this can only mean an obsession - you can actually make your dreams come true!
Have you test driven a trophy yet?
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this can only mean an obsession - you can actually make your dreams come true!
Have you test driven a trophy yet?
PH1 172
know what ya mean - i have a simliar fleeting thought about both a trophy and a 172 cup again!
but cant think of anything either does better than the 197! miss the raw feeling of the cup but dont think thats enough to make me go back to one!
will have one as a track toy when thye get really cheap i think!
but cant think of anything either does better than the 197! miss the raw feeling of the cup but dont think thats enough to make me go back to one!
will have one as a track toy when thye get really cheap i think!
Cayman S Edition 1
Yup went from this;
To this;
And love it to bits!!
(We traded the 197 in for a 225, so still have a comfort fun car!)
Cayman S Edition 1
So was my 197. Since having a remap and new exhaust on the Trophy though, its a real improvement.I have just as much fun in my 197 as I ever did in my previous Clios!
Mine's lowered, re-mapped, ITG filter and no airbox cover!
- looks good
- drives good
- goes well
Gaz_
ClioSport Club Member
Extreme mode
No, but as said previously i have regular access to a 182 Cuppacked (owned one too, with Recaros) i know they have firmer suspension, i think its more the exclusiveness tbh!!!
True. I Think if i did move it would be a step back. I do approx 200 miles a week, and think the gruffness would piss me off (again lol) The 197 is a lovely place to be
I wish. Could afford one, but do too many miles, would ruin one. Cambelt time your looking a few k also!!
he can order the r27 shocks and springs from renault...
but he already has coilovers so don't know if it would handle any better.
Steve
ClioSport Club Member
ST3 8.5
Had a Trophy for 2 yrs sold it while they still fetched good money.
Once warmed up i used to give it death, hence the amount of replacement parts i had under warranty some serious dollar ie new g box.
Unlike the 'polishing club' i got more fun from visiting GP circuits & many trackdays.
After doing Oulton Park with Renault & being able to do back to back tests with R26 & 197 Cup, was amazed at how quick i could go in the Cup. Being stock motor track manners were excellent.
Trophy was gone month after!
Still deciding on R26 or R27 as prices slide & not having to clean a car this winter has been joy
If you get a 'good' Trophy it may work, seen some dogs at shows.
I like the warranty to fall back on
Once warmed up i used to give it death, hence the amount of replacement parts i had under warranty some serious dollar ie new g box.
Unlike the 'polishing club' i got more fun from visiting GP circuits & many trackdays.
After doing Oulton Park with Renault & being able to do back to back tests with R26 & 197 Cup, was amazed at how quick i could go in the Cup. Being stock motor track manners were excellent.
Trophy was gone month after!
Still deciding on R26 or R27 as prices slide & not having to clean a car this winter has been joy
If you get a 'good' Trophy it may work, seen some dogs at shows.
I like the warranty to fall back on
A ANIMAL
GAY
E92 M3
+1 go for the trophy
A red missile
Yup, I do Bradford-Portsmouth-Bradford in a day to go to Rentech without any problem, I personally think the Recaros are the comfiest seats i've ever had. Yeah the suspensions hard - so what
Man up TBH
Cayman S Edition 1
Yup, I do Bradford-Portsmouth-Bradford in a day to go to Rentech without any problem, I personally think the Recaros are the comfiest seats i've ever had. Yeah the suspensions hard - so what
Man up TBH
Nice
A ANIMAL
Yup, I do Bradford-Portsmouth-Bradford in a day to go to Rentech without any problem, I personally think the Recaros are the comfiest seats i've ever had. Yeah the suspensions hard - so what
Man up TBH
+1111!!!!one
Cayman S Edition 1
Cheers mate. Nice to see someone has an open mind.
No way is a Trophy a backward step from the 197. If you're after a car for blasting around challenging roads theirs nothing much than can compare with the Trophy's pace, especially for what £7k now? It's such a different car to a 182/182 Cup, the Sachs dampers totally transform it.
The 197 has a far, far better interior yes, but other than that the Trophy wins hands down every single time from a driving point of view. I'm a big fan of 197's, love 'em infact but I wouldn't even consider swapping the Trophy for one. I tried an R27 and really liked it, but as soon as I got back into the Trophy and had a quick blast I knew it'd be a keeper. It's an infectious little car, that never fails to put a smile on my face.
Looks wise I find it difficult to choose between the two, your 197 looks brilliant! I let my mate have a drive in the Trophy last weekend while I was driving his Tommi Makinen and mine looked amazing in the rear view mirror, I then waved him past to overtake me and it really did look gorgeous. Capsicum red is a colour that needs to be seen in the flesh IMO, as it can look a bit pink in photos. When it's clean it looks great, especially with the Anthracite Turini's.
The driving position of the 1*2's is always commented upon, but I find it great. I'm 5ft 10, and have no issues with it at all. The ride around town at normal driving speeds of like 30/40mph is rubbish really, very crashy and bumpy, but the faster you go the more it smoothens out. It's strange, but true! The Recaro's are brilliant, really comfy. I've taken mine from Yorkshire to the west coast of Scotland and the Isle of Skye and it coped admirably with the distance.
Brakes as standard are poor IMO, but if you're on about changing 'em, that won't be a problem.
Have a drive in one, and you'll be hooked. They don't call it the best hot hatch ever made for nothing you know!
The 197 has a far, far better interior yes, but other than that the Trophy wins hands down every single time from a driving point of view. I'm a big fan of 197's, love 'em infact but I wouldn't even consider swapping the Trophy for one. I tried an R27 and really liked it, but as soon as I got back into the Trophy and had a quick blast I knew it'd be a keeper. It's an infectious little car, that never fails to put a smile on my face.
Looks wise I find it difficult to choose between the two, your 197 looks brilliant! I let my mate have a drive in the Trophy last weekend while I was driving his Tommi Makinen and mine looked amazing in the rear view mirror, I then waved him past to overtake me and it really did look gorgeous. Capsicum red is a colour that needs to be seen in the flesh IMO, as it can look a bit pink in photos. When it's clean it looks great, especially with the Anthracite Turini's.
The driving position of the 1*2's is always commented upon, but I find it great. I'm 5ft 10, and have no issues with it at all. The ride around town at normal driving speeds of like 30/40mph is rubbish really, very crashy and bumpy, but the faster you go the more it smoothens out. It's strange, but true! The Recaro's are brilliant, really comfy. I've taken mine from Yorkshire to the west coast of Scotland and the Isle of Skye and it coped admirably with the distance.
Brakes as standard are poor IMO, but if you're on about changing 'em, that won't be a problem.
Have a drive in one, and you'll be hooked. They don't call it the best hot hatch ever made for nothing you know!
Evo article may help you. March edition.
Here you go.................
……………………………………I own a Trophy!
If you really, and I mean really, enjoy your driving and do not worry about Bluetooth connectivity (Talking while you're driving, what's that about? Listening to music when you can listen to an engines rasp!), cornering headlights (My head moves!), Xenons (Are you blind? Because the person coming towards you is!), then read on.....................
"Weirdly, considering it's common-or-garden roots, it's the Clio Trophy I'm most excited about driving. Hard to say why really. I remember loving the big engine/small car theme, but all hot Clios from the original 16v up to this, the final swansong for the 172/182 line, delivered that in spades. Weirder still, I don't remember being blown away by the Trophy when it was new, but I have a theory for that: back then it was just another rung on the Clio ladder, a further incremental improvement of what was already a superb hot hatch.
Now, driving it in isolation, it's clear just how remarkable it is!
Five hundred right hand drive Trophys were built, all destined for the UK, Renaultsport's biggest market (a small batch of left-hookers went to Switzerland). Every one was finished in Capsicum Red paint with 'Trophy' logs on the sills and anthracite 16 inch Speedline alloys. They were properly tricked out too, riding lower on bespoke remote-reservoir Sachs dampers reputedly ten times more expensive than conventional shocks.
Inside it’s fairly typical fast-Renault fare. The biggest criticism people had of the Renaultsport Clio- it’s high driving position- was improved, if not totally corrected by a set of Recaros delivering a 10mm lower seating position.
The Clio dispatches the first few miles, it’s big-lunged engine turning every extra crank revolution into forward momentum with little apparent effort. And then we arrive at the B2141. It’s a great road; gloriously wide sweepers early on eventually contracting into a tight ten-per-cent plunge off Harting Down.
The Clio dismisses the sweepers, the engine having a greater role than the chassis initially. Cripes, it’s rapid. The 0-62 time of 6.9 seconds looks distinctly pessimistic as the gutsy, growly Clio zips into the sweet spot of the rev range beyond 5000 rpm.
Then the twistier stuff arrives and boy, does the rat up a drainpipe Trophy love to change direction. Entry speed is largely irrelevant- just tip it in, the weighted front wheel grips, the back jacks up and round it scoots. As tricks go, this c**k-a-wheel-in-the-air stance is a simple one, but it’s done with such perfection, such communication, such athletic balance and adjustability that it never becomes dull. Apart from the brakes (too wooden, not enough feel), I have such fun tearing down the hill that I immediately make the return journey. From T-junction to top I can’t think of much that would keep up- an EVO maybe…………..
The Trophy is a masochist, never happier than when being thrashed. The responses are instant and pure, the link between right foot and trajectory certain. You don’t smile when driving this car, you hoot and snort with laughter. It’s not very grown up, but then this ballsy bundle of fun with it’s magnanimous traction control and gigglesome chassis isn’t designed to be mature.
Has the small car/big engine/giant personality thing ever been done better? I don’t think so. This, the last of the old-school over –engined naturally aspirated hatches, is Renault’s perfect moment”
Thanks for settling an age old debate Evo!
Renaultsport Clio Trophy.
What a car!
Here you go.................
……………………………………I own a Trophy!
If you really, and I mean really, enjoy your driving and do not worry about Bluetooth connectivity (Talking while you're driving, what's that about? Listening to music when you can listen to an engines rasp!), cornering headlights (My head moves!), Xenons (Are you blind? Because the person coming towards you is!), then read on.....................
"Weirdly, considering it's common-or-garden roots, it's the Clio Trophy I'm most excited about driving. Hard to say why really. I remember loving the big engine/small car theme, but all hot Clios from the original 16v up to this, the final swansong for the 172/182 line, delivered that in spades. Weirder still, I don't remember being blown away by the Trophy when it was new, but I have a theory for that: back then it was just another rung on the Clio ladder, a further incremental improvement of what was already a superb hot hatch.
Now, driving it in isolation, it's clear just how remarkable it is!
Five hundred right hand drive Trophys were built, all destined for the UK, Renaultsport's biggest market (a small batch of left-hookers went to Switzerland). Every one was finished in Capsicum Red paint with 'Trophy' logs on the sills and anthracite 16 inch Speedline alloys. They were properly tricked out too, riding lower on bespoke remote-reservoir Sachs dampers reputedly ten times more expensive than conventional shocks.
Inside it’s fairly typical fast-Renault fare. The biggest criticism people had of the Renaultsport Clio- it’s high driving position- was improved, if not totally corrected by a set of Recaros delivering a 10mm lower seating position.
The Clio dispatches the first few miles, it’s big-lunged engine turning every extra crank revolution into forward momentum with little apparent effort. And then we arrive at the B2141. It’s a great road; gloriously wide sweepers early on eventually contracting into a tight ten-per-cent plunge off Harting Down.
The Clio dismisses the sweepers, the engine having a greater role than the chassis initially. Cripes, it’s rapid. The 0-62 time of 6.9 seconds looks distinctly pessimistic as the gutsy, growly Clio zips into the sweet spot of the rev range beyond 5000 rpm.
Then the twistier stuff arrives and boy, does the rat up a drainpipe Trophy love to change direction. Entry speed is largely irrelevant- just tip it in, the weighted front wheel grips, the back jacks up and round it scoots. As tricks go, this c**k-a-wheel-in-the-air stance is a simple one, but it’s done with such perfection, such communication, such athletic balance and adjustability that it never becomes dull. Apart from the brakes (too wooden, not enough feel), I have such fun tearing down the hill that I immediately make the return journey. From T-junction to top I can’t think of much that would keep up- an EVO maybe…………..
The Trophy is a masochist, never happier than when being thrashed. The responses are instant and pure, the link between right foot and trajectory certain. You don’t smile when driving this car, you hoot and snort with laughter. It’s not very grown up, but then this ballsy bundle of fun with it’s magnanimous traction control and gigglesome chassis isn’t designed to be mature.
Has the small car/big engine/giant personality thing ever been done better? I don’t think so. This, the last of the old-school over –engined naturally aspirated hatches, is Renault’s perfect moment”
Thanks for settling an age old debate Evo!
Renaultsport Clio Trophy.
What a car!
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Even cheaper then that now I've seen. I feel the same way as you fella from what you posted above even though I a 182 with cup packs.
I've had my 182 now for 2weeks. £70 of petrol used allready as I just can't seem to take my back side out of the driver's seat. The saddest thing of all is I've popped out a couple of time's on my lunch just to take it round some county lanes. (very rare in south London) I can only imagine the Trophy would make my smile even more causing a skin creasing scar on my cheeks
Cayman S Edition 1
Even cheaper then that now I've seen. I feel the same way as you fella from what you posted above even though I a 182 with cup packs.
I've had my 182 now for 2weeks. £70 of petrol used allready as I just can't seem to take my back side out of the driver's seat. The saddest thing of all is I've popped out a couple of time's on my lunch just to take it round some county lanes. (very rare in south London) I can only imagine the Trophy would make my smile even more causing a skin creasing scar on my cheeks
Had the same thing when I went from the 197 to the Trophy. Its an brill motor and I can't see myself ever getting rid of it.
Williams, Focus RS
Go for it lad youl not regret it!
U/R 200
I've been tempted by a nice LY 197 R27, just fancy a change really.Trophy's great fun though.
Christopher
ClioSport Club Member
Z4M
Trophy.
Get some fun back in your drive!
Get some fun back in your drive!
No. 189 is for sale over on www.cliotrophy.co.uk
Only done 13k miles!!
Go on - you know you want to.............
Only done 13k miles!!
Go on - you know you want to.............
