S2000
I posted this on the Renaultsport site, but as some of you aren't members I've added my thoughts on here too.
"Went down to Sewards in Portsmouth, just to see whether they had the new 197 and pick up a brochure. They had two, one in red, which was sat in the showroom and then an albi blue 197 as a demonstrator.
Anyway took it the demo out for a test drive, probably for around three quarters of an hour - bloody awful test drive. Not down to the car though, the torrential rain - five car pile up on the M27, then flooded roads over Portsdown hill (part of the Southdowns).
As for my imprssions:
- Build quality - very good, VW standard easily. Seats were excellent and very supportive.
- Engine, admittedly was very tight (the car only had 250 miles on the clock), sounded nice when revved past 4k rpm, but sadly seemed quite flat and no way as punchy as the 182.
- Handling - as the weather was attrocious didn't really get to work on this, apart from on the way back to the dealership when the rain had eased up. This coped on a tight bend impeccably.
On a negative point I felt the steering was very light, too light, to be honest.
Have to admit it, though I didn't sit in the car and say, yes I want one. Which is something I did when I first drove the 182. In fact when I got back into my 182 and drove off, it felt so much hardcore and more of a drivers car. Another negative point of the car was the price, the demo I drove was up at £17,200!!!! - Far too expensive, Renault if you're listening don't do an MG Rover and overprice your cars. This car should be around the 14k mark, with some of the optional equipment as standard.
Anyway, I have another test drive booked for this Thursday, when hopefully the roads will be dryer, this will give me a proper opportunity in driving the car how it should be driven.
I'll let you all know how this goes."
"Went down to Sewards in Portsmouth, just to see whether they had the new 197 and pick up a brochure. They had two, one in red, which was sat in the showroom and then an albi blue 197 as a demonstrator.
Anyway took it the demo out for a test drive, probably for around three quarters of an hour - bloody awful test drive. Not down to the car though, the torrential rain - five car pile up on the M27, then flooded roads over Portsdown hill (part of the Southdowns).
As for my imprssions:
- Build quality - very good, VW standard easily. Seats were excellent and very supportive.
- Engine, admittedly was very tight (the car only had 250 miles on the clock), sounded nice when revved past 4k rpm, but sadly seemed quite flat and no way as punchy as the 182.
- Handling - as the weather was attrocious didn't really get to work on this, apart from on the way back to the dealership when the rain had eased up. This coped on a tight bend impeccably.
On a negative point I felt the steering was very light, too light, to be honest.
Have to admit it, though I didn't sit in the car and say, yes I want one. Which is something I did when I first drove the 182. In fact when I got back into my 182 and drove off, it felt so much hardcore and more of a drivers car. Another negative point of the car was the price, the demo I drove was up at £17,200!!!! - Far too expensive, Renault if you're listening don't do an MG Rover and overprice your cars. This car should be around the 14k mark, with some of the optional equipment as standard.
Anyway, I have another test drive booked for this Thursday, when hopefully the roads will be dryer, this will give me a proper opportunity in driving the car how it should be driven.
I'll let you all know how this goes."
