2nd go in a 197 today.

[Ollie82.]

That car really does look good....its way more muscular and purposeful looking than my Cup...and in a colour very similar to Mondial, the proper name of which has escaped me right now, it looks fantastic.
Had another go in one on my own today, around some of my favourite local roads.
On this occasion i noticed more subtle things....the way the seats hold you in is fantastic, and it feels wide, noticeably wide....especially from the rear.

The chassis is fantastic, and it lacks any real body roll, cornering very flat, and as a result you feel what the rear wheels are doing more than you'd think...obviously the Cup and Trophy are great for cocking a rear, but only because the front is so much more hooked up, but in the 197 you feel the rear working in harmony with the front. A new sensation which inspires confidence.:approve:

I just WISH it had more urgency. I crashed into the limiter twice as i kept holding my right foot down expecting somethin dramatic to happen....I've only hit the limiter in the Cup twice in nearly 2 years (no im not a thrashy driver....its not big and its not clever).

Its eating away at me though...as i've said before, in no way do i dislike the 197....infact im really becoming fond of it, but it doesn't set my pants on fire....yet.

 

[Jamie]

To be fair its going to feel planted with all that weight its carrying.

Everytime i look at one i cant help but think how big it is, does it feel big to drive? Does it feel slower then?

 

[brisa4984]

they look gorgous on coiles.

if it just had the power

 

[brisa4984]

To be fair its going to feel planted with all that weight its carrying.

Everytime i look at one i cant help but think how big it is, does it feel big to drive? Does it feel slower then?

its the slowest in RS history

 

[Jamie]

Doesnt mean to say you would neccessarily feel it, just because something is a second slower to 60 wouldnt althogether mean that it feels like a snail so i wanted to know what his opinion was on it.

 

[Ollie82.]

Today i felt more aware of its size. Partly because you feel part of the car, sat lower rather than perched too high as in the old car.
It doesn't feel unwieldy though!

Its a strange situation where the extra weight does and doesn't let the car down!
It handles so well, but its almost like the engine labours to keep things on the boil...you really have to keep it one gear lower than you usually would, to keep the revs high otherwise it bogs down when you power out a corner.

 

[Munson]

It's an amazing car that feels slow coming from a 182. When they make it quick they may actually sell some. EVERYONE I know who has driven one says the same - great but no urgency. Only Seb seems to think his is quick - I'm starting to think his 182 was running on diesel

Foot down - brmmmmm - wait for it...WAIT for it...WAAAAAAAAIT for it...BANG! That's the limiter. WTF? try again the next gear....brmmmm - wait for it...[add tedium]

Couple of times I was trying to overtake and the salesman was like "yeah you just need to hold it back...so tempting!" truth was that it simply didn't have the grunt to actually perform the overtake safely. Hold back? scared to try more like. 80-100 seemd like 20 minutes.

 

[_Kenny_]

^ lol

 

[Munson]

I don't like slagging it off because it truly is a great car to drive. I dislike it because it makes no sense. With its stupidly low gearing it should be rapid as f**k below 100, but it simply isn't. I've been saying ever since I drove one one that I simply do not believe it has close to 200ps. If any 197 actually pulls 190bhp I will be amazed.

It's a ftantasic car to drive, handling wise. Much more grip than a 182 even if the steering is a bit CTR. It just feels like it has the same power (c.176bhp) and an extra 200kg of lard. Given that most 182s make c. 176bhp, I would not be surprised to know that the 197 makes c.185bhp. Slow.

 

[Ollie82.]

Foot down - brmmmmm - wait for it...WAIT for it...WAAAAAAAAIT for it...BANG! That's the limiter. WTF? try again the next gear....brmmmm - wait for it...[add tedium]

Thats EXACTLY what i felt in it today....a very accurate assessment there Roy.
Was almost drumming my fingers on the steering wheel waiting for the power to kick in and then THATS when i crashed into the limiter for the first time.

I've noticed that about Seb....his must be running on Bio-Eth or some other rocket fuel.

 

[Munson]

I think the harsh truth is that renault has no answer with the current NA 2.0

It's no Honda iVTECH despite the premise being so, with the 7500rpm redline. In my experience you may as well change up at 5500rpm for all the difference it makes.

Dear Renault, you suck. Please put the 225 Engine in the Clio.

 

[kully]

i've been one and it feels big too ...... not a hot hatch feeling either , family car even ...lol

 

[Zonda]

My brother got his new 197 not long ago after waiting a few months for delivery. He read all the EVO reviews that sang its praises and after looking at one in the show room thought yeh..that's a step up from his 182 (and wanted a bit more room) and put his deposit down. When the 197 arrived he run it in the 1st few weeks and then was a bit pissed off how high you have to rev the nuts off it to get the thing to move! He is no boy racer and his 182 must have been the least thrashed 182 in history.. bit of a safe driver! But even he couldnt live with the 197! For him to say it felt slow is saying something! I cant remember how high he said they rev at 60mph, but he wasnt happy how the car made him look/sound like a boy racer because he had to over rev all the time just to get it moving. He went to another dealer after 1 month of owning it and traded it straight in for another car. He lost a few grand in the process... bit mad to lose that much cash over night but he couldnt live with it any longer.

Such a shame to see this happening with the 197. I have owned tons of Reno's from the early Williams to the Clio V6 but they have gone down hill lately imo.

Lets hope they surprise us with something special soon.

 

[trile]

Dear Renault, you suck. Please put the 225 Engine in the Clio.

I'll make some phone calls and see what I can do!

Yours sincerely
RENAULT president - Frenchie French

 

[dick]

is the engine bay big enough for the 225 in? or is the 197 seriously cramped as it is?

maybe its the grand plan? sell a bunch of 197s then wait a year and drop the meg lump in?

 

[kully]

they've got they're new renault sport 210 already on the production as we speak ...lmao

 

[Munson]

...they have gone down hill lately imo.

I'm not sure that is true. You only have to look at the press reaction to the megane R26

 

[Munson]

is the engine bay big enough for the 225 in? or is the 197 seriously cramped as it is?

maybe its the grand plan? sell a bunch of 197s then wait a year and drop the meg lump in?

I think it is fairly cramped in there. Although when I looked under the hood, all I found was a hair drier. I don't care if there's only room for a Scalextric motor, they need to sort it the f**k out.

 

[Zonda]

...they have gone down hill lately imo.

I'm not sure that is true. You only have to look at the press reaction to the megane R26

Yep, I was leaning towards the Clio's with that.. I dont really read up on the Megane but they may be quicker but just not visually my thing (to be polite).

 

[Steve2004]

The 197 I drove felt like it had near-200bhp, but only when the revs were between 7,000 and the 7,500 limiter. It's like at 7k it came alive for 500rpm. Talk about being all top-end!

Or this might just be because Im used to my clio dying off at 7k whereas the 197 just kept going?

Tis a shame though because (apart from SILLY light steering and DAFT 6th gear) I really liked the 197, much better than my 172.

 

[Chili Red]

I wonder what the sales figures are like for the 197, they can't be too impressive - and I wonder how they compare with first-year 182 sales.

There are so many other cars around for the same money, and most Clio 172 and 182 drivers seem to prefer the cars they've got.

Look at how many 172 owners on here went and bought 182s when they came out - that's simply not happened with the 197. It's been out a nearly a year yet even the 'enthusiasts' on here haven't bothered with one.

It's as if we're all waiting to see if Renault will make it better. Seems to me far more people are going for Meganes instead.

 

[Rich]

They said the 197 was selling well, but I have hardly seen any on the road round here.

 

[Chili Red]

They said the 197 was selling well, but I have hardly seen any on the road round here.

I haven't either, in fact I've only ever seen one in this area. The only other one I've seen on the road was in Wales!

Maybe the people who are buying them aren't going from a 172/182 to a 197, so they don't have such high expectations.

 

[Evil Ally]

I don't like slagging it off because it truly is a great car to drive. I dislike it because it makes no sense. With its stupidly low gearing it should be rapid as f**k below 100, but it simply isn't. I've been saying ever since I drove one one that I simply do not believe it has close to 200ps. If any 197 actually pulls 190bhp I will be amazed.

It's a ftantasic car to drive, handling wise. Much more grip than a 182 even if the steering is a bit CTR. It just feels like it has the same power (c.176bhp) and an extra 200kg of lard. Given that most 182s make c. 176bhp, I would not be surprised to know that the 197 makes c.185bhp. Slow.

Didn't pmurray have one on the rollers recently and it made 185? I've driven it a few times now on and off track and I do find it a little frustrating. Everything about the car is spot on apart from the engine. I feel it's been designed for the marketing department so they can slot it in underneath the megane and not designed to be the best car it can be.

 

[Sleeve]

i switched from a 172 cup to a 197 recently, then 1st time i test drove the 197 i wasnt to impressed at all and i thought "nope, not swapping". A few weeks after i got the chance to test drive another 1 and i was a little hmmmmmmmmm. Desided to take the plunge and part ex the cup in for 1. First few weeks whilst getting used to it i was thinking i made a mistake, but now after had it for a month or two i love it. It handles better than my cup ever handled and once you get the thing moving and you get used to the clutch its quite impressive. I would still think the cup would beat it in a straight line to 100mph, but whats a second or 2.
Went back out in my mates 172 cup today, and tbh, i wouldnt go back.

So alot of ppl here have test drove them once or twice and had the same impression i had when i test drove it, but once you got 1 and got used to it, it a nice car.

just my 2 cents

Sleeve

(let the slateing begin)

 

[jayxx83]

I think sleeve you need to get used to the slower ness of the 197, then you grow to like the build quality, then when you get back in a 172, you realise how poor the build quality is and think " yea ive made the right decision ".

If you worked as a racing driver everyday, i think you wouldnt bother with the 197 as you would have different requirements, ie extra speed of the 172.

 

[ranksie]

Hi all, my first post on here but here goes! Ive had my 197 for about 8 months now and really do love it, yes it is a bit down on power but ive started to sort that with a Miltek exhaust system and Miltek cat replacement pipe which has made a difference is power low down and the sound....... is awesome!!! Just waiting now for a good ecu remap or something similar.
As for the handling imo it takes a lot of beating it just sticks and seems to give a little notice before the back starts to let go!!!!! I have worked selling both Lotus and Bentley for about ten years now so I hope I know a enough about performance cars to compare against the 197 to give a honest opinion.
To all you doubters, buy one cause within a month youll love it..... I did.
Cheers!

 

[Tim(e)]

To be fair its going to feel planted with all that weight its carrying.

Everytime i look at one i cant help but think how big it is, does it feel big to drive? Does it feel slower then?

its the slowest in RS history

Explain please? And define slower?

It has a book figure of 0-60 in 6.9 which we all know is rubbish. Mine is as quick as my old 172 Cup. The linear power delivery and close ratio box makes it feel marginally slower.

The 172 MK2 had the same figure of 6.9, some even quoted 7.2.

The Cup at a 6.8 figure. Wow. 0.1 sec. Shoot me....

The MK1 172 was capable of a 6.6 second dash.

The Trophy somehting similar.

There all exactly the same unless you can notice a 0.1 second margin across the board on all RS 2.0 litres....

 

[Graham Gooch]

The sad truth behind the sales is Press blurb talks.

All the superminis are now turbo! Turbos sell cars whether you like it or not.

People will buy a corsa VXR purely for that fact, and the mini and probably 207 etc.

 

[leeds_182]

I think all the 182 owners are not buying 197's cos theyre still struggling to cope with the 5 grand they lost on the 182s.

 

[The Hoff]

Oh...Seb....Seb....where are you Sebb???

 

[Michael172]

To be fair its going to feel planted with all that weight its carrying.

Everytime i look at one i cant help but think how big it is, does it feel big to drive? Does it feel slower then?

yea it needs the extra horsey power. even then its slow as a b*****d. id rarther have a 172 or a williams, as long as the williams had power steering lol. I sat in a 197 in the dixon showroom, 17,000 for the damm thing. I have to admit i do like the car, but its just not......."clio sport" enough for me.

 

[dk]

I think all the 182 owners are not buying 197's cos theyre still struggling to cope with the 5 grand they lost on the 182s.

i think most 182 owners are going down the R26 route like I have, closest next step up to the 182.

 

[IB172]

Im sure I remember reading an article in the sun motoring section last year and knockhill were buying a clio sport for thier track, after testing the 197 they decided to go for a 182.
Does anyone else remember this? or was I sniffing glue and imagined it.

 

[seb]

Oh...Seb....Seb....where are you Sebb???

lol tbh i gave up on these 197 threads ages ago.

i don't need to indulge in these threads to make me realsie i have an amazing hot hatch.

the 197 may be marginally slower than the 182 but in real terms it is not as major as people make out.

i drove back to london with my bro in his R26 on monday and yes he pulls a bit of space from 80 to 110. but it is not the slouch people make out.

the 197 is a car that is desgned to be thrashed to get the best experience out of it. i certianly don't lose any sleep knowing it is slighlty slower than the 182 etc...

if anything i was impressed in how it compared to the R26 at high speeds. this would be where the 197 is weakest. on the motorway slog. lower down the spedd range it is a weapon and including the amazing handling of thiscar makes a truely breath taking RS.

Since we are all so obsessed with magazine reviews evo gave it 4 1/2 stars and autocar said it was a better car than the 182. however i don't like getting into magazine slagging matches. clearly the 197 is not the flop peopel seem to make it out as on this forum.

I am very happy with my upgrade over the 182.

 

[Graham Gooch]

No its certainly not a flop, but its certainly not as 'popular' as the 182.

I do like it though, but I'd not spend my own cash on one.

 

[The Hoff]

Seb, best argument you've given. And for that i'd like nothing more than to rub jelly on your bare manly chest!

 

[seb]

Seb, best argument you've given. And for that i'd like nothing more than to rub jelly on your bare manly chest!

thank you, i will now bow out of these 197 threads. tbh they bore me now.

i only posted since you asked so nicely!

i like jelly, but make sure you bring a razor as chest hair and jelly don't mix! lol

 

[Neil G]

I wonder what the sales figures are like for the 197, they can't be too impressive - and I wonder how they compare with first-year 182 sales.

There are so many other cars around for the same money, and most Clio 172 and 182 drivers seem to prefer the cars they've got.

Look at how many 172 owners on here went and bought 182s when they came out - that's simply not happened with the 197. It's been out a nearly a year yet even the 'enthusiasts' on here haven't bothered with one.

It's as if we're all waiting to see if Renault will make it better. Seems to me far more people are going for Meganes instead.

I think a lot of 172/182 owners are going straight to the RS Megane instead of the 197....shame really as the 197 is such a lovely looking car.

I have never driven a 197 so can't comment on the performance though.

 

[S22 JGS]

All i can say Ollie, is if you get one, get it on H&R's... PLEASE!!!