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

[Gareth]

I think so, the comments seem to follow my exact thoughts on the car after my test-drive a while back :

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=116087#1

Video Link on the right hand side.

 

[JDVTR]

I can't talk from experiance as I hav'nt driven one, but it seems like the general opinion being banded about atm.

 

[tameracingdriver]

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.

 

[pecan]

0-60 in 6.6secs..

Get out of my f**king face. That's your bullshit right there.

 

[Andi-B]

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.

 

[telford_mike]

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.

 

[DrR]

^^^ what he said, and are you from telford?

 

[SimonV6]

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

 

[Funkyjahooner]

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.

 

[Munson]

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.

 

[Funkyjahooner]

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.

 

[KyleB]

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

 

[Munson]

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.

 

[Graham Gooch]

I keep seeing that poster for it where it shows the rear end shot and says vava voom x 197 or something

makes me want one LOL

 

[Andyvalver]

As far as i know they dont get the renault clio sports in america. Anyway the 197 looks s**t, its too high lol

 

[Phill1978]

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.

 

[pecan]

All I know is my Cup felt like an animal after driving the 197, and that's how I like it!

 

[subz]

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]

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

 

[pecan]

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!

 

[ChrisE]

Get out of my f**king face. That's your bullsh*t right there.

Ditto, thats more like cup territory! :rasp:

 

[pecan]

lol

 

[Dave_Tricky]

its still a renault, sexy and quick tho. remember that!

 

[AlexS]

2yr old thread?!
Lol @ the haters, everyone bums them now!

 

[Dave_Tricky]

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.

 

[Needster]

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?

 

[R20 CWH]

2yr old thread?!
Lol @ the haters, everyone bums them now!

some of the comments when the top speed was being talked about were great.

 

[Christopher]

LOL @ the bump.

I still think the same, they're just not as fun! End of!

 

[ForceIndia]

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!

 

[R20 CWH]

LOL @ the bump.

I still think the same, they're just not as fun! End of!

lock thread?

 

[Needster]

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!

 

[fuel_slut]

I dont call cramming a 194 bhp 2.0cc engine into a little clio as 'Captain Sensible'???!!!

 

[ForceIndia]

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.

 

[Ian_182]

182 more raw

197 more comfy but still capable.

Take your pick