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New daily AG
- Thread starter simonsprp
- Start date
Rossington
New Member
I used to have one of these, was the worst car I've ever owned in terms of reliability. During its first year of ownership, i averaged £34 per day just to own it.
Really put me off Renaultsport...so i sold it and bought a V6 and 172. I had 1 of only 4 in racing blue with every optional extra available, really regret not hanging on a year or so more then selling as pricing on these has gone up since the terrible new 200T came out. Would have probably cost more though to hang on to it.
My advice for you, your virtually guaranteed to fail your MOT on ball joins at the very least so start saving. Renault make them from Lego so they don't last very long. Cost roughly £500 for a set of fronts due to the terrible hub design, means you replace the whole thing. Just had both done on the V6 at a cost of £12 each plus labour.
Also you'll need a new air con unit, as the 197 uses it virtually as a shield right at the front of the car, its only a matter of time till its got a little stone-chip sized hole in it. That will be £500. Whilst your wallets out, your best picking up a new steering column and computer too as that's made using paper, glue and the pc components belonging to an atari 64, thats £1250. Definitely get this done in good time so when you drive to work like i did, you can actually make the 25mph corner rather than have to stop and push your car into the side of the road in rush hour traffic whilst nobody helps. The ability to steer is quite important on cars.
Also id advise a new exhaust manfold too, don't worry about the flexi failing, As Renault didn't have any welding equipment available during the 197/200 production, they used paper-mache instead so the "weld" will certainly loose you about 190 of your precious horse power when it fails. Hopefully for your sake, that won't happen on your way home at Christmas. "Sorry son, we cant afford toys this year, daddy spent another £1250 on his cheap french hatchback" (i joke, i have no kids).
Do rejoice though, they're fantastic on trackdays.....my second trackday cost £120 for the day, £50 for the fuel, £400 for the two front springs that decided to snap on the same day and £3.99 for a tub of Ben and Jerrys cookie dough to cheer myself up. I will take half the blame for this, chasing a Carrera 4s. Little perky Clio got past him though even with me at the wheel.
Reading your thread on the 197.net forum i spent so long moaning on, i do agree you need the cup spoiler. They look unfinished without. Mine had the aero kit aswell which Renault supply themselves...the same aero kit that after 2 years started pulling the body work apart on both the rear passenger and rear drivers side of the car. "Not covered under warranty" was Renaults standard line.
Honest to god you wouldn't even get me to own another if you paid me. I owned it for 848 days, some of the worst of my 29 years of existence. Would have gladly left the keys in it hoping someone would steal it from me, could even sign the blank section of the V5 for the thief to fill in as hes driving away, he'd only break down by the time he got to my gate anyway.
All this on a car a year old when i got it. After many many calls to Renault UK towards the end, they wrote me a cheque towards all the bills and i sold the car shortly afterwards. My advice, avoid all that and get shut. The 172 and 182's are everything the 197 isn't, a great car to own!
Good Riddance
One Ex-197 fan.
PS - Rick at Dryclough who looks after just about every V6 Scott at SG doesn't actually told me when i first took my 197 to him "they are Renault's worst Clio in terms of build quality". Naturally at the time i gave him a little grief about it without being nasty. Years later when he met my V6 for the first time, i actually apologized to him and agreed with him.
PSS - start trying to find a cup steering wheel rather than the none cup like you've got. Come summer time, it will melt and you will constantly feel it in your hands when driving. The cup version without all the stitching and center mark is made so much better...doesn't melt.
PSSS - atleast you don't have Recaro's....they are covered in what must be the worst material known to man. Someone gets in and instantly the bolster is worn and need's re-trimming. Only the Raider model is half decent in terms of seat as theyre leather like in every single other car which uses to same seats (Audi S3, Focus RS..etc). Recaro's Sportster i believe they're called.
PSSSS - When you fit your "Renault Factory Approved Cup Spoiler", your Arial will catch the spoiler every time you open your boot which is fine for about a week until it starts taking the paint off. Options are buy a shorter one that doesn't catch and your radio can no longer get a signal, hold the boot from opening fully whenever you go in the boot and look like a nob in doing so as you try get your shopping out...
PSSSSS - (last one promise), get used to being pissed off at anybody who lifts your wiper's other than you, again another trademark 197 terrible design. They catch on the bonnet when they are popped up, this occurs whenever you clean the car or when ever somebody else cleans the car (happened to me at the garage everytime they did the whole courtesy clean thing). You end up with 2 silver marks on the top of the bonnet where they've taken the paint off.
Really put me off Renaultsport...so i sold it and bought a V6 and 172. I had 1 of only 4 in racing blue with every optional extra available, really regret not hanging on a year or so more then selling as pricing on these has gone up since the terrible new 200T came out. Would have probably cost more though to hang on to it.
My advice for you, your virtually guaranteed to fail your MOT on ball joins at the very least so start saving. Renault make them from Lego so they don't last very long. Cost roughly £500 for a set of fronts due to the terrible hub design, means you replace the whole thing. Just had both done on the V6 at a cost of £12 each plus labour.
Also you'll need a new air con unit, as the 197 uses it virtually as a shield right at the front of the car, its only a matter of time till its got a little stone-chip sized hole in it. That will be £500. Whilst your wallets out, your best picking up a new steering column and computer too as that's made using paper, glue and the pc components belonging to an atari 64, thats £1250. Definitely get this done in good time so when you drive to work like i did, you can actually make the 25mph corner rather than have to stop and push your car into the side of the road in rush hour traffic whilst nobody helps. The ability to steer is quite important on cars.
Also id advise a new exhaust manfold too, don't worry about the flexi failing, As Renault didn't have any welding equipment available during the 197/200 production, they used paper-mache instead so the "weld" will certainly loose you about 190 of your precious horse power when it fails. Hopefully for your sake, that won't happen on your way home at Christmas. "Sorry son, we cant afford toys this year, daddy spent another £1250 on his cheap french hatchback" (i joke, i have no kids).
Do rejoice though, they're fantastic on trackdays.....my second trackday cost £120 for the day, £50 for the fuel, £400 for the two front springs that decided to snap on the same day and £3.99 for a tub of Ben and Jerrys cookie dough to cheer myself up. I will take half the blame for this, chasing a Carrera 4s. Little perky Clio got past him though even with me at the wheel.
Reading your thread on the 197.net forum i spent so long moaning on, i do agree you need the cup spoiler. They look unfinished without. Mine had the aero kit aswell which Renault supply themselves...the same aero kit that after 2 years started pulling the body work apart on both the rear passenger and rear drivers side of the car. "Not covered under warranty" was Renaults standard line.
Honest to god you wouldn't even get me to own another if you paid me. I owned it for 848 days, some of the worst of my 29 years of existence. Would have gladly left the keys in it hoping someone would steal it from me, could even sign the blank section of the V5 for the thief to fill in as hes driving away, he'd only break down by the time he got to my gate anyway.
All this on a car a year old when i got it. After many many calls to Renault UK towards the end, they wrote me a cheque towards all the bills and i sold the car shortly afterwards. My advice, avoid all that and get shut. The 172 and 182's are everything the 197 isn't, a great car to own!
Good Riddance
One Ex-197 fan.
PS - Rick at Dryclough who looks after just about every V6 Scott at SG doesn't actually told me when i first took my 197 to him "they are Renault's worst Clio in terms of build quality". Naturally at the time i gave him a little grief about it without being nasty. Years later when he met my V6 for the first time, i actually apologized to him and agreed with him.
PSS - start trying to find a cup steering wheel rather than the none cup like you've got. Come summer time, it will melt and you will constantly feel it in your hands when driving. The cup version without all the stitching and center mark is made so much better...doesn't melt.
PSSS - atleast you don't have Recaro's....they are covered in what must be the worst material known to man. Someone gets in and instantly the bolster is worn and need's re-trimming. Only the Raider model is half decent in terms of seat as theyre leather like in every single other car which uses to same seats (Audi S3, Focus RS..etc). Recaro's Sportster i believe they're called.
PSSSS - When you fit your "Renault Factory Approved Cup Spoiler", your Arial will catch the spoiler every time you open your boot which is fine for about a week until it starts taking the paint off. Options are buy a shorter one that doesn't catch and your radio can no longer get a signal, hold the boot from opening fully whenever you go in the boot and look like a nob in doing so as you try get your shopping out...
PSSSSS - (last one promise), get used to being pissed off at anybody who lifts your wiper's other than you, again another trademark 197 terrible design. They catch on the bonnet when they are popped up, this occurs whenever you clean the car or when ever somebody else cleans the car (happened to me at the garage everytime they did the whole courtesy clean thing). You end up with 2 silver marks on the top of the bonnet where they've taken the paint off.
Chris V6 255
New Member
Love AG 200's seriously considering one too 
mossyv6":3onyxrei said:
I love Storm Grey 200's! [smilie=yay.gif]
I've been humming and ahh'ing about what to get next too.. Even thinking about going German [smilie=icon_eek.gif]
Do you mean the 197 (as you quoted) or the 200 Rossington? Essentially the same car, sure... but there must've been 'some' improve RS to the 200 over the 197?
Congrats on the new purchase Simon.. Alien Green fan too
Rossington
New Member
yeah do take what i say with a pinch of salt so to speak, id like to think i just got unlucky and bought a Friday afternoon build or something.
There's little difference between the 197 and 200, in a perfect world you want the front bumper from a 197 (as the 200s looks dreadful) and the rear diffuser from a 200 (as the 197s looks dreadful).
Honestly though do your research on the 197.net site, like this site its full of useful information on the hugely common problems (such as ball joints and recaro's for example).
I don't think there's much demand for storm grey, wont hold much value long term so you could pick yourself up one for quite cheap. Its the liquid yellow obviously, racing blue and alien green which hold pricing. When i was buying and selling my 197, i couldn't believe the difference in value over the cars with the Recaro's, they are worth so much more and honestly after owning them, i struggle to see why. As i say they wear instantly on the bolsters and also murder your lower back after more than 40 minutes. If you do have something seriously wrong with you (like i did at the time) and insist on having them, buy one of these two :
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... 176723?v=b
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... 981327?v=b
In terms of driving, if its a 200 your after, great buy one. If its a 197, go for a post 2007 model (57 onwards if i remember rightly but do check), anything pre 07 had the rubbish pre-revised gearbox. Lots were done on warranty. Both the 197 and 200 as im sure Simon will tell you are gutless low down. You can run away from the traffic lights faster than one of these. You really will struggle to pull away from a 1.2 corsa. When you hit the power band however, they're mighty fast and really fun providing you keep it there. Really rewarding to drive round a B-road. A few people had their "flat spot" as they call it remapped out so it gives a smoother curve in terms of power delivery.
Mine also used to ice up on the inside of the car too during the winter, the more i think about it the more i remember being wrong with it. If i could go back in time and give myself any advice, it would have been to buy a 182 trophy instead. Absolutely love them. Even seeing them in the V6, i feel envious.
Just promise me one thing you guys considering buying one. This summer when your plodding along at 30mph sad because your steering wheel leather is all worn and horrible on one side, think of me wont you
There's little difference between the 197 and 200, in a perfect world you want the front bumper from a 197 (as the 200s looks dreadful) and the rear diffuser from a 200 (as the 197s looks dreadful).
Honestly though do your research on the 197.net site, like this site its full of useful information on the hugely common problems (such as ball joints and recaro's for example).
I don't think there's much demand for storm grey, wont hold much value long term so you could pick yourself up one for quite cheap. Its the liquid yellow obviously, racing blue and alien green which hold pricing. When i was buying and selling my 197, i couldn't believe the difference in value over the cars with the Recaro's, they are worth so much more and honestly after owning them, i struggle to see why. As i say they wear instantly on the bolsters and also murder your lower back after more than 40 minutes. If you do have something seriously wrong with you (like i did at the time) and insist on having them, buy one of these two :
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... 176723?v=b
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... 981327?v=b
In terms of driving, if its a 200 your after, great buy one. If its a 197, go for a post 2007 model (57 onwards if i remember rightly but do check), anything pre 07 had the rubbish pre-revised gearbox. Lots were done on warranty. Both the 197 and 200 as im sure Simon will tell you are gutless low down. You can run away from the traffic lights faster than one of these. You really will struggle to pull away from a 1.2 corsa. When you hit the power band however, they're mighty fast and really fun providing you keep it there. Really rewarding to drive round a B-road. A few people had their "flat spot" as they call it remapped out so it gives a smoother curve in terms of power delivery.
Mine also used to ice up on the inside of the car too during the winter, the more i think about it the more i remember being wrong with it. If i could go back in time and give myself any advice, it would have been to buy a 182 trophy instead. Absolutely love them. Even seeing them in the V6, i feel envious.
Just promise me one thing you guys considering buying one. This summer when your plodding along at 30mph sad because your steering wheel leather is all worn and horrible on one side, think of me wont you
rustedandrotten
Well-Known Member
Alien is brilliant colour, 200 answer to V6 liquid :approve:
Awsome post by Rossington - although perhaps unlucky in his ownership - he certainly describes some of the sentiments echoed by long standing owners - & in terms of the fault list that certainly seems to cover all bases- especially how gash renault are - you just have to bypass renault & go straight to RUK
Just a slight correction though -
Alien green & storm grey are the indemand colours -
Both storm greys I had sold within a day !
Im currently on my way to pick up an alien green top spec as well !
Cant wait for the drive home - will be on PH in 2 weeks or sooner !
S
Just a slight correction though -
Alien green & storm grey are the indemand colours -
Both storm greys I had sold within a day !
Im currently on my way to pick up an alien green top spec as well !
Cant wait for the drive home - will be on PH in 2 weeks or sooner !
S
Chris V6 255
New Member
Been looking at AG's recently, really fancy one as a daily!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
renaultalpine
New Member
Really funny post. Made me smile. I love how every photo of the interior in adverts always has the drivers bolster cropped as they are clearly all knackered lol
AG & SG the best colours but I like white too.
AG & SG the best colours but I like white too.
rustedandrotten
Well-Known Member
Bottom ball joints are a doddle on 197 and 200s, don't be fooled into buying full hub, you can get joint from Rofag in Poland, oem bearing for £65-00 against£400 for hub! Remove with puller and heat, just put cooled new one in whilst warm, couple of hours a side. Watch out for overtightened driveshaft hub nuts where people mistakenly tighten nut when the ball joint is the issue.
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