197 - can't decide

[172boost]

Having a little blast with my mate last night.....well not really a blast, I was in my 1.2 clio and he was in a 1.4 306! lol!
Anyway, as he overtook me I noticed something up his ass trying to get past us two(not a difficult operation) and found it to be a blue 197.
I just can't make my mind up......performance wise it seemed to have the pace but it didn't have much presence and looked frankly ordinary when I passed it later on the motorway at 75mph. It looked like a 1.2 :S .

 

[Gaz197]

maybe it was a 1.2

 

[FlameR]

the 197 has grown on me loads since my bro got one. They are far more subtle than other hot hatches, but still have decent performance and hadling, plus they are nice inside.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Nonsense.

The 197 instantly looks different, I've never met one in the same direction (99% would never keep up anyway) but when I see one coming toward me the pronounced front arches instantly stand out.

 

[xcliox]

at 1st i never l iked them but they have grown on me i realy like them now

 

[172boost]

it was definitely a sport but it was dark so maybe it's just in the dark that it looked like a 1.2

 

[AlexS]

I never used to be a fan of the 197 but in my opinion it has regained some of the road presence of the ph1 that is so lacking in the 172ff and 182. The rear defuser and the vents in the front wings are my favourite bits.

 

[DazBav]

they have a big pressance on the road and gets loads more looks than my 182 with stripes

not seen a 1.2 with these

 

[Clio_Craig]

that pic is exactly wat catches ppls eyes, and also the wide arches,we was sitting in trafffic on the motor way in dads, and every 1 kept looking at the arches, and couple ppl were taking pictures on there phones :S lol love it!!!

 

[jayxx83]

the 197 does have loads of road prescence. looks immense in the rear view with xenons.

 

[Gaz_]

Nonsense.

The 197 instantly looks different, I've never met one in the same direction (99% would never keep up anyway) but when I see one coming toward me the pronounced front arches instantly stand out.

I never used to be a fan of the 197 but in my opinion it has regained some of the road presence of the ph1 that is so lacking in the 172ff and 182. The rear defuser and the vents in the front wings are my favourite bits.

the 197 does have loads of road prescence. looks immense in the rear view with xenons.

All my thoughts. They have loads more presence than the 172/182 clios

 

[ChrisR]

Yup on the road the front end just looks sooo wide

 

[Peperami]

I love em, really want a silver one.

 

[trailerparktrev]

1.2????

1.2

 

[GarethM]

can tell straight away if its a 197 or 1.2

imo i love the 197 really grown on me

 

[.GAZ.]

197 have grown on me big time.. jst the seats let it down imo

 

[Moby]

197 have grown on me big time.. jst the seats let it down imo

Recaros and you're sorted bud

 

[.GAZ.]

197 have grown on me big time.. jst the seats let it down imo

Recaros and you're sorted bud

the recaro's are perfect!!!

 

[Peperami]

Even the standard seats are comfier than 172 jobbies, driving positions loads better.

 

[ollie]

I'd go for it just because of RBM

 

[edde]

the 1927 to me stand out lods very easy to see.

Persoanly I'd have prefered it more inconspicious a car.

 

[Alan]

Having a little blast with my mate last night.....well not really a blast, I was in my 1.2 clio and he was in a 1.4 306! lol!
Anyway, as he overtook me I noticed something up his ass trying to get past us two(not a difficult operation) and found it to be a blue 197.
I just can't make my mind up......performance wise it seemed to have the pace but it didn't have much presence and looked frankly ordinary when I passed it later on the motorway at 75mph. It looked like a 1.2 :S .

Dreamer...

 

[xcore]

197 just look like any other 3 door clio 3 imo

prefer a ph1 172 looks wise

 

[Ben H]

My 197 is in Nimbus (grey) - although it's a unique colour to the 197, it's probably the least conspicuous of the 197 palate.

Some do mistake it for a normal Clio (more fool them!), but even the untrained eye will spot the wide arches and generally bulked-out stance.

The beauty of the 197 - like the 16V and Williams - is precisely the lack of large spoliers etc. Fat rear arches are not cheap to make and really are what my 172 missed.

 

[Christopher]

love the R27

that red one is perfect!!

 

[HartZ]

From seeing Craig's Dads up close I can safely say that Id have one any day of the week

 

[172blue]

they have a big pressance on the road and gets loads more looks than my 182 with stripes

not seen a 1.2 with these

I can vouch for this particular car being nice on both road and track - great colour, this one changed my thoughts on the 197, having seen it in my rearview mirror for miles on our way to the ring!

 

[paul g]

Having a little blast with my mate last night.....well not really a blast, I was in my 1.2 clio and he was in a 1.4 306! lol!
Anyway, as he overtook me I noticed something up his ass trying to get past us two(not a difficult operation) and found it to be a blue 197.
I just can't make my mind up......performance wise it seemed to have the pace but it didn't have much presence and looked frankly ordinary when I passed it later on the motorway at 75mph. It looked like a 1.2 :S .

sorry but it looks fook all like a 1.2

 

[DazBav]

they have a big pressance on the road and gets loads more looks than my 182 with stripes

not seen a 1.2 with these

I can vouch for this particular car being nice on both road and track - great colour, this one changed my thoughts on the 197, having seen it in my rearview mirror for miles on our way to the ring!

cheers Piers,how are ya mate?,how's the dad racer

 

[trailerparktrev]

love the R27

that red one is perfect!!

Thank you Chris.

 

[Brown.]

i know what hees saying the 1.2 and 197 do look rather similar...nothing really stands out thos e pics are just close up shots of otherwise not noticable sections of car

 

[DazBav]

and again
a 1.2

1.2?

not very wide!

 

[Ian_182]

It looks way different.

 

[Neil G]

My 197 is in Nimbus (grey) - although it's a unique colour to the 197, it's probably the least conspicuous of the 197 palate.

Some do mistake it for a normal Clio (more fool them!), but even the untrained eye will spot the wide arches and generally bulked-out stance.

The beauty of the 197 - like the 16V and Williams - is precisely the lack of large spoliers etc. Fat rear arches are not cheap to make and really are what my 172 missed.

That's exactly why I really like the 197...understated, quick and a lot classier than most other hatchbacks (Vauxhall Astra/Corsa VXR)

 

[catherinej]

1.2????

1.2

:lolup:

Nope can't see the difference at all.

 

[-Leigh-]

I'm sorry, I really like the 197, but unless I specifically look for the differences, when ones coming towards me, I can't tell if it's a sport or not, especially in red!!

The RB and LY it's obvious, but not with the other colours. The Red R27 above, I looked at it and immediatly thought it looked like my g/f's parent's car. They have a 1.2 55 plate mk3 clio.

 

[Neil G]

That red 197 up there looks great....need to get saving!

 

[Justin]

the 197 looks different to the 1.2 as much as the 172/182 did to the 1.2's

there isnt a huge amount in it, to the untrained eye, they all look the same, but to someone in the know, they do look quite different

 

[-Leigh-]

the 197 looks different to the 1.2 as much as the 172/182 did to the 1.2's

there isnt a huge amount in it, to the untrained eye, they all look the same, but to someone in the know, they do look quite different

Indeed. About the only Renaultsport clio I can tell when it's coming towards me is the ph-quick. Oh, and the Williams, but I can't tell it apart from the valver unless I see the wheels or stickers.

 

[Justin]

the front bumper gives the mk2 ph2 RS's away.. much different