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197 Pros and Cons



Scott™

Scott™

  Fiesta ST-3
Right lads as per the title. Looking at getting one but don't really know much about them, existing problems, mpg etc etc.

Please don't post just saying they are s**t etc etc.

I was hoping for first hand experiences from previous owners. Looking at a 197 R27. I already have a colour in mind but I'm asking more about common faults and problems etc. Things I should consider before getting one.

Thank you :clown:
 
R-Sport.

R-Sport.

ClioSport Club Member
  Mint 1*2's for sale-
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

The single most important thing to review is the gearbox- Check for a smooth non crunching change in every gear- If you get any nasty crunching noises its box out jobby-

Other than that R27- bolster wear on the recaros-

Obviously FSH would be good- from Main stealer-

Try to get one with Xenons & Climate-

Wouldnt buy albi blue- Go for LY or Black-or HERO nimbus

active solution gets rid of the bunny hopping to 95%
S
 
Scott™

Scott™

  Fiesta ST-3
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Thanks Steve. What are they like on juice? I've seen a Black R27 for £8500 on 22k. It a gorgeous colour. Can you get an R27 IN Nimbus?
 
R-Sport.

R-Sport.

ClioSport Club Member
  Mint 1*2's for sale-
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Yes-

Hero spec is Nimbus with Splitter & spoiler- ~ iget around 26 MPG & I drive them quite hard

200 rear diffuser & tail pipes are a good mod- look at Impeys car

S
 
RDP197

RDP197

  BMW 320d M-Sport
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

I got between 28-33mpg on mine when I had it - mixed driving. Look for wear on the steering wheel too and gammy seat belts as more minor issues.
 
theduck

theduck

Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Glacier White 197
Cup packs
Recaros
Cup spoiler with carbon tips
Carbon mirror covers
Spaced and lowered slightly

Done
 
leeds_182

leeds_182

North Yorkshire & Humber
ClioSport Area Rep
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

From my personal experience I found the biggest fault of the 197 was that it was slow.

Other then that, I really liked it!
 
A

alanc1000

  White clique
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Pros - all of it

cons - except MPG. The Actis patch mentioned above was loaded on all 08 plate and onwards (as was the new gear box), so any pre 08 plates should have had the patch for cold start added anyway, but still check the 2nd-3rd gear change doesnt crunch.

Its better than the 172 and 182.
 
Bux

Bux

  Golf GTD
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

I get an average of 30mpg from mine, and I do a variety of driving so it evens out.

The R27 has the newer gearbox than mine does meaning it should sit at around 3200 rpm at 70mph, which isn't too bad when cruising. Mine sits at around 3600rpm at 70mph which can drone a little bit on a long motorway trip (I normally just turn my music up a little to cover it up)

They can feel slow at times but as soon as you get the revs up then they go like stink :)

One common problem that I know of and have experienced is when changing the front calipers, the pins which hold them in like to seize up inside and in order to get them out you have to break them. It costs around £60 for a new set of brembo pins (well 2 packs of 2 pins).
 
Matthew

Matthew

Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

When people say they are slow (Jim) are they? Or do they just feel slow....

Anyone had a play with a 1*2 in theirs?

I'd really like one, especially now they are dirt cheap ;)
 
R-Sport.

R-Sport.

ClioSport Club Member
  Mint 1*2's for sale-
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

I got pwned by every renaultsport on the way to the southend 10 year meet- phase 1's, 182's even a 106 rallye-

& I was ringing its neck-

:(
 
Matthew

Matthew

Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Steve@R-Sport Cars said:
I got pwned by every renaultsport on the way to the southend 10 year meet- phase 1's, 182's even a 106 rallye-

& I was ringing its neck-

:(
Click to expand...

Lol gutted. Last RR day I was at, at RS Tuning the 197 made 168 which was the same and less than the 182's so it's not supprising they aren't as quick given they weight alot more

Such a shame as they look awesome.
 
theduck

theduck

Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Mine made 180bhp at TDF with a crap exhaust on and running on 95ron.

Had a play with a member in his old 182 and nothing in it.
 
Scott™

Scott™

  Fiesta ST-3
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Cheers for all this guys. What mod options are available for the 197 i.e performance? Is it a similar market to that of the 1*2?
 
theduck

theduck

Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Brakes - Braided lines, new fluid and performance pads, dont need anything else as they are epic standard imo.

Handling/Lowering - Eibach springs or selection of coilovers

BHP - Wouldnt touch it unless going all out for ITBs etc. Induction kits and exhausts cause issues. I am yet to see 'matched' inlets proven on a 197 and I really dont rate remapping standard NA cars.
 
Scott™

Scott™

  Fiesta ST-3
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

What sort of issues mate? This is exactly what I want to know before making the call.
 
theduck

theduck

Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Induction kits lose power, not just your typical OMGz u haz an open cone filta, u gonna get heat soak bad innit, type of losing power either, they really just dont work. You can go for a custom reworking of the induction side of things if you replace/move the battery out the way, but its really not worth it.

Exhausts cause a massive flat spot at 2000-2500rpm, which is a pig. Although it can be mapped out slightly, its still there and other than noise will give no gain. Also you have to remove the rear bumper to fit, and once its been off once the heat shield on the diffuser will rattle forever more.

Have a look at Kevs project thread which is still on here somewhere and see how much he spent on his to gain very little!

If it was me, and I had a 197 still, I wouldnt modify it for performance at all, I'd keep it standard, save my pennies and maybe when I had enough drop in an R26 engine and box.
 
Scott™

Scott™

  Fiesta ST-3
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Thank you for that :)

If I'm honest, my days of car modifying are behind me. I just want a standard, good looking car that has a bit of oomph. My cup rattles and creaks like a b**ch, is the build quality better internally on a 197? It looks very plastic.
 
J

jpgibson

  RS 172
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

I disagree with some of the above. Ive had172,182cup and. 197. 197 the best. Ive just put on a cat back k tec and no issues with a worse flat spot. It flies through the rev range- i am waiting for the rstuner to turn up but i dont need it. Agree with rattling diffuser though! I love mine. Not an issue in over 2 years , which is unlike the 182. Brakes are awesome too.they are so cheap too ( not in aus tho').
Go for it!
 
Bux

Bux

  Golf GTD
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Scott. said:
If I'm honest, my days of car modifying are behind me. I just want a standard, good looking car that has a bit of oomph. My cup rattles and creaks like a b**ch, is the build quality better internally on a 197? It looks very plastic.
Click to expand...

Honestly, the build quality feels like it's in a different league to 1*2 interiors. The steering wheels still suffer from some melting, but it's not as bad.

I don't have any rattles in mine and it's 5 years old now.
 
Wests Renault

Wests Renault

  Discounted 1*2 parts
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Fuel consumption is poor, expect to average 25mpg and maybe over 30mpg on a run. If doing track days expect to see 12-14mpg!!

I wouldn't say they are as fun to drive as the 1*2 in regards to the feedback the car gives you.

Everything else though is 100% better and as an all round car they are miles ahead of a 1*2
 
CabinFever

CabinFever

  Golf 7R
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Just go ahead and get yourself one, mate.

The only downside really, is the fact that it's not quite fast enough to justify the fuel consumption, but still a great car nonetheless.

I prefered my 197 over my 200 for some reason!?
 
Wests Renault

Wests Renault

  Discounted 1*2 parts
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

I had a KTEC exhaust on mine and loved it, didn't think it caused a flat spot until I put the original system back on and it drove much better!
 
theduck

theduck

Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

People who say the flat spot isn't there are liars or haven't tried accelerating from a cruising revs of 2000-2500rpm. It's noticeable accelerating with wot from below those revs but is accelerating from that point in the rev range.
 
N0ddie

N0ddie

ClioSport Club Member
  Tesla Model 3
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

theduck said:
People who say the flat spot isn't there are liars or haven't tried accelerating from a cruising revs of 2000-2500rpm. It's noticeable accelerating with wot from below those revs but is accelerating from that point in the rev range.
Click to expand...

Lol. You obviously had a 197 so know everything about them :lolup:
 
Scott™

Scott™

  Fiesta ST-3
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

Cambelt and timing kit the same time frame as the 1*2? And the cost roughly the same or is much more?
 
Gaz_

Gaz_

ClioSport Club Member
  Extreme mode
Re: 197 Pro's and Con's

theduck said:
People who say the flat spot isn't there are liars or haven't tried accelerating from a cruising revs of 2000-2500rpm. It's noticeable accelerating with wot from below those revs but is accelerating from that point in the rev range.
Click to expand...

Agree totally. They can feel a bit flat below 5k especially coming form a 172 Cup, these make peak power above 6k iirc, so need to be revved ;)

I've had 2 197's, my current an 08 Cup

Love them to be fair, and I've had x2 172 cups and a 182 previously.

I've had a play against a couple of 172's are they are pretty even in a drag. Infact i did pull past a 172 Cup a few years ago, so they certainly aint slow as mantioned in previous threads. Build is much better, sound much better out the box. Gear box is ace (as long as you dont have a duffer)

Best thing to check on a test drive is shift from 2nd to 3rd on a test drive ABOVE 5k. This tends to show any gearbox problems up.

I dont agree with actis solution fixing cold bunny hopping. I had one installed on my 06 197 and it was ok for a week or so, then reverted back somehow. My 08 plate Cup also suffers. Early cars suffer AC/Climate problems also. Remember early cars are coming up to Camblt time, not as bad of a job as a 172 as more room. 36k service includes plugs.
 
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