Clio 182 - 197 - A step down in performance?

[CHIEF]

Does anyone here who may have owned both, who went from say a 182 cup to a Clio 197 feel they've been shortchanged on performance compared to their old 182?

I really fancy a 197 especially as they're becoming a bit of a bargain plus it seems a nice grown up car now but everywhere I read it seems that the straight line performance is left a bit wanting compared to older lighter 182.

I'd love a 197 but i'd always wonder if i should have bought the older 182

Does the handling make up for it?

Any regrets on making the switch to a heavier car?

[BOBBY G]

Get a clio Trophy and spend any spare cash on getting the dampers overhauled.

I miss the trophy I had, It was ace!

[Ian_sUK]

At a recent rolling road day at TDF (that will be featured in Performance french car) my 182 had a bit more power and lots more torque than the 197 present (180.9bhp 165lb ft vs 179.9bhp 152.5lb ft)

Add that to the weight of the 197 and its deffinatly slower.

[rob999]

It's all in the gearbox.

Going from the 182 with 5 gears always felt more pokey compared to the constant upshifting of the 197 with six.

I've driven the 172 cup, 182 trophy, 197 cup and now the 200. Still prefer the Trophy.

Saying that the brakes/interior and grip has improved on an already great suspension.

Edited by rob999 on Wednesday 17th November 20:40

[John D.]

rob999 said:

It's all in the gearbox.

Going from the 182 with 5 gears always felt more pokey compared to the constant upshifting of the 197 with six.

Edited by rob999 on Wednesday 17th November 20:40

Eh? Surely shorter ratios should make it feel more powerfull? Its the extra weight that makes the difference I would have thought.

Never driven a 197. Think I'd quite happily take a Trophy over one personally. Was admiring a white 200 for a while on the M1 this morning. Then I saw it alongside a fairly new A4 - its massive! towers over the Audi.

[rob999]

In my opinion the shorter ratio's don't make it feel quicker John.
Maybe I'm used to five gears!!

[Slagathore]

John D. said:

Then I saw it alongside a fairly new A4 - its massive! towers over the Audi.

The new ones are bloody massive! I look back at my old pictures of my 197, it's so wide aswell, but I guess that also explains why the handling gets better.

They seem to be making them bigger in size and weight. That's the only downside, really. All those crumple zones and extra airbags don't help the size and weight.

The engines have the same characteristics. The extra power of the 197/200 is cancelled out by the extra weight.

I don't really think it would be a step down in performance. Maybe you'll lose a slight bit of straight line speed, but in terms of driving experience, the 197 will feel better all round.

The handling is amazing. You can't really make the most of it on the public roads. No matter how hard I drove it, it always felt like there was more speed that could have been carried in to the bend, but you start approaching speeds that really aren't practical for public roads. I know everyone says the old 182s handle like they're on rails, and they do, but the 197 was just that bit better.

It's been a while since I had my 197, but the impression it left really is a positive one.

If you're after more speed, I think you'll be disappointed, as there really isn't much in it, and the difference in handling is mostly just in how planted the car feels, both are really capable cars anyway.

Have you looked at the Meganes? Plenty more power with the same great handling? Can get decent ones of them for fairly cheap aswell. I think that's the only way you won't be disappointed with the speed.

[minor5]

ive got one 54 plate 172 and the wife has an 09 plate 197 cup and both of us prefer the 172
feels so much quicker loads more torque, just more fun

Edited by minor5 on Friday 19th November 23:35

[BOBBY G]

minor5 said:

ive got one 54 plate 172 and the wife has an 09 plate 197 cup and both of us prefer the 172
feels so much quicker loads more torque, just more fun

Edited by minor5 on Friday 19th November 23:35

Have to agree, 197 may e a match in straight line, ut the lighter car wins every time!

[rje]

I have a full fat 197 with cup package and it seems to have no problem keeping up with all but the fastest of stuff on track.

I also seem to recall a fifth gear test between a 182 trophy and 197 cup where Jason Plato was very surprised the 197 was the quicker lapping car. As already said here it is heavier (more safety kit etc) which mitigates the extra power, but the handling and especially the breaks are so much better on the 197. The brakes are shared (I think) with the Renault Sport Meganes so no wonder they work well on the lighter Clio.

R

[BlackMCS]

It sounds obvious but you really need to try them both. Having owned full fat with cup pack versions of both, I found the 182 a more fun car than the 197, but the 197 a better overall package. Performancewise I think you'll struggle to tell a difference - both are plenty quick enough for the road.

[Clio200pat]

I dont have a 197... But I went from a Clio Trophy to a full fat cupped pack 200. I find it more easy to drive the 200 quickly point to point, but the Trophy felt a lot more punchy in terms of acceleration.

Driving the 200 quickly comes at a price though - quite heavy on tyres and crap fuel consumption compared to the 182.

[Slagathore]

rje said:

I have a full fat 197 with cup package and it seems to have no problem keeping up with all but the fastest of stuff on track.

I also seem to recall a fifth gear test between a 182 trophy and 197 cup where Jason Plato was very surprised the 197 was the quicker lapping car. As already said here it is heavier (more safety kit etc) which mitigates the extra power, but the handling and especially the breaks are so much better on the 197. The brakes are shared (I think) with the Renault Sport Meganes so no wonder they work well on the lighter Clio.

R

Completely forgot to mention the brakes.

Probably the biggest difference between the cars. The 182 brakes are good, but the Brembos on the 197 were amazing.

The standard setup is brilliant. Imagine how much better it would be with better pads/discs.