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Melb - New Clio 197


45SET

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Hi all,

 

I’m new to the forum and the Renault scene all together. My name is Robi, recent immigrant to Melbourne (Originally from Brisbane) and have owned a few "Hot Hatches", with this being my 3rd (Also my 3rd car).

 

My 1st car was a Seat Ibiza GTI. Nothing special, typical 1st car, owned it for 2 years, and then moved on.

 

2nd car was a 2002 Honda Integra Type R - DC5. I loved this car, and owned it for 6 years. The only sold it due to my move down to Melbourne. The car was heavily modified, and after talking to a few guys I knew through the Honda scene that lived down here, they said it would stick out like a sore thumb. So, I made the hard decision, and sold the car to someone in Brisbane, who has been keeping me updated about it, which I thought, was nice.

 

A few things that I had done to it where Ohlins Coilovers, Rays TE37's in 17x9 +22 (Which is VERY aggressive on a DC5), and a 168FWKW K24 engine conversion (2.4L from an Accord Euro, with a few extra bits on it). I was really proud of that car, as I had a hand in almost everything that was done to it, which included the engine transplant, and all the little things I did to.

 

Here are some pictures of it, was a great car.

294197_10150341831541346_2527222_n.jpg

294515_10150341768926346_4831643_n.jpg

295192_10150341831701346_5750250_n.jpg

 

Anyway, for the past 9 months, I have been "car-less" (Well, I have been driving my girlfriends Auto Mazda 3... WOO), but I've been on the hunt for a new car. I've always liked the look of the Gen 3 Clio, so when they were in the higher part of my budget (Ohh... I'm a full time student by the way), I kept an eye on them. I also looked at Renault Megane RS 225's, and after driving one, I thought the car was brilliant... bar the seating position, which was too high (I'm 187cm tall). The Clio I've bought was on carsales for a total of 24 hours before I actually test drove it, and bought it.

 

Unlike the Integra, I have no real plans for the Clio, other then a factory front lip, and to enjoy it, and I plan PLENTY of trips around Victoria (And Tasmania) in it, which I'm thinking of keep a car/travel blog.

 

I'll post up some more pictures and info once I pick up the car this weekend, but I hope to meet the Melbourne group at the next meet.

 

Thanks

 

Robi

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Congrats on the 197 mate!

 

Have you been to Tassie yet? If not, you're in for a treat.

 

DC5 looks great without a rear wing!

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Welcome and agree with the nice Integra and wise choice of a CLIO III..

Take care and enjoy. Don't be scared to head up towards the border district for some awesome driving roads!

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Nemz: Thanks, was very proud of the DC5, and didn't want to do any of the "ricer" mods. But I never got to race it, just the one Gym-khana.

Walkie: No, never been to Tassie, so part of the reason I really want to go. I live 10 min away from the boat, so a good excuse I guess :P

Busgo: I'll look into that, always been a fan of big drives!

 

Well, I picked up the car today, and couldn't be happier. The previous owner has been fantastic! This was his second Clio (First being a Gen 2), so I knew he had looked after it. After driving it around today, I'm loving it. Hopefully I can get away with not wanting to change anything for the next few months/year. Once things I'm thinking of doing are the RenaultSport Front lip, Lowered springs (Heard good things about H&R Springs - The race/sport ones) and some different rims, for looks, and to fill out the pumped guards a bit more.

 

Here is a pic of it from today:

885833_10151514097741346_567770575_o.jpg

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Congrats mate, the more I look at the 197, the more I like it's front design than my 200, do the H&R spring, you will have the perfect stance, I have the black one fitted and it's actually improved the ride as they are progressive at all 4 corner instead of the factory set up(linear at rear), also get the oz ultras wheel in matt black, a bit expensive I know, but they look smoking hot with blue cars, perhaps some carbon fiber badges to finish off the picture then you will have one car that will pull almost as much chicks as buddy' s f1 car, hehe

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Thanks guys,

 

AeroD, I've found a sit in the UK that do basically everything in CF, so I have to keep away from that site. But "IF" I get rims, I was actually thinking white, but with the black headlights, the black might be a better choice.

 

But lowering it a tad is one thing I really want to do. Love the car, but it just sits a bit too high - As you can see from the pictures of my old Integra, I like the lowered look.

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Congrats mate, the more I look at the 197, the more I like it's front design than my 200, do the H&R spring, you will have the perfect stance, I have the black one fitted and it's actually improved the ride as they are progressive at all 4 corner instead of the factory set up(linear at rear), also get the oz ultras wheel in matt black, a bit expensive I know, but they look smoking hot with blue cars, perhaps some carbon fiber badges to finish off the picture then you will have one car that will pull almost as much chicks as buddy' s f1 car, hehe

 

fully sick uleh... :roll:

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^^haha my ricer undercover has been blown! can't blame me though, all after I grew up eating rice all my life, hehe, but seriously, we all know that the clio is a complete mechanical package right from the factory, so all we really need to do is customised it visually to our personal preferences I guess.

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45SET, I tried several times to delete the Streamline Carbon site bookmark without success, the computer must be playing tricks with me hehe. Blue is one of those colours that looks very good both with black and white, gotta love the rally look that a set of white wheels gives u, some say it's pretentious, I say to hell with that! You definately need to lower the car, both Eibach and H&R are good, no need for coilovers like Japanese cars unless u want to take it to the tracks, cos everybody knows that stance is the most important thing hehe 8)

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fully sick uleh... :roll:

 

Sik post brah, I'll be sure to read more of them!

 

45SET, I tried several times to delete the Streamline Carbon site bookmark without success, the computer must be playing tricks with me hehe. Blue is one of those colours that looks very good both with black and white, gotta love the rally look that a set of white wheels gives u, some say it's pretentious, I say to hell with that! You definately need to lower the car, both Eibach and H&R are good, no need for coilovers like Japanese cars unless u want to take it to the tracks, cos everybody knows that stance is the most important thing hehe 8)

 

Once I sell a few more parts that I have lying around from my Integra, I'll look into getting the springs, but it's something I really feel the car needs. I can't believe how high it sits when compared to most other cars!

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Yeah, it was the first thing I did when I got my 200, cost me $400 for the H&R (black), really happy with it, actually the ride is now less crashy over all the speed humps yet feels more planted and stable in hard cornering, see result below

F39371D2-CB15-4BEC-862F-7C8FFFB53CAC-2333-0000031F255D7EEA_zps0bb98af0.jpg

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17inch suits Clio3 very well, but since mine came with 18inch, guess I'll just stick with it, been thinking about go back to 17, less unsprung weight, but need to buy an extra spare wheel so it works out about same sort of money in the end, the H&R spring was money well spent, I can just about put one finger between the wheel and guard, don't want to go any lower or will end up looking like all those sunken cruiseships I see everyday on Dandenong rd hehe, keen to see ur work on the 197, oh love ur DC5, wish I had something like that

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  • 1 month later...

One of the only reasons I wasn't interested in 197/200 clios is that they don't have factory HIDs/xenons.

Ridiculous they went backwards from the 172/182s.

 

Any information in how yours came with them?

Xenons and a sunroof and I would definitely consider one.

 

Love the DC5 btw. I miss the low offset wheels look too =/

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One of the only reasons I wasn't interested in 197/200 clios is that they don't have factory HIDs/xenons.

Ridiculous they went backwards from the 172/182s.

 

Any information in how yours came with them?

Xenons and a sunroof and I would definitely consider one.

 

Love the DC5 btw. I miss the low offset wheels look too =/

 

Some 200's came with HID projectors, AGP edition did i think

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Awesome choice mate and welcome! You're gonna love it! Bugso, unfortunately the AGP didn't come with projectors so I've got WOLF in my sites for a set!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I've got a set now. I just need to order the HIDs. But if track record is anything to go by I might finally fit them some time in 2015.

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Awesome choice mate and welcome! You're gonna love it! Bugso, unfortunately the AGP didn't come with projectors so I've got WOLF in my sites for a set!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I don't remember saying anything about projectors yet. However, I had bi-xenons in my Mini Cooper S and they were awesome. Since owning the RS200, I've done a bit of night driving and find the stock globes to be quite acceptable. I can pick out a kangaroo but luckily haven't needed to take evasive action yet. It's those bloody huge wombats that worry me and I try to stay to main roads after dark.

I think that projectors were dropped from the 200 options list initially to save weight.

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I've got a set now. I just need to order the HIDs. But if track record is anything to go by I might finally fit them some time in 2015.

 

And post photos of them in 2016... :wink:

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Wow, people are still replying!

 

Well first mods were done to the car, a set of RE002's. I took a corner that I know fairly well last night, with the old tyres I had to slow down a bit, as I was scared of understeer (They were some 2nd hand Falkens to pass RWC when I bought the car). The new RE002, slowed down just as much, threw it into the corner, came out the other side going just as quick, and it didn't even feel like the car made an effort! So much more confident on these new tyres, and they've just changed the entire car!

 

I had a massive grin on my face after that... I just hope the mod bug doesn't start again!

 

One of the only reasons I wasn't interested in 197/200 clios is that they don't have factory HIDs/xenons.

Ridiculous they went backwards from the 172/182s.

 

Any information in how yours came with them?

Xenons and a sunroof and I would definitely consider one.

 

Love the DC5 btw. I miss the low offset wheels look too =/

 

Factory options for the 197. I'm the 2nd owner, and the first owner said that he just ticked every box when he ordered the car, so had to wait a further 4 months for it. Apparently there are about 5 in Aus with the Xenons and Sunroof. But they really do set the car apart from other 197's (Not that there are many on the road). But I was looking for about 3 months for one with Xenon's.

 

I actually almost bought a Mk2 Phase 2 Megane RS225 because I couldn't find a Clio I liked!

 

They were an option on the 197, and look freakin awesome

 

Damn straight!

 

Sif buy a Honda, let alone a DC5. Funny where you re-meet people these days.

 

I know right!!

 

I do miss the car as the K24 was just stupid quick, but after owning it for 6 years, I think it was time to move on... to smaller and slower things :P But the Clio is great! THe guy that bought the Integra off me has actually been keeping in touch, and giving me updates and stuff, which is nice. It's good to see he is taking care of it, and actually tracking it.

 

Since I've moved to Melbourne I've actually started hanging out with a couple of the ClubITR guys. One of them is building a K24/20 for his DC5R, so I'm helping with pulling the engine apart and putting it back together. Actually a really fun process.

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LOL...

 

It's not an unmarked police car. I was actually rather surprised with how little police presence I saw. Only marked car I saw was around the 12 Apostles, and that was to tell people not to park infront of the vistor centre.

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