ClioSport.net

Register a free account today to become a member!
Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

A video that sums up the 197 nicely with no BS?



  Saxo VTR and clio Trophy
I can't talk from experiance as I hav'nt driven one, but it seems like the general opinion being banded about atm.
 
  Nissan 350Z
Yep, agree with the vid. Confirms what i've thought after reading people on here's impressions. Objectively excellent, but the spirit has been lost.

Just yet another grown up hot hatch. If I was in the market for a Renault hot hatch, I think I'd just go for the Megane - at least if nothing else, it has pace and looks on its side.
 
  Megane Mk4
Test driven one, wasn't impressed AT ALL.

All I can say is this, after 45 minutes of test driving it, I was glad to drive off in my 182. The grand moment of Renault Sport Clio passed when the 197 was launched. It's heavier, uglier, slower and it felt as though that spoilt it.

Mixing John Smiths Bitter and a french Bread with cheese doesn't work somehow.
 
  Renault Laguna Coupe
Fair comment but they can't build an old-skool hatch any more.

Reasons:

- People expect to survive accidents these days - my old Pug 1.9 GTI was great, but every time it crashed - I got killed.

- Even the 172 Cup was too extreme for a mainstream manufacturer - with no ABS and so much poke most of the cars were quickly written-off.

Manufacturers have the technical know-how to give us more BHP. But they have to make life safe for the average purchaser. So we get cars with zillions of BHP but loads of weight to prevent the owners killing themselves.

I think that's fine. I'd never go back to my Pug with it's "oh-my-God-I'm-going-to-die-any-minute-now" handling and safety. I'd rather have a modern car with a few more BHP and some airbags to carry around. We're not all Fernando Alonso. Things go wrong, but these days we live to tell the tale.
 
Has that advert been made for the USA market, dollars and Aluminum pedals, although English guy speaking......Slightly girlie std Clio...... lol
although my wife does have a Mk3 1.4 std Clio, so I guess they have that bit right....lol



Simon
 
  Astra VXR 17/05/07
Captain sensible, some of the verve and spirit has been lost, Renault have missed the point building a grown up hatchback.

Nail, hammer on head springs to mind.
 
I don't agree with the pricing comments. The Clio is supermini sized and does not sit in the hot hatch pricing bracket. It's only a grand more than the 182 list and it's a better car. Granted, you do get less standard kit, but then most people who dislike the 197 seem to have an issue with it not being hardcore enough, so not really sensible moaning about no autowipers or lights IMO.

Getting back in my 182 I noticed two things.

1) It was faster and felt MUCH faster.

2) The comedy sized steering wheel.

I certainly would not pay too much attention to that video. It's a 2 minute clip if one mans opinion of the car. Has he even driven it? Certainly a lot of members here seem to have extensive knowledge of it without having even seen one ;)

It's a great car, but not quick enough if you're coming from a 182. That's my summary anyway.
 
  Astra VXR 17/05/07
Fair points Roy, yes it is one mans opinion but then again the list of people on here that have actually had a test drive and make similar comments is getting bigger all the time.

I thought the majority of his opinion was consistant with others on here who have also had a test drive.
 
  Golf GTD
surely for the american market?

not that the car will be different from the one over here.

ill reserve judgement till i can drive one
 
Funkyjahooner said:
Fair points Roy, yes it is one mans opinion but then again the list of people on here that have actually had a test drive and make similar comments is getting bigger all the time.

I thought the majority of his opinion was consistant with others on here who have also had a test drive.

For sure, I was just saying that I hardly think they have messed up the pricing policy at all.
 
  megane coupe F7R
As far as i know they dont get the renault clio sports in america. Anyway the 197 looks s**t, its too high lol
 
  MKIII 138
cant be faster than 182ps (180bhp) at 1090kg and a 193bhp (197ps) at 1220-1240 but its not slow 193bhp is 193 bhp in the end its only 4bhp less than a civic type-r and weighs the same as one too, its also got more torque than a ctr.
 
KyleB said:
surely for the american market?

not that the car will be different from the one over here.

ill reserve judgement till i can drive one


renault dont market their cars in america.

I do like the look of the 197 but the drive is far too refined for me and sadly i wont be buying the new clio
 

MTM

  Volvo V60 R Design
excuse the ignorance - I love my cars and have a good knowledge of performance figures and the like but isn't it just the case that the 182 feels faster etc etc because it's a smaller car compared to the 197? From what I've read the 197 is more refined compared to the 197 but on the whole is there likely to be that much of a difference in the real world? I haven't driven the 182 and don't particularly care which is faster etc but you here more than a few ppl slating the 197 simply cos it's grown up a bit. Maybe I need to drive a 182 and 197 back to back or something lol
 
  172 Cup
We're not slating it because it's more refined or more grown up. It's because it's expensive, everything (it seems) is an optional extra (pushing the price up more) and it's bloody heavy!
 
  Renault Clio 1.2
well said alex. its true. back then everyone was like. ehhh there crap, there rubbish, there slow. ermmmmm how many of you keep saying 'its really growing on me' 'i swapped from my 182 and there the best cars ever'. not trying to be a dickhead here but its true. they are alot more popular and loved now.
 
  Barge
i've got an F1 and it may be a tiny bit slower in a straight line but then when i get to a corner or roundabout and go around (duh) 10 mph faster than 172 and 182 guys - can it really count as being slower?
 

ForceIndia

ClioSport Club Member
  Gentlemans spec 200
i've got an F1 and it may be a tiny bit slower in a straight line but then when i get to a corner or roundabout and go around (duh) 10 mph faster than 172 and 182 guys - can it really count as being slower?

That'll be why the trophy lapped bedford quicker than the 197. 10mph in a corner my foot!
 
  Barge
That'll be why the trophy lapped bedford quicker than the 197. 10mph in a corner my foot!

all about the driver mate. they were obviously s**t. the 197 F1 clings to the road. the boys in their 1*2's have to slow down much more, it's all about the handling. i'll not argue though like, my mates 172 cup and anothers trophy can out do it no problem on a straight. the weight does it no favours in that respect!
 
  Sunflower & Golf Mk6 BMT
I dont call cramming a 194 bhp 2.0cc engine into a little clio as 'Captain Sensible'???!!!
 

ForceIndia

ClioSport Club Member
  Gentlemans spec 200
all about the driver mate. they were obviously s**t. the 197 F1 clings to the road. the boys in their 1*2's have to slow down much more, it's all about the handling. i'll not argue though like, my mates 172 cup and anothers trophy can out do it no problem on a straight. the weight does it no favours in that respect!
Ok. We'll put aside it was done on the same day, with the same driver, on a track that they use regularly. By Evo magazine. And the recent report in PC magazine, by someone who's been using the 197cup everyday on track and road. I'll accept your unbiased opinion.
 


Top