test drove the 197....

[Baz 172]

Took out a 197 on Sat, I think I expected to much as I wasn’t that impressed. I found the car 2 light on the wheels/steering and I couldn't feel the road the same as the 172/182. The raw feel of the drive/hardness seems to have been taken away for my liking...Still shifts tho and I found it was better top end.

Also found the interior a bit poor as it didn't have any leather but I guess that will be released on later models/extras

Anyone else had simular experiences?


Anyway some pics...

http://img397.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00031um2.jpg

http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00030de2.jpg


Also took this beast out, Megane Trophey no:159 what a car. I think I want one, bit pricey from the garage tho, were asking 17K with 6k on the clock........man it pulls nice and the wheels are just filth.

http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00033tg6.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00032mm6.jpg

And a pic of my car in the snow Fri....Wales had a bit

http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00027vw7.jpg

 

[Mikey]

hmm, There are lots of for's and against's for with the 197, Is the steering quite light is that why you say you cant feel the road as much through your hands? Is there more roll than the 172/182? Which feels the better balanced through the corners? Nice pics btw, lovin tha megane !!

Cheers Mike

 

[DebV6]

Seems to be the same kind of thoughts as lots of people on here. I wasn't overly impressed with it either compared with the 182. Love the Megane though!

 

[Baz 172]

hmm, There are lots of for's and against's for with the 197, Is the steering quite light is that why you say you cant feel the road as much through your hands? Is there more roll than the 172/182? Which feels the better balanced through the corners? Nice pics btw, lovin tha megane !!

Cheers Mike

Yes thats def it, the steering is so much lighter, I couldn't feel the road making it hard to trust the corners as much as the 172/182, it did feel like it had more roll also. I guess waiting for the cup suspension will make a hell of a difference.

The sales guy said that there were plans on putting the Megane engine in there so making a turbo charged Clio in the future, not sure how true this is though??

 

[Baz 172]

Seems to be the same kind of thoughts as lots of people on here. I wasn't overly impressed with it either compared with the 182. Love the Megane though!

The Megane was just dirty sex...I was so impressed. The handling and power were brilliant, it just pulls and pulls....

 

[Mikey]

hmm not heard anything like that^^ What tyres are the 197? Grip confidence is everything in a car, If you didnt have the confidence to push it round corners, surely although its faster than 172/182 its not as nice to drive on a track??? Like you say wait and see what the cup suspension is like dude ^^. I dont know id you saw the guy on here that had a black 197 lowered on megane trophy alloys and lowered, the stance of the car looked so much better and I bet it would have been nicer to drive.

 

[Mikey]

Seems to be the same kind of thoughts as lots of people on here. I wasn't overly impressed with it either compared with the 182. Love the Megane though!

Didnt know you test drove 1 Deb?? So not as nice as your 182 no?

 

[DebV6]

Seems to be the same kind of thoughts as lots of people on here. I wasn't overly impressed with it either compared with the 182. Love the Megane though!

Didnt know you test drove 1 Deb?? So not as nice as your 182 no?

I personally didn't think so no. I didn't get the chance to drive it hard, so can't compare in that way, but around the town it didn't feel as lively and fun, or as fast, and as the majority of driving I do is around town anyway...

 

[Mikey]

oh I cruising with the chavs on a sunday night eh Deb ^^

 

[DebV6]

oh I cruising with the chavs on a sunday night eh Deb ^^

Assuming I' a chav because I'm from Essex? Tut tut!

And it's saturday nights, get it right

 

[Mikey]

LOL im only joking ya Deb ^^

 

[DebV6]

I know lol

 

[Mikey]

oops best get back to work

 

[Gary-Lew]

Gravells kidwely always stick that stupid badge on the back, remember looking at a liquid 182 there 2 years ago

 

[The Hoff]

hmm not heard anything like that^^

There are rumours that there maybe a Turbo Clio, frankly I doubt it as it will cut into already low Megane sales. But here's for hoping im wrong, be nice to see what power they can get from a T version.

What tyres are the 197?

215/45/17 Continentals.

Grip confidence is everything in a car, If you didnt have the confidence to push it round corners, surely although its faster than 172/182 its not as nice to drive on a track???

If you've driven a CTR hard you'll be familiar with this, CTR's are also very vague on the traction levels of the car because of their shoddy electric PAS. The 197 also suffers the same weighting/feedback issues.

Finally, the 197 isn't quicker than a 172/182 mate. Not sure how it will stand up on a track in lap time terms, but real world the 197 is slower than the existing range, be interested to see some comparisons track times though.

 

[Mikey]

im only 18 mate so not had chance to drive many things, only reason I have an understanding of cars handling is because I race a peugeout 106 rallye lol. People on here dont rate conti tyres much do they? You reckon the 197 would be better with different tyres or is it all to do with ride height and the traction levels?

 

[welsh172]

Red 197 ay? bit gay lol............Racing blue one in Cardif, looks nice, need to get down there and have a go

 

[Baz 172]

Red 197 ay? bit gay lol............Racing blue one in Cardif, looks nice, need to get down there and have a go

your asking for trouble from the red owners!!! lol

They had a blue flat colour one there but it was sold.....

 

[welsh172]

Red 197 ay? bit gay lol............Racing blue one in Cardif, looks nice, need to get down there and have a go

your asking for trouble from the red owners!!! lol

They had a blue flat colour one there but it was sold.....

true lol, from all those people in postman pat vans lol....im off to hide now

 

[Rich]

Your tesat drive views on the test drive seem to mirror alot of people reviews on here.

The 197 feels so composed and had loads of grip, held the road well, but like you said it was hard to tell what the wheels where doing and the steering had the same vague nature as the outgoing/gone Civic Type R. I very much doubt the cup pack will do anything to sort the over light steering.

 

[seb]

this is weird, my 197 feels sexual at speed, only have light steering in sainsburys car park. i find it more responsive in the sterringthan my old 182.

 

[Mikey]

does the steering get heavierr the faster you go then yeh?

 

[seb]

it is only light on mine at car park speed, once your ragging it is sexual for me. others don't like it though. fair enough

 

[Ali]

I liked it.

 

[seb]

i like you

 

[black kro]

driven both - 197 feels like it has no torque at all compared to a 225 (or even dCi)

look on www.autotrader.co.uk - 225 cups from £11K with under 20K miles!

 

[black kro]

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ww...QX&ukcarsearch_full.x=36&ukcarsearch_full.y=8

 

[seb]

thats not surprising considering the megane has a turbo and the 197 doesn't. there are many reports of the engine coming to life at 6k miles. on 3k in mine and it is definetely healthier.

 

[Ali]

i like you

i know.

 

[Graham Gooch]

Drove a 197 and 225, didnt like either.

 

[gaz44]

197 feels a bit more grown up, safer environment and a bit less appealing for raw driving experience. Depends what you are looking for I guess. Looks very nice though, if a little large.