Booked up a 197 test drive!

[Subway]

Going to rag the s**t out of that b**ch!

Can't wait...they better be worth it.

I got it for 1 hour, then a whole day on the 9th of Jan lol

Poor car!

Adam

 

[John D]

Going to rag the s**t out of that b**ch!

Can't wait...they better be worth it.

I got it for 1 hour, then a whole day on the 9th of Jan lol

Poor car!

Adam

Now that sounds dangerous......

 

[Ali]

LOL! Avoid some deers!

 

[richlawson]

kill the peace of crap love to loose a 197

 

[DrR]

How did you get it for the entire day?

 

[Rich]

After having one for an hour, will be suprised if you would want it for a whole day.

 

[Jay]

I'd get bored with it, if I'd have it for the whole day!

 

[DazG]

How do you get it for the day???

 

[RobHardyUK]

After having one for an hour, will be suprised if you would want it for a whole day.

i think after a hour he will realise its a much improved car all round to the 182

 

[Brown.]

ya will be bored after 3mins .....

 

[Rich]

After having one for an hour, will be suprised if you would want it for a whole day.

i think after a hour he will realise its a much improved car all round to the 182

Does the silly light steering get heavier after an hour ?

You having owned a 182 and 172 I value your opinion, just felt a little boring and sterile for me IMHO. Lost the 1*2's 205 GTi esque feel for me. Would own one as a daily drive alongside my 182 but not in place of.

 

[Harry182]

How do you get it for the day???

Renaults web site can sort you out. gotta be over 25 i think??

 

[Fred@BTM]

put a proper exhaust on them and they go like the clappers!

 

[richlawson]

After having one for an hour, will be suprised if you would want it for a whole day.

i think after a hour he will realise its a much improved car all round to the 182

i think not

 

[Josh@Renparts]

How do you get it for the day???

You roll up in a Vee and pretend to be interested...

I recommend you smash the engine mounts to bits

 

[philmots]

put a proper exhaust on them and they go like the clappers!

tell more

 

[Clio R]

put a proper exhaust on them and they go like the clappers!

tell more

^^^as above

 

[ChrisR]

It's not that difficult to get cars for the day if you're bothered about it Usually get bored when I've done it so prefer to have them just for a couple of hours.

Renault dealer even gave me a tenner to whack some more fuel in the Megane 225 I had for a few hours

 

[jayxx83]

Mate you will get bored after 5 mins, them things are effing slow. Coming from your 172 and V6, that car feels like a 1.4 till it get to 4k rpm, then the gear change comes too quickly.

Whatever floats your boat though, but IMO i would take out the 230 R26

 

[Subway]

Are they really that slow lol?

Is it worth be getting the out the 230 R26 then?

 

[DebV6]

I thought the 197 felt dull and slow, and if you've come from a cup and the vee, chances are you'll find it a bit boring! I'd personally rather have a go of the R26, but that's just my opinion!

 

[Storm_Force]

tell more

^^^as above

Aidso on renaultsport.co.uk has had new exhaust fitted by fred, made a lot of difference. Sure fred will give more info.

 

[Saner]

I mentioned that the exhaust was holding the car back before it was even released!

Guess Yozzasport noted that and did something about it ;P

Apperntly the steering of the 197 is almost identical to teh new Clio Cup car

 

[Englebert]

Personally i think you need to drive it for a day, a normal test drive just isn't enough. On a short drive all you will notice is that it is relatively slow and the steering is very light.

Get to know it and you realise the chassis is better than the 182's, by some margin IMO. It also is a great all round car.

The only problem is running costs and depreciation, i have ordered a new Mini instead.l

 

[Jo3y]

The only problem is running costs and depreciation, i have ordered a new Mini instead.l

The new Cooper-S?

 

[Englebert]

Yep...

(Cue floodgates of Mini abuse!)

 

[Lee]

Yep...

(Cue floodgates of Mini abuse!)

I won't abuse the car, just question your sexual preferences.

I got to hammer a 197 at Brands last month for a good hour plus. On track it really is an amazingly capable car. Infinitely adjustable with a nice gearbox, great seating position and awesome brakes. It flatters the driver too.

On the road it's far more comfortable than the Trophy, and generally a much better daily driver.

 

[Fred@BTM]

I mentioned that the exhaust was holding the car back before it was even released!

Guess Yozzasport noted that and did something about it ;P

Apperntly the steering of the 197 is almost identical to teh new Clio Cup car

oh yes, we reomved the second cat and did a ful race exhaust on it, goes very well now!

 

[Jo3y]

Yep...

(Cue floodgates of Mini abuse!)

Not at all mate, I read the comparison in evo between the 197 and the new cooper and the cooper came out on top, think it's only got an extra 20bhp than the old one so 180ish but lots more torque, way more than the Clio IIRC? Don't suppose you've got the stats memorised?

 

[ado]

I mentioned that the exhaust was holding the car back before it was even released!

Guess Yozzasport noted that and did something about it ;P

Apperntly the steering of the 197 is almost identical to teh new Clio Cup car

oh yes, we reomved the second cat and did a ful race exhaust on it, goes very well now!

It does go very well now, only need to sort out that little power delivery problem.

 

[Subway]

Are 197's really that slow?

I have rebooked it now for a 230 R26 which they should be getting within the week!

 

[Englebert]

Yep...

(Cue floodgates of Mini abuse!)

Not at all mate, I read the comparison in evo between the 197 and the new cooper and the cooper came out on top, think it's only got an extra 20bhp than the old one so 180ish but lots more torque, way more than the Clio IIRC? Don't suppose you've got the stats memorised?

I believe its 175bhp and a similar lbs/ft torque figure, so it probably as quick as a 197 outright, but in everyday driving it will be quicker.

I will be running the car on the company, so the fact it's C02 rating is much lower than the Clio's helps me a lot.

Again, as an everyday car it is that little step up in terms of percieved quality and reliability. I would admit the Clio edges the Mini as a driver's car though.

 

[Jo3y]

Are 197's really that slow?

I have rebooked it now for a 230 R26 which they should be getting within the week!

Not driven either but just of looks alone I'd go for the R26, will definately be faster than the 197 too

 

[Tyson-182]

Agreed! ^^^ I'm pushing for a test drive in a 230 R26; hopefully get a day in it!

Tys.

 

[Subway]

Yea I would love a whole day in a megane. Always liked them and the new one looks the business!

Hopefully this saturday I can get it.

 

[Jo3y]

I believe its 175bhp and a similar lbs/ft torque figure, so it probably as quick as a 197 outright, but in everyday driving it will be quicker.

Again, as an everyday car it is that little step up in terms of percieved quality and reliability. I would admit the Clio edges the Mini as a driver's car though.

Evo Comparison between the 197 and New Cooper S

The Clio – a little bulkier these days but undeniably suaver, too, and as subtle in its appearance as the Cooper S is sensationalist – can, of course, launch a pretty effective salvo against all of this. It has 197bhp at a rather thrilling 7250rpm after all, and virtually identical headline performance stats, hitting 62mph from rest in 6.9sec and powering on to 134mph. Our time behind the wheel so far suggests a chassis possessing a considerable depth of talent, too, including a decent ride. And there’s enough space, refinement and practicality for a comfortable life.

The goalposts may have shifted, but that F1-style diffuser has to count for something. Which makes it something of a surprise when, on our first twisty mountain ascent, the Cooper S (25bhp down, remember) steadily pulls away from the thoroughly wrung-out Clio 197. Going down the other side, the pair are evenly matched but, when the tarmac becomes steeper and more tortuous again, the Mini wrests back a decisive advantage.

Looks like the new Mini is faster through the twisties, dissapointing to say the least. Wonder how it would compare to a 182?

[edit]Sry missed off the bit about the min's power

The news is almost all good from here in, though, and starts under the bonnet with a new direct-injection 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged BMW four. It develops 172bhp (against the out-going supercharged unit’s 168bhp) and, perhaps more worryingly for the peaky, naturally aspirated Renault, 177lb ft of torque maintained between 1600 and 5000rpm (with a brief overboost to 192lb ft under hard acceleration).

200ft/lb of tourque is very impressive indeed

 

[Englebert]

I'm sure both would cover ground quicker than a 182, i guess it depends how much you as a driver value being part of the reason for it being quick!

 

[jon_r]

Looking forward to trying a later variant of the 197. The steering was far to light on the current car.

Looking forward to seeing the Mini Rob!

 

[Subway]

I'm hoping for a mk3 v6!

 

[Gareth]

my test drive of the 197 was enough to point me in the direction of the 225.