The 197 appreciation society :-)

[Marv-C]

Driving home with the family and had to go 2 junctions on the M1. As I leave the slip road and move over to the fast lane, a beautifully modded (one of the most tasteful jobs I've seen) mkIV golf goes past.

They are well impressed with my 197 (and before you comment, this is not some chavvy vs thread) and watch with big smiles as I get in the fast lane behind them (the guy in the back of the golf turns round with a huge smile on his face) and then they move over and I give them a wave as I drive past. Made me proud to own my 197.

B0ll0cks to all the vs threads, this was just a couple of minutes appreciating the look of a 197 in motion. If these cars weren't so rare on the road, you would not have gotten the appreciation. Don't think it ever happened in my EP3.

 

[NORMY]

second this! Cleaned and polished her today and went for a sunday drive for the first time in nice weather in ages... and am still amazed by the attention it gets.... from all ages!

 

[MikeLYR27]

Yep my R27 gets loads of looks, think the yellow helps lol! But im always staring at other 197's, im always in mine so dont really see it from another perspective, they look so wide, and in the rear view they look so mean. Something which is the 200 doesnt have unfortunatly.

 

[Pete.]

It is something that does draw attention from pedestrians and drivers alike, Although the bloke who asked me in the garage yesterday if it was a Williams may be a little out of touch.

 

[mbk-172]

can't say i ever get this. the only way i get attention is if i do a full launch off some lights. most other clio rs owners round by me are completely ignorant as well and look at like your a nutcase if you give them a thumbs up.

 

[EdV6220]

The 197 has great road presence, you really notice one when it's coming. The R27s stand out even more

 

[Marv-C]

When a 197 is behind you, the flared front wings make it seem huge. Think what it must be like in a V6

 

[Iain C]

Good looking cars, esp in red
!72 cup also look huge in your mirror, think its cos of the colour

 

[Gally]

I have to say even I turn my head.

Mostly for albi but they still look fab and phat in the flesh!

 

[SteveS Cup]

Best looking hot hatch IMO.

I want one next!

 

[lbrench]

Yeh I get alotbf attention in the 200, especially in petrol stations but I agree, the rear of the 197 looks so much meaner and bigger

 

[Munson]

Surely the rear end is pretty much the same with the exception of the plastic tailpipe trims on the 200?

 

[D2501]

This is not helping my patience Marv! Lol

 

[lbrench]

I think the rough texture of the rear diffuser on the 197 makes it look 100x better

 

[Marv-C]

Surely the rear end is pretty much the same with the exception of the plastic tailpipe trims on the 200?

I think he means the front end when the 197 is behind you.

BTW Roy, I say a FRS in blue yesterday with 2 drainpipes for exhausts :S. I think it was lowered as well as the bottom of the frony splitter had banged on something

 

[Marv-C]

This is not helping my patience Marv! Lol

Sort it out then

 

[D2501]

no point mate, it wouldn't get used atm so might as well save n wait

 

[Marv-C]

no point mate, it wouldn't get used atm so might as well save n wait

Evenings and weekends mate

 

[D2501]

Lol shh, you're like that little devil that sits on the shoulder in the cartoons "go on, you know you want to..." :rasp:

 

[Marv-C]

Lol shh, you're like that little devil that sits on the shoulder in the cartoons "go on, you know you want to..." :rasp:

You know it :evil:. Now stop fcuking around and get the car.

 

[D2501]

Lol no, I can wait. Literally wouldn't get used since I get my fuel refunded in the hire car!
Look at this, matt black 197:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...al51ny/page/1/keywords/renaultsport?logcode=p

Personally I don't like matt black normally, but looks quite good on this.

 

[Marv-C]

Black doesn't show of the lines as well as other colours imo. You must be a masochist looking at all the 197s out there. Seriously, when do you think you will get yours?

 

[D2501]

I've basically got a free car to use for whatever I want with reimbursed fuel, no tax, no MOT, no services and no insurance until August, so there's no point buying before then.
On the plus side, it means I can save up loads and take out a lower loan amount for when I get to buy one.

But yes, I'm being masochistic and checking regularly lol

 

[EllD90]

Whats the average fuel consumption you guys get from the 197? Also what is the ride like on the standard non cup suspension?

 

[Marv-C]

Whats the average fuel consumption you guys get from the 197? Also what is the ride like on the standard non cup suspension?

I can't get over 25mpg. The ride is great on standard suspention. The standard setup is better for road driving, the cup is better for the track.

 

[chowiekid]

i just looked for the first time in ages im on 20 :-(
but i drive back roads to work as there is no main roads really. alwyas stoping and starting and always foot down, how its ment to be driven, tbh you really dont mind it as your in 197!!!! and it gets soooo many eyes :-D

 

[gaz44]

The 197 does look very good but people who are interested in cars will sometimes look at cars more noticeably.

 

[chowiekid]

i think aslong as you get one with a really good spec your laughing.

take the clio badge off and most people dont even know its a clio. iv been asked so many times what kinda renault it is...

also get a milltek and its a different car totaly.

tbh black is a nice colour on it to, that totaly contradicts what i just said. but you can make it look really nice stealthy so many examples on clio197.net

 

[gaz44]

There is a nice blue (nimbus?) example near where I live. I would have one if it wasn't for the dire mpg!

 

[JayR]

Whats the average fuel consumption you guys get from the 197? Also what is the ride like on the standard non cup suspension?

I can't get over 25mpg. The ride is great on standard suspention. The standard setup is better for road driving, the cup is better for the track.

There is a nice blue (nimbus?) example near where I live. I would have one if it wasn't for the dire mpg!

Mines only covered 7k so im hoping it gets better with the miles!

Had a good few blasts over the weekend an am rocking just over 29 mpg having done about 170 miles on this tank.

 

[EllD90]

Can anyone compare ride comfort to a standard mk3 Clio?

 

[Marv-C]

My mum has a 1.4 mk3 clio (not sure what model it is) and the ride in the 197 is definately firmer. What I noticed driving my mum's car is that although it corners well, it feels tall and wallowy. It feels like you are sitting on, rather than in the car.

The 197 feels much more connected to the road. You feel in rather than on the car. I don't have the cup suspension and I am very happy with the balance between comfort and performance.

 

[EllD90]

Of course I'd expect the ride to be firmer but just wondered if it was crashy/uncomfortable.

 

[D2501]

When I've test driven 197s, its obvious that the suspension is much stiffer than a normal car, but not uncomfortably so IMO (my OH thought it was, but meh what does she know). From that perspective I can't imagine what the cup suspension would be like!

 

[JayR]

The cup suspension is quite hard but it just makes the car feel likes its stuck to the road! There is also very little roll on cornering which is a nice touch too!

Couldnt reccomend it enough tbh.

 

[Marv-C]

If this helps, my wife absolutely hated my CTR whereas she only dislikes my 197 :rasp:

 

[EllD90]

Anyone able to compare the ride to a 2008 Golf GT?

 

[Scutch]

I was behind one this morning going to work, in a lovely champagne/silver colour. Looked ace, TBH. Thought it would have suited a nice shiney exhaust, as the standard item doesn't do the diffuser justice.

They're certainly growing on me, anyway.

 

[Munson]

^^Nimbus FTW :approve:

 

[Scutch]

Yeah, that's it D. Great colour.