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Just sold my Silver 172 Cup and bought new 197



  RenaultSport 197
It amuses me how all of you that slate the 197 do not actually own one and most of you have probably never driven one! lol

How naive you are - how long have you been on here?

A lot of us will have driven the 197 on track/road probably before you were even aware it existed.

Come along to Brands Hatch on 14th May, show us how superior your car is?

I'd love you to take me round.


I've had 3 happy years in a 172 mate, owned from brand new. Probably before you knew they existed.

How old am I?

I'm 31 years old, if that matters!? I work as a Cisco Network Specialist at Vodafone's World HQ and I can tell you that our offices have got more supercars than what you've probably seen in your life!

I work with some of the most highly paid people in the uk and have been on Corporate track days and have been taken out in countless supecars, so I think I know what's good and what's not.

I wouldn't put my car on a track until it's done at least 10k and is well loosened up. If you want to test me then come back in a years time, if I can be bothered.

The only people that dis the 197 are you 1x2 owners! You can't accept that Renault has moved on and feel threatened by the change. All you do is reference one review from Evo out of countless top reviews from Top Gear 5th Gear, AutoCar etc. The 197 is a great car and is proven all over the web and in magazines.

If it doesn't live upto your expectation and you want more power then step up to a Megane and leave the 197 to satisfy those that want something equally as well built and designed, but slightly smaller and less powerful.

Take a chill pill dude.
You have got a nice motor, a lot of RS owners don't like the 197 at the moment and they have slightly good reasons to back it up. Enjoy your car and the others like me will enjoy ours.

Point taken. I once thought RenaultSport owners were part of the same clan, but I'm just disappointed that 1x2 owners seem to have a problem with this car. Cheers.
 
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I wouldnt worry, the phs1 owners mock the phs2's for having a lard arse car, and now the phs2 owners have someone who they can finally look down on weight wise.

197 is a far better chassis and car, abeit heavier, but the drive is better than the phs2 and they certainly look better.

197 for me please!
 
  M2 Competition
You posted a baiting thread though dude.

Why not post 'i loved my cup, was sad to see it go, but am happy with my 197?'

Not really tried your hardest to gain friends or fit in with your fellow renaultsport owners have ya.

Given the choice id have a 197 as a daily driver (black, recaro's, xenons, wheels resprayed in anthracite, lush) but i wouldnt then post a thread saying ha haaa ive got a 197, far superior car, so much better than my 172 was...

Can you not see why you got the response you did?
 
  172, Tiguan
If they sort the absolute joke of a steering system out i might consider one. Also needs to go on a diet. Apart from that its not bad. And yes I've driven quite a few.
 
  Saab 93 Aero Wagon
I don't have a huge problem with the 197 to be honest...i actually love the looks of it even if im not a fan of its lack of pace...but what is narking me about them is the attitude of some of the owners!!
An "im superior" air about them and a really mardy attitude toward the owners of RS's they used to own!!

The 197 will get better....it has to cos its lacking in places the 172/182 excels.
Im glad you enjoy your new toy but just because its more up to date, newer, has a better built glovebox or whatever, it doesn't mean its better all round....it certainly failed to light my fire compared to my "lowly chavchariot".
 
Exactly the same thing happened when the 172 came out, then the 182......no biggie, time will pass.

But saying that, jeremy in his 197 was faster than all the phs2 oweners going round.
 

MarkCup

ClioSport Club Member
When I took one round Brands it felt superb, just was missing that certain something. Va Va Voom isn't it?

You should stop being so defensive...I like it (as I said before)...it's just too grown up and not enough of a hooligan for me.

When it's lost 200 kgs, the steering's been sorted (as Mr R said) and gained a little more ooomph, I'd probably/might consider one.

But saying that, jeremy in his 197 was faster than all the phs2 oweners going round.

Jeremy's faster than most things :quiet: regardless of what he's in.
 
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all Mk2 and the Mk3's are still de-volution when compared to the Williams.

I like the look of the 197, it's growing on me, but I'd never even consider buying one, the weight and lack of power being the reason... I suppose I could always take my throttle bodies off, put mine back to standard and put them on the 197, but whats the point, it weighs 200+kg's more and for a hot hatch performance and feeling of going quick is the main reason I like them.
 

Steve

ClioSport Club Member
  ST3 8.5
Over on renaultsport, it supprises me to find the 197 is riddled with faults, starting issues, quality etc etc etc. :S
 
Ehh let the crap slinging continue

My only problem with the 197 is that renault are touting it as a grown up hatch for the money and has lost all its hooliganism : Problem is there are already a few out there that do the same thing , but better , a lot better

CTR
GTI
Focus ST
Astra VXR
Mini Cooper S



With the complete elimination of the 'fun' or 'hooligan' from it's sport line-up s , its become another also ran in the hot hatch battles.Pity , cos they look great

You boast that you have had the car for 3 years , whoopdedoo . If you look carefully at a lot of members profiles , you would see a lot of them are dyed in the wool RS fans ie they have owned a valver , then upgraded to a Willy , then Upgraded to a 172 , then upgraded to a 1x2 Cup/Trophy , and if you check carefully at the other marques their new cars are not new 197's . They are fast vag's , bmw's , honda's , megane'.


I guess the good thing about the 197 is either , it will depreciate like a rock , because the petrolheads seem to avoid it and the chavs don't find it flashy enough or that renault will get off their butts and produce a proper cup/trophy version of the car.

Now Excuse me , I'm off the the Mccarthy's second hand market , as their is a nice Megane F1 standing there.
 
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  Saab 93 Aero Wagon
Im sorry but the pinnacle of the Hot Hatch has been and gone....the Trophy was the top of the tree and its not gonna be beaten.
It was the car that finally managed to top the Williams which was the 90's top trump and the 205 Gti which was in the 80's but now this modern obsession with making cars roomier is spoiling everything.

The 197 is good....for a heavy hatch, but note the trend....bigger cars with turbocharged units...where has the purity gone?!
The old Clio was the last of its kind that had Elise type pureness....the new one is just clouded with its electronic steering and heavy soft touch interior.
 
Clearly you havn't driven a 2Ltr RenaultSport engine for more than a few thousand miles, otherwise you'd know that they don't fully bed in until at least 30k.

Really? I am only a few thousand miles away from an extra 30bhp then :clown:

I really like the look of the 197s and imagine build quality and size and no doubt grip have improved.

The definition of a hot hatch is a big engine in a light car. I owned a 205gti 10 years ago and that was a 'proper' hot hatch IMO. My 182 is a rocket but lacks the feel of the 205.

I think in another 10 years time when hot hatches are even fatter we will all look back and wish we still owned a mint 182 rather then the new clio250 that weighs 1400kg.
 
  106 GTi
Clearly you havn't driven a 2Ltr RenaultSport engine for more than a few thousand miles, otherwise you'd know that they don't fully bed in until at least 30k.

Really? I am only a few thousand miles away from an extra 30bhp then :clown:

I really like the look of the 197s and imagine build quality and size and no doubt grip have improved.

The definition of a hot hatch is a big engine in a light car. I owned a 205gti 10 years ago and that was a 'proper' hot hatch IMO. My 182 is a rocket but lacks the feel of the 205.

I think in another 10 years time when hot hatches are even fatter we will all look back and wish we still owned a mint 182 rather then the new clio250 that weighs 1400kg.


Oh so true, my 182 was the replacement for me 205 GTi, in some ways I prefered the 205, in others the 182. The 182 at least feels a little like the 182. No chance of that in the 197.
 
1400 kg's aint that far off mate

5 turbo - 813kg
205gti - 910kg
williams - 981kg
cup - 1011kg
182 - 1110kg
197 - 1240kg

f**k me the cups were light! The current clio in various updates and face lifts will be around for a while.

If they could do a 197cup with 100kg less which would take it down to 182 weight they would have a winner I reckon.
 
  Tangoed Works
The 197 has moved game on. Its refinement with speed, 1 sec or so on road makes no real difference. I think they are beautiful cars, and even though they are not the quickest of the current bunch, they are certainly the best looking imo
 
  BMW 330d :)
The 197 has been hailed as a major disappointment by most of the motoring press... Lacking the feedback and pace of the 172/182's..

I agree that it looks quite nice and is better built but if I wanted things like better build then Id go for a golf gti...

I had a test drive of a blue one and was really quite disappointed like other people have said about its performance.... Really seemed to be lacking any sort of torque and it has focus like weight to shift about....

Handled better than my cup with much less body roll but it was just lacking the magic of feedback and excitement that my cup has. And I wouldnt be paying £17k for a clio, when there are much better options out there for the same or a little bit more money. Oh and I forgot to say that it does sound nice as well, but give me a golf gti, or a r26 anyday...
 
  Mini Cooper S sport
When it's lost 200 kgs, the steering's been sorted (as Mr R said) and gained a little more ooomph, I'd probably/might consider one.

You've hit the nail on the head there! :)

I love its looks, and it's well made..it's just missing something for me.


Hustlechild, why are you so aggressive? You can't expect everyone on here to love the 197 - some do, some don't, c'est la vie. I don't think you've made the best introduction to the forum, but welcome anyway!
 
If you think Renault can continue making cars like the 182 then your deluded or don't understand the demands put on a modern car maker with safety and the current climate in regards to emissions and pedestrian safety.

Renault for all their worth have at least tried to stick with a naturally aspirated engine, and good on them for that tbh. They have made leaps and bounds with the build quality and the 197 is a excellent car, people on here take EVO as the bible and thats that. Well EVO isn't the bible, and read some 'other' mags like Autocar and the like, where 197 wins nearly every group test its put in.

The car will never lose 200kgs LMAO, how do you except Renault to remove that much weight? when the base car still weighs more than a 182. To do so would require the use of expensive super lightweight materials, the price of the car is already fairly high, and if it were a special lightweight edition, expect the price of the car to soar over 20k.

The 197 in its current form is here to stay at least.
 
  Peddled device
Stepping up is this ....

1.1 escort.....MK3 XR3i.....205 gti 1.9....205 gti pas......205 gti Skip Brown S.... 172 Cup.......182 Cup.


IMHO of course :)
 
Stepping up is this ....

1.1 escort.....MK3 XR3i.....205 gti 1.9....205 gti pas......205 gti Skip Brown S.... 172 Cup.......182 Cup.


IMHO of course :)

this is stepping up elvis:

Mk1 Scirocco GLS
2 x Mk1 Scirocco GTi
Mk1 1600 Golf GTi
Phase 1.. 5 GT turbo
Mk2 Scirocco GTX
Mk2 RS Turbo
Mk3 Honda CRX
Saff Cossie 2wd
Pug 1.9 GTi
Corrado G60

All before i was 22.. which is 14years ago :(
 
  RenaultSport 197
Despite what some of you 1x2 owners may think my 197 is very popular where I live and work. At around 17k (with relevant options) it's currently too expensive for the younger generation. However the people I work with who are driving everything from M3's, R32's and TVR's love the refined interior, the looks, the perfect seating position, the roar of the engine, the pace and the supreme handling.
Keep slagging it off, go on. We'll see where this sophisticated piece of kit lies in two or so years time...
 
  172
mate you are making a prick of yourself on here,how you expect to get any help/make friends when all your doing is slagging off 1*2 owners.
imho the 197 has gone the way of most "hot" hatches now,bigger,bulkier but safer importantly
however i havent driven either so cannot comment on handling or ride,
i do like the interior of the 197 but looks wise i prefer the 1*2s however the 197 is growing on me looks wise.
 
  RenaultSport 197
mate you are making a prick of yourself on here,how you expect to get any help/make friends when all your doing is slagging off 1*2 owners.
imho the 197 has gone the way of most "hot" hatches now,bigger,bulkier but safer importantly
however i havent driven either so cannot comment on handling or ride,
i do like the interior of the 197 but looks wise i prefer the 1*2s however the 197 is growing on me looks wise.

Hey mate I appreciate what your saying but if you read my posts I've never slagged off any 1x2 as i used to own one.

It's the 1x2 owners that are doing the slagging!
 
  172
nah not saying your slagging anyone off just saying that your only gonna make enemies on here with making comments liek you are mate.any chance of any pics?
 
  RenaultSport 197
And why do ppl insist on saying it's slow if it gets to 62mph in 6.9 secs? A standard 172 or 182 does it in 7.1!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-AkgPk64k0&NR=1

nah not saying your slagging anyone off just saying that your only gonna make enemies on here with making comments liek you are mate.any chance of any pics?

Fair play mate, but the bottom line is it's a phat car and I've come on here to represent it.

Top Gear and 5th Gear loved it. Can they be wrong?! I don't think so...

nah not saying your slagging anyone off just saying that your only gonna make enemies on here with making comments liek you are mate.any chance of any pics?

I'm getting it superguarded next in the week as I have only just got it. Once it's superguarded I'll start taking some pictures :0)
 
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  BMW M4; S1000 RR
Not really tried your hardest to gain friends or fit in with your fellow renaultsport owners have ya.

We have enough softies on here I think.

In my eyes the 197 is the better car. People keep saying how their 182s are faster, yet all the people that have driven the 197s have said how it corners like it's on rails. Isn't that what the RS Clios are about rather than straight line speed ??

I know most 172 owners come from 1.2s and they think they've got the beast of the road and that's where the jokes lie at the start of these threads, but come on guys. Even if it is faster, why brag about it on a website to fellow owners. You end up looking like a c**t.

Having said that though, I would never buy a 197, because for the money, I could have something a couple of years older but much higher up the list in terms of quality and performance.

Might take the plunge and get a 172 (phase1) for a play later this year though, they're dirty cheap, according to Autotrader and Parkers, if I sold my DCI I could go and buy a 172 with average miles and good condition for the same money.
 
Hehe , just look at how many posts here . have listen 1x2 owners saying that they won't consider a 197 for their next car as the Golf GTI , CTR etc does a better job
 


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