One bad 197 to go

[Jason S]

After 89 days ownership
58 days running with no fault
4 breakdowns requiring recovery + 1 yesterday
3 temporary other fault - car drivable
All relating to non starting now traced down to faulty crank sensor connection. Incidentally its always during damp weather...

I've had enough! Dealer accepted today on providing a suitable reliable replacement or I will take them the whole 9 yards with losses/inconveniences cost as they agreed formally the last repair was the last!

So what are my options.. i get offered a fiesta st500. got excited for a nano second hearing ST500 then came to crashing to earth.. ford clearly did not follow suit in their naming convention - st170=170bhp st220=200bhp.. :swear:

WTF are they thinking, im in my mid 30's and going to drive a fiesta!!!! may as well hand me a bag of sweets with that. seriously.

ok limited run of 500 units but that is just marketing to get shot of parts bin stock before the new model.

A- clio is in a different league to the ST500
B- 148bhp
C- its a fiesta
D- need i say more.. maybe i'm just being negative.

Is a now 36k 197 2006 comparable to a 2008 30k fully loaded st500?

kinda wish someone would pinch the 197 and i can just walk away with my gap return to invoice. lol

Will post some for sale bits soon and wanted to say cheers. Had a quite a few cars in my time and joined forums and this has been the best forum yet. so cheers all.

 

[Chris197F1]

You are being negative mate, nothing wrong with the fiestas and they are good for tuning too. Handle great once lowered and aren't far behind the 197 on track with a few minor tweaks

 

[Willis]

Agreed the 197 is a step above the FST, but don't be so quick to write them off.

They're very strangled from the factory and can easily get up and around the 180-200BHP mark. They look alright and there's plenty of parts and tuners in the Ford scene, much much more then the Renaulstport scene in all honesty. Have a search on here for the review Mike did, he swapped his 197 for an FST for a good while and it's a very good read. That might help you make your mind up.

It's a shame you seem to have had a lot of bad luck with the 197.

 

[Chris197F1]

As Willis said. I came from a FST to the Clio. Stick and induction kit on it, full exhaust system, camms and remap and you have a right machine, lighter than the Clio too lol

 

[Luke_197]

The 197 is deffinatly more of a big boys car though, I'm only 20 and alot of my mates own FST's, they are nice cars but the 197 is way more exclusive you see hundreds of FST's but barely any 197/200's!

 

[Jason S]

yeah. i agree its has potential having had various rs's in the days and last ford being a cossie. so the clio was a grown upish fun toy as a little more exclusive.

see loads of fiesta at the local gatherings with 20+ peeps driving these and i'm 36 in a tweaked fiesta... so not too sure maybe i see it as a step down to other fords I've had.

thinking cashing on my plate+clio/dealer refund and stretching to an escort cos or sensible 535d

any jason on here with a wedge to blow on a plate??

 

[930Tech]

So what are my options.. i get offered a fiesta st500. got excited for a nano second hearing ST500 then came to crashing to earth.. ford clearly did not follow suit in their naming convention - st170=170bhp st220=200bhp.. :swear:

The sierra RS500 was the same, limited to just 500 off.

 

[Jason S]

but the rs500 was a beast & iconic so i forgive Henry lol

 

[welshtom1990]

The 197 is deffinatly more of a big boys car though, I'm only 20 and alot of my mates own FST's, they are nice cars but the 197 is way more exclusive you see hundreds of FST's but barely any 197/200's!

Yeah I agree with this 100%

 

[Rogue]

Can't you just get them to find you another Clio? Or don't you want one?

 

[ryan197]

i would get the crank sensor done, and see how it goes. that can cause a whole lot of different issues.

 

[danny197]

Can't you just get them to find you another Clio? Or don't you want one?

this?

 

[Jason S]

Yeah, i could get them to do another repair. That would be the 4th fix!

They are a peugeot dealer and the clio was just pot luck on their forecourt.

Its been too many issues over a short time and whilst its currently under warranty, it is painful. I dread the cost if it was out of warranty and what next a year down the line outside the warranty.. Its also had a starter & Sensor looking at previous owner 2011 receipts and non start issues (basically burnt out the starter)

I have no confidence in the car I have and just want rid as priority has shifted to reliability.

Also turned down the ST500 this am.

 

[Marv]

It does seem that when buying French, you get a good or a bad car with very little in the middle. I would look for another 197.

 

[james_h]

I agree with the bag of sweets comments personally... not a fiesta or ford fan at all personally. They just look dated and tacky. That's just me though.

Shame you got fed up with the clio, I know what it's like when it's problem after problem you just want to start again with another car..

 

[Robo_#1]

If they're willing to go the ford route (since Pug have NOTHING good to offer in their line up over the last 10years) Maybe try a Focus ST, more grown up, more grunt, more tuning potential.

Surely you can pick up an 05/06 Focus ST for the sort of budget your looking at. The 2.5litre engine isn't worked as hard so you could go up 10k miles and not worry too much.

 

[Jason S]

its just what they happened to have.. a golf tdi was briefly discussed today but they are asking for me to top up.. basically upselling. Load of ~~ really.

Also mentioned that they have the right for a 3rd fix legally - disagreed as last repair, i sent them a letter that by collecting and carring out the repair, they acknowledge it is their last/final to repair and subsequent faults I reserve the sole right to allow any repair.

They seem to have forgotten key card fault and couple of minor i got sorted. Thin they are just trying to wear me down but its just ## me up. Now have to wait until friday.

Legally i can ask for my money back + consequences losses + inconveniences. Seriously contemplating buying a £500 run about and taking them to court if they dont buck up their ideas and stop penny pinchin and dragging their heels....

Roll on Friday and they will hopefully make a decision!!!

 

[Willis]

What about a 207GTi seeing as it's a Pug' dealers?

They're not shabby at all, very underrated and very very tuneable.

 

[Jason S]

yeah the 207 175, Alfa brera, mini s & clio.. was on my short list..

came down to brera & clio.. clio won on drive.. found the 207 too much of a tin car and kinda felt fragile.

going to see what cash exit they can offer s we cant agree ad chuck it at something. prob i'm on hols for 3 weeks and getting married so have to keep cost down. all bad timing really.

 

[Mike]

It was a Fiesta ST that spelt the end of my 197. Even though I never bought one, I would love one.