Renaultsport Clio 197
Discussion
www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/motoringpreviews/201236/renaultsport_clio_197.html
What do the PH masses think?
What do the PH masses think?
Looking forward to the Cup version with some of the less useful toys removed, it does seem to go the way of all cars these days and put on weight, but with some plastic/aluminium body panels (I presume they are sheet metal on the new one) and a few other optimisations I'm sure they could get down towards the weight of the old 172/182.
EVO has reported it as a great drive, just a little subdued and lacking in appeal compared to it's older siblings.
EVO has reported it as a great drive, just a little subdued and lacking in appeal compared to it's older siblings.
Mr Whippy said:
Surely a 182 Cup is still by far the better "Clio"...
This is just like a late 90's Megane size now, so hardly even comparable to the older Clio's imho.
Dunno, depends what you want, the 182 Trophy still reigns as king in many eyes, but that was a very compromised car in other ways. This is just like a late 90's Megane size now, so hardly even comparable to the older Clio's imho.
I think the new 197 is trying to mix it with the Focus ST and Golf GTi, playing at being a comfortable, usable car that still makes you smile when you lift off mid-corner, rather than the ultimate small hot hatch for us petrolheads.
dotdog said:
4000 rpm at 70 mph in 6th! It must be a nightmare on the motorway
Must admit, that's spoiled it a bit for me as well. If you're spending 17k+ (after options), you want something that will at least be *reasonably* civilised when you're not in the mood.
Saw one the other day though (a promotion outside sainsbury's in bristol) and it does look the dogs, especially from the front.
i work for renault and although the handling is great i dont like the g/box to be honest im not a great fan of 6 speed boxes cant really see the point of them bar another sales gimmick but the 197 box is almost comical and im sure will be changed for a better top ratio before long and me thinks it's to slow also personally i would rather have the older model
I had a conversation earlier amongst Clio 182 Cup & Trophy and 172 Cup owners that we have probably seen the last of the 'hooligan' spec hot hatches. The weight of the new cars seems here to stay due to the race to 5* NCAP and higher. Whether there will be any desire from the manufacturers like Renault (especially with Le Cost Cutter in control) to build a lighter weight car remains to be seen. Basically what they are saying is that if you want a lower weight performance car, don't buy a Megane 225, buy a Clio 197!
loose cannon said:
i work for renault and although the handling is great i dont like the g/box to be honest im not a great fan of 6 speed boxes cant really see the point of them bar another sales gimmick but the 197 box is almost comical and im sure will be changed for a better top ratio before long and me thinks it's to slow also personally i would rather have the older model
Its stupid isn't it? I mean yes it would be useful if the sixth gear dropped the revs at cruising speed to up the MPG, but it doesn't. Unbeilevable.
artdealer said:
...Basically what they are saying is that if you want a lower weight performance car, don't buy a Megane 225, buy a Clio 197!
I was chatting with some folks on the Reanault stand at the Motor Show and moaning about the weight (they countered by mentioning the the extra power available - missing the point), they did tell me a Cup version is on the way, likely towards the end of next year. They have no idea what it will entail though. I just hope they don't think they just can chuck a turbo (225 bhp like on the Megane) on it and have a slightly faster but just as heavy car... They didn't seem confident about a Trophy version being released alas.
I'm very happy with my 172 Cup.
As others has said; the 197 has become too bloated, like many cars do over the generations.
The interior is a much nicer than any 172/182. I think they've tried to broaden the appeal of a 'hot' Clio but lost some of what was great about the old model in the process.
As others has said; the 197 has become too bloated, like many cars do over the generations.
The interior is a much nicer than any 172/182. I think they've tried to broaden the appeal of a 'hot' Clio but lost some of what was great about the old model in the process.
Polarbert said:
loose cannon said:
i work for renault and although the handling is great i dont like the g/box to be honest im not a great fan of 6 speed boxes cant really see the point of them bar another sales gimmick but the 197 box is almost comical and im sure will be changed for a better top ratio before long and me thinks it's to slow also personally i would rather have the older model
Its stupid isn't it? I mean yes it would be useful if the sixth gear dropped the revs at cruising speed to up the MPG, but it doesn't. Unbeilevable.
But they need this close low ratio box to magnify the torque.
To much mass, too little power.
As for the the Trophy, maybe it really will be the last in the Clio Williams and Peugeot 205GTI genre. I did also have one of the original white Integra's but the red seats, black interior and white everything else were scary !
P.S. The Trophy's very easy to drive but just a little on the firm side in ordinary traffic. Once loaded with lateralG --- it's terriffic !
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