test drove a 197

[famguy]

hi everyone i drove one today and to be honest i was suprised when i put my foot down at low revs it doesnt pull very hard at all for a 200bhp car it picks up but just isnt as quick as i thought it would be. it had next to nothing in the tank so that culd effect power. what do u 197 owners say? i got it through a tunnel and gave it some... god it sounds sweet!

 

[White16valver]

All the power's at the top end, like and old school valver, hence not much mid-range grunt.

Not much in the tank would have no effect - it's still pumping petrol into the engine at the same rate!

 

[corp]

hi everyone i drove one today and to be honest i was suprised when i put my foot down at low revs it doesnt pull very hard at all for a 200bhp car it picks up but just isnt as quick as i thought it would be. it had next to nothing in the tank so that culd effect power. what do u 197 owners say? i got it through a tunnel and gave it some... god it sounds sweet!

Yep, too heavy. Torque to weight is a big issue.

 

[DrR]

Did you drive it at 5k+ rpm?

 

[alanc1000]

lol at pulling at low revs, its a 6 speed gearbox that you need to work to get decent performance from.

after 3.5k RPM it pulls well, some of the older models (56 and 07) had a slightly different software that doesnt pull as hard lower down.

 

[famguy]

yeah i got it to about 5k rpm but test drives are a bit rubbish because you never get to drive it properly only 4 about 5 mins i mean i was trying to get used to the brakes and clutch so its hard to test it properly. you look at the speedo and see it getting faster but dont really feel it. anyone who owns a 197 do u think the same or do u find it does feel quick. i really love this car and want to buy one but i was slightly dissapointed after driving it.

 

[famguy]

Also the accelerator pedal u floor it, it hits a metal plate and then the metal plate clicks back a bit further? what is this for i found it quite anoying.

 

[Rossy197]

I've got used to the differences between my (old) 182 and my (new) 197.. In fairness the 197 doesnt feel as "Raw" but make no mistake it is as quick, Work the box and hammer it past 5k and it'll pull like theres no tomorrow - Plus the 197 sounds sex tbh

 

[Schweppy]

Button at the end of the throttle pedal is to turn off cruise control.

As said you need to drive it over 5k revs to get the most out of it.

 

[alanc1000]

It does feel quick if you have a decent play, especially 3rd and 4th gear. 6th is just a cruising gear really, it could well do with a 7th gear on the motorway - 80mph is over 4k RPM!!

 

[Chili Red]

You should test drive an R26, the power delivery and handling is fantastic. After never owning a turbo before, I'm not sure I'd want n/a again.

I'm not dissing the 197 by the way, I love them.

 

[famguy]

yeah ive heard all about the 197 poor motorway driving but i dont do a lot so its not abig problem. i would like a 225 but insurance is probably a lot. i just loved that noise through a tunnel the 197 is a beast i think i mite have to teat drive it again but its hard to rag a car when theres a renault salesman sitting next to you leaning over looking at ur speed all the time! lol

 

[Rossy197]

yeah ive heard all about the 197 poor motorway driving but i dont do a lot so its not abig problem. i would like a 225 but insurance is probably a lot. i just loved that noise through a tunnel the 197 is a beast i think i mite have to teat drive it again but its hard to rag a car when theres a renault salesman sitting next to you leaning over looking at ur speed all the time! lol

Some will remember my exact same thread 2 weeks ago, Like you i had a blast in the 197 and didnt think much of it, I tried again the very next day and tbh it grew on me big time.. Signed the dotted line and now have it, Only had it a week and i bloody love it, Best car decision i have ever made

 

[Mr Burns]

Me and Mr Rollo had a good blast in North Wales, I'm sure he'll tell you my 197 isn't exactly slow lol.

 

[Kyias]

Also the accelerator pedal u floor it, it hits a metal plate and then the metal plate clicks back a bit further? what is this for i found it quite anoying.

Turns off your speed limited for the cruise controll

 

[Alastair.]

lol

 

[Steve]

yeah i got it to about 5k rpm quick.

QUOTE]


Well as with any na 2.0l the fun don't start till past 5K.

Get it above 5K & keep it there & report back

 

[Curley]

Me and Mr Rollo had a good blast in North Wales, I'm sure he'll tell you my 197 isn't exactly slow lol.

His is slow though :quiet:

Im going to try and get a test drive.. im sick of just going on other peoples opinions

 

[ben_r1]

You gotta use the shift light all the way up through the gears and then it'll work for ya.

Its not as fast as i expected but as said before you really have to spin that engine up to get into the powerband.

 

[DrR]

Me and Mr Rollo had a good blast in North Wales, I'm sure he'll tell you my 197 isn't exactly slow lol.

Well there was a black 172 in the way on the triangle

We did have some epic "twisties"

His is slow though :quiet:

Im going to try and get a test drive.. im sick of just going on other peoples opinions

You speak the truth, overtook me like i was standing still lol

 

[NORMY]

BEEEE-HAVE!!!!!

give it another go.....you'll come round! they always do. i did. i wont go back. its like anal TBH

 

[MikeLYR27]

I think mine pulls better than my 182 did. Mine has no problem with power. Mine does have 31k on it tho so its well loosened up, its had the software update as well and i did notice it down in the low revs, def notice the difference.

I remember when i test drove the 182 i didnt think it was as fast as it was made out but when you get it and have more time to put the power down you really feel how fast they are. And it was the same as wen i got my R27.

 

[mcphee197]

You drove a cold (probably) 197, was probably in the wrong gear for flooring it and it made you feel like it was lacking?

No wonder tbh.

Get one for an hour or so if you can, experiment with what gear is for what and you will sign on the dotted line when you get back.

Anyone who says a 197 is slow is talking sh1t.

 

[famguy]

yeah i really need to spend time in one but no test drives will allow that really any way i need to wait till october so i,ll have 4 years ncb and i can get reasonable insurance. i want one nooow so much its killing me to wait. i know its an amazing car and i know its fast but i was just suprised at it when i drove it. i got out of my zetec s and test drove the 197 and when i put my foot down in low revs i thought i was still in the zetec s. i was on quite a busy dual carridge way so i culdnt really floor it properly! btw any one driven a corsa vxr?

 

[77richard77]

yeah i got it to about 5k rpm but test drives are a bit rubbish because you never get to drive it properly only 4 about 5 mins i mean i was trying to get used to the brakes and clutch so its hard to test it properly. you look at the speedo and see it getting faster but dont really feel it. anyone who owns a 197 do u think the same or do u find it does feel quick. i really love this car and want to buy one but i was slightly dissapointed after driving it.

Had a drive in a 197 when i was last looking and my Uncle worked there so got to thrash it. Was good
But must say took it back and then had a go in a 182 and felt so much more fun. Dont get me wrong the 197 is amazing.
Did not buy the ones i drove so if anyone got a black 182 or black 197 from renault Wirral last Aug i am very sorry.

 

[coatesy]

if youre after straight line speed and willing to spend £1000 on the engine buy a c.vxr or a.vxr not the clio. imo i like the vxr's better because of the torque and tuneability but i like the renaultsport heritage and handling is amazing.
if i was to buy a 197 i'd make sure i had a few grand for a supercharger

 

[Russy B]

57 plates and later are the better ones as they have a different gearbox that makes the revs sit lower in 6th and the 7103 patch for low revs torque has been applied, also the miles they get under their belt, the better they feel

 

[CrippsCorner]

I'd personally never buy a car unless I was 100% after the test drive! Maybe you should look at other cars man, at least to compare.

 

[mbarnes]

they do lack grunt low down, thats part of the car. they have alot high up though (5k+)

i bought mine with 6k miles on, it now has 11k and drives miles better than it did when i bought it. cold performance is also miles lacking compared to warm performance. i can tell by putting my foot down how far round the temp guage needle is lol. its that much difference between cold and warm. crazy really.

 

[Golgarth]

lol, made the salesman go white when I test drove the one I bought today

 

[Rossy197]

lol, made the salesman go white when I test drove the one I bought today

Knowsit... The salesman i had with me shat his pants when i test drove the car, He was holding onto the handle above the window and gripping the seat pmsl !