Comments on: 2008 Clio RenaultSport 197

By: 2ndeffort

2ndeffort — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:24:12 +0000

Ive had a Clio 182 for the last 4 years and it has been the best fun car I’ve ever driven. I test drove the 197 on Saturday with a view to upgrading. Same formula, perhaps a little more refined, still fun but probably not as hard edged as the 182. I’m a bit undecided, price is an issue although the sales guys seemed keen to move a little, apparently for some strange reason they seem to have a few in stock at the moment ; )

For a few K more i could get the new WRX with AWD and nearly 200 Kw, would have to slow down for corners, but would probably hold its resale value better than the 182 has.

By: si

si — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:19:40 +0000

I actually saw the 197 today at paris. No doubt, it is a small car but ‘isn’t a hatchback suppose to be’. The build quality is brilliant with brembo brakes as factory and paranomic sunroof as optional. These you can’t get in the Type R.

Can’t wait to try the corner in the Clio 197…

By: Karl

Karl — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:11:00 +0000

I own a polo GTI (turbo) and I had a nice long drive of the clio sport today and I am tempted to sell the polo to get one. the polo is good for the money but the clio is so much better to drive, the handling was awesome and power was nice and smooth although it did only start to pick up from about 5500 rpm, 0 to 100 in 6.9 is not bad. If you like to drive the clio is a great car!

By: Clioguy

Clioguy — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:53:37 +0000

just a quick note:
the clio 197′s 0-100km/h is 6.9(manual)
the golf gti’s 0-100km/h is 6.9(DSG) and 7.2(manual)

By: John

John — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:38:13 +0000

Nice car, I considered one when I first heard they were coming out. But way way overpriced. The market has moved on. Far more better choices for that kind of money. If it was priced at around $33K with all of the options included I think they would of found a market. We have a strong $, no excuses for the price hike on these things. As most Renault’s anyway they will sit in showrooms for a while collecting dust. Like the supposedly sold out R26′s. I saw a brand new black one (2007) sitting in a showroom till very recently.

By: Allan

Allan — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:07:07 +0000

Other car magazines have pitted the Megane Sport 225 with the CTR, but I think the 197 has more in common with the CTR and would really love to see it in a one-on-one match with the 197. Both are NA engines producing about the same power, and both are 3-door hatches around the same price. CarAdvice can you please do a comparo with these two cars please. Leave the turbo’ed cars to fight against their own kind…lol.

By: Reckless1

Reckless1 — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:29:30 +0000

Riviera says “Does GTI give driver as much involvement? I doubt it.”

Clearly you haven’t driven one, or read the countless reviews of the multi award winning GTI since 30 years ago.”

Fasthonda misreads things “Increase the GTI’s power!That’s very unlike you,didn’t you mention you drive an automatic on cruise control through the city while sipping on your cafe-latte?”

I certainly do use the cruise control in the city, but I leave my Latte sipping to when I’m in a cafe. And it’s not unlike me to go for more power, because I’m a petrol head from 45 years back.

And there is no turbo 4 in direct competition with the GTI. There are 4wd Subarus, EVOs, etc, but they are much hotter and dearer, and there’s the Focus which is below the Golf in refinement, and has a 2.5 litre engine with 5cyl. So we don’t need to chip it to beat the competition, since there is none – but when we do, there is no competition at all

Yes, this car is probably more comparable to the Polo GTI in target market, but again the Polo 1.8 can be chipped easily for more power like the Golf, whereas this vehicle is at its max when you get it.

By: Greeny

Greeny — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:05:34 +0000

Not a bad power output for a car weighing just over a ton! The shape looks nice and a little bit bigger than the 182. Its also a shame its arrived about 2 years after its release in europe. oh and totally a direct competitor to polo gti, not so much the golf.

By: BMWSauberF1Team

BMWSauberF1Team — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:10:56 +0000

All cars new cars in Australia are overpriced, theres no use comparing our prices with overseas, it will only cause your blood pressure to rise…

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:50:42 +0000

It is a shame that this arrives so expensive. It is a really good car but competing out of its league. In the UK it is priced at a level with the corsa vxr (turbo 1.6L)etc and is better. In the UK you can get the cup model which is lighter, faster, has better handling……and is cheaper.
If you are going to compare any VW then it is the polo gti and that tells you the problem with the price. Performance wise than the Golf gti compares to the Megane…..R26 and that Renault is in a difference performance league to the gti.