It obviously far more raw than the 197. The 197 was a thing of beauty, refined, well built and very good around corners. This 172cup happens to have 205BHP to begin with, it's a lunatic, the power delivery is mental, it's instant, and everytime my foot even slightly touch's the throttle it screams at me, there is power available buy the bucket load, The H&R coilovers are an engineering marvel, I have heard great thing about them, but never expected them to be this good, they totally transform the car, after owning various every cliosport model to date now (except the Trophy) other than my 172ff which was cammed and ran on FK coilovers, this is the only other renaultsport that I have owned which is modified (all work carried out by yozza) the car is superb, a true enthusiasts car! Not taking anything away from the 197 though, it is a phenomenal car in its own right, it is a credit to Renault as year after year they seem to deliver the goods, where as all the other names (pug, Ford ect) seem to steering away from the "enthusiasts" I did feel at first they may have with the 197, but again the chassis turned the car into a totally involving drive, another brilliant car. Again credit is deserved to Renault, as I am able to go from their brilliant 172ff, 182cup, 197cup, and back to a 172cup and still be as happy as I was the day I purchased my first Renaultsport.
I have not a bad word to say about any Renaultsport model! hats off to Renault, and thank you for bringing me a daily smile when I drive your cars.
P.S I feel if Honda brought some of their enthusiast cars over to this country, jdm Civic! Renault would have a run for it's money, but for sheer fun Renault are the BEST in Britain! Honda make some fast UK spec cars like you do in JAPAN!
SORT RENULT UK CUSTOMER SERVICE OUT THOUGH, IT STILL SUCKS!