Clio 197

Ev0

Ev0

Ev0

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Had a good poke round one of these yesterday, I reckon it has the potential to be quite a decent car once the prices have come down a bit :)

Reckon the Recaro seat option would also do it no end of good, sitting in a Megane F1 225 right after and the difference was amazing.

space in the back was non existant, looke dfar worse than older models, boot looked good size though. Engine bay was as cramped as ever, Brembos looked nice, wheels too big imho.

Can't wait for a proper review of the car either, Evo have driven it on track but not on a "normal" road.
 
My uncle is getting one to test for a week as he has a loose connection working for Renault. Im hoping I will be around when he has it. Ive heard the 182 is a better drive.
 
MrMatteh said:
I'm still not convinced with them...

They need to bring out a clio 225
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Wonder how hard it would be do do that? Is it feasible? Would be a pretty cool project to drop a 225 engine into a 172cup!!
 
bare in mind, the 182 was also a similar price, its just that there were loads of brokers deals going around that drove down prices to about 12k
 
They won't do a 225 engined Clio, pita job plus would knock the megane sales, even though they are different in classes (and the 225 hasn't exactly flown out the door). Plus doesn't fit in with what they've designed the Clio for I'd say.

As for not driving as well as the 182, Evo mag said round the track it was a lot flatter round bends and had more grip, their only concern was how the new setup inc/ the electric steering would handle uk roads. Think they drove it in the wet and said the new one had loads more grip.

Plus you no longer get everything thrown in, Xenons and climate are options with it "only" getting air con.

Plus at over 1200 kilos it's a bit chubby :)

My money is on a Cup version that's been on a major diet, and I bet they put a spoiler on the cup!
 
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I first saw it I hated it, but its fast growing on me, you will be able to get a brand spanker for 13k before long, if not 12. Even if it only serves to drag down prices of the 182's it suits me :-)
 
Ev0 said:
They won't do a 225 engined Clio, pita job plus would knock the megane sales, even though they are different in classes (and the 225 hasn't exactly flown out the door). Plus doesn't fit in with what they've designed the Clio for I'd say.

As for not driving as well as the 182, Evo mag said round the track it was a lot flatter round bends and had more grip, their only concern was how the new setup inc/ the electric steering would handle uk roads. Think they drove it in the wet and said the new one had loads more grip.

Plus you no longer get everything thrown in, Xenons and climate are options with it "only" getting air con.

Plus at over 1200 kilos it's a bit chubby :)

My money is on a Cup version that's been on a major diet, and I bet they put a spoiler on the cup!
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ah. big mistake imo, the whole joy of the normal version was all the xenons, climate, leather, light sensing lights, water sensing wipers etc etc all being on there, without it, I dont think they'll go that well
 
I found a review here:
http://cars.msn.co.uk/carreviewshom...ult.asp?MSID=b848c13b2cbc43719526a8909fa482ab

Can't help but think that Renault have recreated the Clio as a CTR, i.e. it's as heavy, more planted, less steering feel, same power output, recaros etc etc.
Just aswell Honda pulled the plug on the CTR, as otherwise there would be bugger all market for the new 197.

Does this also mean that the new 197 gets the same slating for having a similar power delivery to the VTEC?
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Just aswell Honda pulled the plug on the CTR, as otherwise there would be bugger all market for the new 197.
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Honda haven't pulled the plug, its just come to the ned of it production run. There will be an all new CTR in 2007, but uses the current CTR engine :(
 
Doubt they will offer any 192 with a spoiler, that rear diffuser takes care of all the downforce requirements. Its getting a bit heavy, its the same weight as my focus now, doubt its got the same interior space though.

Mr_Sukebe said:
Just aswell Honda pulled the plug on the CTR, as otherwise there would be bugger all market for the new 197.

Does this also mean that the new 197 gets the same slating for having a similar power delivery to the VTEC?
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Erm, the new CTR will be out early next year. Using a different engine but tuned for more mid range power this time (although Honda seem to change their mind every 2 minutes on what engine they will offer, there may still be the Type RR to come to, stripped out with more power).

The 197 aint a VTEC so it wont get a slating, it'll merely be a VVT unit I assume.
 
I've had a bit of a poke about a 197 myself & it seems fairly nice, even the build quality seems alright!?! Look forward to reading & trying one though.
If it drives as well as the 172/182, it should sell fairly well once the discounts become available. My name 100% definately wont be on its book, to fat & pansy for my tastes! :p


Arc,
A 197 'Cup' is likely to have a rear-spoiler similar to the one's the Renault Cup champ car's currently have:
0c3456d413.jpg

Although such a thing is still a long way off.

MrMatteH,
As mentioned, a 225bhp Clio would be stepping on the toes of the Megane. Remember a Clio is only the size of a Fiesta / Corsa / 207 all of which currently get left for dead by the Clio's... Clio's just happened to go so well that they are compared to bigger car's like a Civic, Focus, Megane, Golf etc...

Panthro,
As for dropping the Meggy 225 engine into a 172 Cup, Hell no!
Too much additional weight up front would most likely upset it's ballance, throw a bit of money at the exisiting engine to see you near 200bhp & shave around 70KG would see some decent gains! :)

New Civic TypeR / RR,
Should be using the same engine as the '04 model running the same BHP, but tweaked for more mid-range performance. Should 'feel' faster.
The RR isn't official, so still plenty of rumours, I imagine it would borrow an engine or design ideas from the S2000, but can't see it being stripped, it's not the Honda way really.
 
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Oakesy2001uk said:
I first saw it I hated it, but its fast growing on me, you will be able to get a brand spanker for 13k before long, if not 12. Even if it only serves to drag down prices of the 182's it suits me :-)
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Doubt it the residules of the 172s and 182s have been good. When I sold my 172 to renault there was £350 difference in trade value between mine and a 182.

Choice between one of these, BMW 530/330D and a Volvo S60 D5 for me next year.
 
Coco said:
Panthro,
As for dropping the Meggy 225 engine into a 172 Cup, Hell no!
Too much additional weight up front would most likely upset it's ballance, throw a bit of money at the exisiting engine to see you near 200bhp & shave around 70KG would see some decent gains! :)
.
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Why not? They are both the same size, probably use the same block. There will be a little bit of extra piping involved but nothing too serious. You can mod the 225 engine to get significant gains over a modded 172 engine. You could shave some weight off the car with or without the different engine, plus the 225 engine would have a better bhp/ton ratio over the standard car.

The 147 GTA has a 3.2 V6 in the front, and that is only slightly nose heavy. Its not massively out of proportion.

I think it can be done.
 
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