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Tempted To Trade In My LCR For A 197



A

Al_G

ClioSport Club Member
  Honda S2000, C63
Hey!

I might be looking to trade my LCR in for a 197 at some point...

Do you think I'm bonkers?

I've had the Leon for nearly 2 years now and have only done 15k since I bought it (now on 24k). I love the car and it’s everything I ever wanted but there’s a couple of reasons why I fancy a change...

1) I work from home and only use the LCR once a week - for some reason I just don't get the urge to take it out for a spin that often :S!
2) It must be the unluckiest car I've ever owned - Even though I rarely use it it seems to attract idiots who like nothing better than to bash it and purposely mark it. I've spent an absolute bomb on it trying to keep it pristine but I think enough is enough - FFS people even ding it in my residential car park!

Before I had the Leon I used to drive a Fiesta ZS. Absolutely loved the ZS because it was so fun to drive (slow but fun). The LCR s obviously a lot quicker but I'm keen to replace it with something a little smaller. Something that might put the smile back on my face...

What are your opinions?

PS I currently live in the center of Manchester so have no real reason to have a big car. I'll shortly be moving to Warrington once the housing market levels out....
 
CabinFever

CabinFever

  Golf 7R
My friend owns a LCR and loves my 197 to bits. Had a few plays and unless modified im not sure your comment on "obviously a lot quicker" is justified. He can vouch for that, and wont mind admitting it. The 197 also gets more attention on the roads.
 
Alexander

Alexander

  Combo
Leon Cupra R
love it mate, yes your bonkers for a trande IMO i love them, but if you're bored and fancy a change then there is no point holding onto a car you dont get a kick out of anymore, espically if you can afford a change!
 
ValverJam

ValverJam

  clio f7r with bodies
lcr= leon cupra r and im sure hes commenting on the lcr being "obviously quicker" than his old fiesta not a 197.
 
Last edited:
A

Al_G

ClioSport Club Member
  Honda S2000, C63
ValverJam said:
lcr= leon cupra r and im sure hes commenting on the lcr being "obviously quicker" than his old fiesta not a 197.
Click to expand...

Yes thats correct. I doubt very much a standard leon is quicker than a 197. My friend owns a 172 and tbh theres only about a 2 car length difference all the way up to 100mph...

Mmmmmmm I'm so unsure about what to do!

Also like the Meg R27 lol
 
Iridium

Iridium

Honorary Member
ClioSport Club Member
  Former R27 & Mk1 V6 owner
I found the LCR a very good car, hugely fast (especially when mapped) but at the same time, it was a bit 'sterile' - almost as if there was too much grip. It wasn't boring, it was too fast for that, it was just not too exciting - if that makes sense? Very much like a Golf R32 for me I think - fast and competant, but lacks excitement.

I love my 197 - as others have said, it's not a turbo so like any high revving N/A engine it's not as torquey as a turbo (well, duh hehe ;)). But that's not to say there is nothing in the middle - from 3krpm it pulls useably and from 5krpm it goes mental, tearing up to the 7,500rpm like a thing possessed hehe!

I'd recommend the 197 to anyone, because I really like mine and have no reason not to, especially for how much they cost - the 2nd hand R27s are a bargain IMHO, that's why I bought one :)

But, as with anything, personal opinions differ - I'd say test drive one, test the Megane too because that's a really brilliant car. Personally I chose the Clio, as I prefer the smaller feel when driving, but the Megane is a great car. Then when you've driven them both, you'll know which is for you straight out - I suspect after the LCR you might take the Megane, as it's got the all over power and size of the LCR, but is just on another planet handling and feel wise.

Dan
 
JonC

JonC

The thing is, you've had the grunt of the LCR and yet it still don't experience the fun you had with a Fiesta (not exactly grunty!). I'd try a Clio 182 as well as a 197. The 172/182 have a different power delivery to the 197 and has "gruntier" feel to the power delivery. To counter that the 197 will have similar build quality to the Leon, though thats not to say a 182 will shake and rattle its self to bits, (my trophy hardly rattles at all even with the stiff suspention) the quality of the materials is better in the 197.

The Trophy is an absolute blast to drive and begs to be thrashed and is so chuckable. I more often than not always take the long way home from work! plus it still returns 33mpg!
 
MillerLight

MillerLight

  C-VXR, T8 Map 220BHP
Like said. depends how you like to drive. Revving the tits out of a car, looks and sounds stupid imo + g.fs generally don’t like it too!.

Its to “try hard” imo that’s why I don’t like cars like CTR or Toyota Celica and why high powered tdi’s are very popular as you don’t need much effort to go quick-ish



(dont know why its such a big font?)
 
A

Al_G

ClioSport Club Member
  Honda S2000, C63
Thanks for the info everyone!

I do think I'd be suited to a 197 because one thing I loved about the fiesta was that you had to rev the tits off it before you actually went anywhere. I guess at the grand old age of 27 I should be a little more mature but because I'm still a kid at heart I think I could easily live with a 197...

One thing I hate most about the LCR is it's not really a car that likes to be thrown around. Dare I say it but it can be a little bit "sterile" (as Iridium suggested). Sure the LCR is very quick, especially on the motorway but there’s just something about small, chuckable hatches that keeps making me want to downgrade to something smaller....

May be an R26 is the perfect balance :)

Probably best to test drive the lot of them and if none take my fancy then I guess I could always do up the LCR (including remap) when I move to somewhere where it’s a little less likely to get damaged :)
 
realnumber 1

realnumber 1

ClioSport Club Member
I'd rather have a car that is good on the B roads than in a straight line any day. Go for for a good test drive and find out.
I suspect they cost around the same to run?
 
A

Al_G

ClioSport Club Member
  Honda S2000, C63
realnumber 1 said:
I'd rather have a car that is good on the B roads than in a straight line any day. Go for for a good test drive and find out.
I suspect they cost around the same to run?
Click to expand...

Consumption wise they are probably not far off each other (being a turbo I feel that super unleaded is very important).

Only thing I can think of which probably costs a lot more on the LCR are the brakes...£150 for front Brembo pads and £300+ for front Brembo disks (does not include fitting)...

Servicing is relatively cheap as I take it to a specialist in Manchester (100 + VAT for an interim service and 180 + VAT for a main)...

I take it 197s run on 18" alloys?
 
PeteCup

PeteCup

  Up rocks
I came from a 220bhp Ibiza Cupra to a 172 Cup also spent quite a bit of time driving a 2001 remapped LRC (260ish bhp) and the 172 Cup is sooo much more fun to drive (and cheaper to run). I'd say you wouldnt regret leaving the LCR for a 197 Cup.
 
Englebert

Englebert

  Turbos.
I would just phone up your local Renault and say you have an LCR and are interested in test driving a Megane and Clio, surely they should jump at the opportunity to convert someone!
 
R

RobHardyUK

  Renault Clio 172 Ph2
I done this swap before, but the other way round, the 197 for the lcr! (i was eager for more power/grunt and the remapping potential etc)
 
Gaz_

Gaz_

ClioSport Club Member
  Extreme mode
Ah, yep the Meggy F1 is a good choice too!!! Think the MK2 clios would feel pre historic inside to you (build etc). The newer Renaults are a LOT better :) Bloody hell they've come down in price, paid more for the 197 lol!!
 
Iridium

Iridium

Honorary Member
ClioSport Club Member
  Former R27 & Mk1 V6 owner
Just for some extra perspective, a 197 isn't a slow car by any means. I saw talk up there of 'rather have a car that's good on the B roads than in straight lines'. That's something I'd agree with but also, a 197 is only like 1.5 seconds slower than a Megane 230 to 100 (17.5 plays 16), so hardly slow, and in fact 3 seconds quicker than the older Ibiza Cupra R (the 180bhp one they sold like, 85 of in this country, around 2001) which takes 20.8 seconds 0-100! Many people on here have found in straight drags in 1*2/197s against stock LCRs, Astra VXRs, Meggy 225s etc that there's either nothing, or very little (1 or 2 car lengths) in it in a straight line.

They need to be nicely run in though (I keep posting that, but it's so true!) - my 14k miler feels loads quicker (and is more economical it seems) than the low milers I test drove (2k and 4k respectively). And in a few speed tests against my mates Corsa VXR it was *exactly* even with the Corsa, and we did the 'off the roundabout up the dual lane road' test like 6 times, and every time, bang even. The only difference was if I was in front, I could get round the roundabout quicker and nab a few lengths from him there, but then bang even after that. And if he was leading round it I had to really feather the throttle so as not to rear end him heh. We both agreed mine feels more composed and planted in the bends, bit more grip too - although the VXR isn't far off, it's a great car in its own right.

Interesting we got virtually the same results in my Vee, except the cornering was reversed and if he was in front, he carried a huge amount more speed round and off the roundabout and just stormed away. And it wasn't me taking it easy round in the Vee, it was too the point where the back end was slippin an stuff (dry weather, good tyres). And actually he gained on me a tiny amount when he was behind - which adds to me being sure my R27 is quicker than my Mk1 Vee was heh.

Dan
 
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