, it was the renault 5 Alpine turbo, and before it was te Renault 5 Alpine (maybe where the story began for Renault's hot hatches)

Another fair and balanced review. A few points though. I had a 197 F1 Team until last year (number 182 amusingly). And I loved it. Still miss it sometimes. It wasn't for me, however, a daily driven car. It was bought as a third car, just for a bit of fun, and the drive to the airport. Which, alas, I was finding I was doing pretty regularly. So I sold it when pricer were higher, and bought a 2010 D3 Audi A8 instead. A completely polar opposite car. But is comparable to what you mention as an alternative. A big, fast, equally economical, luxurious German saloon. I have had other German motors, although usually estates, from a B8.5 Black Edition A4 Quattro, A E91 LCI 335d, a B6 S4 and even an F11 530d LCI and a E46 330i Touring. So I can appreciate your comparison. I think your review was a touch harsh here though. Not a single German barge I've had was even remotley close to as fun in the twisty stuff. Some may well have been faster, and all probably a bit nicer inside, but none as fun. My 197 was just ridiculously fun here. Granted, being the F1 it did have the cup suspension, which I didn't find too harsh either. But then my expectations were suitably reigned in in advance. Mine also had a Miltek, which you are also correct on, made it just sound sweet as. But then it also had the Recaro buckets, which were fantastic too. The leather option looked nice there. But I think the Recaros make every drive more of an event, and so might just have been closer to what you were expecting here. As a daily driver, yes, there are other options. Options that will give you more luxury at the expense of fun. Not to say they wont still be fun to some degree. But as you said at the top of the piece, fast without the soul. But as a second car, or weekend toy. Well, there is little out there as fun as these. Certainly at semi-legal speeds on twistier roads. Overall though, fairly balanced review. Correct, the fuel economy isn't great. I didn't ever crack 30 mpg in my 197, but then, what it was bought for was terrorising B-roads. And so that was it's job. If I was popping to the shop, I had other cars for this. But it wasn't especially terrible on the motorway to the airport either. No A8 mind, but fine enough. If you can, I would recommend getting a shot of the car you'd have though. If you can. A 197 F1 Team. It'll feel like more of an event when you drive it IMO. And you can assess the differences with the cup suspension. Which I found to be great.

Tried one but the seats were a little too high and the steering wheel needed to be 15cm closer to me. I drove a mini R53 (the supercharged one) and had a much better experience.

JAY any chance of a 308 gti review ?

To be fair in my 197 that blank button next to the traction control is for the cruise control I don’t know why Renault moved it to by the handbrake for the 200 seems weird

You need to try a cup packed 200 with faster rack and stiffer springs and dampers. The Renault seats are good but the Recaro cs seats are miles better also an exhaust and map really wakes these cars up a bit the standard cars a bit flat 19:47 before 5k rpm on the oem manifold. Your welcome to have a go in my lightly modified example next time your in scotland

Hey Jay, Im thinking between this Clio and Civic typeR fn2. Which one would you prefer?

Got a Gordini myself. Would be interested to know when this was filmed, as the prices quoted seemed very high. Bought mine 2 months ago for £7,500 from a dealer with comprehensive history (81k miles)

Unfortunately these cars were not sold here in Canada. Would I have bought one? No as I'm a Porsche man. Cheers!!!!!!🥶

I have a Citroen C4 by Loeb for a few months now, the 150 hp 1.6 THP Engine in it as well. I was considering a Megane before, similar year to this Clio but the interior quality in Renaults from this era really turned me away. My mom has a Twingo and I can see the interior bits being shared all the way up, and quite a bit of it too. Shame, they look quite nice from the outside. Glad I went with the C4 though, I love it to bits.

I disagree with what a lot you said. This car is one of the most exciting I have ever driven! It is a dying breed of a proper ‘drivers car’

I was never a fan of the Gordini or the Raider, for that matter. The Raider probably looks better than the Gordini, though. My personal favourite is the Alien Green 200 Cup. Really wanted one years ago and couldn't find one for sale. Also, the silverstone editions are particularly nice, too.

Those weel arches support 195/50 R16 and 205/40 R17 very based.

Got licked around Silverstone GP circuit in one by Jean Eric Vergne in 2010, I still can see the car heading straight for the wall at Becketts thinking it was never gonna make it, grip in those little things is very very special when pushed to the limits. The only reason it hasn't "wowed" him is because he's nowhere near a good enough driver to get anywhere near it's performance envelope...

i need to buy a cheap ulez complaint pocket rocket .. what is the one to get ?

I'm not sure talking about the merits of the car from the perspective of the £10k price tag is fair, the Gordini is frankly gross and these cars (at least the 197) can be picked up for £2-3k in decent nick - for a fast road car or basic track car that's basically unmatched. Then you can do what myself and many others have done and stick the Megane turbo engine in there for £3-4k and now you have another 100bhp (with a tune) and even better fuel economy than before... I just don't get what we learn from talking about these special editions, when most petrolheads aren't buying a car to leave it bone stock so it can gain value. I really believe as long as you look after these cars properly you can wring their neck all day long, but that loses so much appeal when you're spend 3 or 4 times the value just for some stickers...

A really good hot hatch is one without compromise. One that can be used as a daily and do all the boring stuff and feel like any other mass produced fwd car, so much so that you forget what you actually have. But on the flipside, one that rewards spirited driving and is fun and quick. The interiors in all the Clio's are a big let down imo, for six to ten grand I'd expect a better quality more premium interior. So for all of the above reasons, its the Civic Type R's and the Fiesta ST's (and Focus RS models) that I hold in the highest regards when it comes to hot hatches. They have the drama and character, are practical, but don't feel as cheap or tacky as the French stuff.