The 197 is an excellent car. Here's a couple of posts I've put up in the past.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica] Having spent as long as I wanted in the car yesterday around Brands, without anyone telling me what I can and can't do I was able to drive the car how I wanted.
Obviously I've had a 172, 182 with Cup packs and currently have the Trophy as well as having driven 172 Cups, valvers and Williams so I'm quite up on my RenaultSport Clios.
Having driven then 197 at Oulton but only for a few laps I was lucky enough yesterday to get my hands on one for as long as I wanted at Brands, and with those new brakes that was a lot longer than I'd go in my car. lol
Thoughts on the car in no real order:
Brakes, they have to get mentioned first as they are truly amazing. They allowed you to brake so much later and harder and resisted fade lap after lap. I drove the car straight after Jeremy had finished in it, with no cool down period and the pedal was solid as a rock.
Handling wise it couldn't be a more surefooted yet adjustable car. The level of grip it has is far more than any previous Clio on road tyres I've driven. It settles into a corner so easily and just goes round. What is amazing is that if you want to adjust your line there's no sawing at the wheel or drama you can just lift and steer and it goes round. The rear end doesn't feel light anymore, and to a degree really feels like it steers from the rear as opposed to just dragging it round.
The steering is light, especially after getting out of the Trophy, but it weights up nicely under hard cornering, and offers decent feedback though not as much as the previous generation of RenaulSport Clios. The older car has the edge in that area for me, though the small chunky wheel is perfection.
The engine in the car I drove had around 2k on it and unlike the new one I drove previously had an obvious 5k kick as well as making a useful noise. When shifting up and getting back on the power there was the usual kick, which the new low mileage car lacked. The gearbox, although a little tight (being new) is excellent and didn't seem flustered when rushed, unlike the old unit which crunches 1st to 2nd when pushed hard! I did on a couple of occasions fail to get it into gear but I suspect that's because it was new and still tight. I had the same with mine for months.
Anyway, enough about the car. On track I had no problems catching and passing numerous 172s and 182 including a couple of Trophy. There was only one car (a Trophy) which I didn't pass as he was lapping at a very similar pace. I'd been out for a good while by then so figured it was probably a good idea to give the poor car a rest. The rest of the day I passed 197s in the Trophy. It's a shame people didn't get the chance to really push on, but then crashing someone elses car isn't a good thing.
Everyone else had to lap with an instructor so had to be a little more careful, as well as having a limited time in the car. Given a free reign you can really so how impressive the car is. It feels more of a precision instrument rather than something you can chuck around by the scruff of the neck.
After I'd done in the 197 I jumped back in the Trophy and it felt so different. I'm confused now as to which I prefer. The 197 will lap quicker without a shadow of doubt, but I fear it's weight disadvantage will hurt it's quick direction changes on B roads, though the excellent damping I'm sure will more smooth out the poor surface enough to still put it ahead of the previous models. If it were to lose a few pounds here and there then I have no doubt it would become the new greatest hot hatch ever. Once back in the Trophy what hits you is that you turn the wheel and it goes straight away, it feels light on it's feet, with minimal contact with the tarmac it skips along light, but surefooted. Into the first corner at Brands, hard on the brakes and the rear end isn't even on the tarmac, making you work hard to keep it in a straight line before chucking it into the fast sweeping right is great fun (hey Iain) that's something the 197 doesn't do, it will make it through the turn without any of the drama/fun and come out the other side ahead.
I think that just about covers my thoughts.
Lee
[/FONT] And more recently:
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]I got to spend some more decent time in one at Cadwell yesterday and once again it seriously impressed me. The gearing goes a long way to helping out around a track like Cadwell, it's very rare you find yourself out of the power band in the 197, if ever.
Handling wise I was chucking it about as much as I do the Trophy on there's absolutely no drama, it just flatters you and gets on with the task in hand, which is corning fast and smooth. As always the brakes were amazing. Mine were really starting to grumble after 10 minutes.
I still rate it a much better all round car than the Trophy as it's nice on the road and very capable on the track. I still love my Trophy though.[/FONT]
