Why Renault?
- Thread starter chris mcm
- Start date
Way before I could drive my dad had 2x 197s. He used to be on here I think.. Username something like stormbringer. I remember the first time I ever went in his.. Never been in one before and we went round a roundabout at such a speed I thought there was no way we would make it round but it stuck. After that drive i had always wanted one. Now proud owner of my GW 200.
Simple answer, the best hot hatch imo. Wanted speed, nothing big, affordable and fun. ( not without a couple of hiccups along the way though ).
Oh and I previously owned a 172 for quite a while. Loved the shape and the colour being silver. 2000 plate too which I thought looked the best especially the front end.
The 197 was a grower though, gotta say was unsure of the shape but now I love it.
Oh and I previously owned a 172 for quite a while. Loved the shape and the colour being silver. 2000 plate too which I thought looked the best especially the front end.
The 197 was a grower though, gotta say was unsure of the shape but now I love it.
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I wanted a proper car that felt like it was bred on the track. Nearly all of my favourite cars only exist through motorsport and homologation for motorsport, whether it's an delta integrale, rs500 sierra cosworth, escort cosworth, rs1800 escorts, chevette hs/hsr, sunbeam lotus, lotus cortina, cortina lotus, 190e cosworth, e30 m3, Audi quattro, audi sport quattro, manta 400, ect.
bearing in mind that I was born in 1993, very few of these cars aren't older than me. For a simple reason. No homologation. I don't want a polo just because a car with similar headlights wins the wrc. I want an integrale because a very similar car (sharing more than just lights and windows) won the wrc. I want an rs500 because a very similar car dominated the btcc, the wtcc, etcc, British open rally championship etc.
Without homologation my list doesn't grow very fast, the 197 is a car which managed to find a way on it when times are hard.
bearing in mind that I was born in 1993, very few of these cars aren't older than me. For a simple reason. No homologation. I don't want a polo just because a car with similar headlights wins the wrc. I want an integrale because a very similar car (sharing more than just lights and windows) won the wrc. I want an rs500 because a very similar car dominated the btcc, the wtcc, etcc, British open rally championship etc.
Without homologation my list doesn't grow very fast, the 197 is a car which managed to find a way on it when times are hard.
My first car was a Clio, although not a sport, always wanted a 172/182 I now have a 197. I did test drive some other hot hatches but loved how fun the 197 is to drive and actually how simple it is and the heratige. I recently drove the 2015 mini JCW and was a little scared before test driving it that it would make me fall out of love with the Clio...it did the complete opposite, I was so glad to drive away in a little Rev happy Clio.
chris1888-197
Paid Member
My first car was a clio 1.2 02 plate and after having that for 2 year knew i had to have a 172 then after that the 197. So in 14 year of driving have had 3 clios lol. Weird too cause my dad was always a old school for man. I thjnk once you get a reanultsport its hard to look elsewhere! I get too drive alot of different types of cars through my job from slow to very fast and have to say it is hard to beat a renaultsport for fun and thrills imo. 
roud: 3 renaultsports to be exact.
roud: 3 renaultsports to be exact.
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Great question.
I think for me, I first fell in love with the way my BMW e30 seemed to connect me to the road. It had soul & even though it wasn't a rocket, it made me smile with every drive.
4 dreary cars later (hyundai i30, two corollas & a Nissan Pulsar) I found my 197. I chose it because it made me smile in the same way my BMW did.
For a while I wanted the Polo GTI until I drove it & felt such a disconnection. I don't care how fast a car is, if it doesn't make me happy, I don't want it.
The 197 makes me happy. Simple.
I think for me, I first fell in love with the way my BMW e30 seemed to connect me to the road. It had soul & even though it wasn't a rocket, it made me smile with every drive.
4 dreary cars later (hyundai i30, two corollas & a Nissan Pulsar) I found my 197. I chose it because it made me smile in the same way my BMW did.
For a while I wanted the Polo GTI until I drove it & felt such a disconnection. I don't care how fast a car is, if it doesn't make me happy, I don't want it.
The 197 makes me happy. Simple.
CallorFold
Platinum Member
Always wanted a quick car that's fun to drive but until very recently have never been able to afford the insurance.
I've enjoyed driving since the day I passed my test (7 years ago) a got stuck with a Rover Metro for the first 3 years of driving (awesome fun but obviously no power), and then a properly boring to drive, Ford Focus.
Finally my car insurance year was coming to an end, and insurance was looking for affordable on most hot hatches. The 197 stood out to me as one of the nicest looking hot hatches with its big flared arches, it just looks mean and ready. Owner reviews looked good, and the only real problem seemed to be the gearbox. They also sat perfectly in my price range, getting into a newer car, with low mileage for a sensible price.
For me the 197 is just a brilliantly fun car to drive, it's plenty comfortable for a daily drive, it's got all the creature comforts I need, and when you put your foot down and start flying over the 5K mark, it just puts the biggest smile on my face. I plan to keep it for a few years, and I think the new Megane RS's will definitely be on the cards to replace it.
I've enjoyed driving since the day I passed my test (7 years ago) a got stuck with a Rover Metro for the first 3 years of driving (awesome fun but obviously no power), and then a properly boring to drive, Ford Focus.
Finally my car insurance year was coming to an end, and insurance was looking for affordable on most hot hatches. The 197 stood out to me as one of the nicest looking hot hatches with its big flared arches, it just looks mean and ready. Owner reviews looked good, and the only real problem seemed to be the gearbox. They also sat perfectly in my price range, getting into a newer car, with low mileage for a sensible price.
For me the 197 is just a brilliantly fun car to drive, it's plenty comfortable for a daily drive, it's got all the creature comforts I need, and when you put your foot down and start flying over the 5K mark, it just puts the biggest smile on my face. I plan to keep it for a few years, and I think the new Megane RS's will definitely be on the cards to replace it.
Was the only hot hatch I could afford to insure after moving out of my mum's as I couldn't afford to insure our lovely Cupra R so Renualt it was. Plus it looks nice and the biggest bonus of them all is the fella hates French cars which means he will not drive it (that made me happy).
I had a 2010 Megane Coupe DCi before the Clio as I was doing mega miles, it was the best car in class for me. Massive spec, good handling and looks much better than any of it's rivals. I had 30,000 trouble free miles with it and swapped to the Clio as I wasn't doing the same mileage anymore. The Clio ticks all the boxes, goes well, looks good, is practical(ish) and the most important thing - it is a brilliant car to drive, fast or slow, I enjoy driving the thing. Which you cant say for the majority of cars on the road!
When I bought a 52 reg Clio 172 Cup in 2007, it was the fastest newest car I could get for £6k (my budget). I loved the way it looked, it had real character - the way the dashboard buzzed when I started it up. My first 'proper' car, it felt solid. It tried to kill me in the wet. I loved it.
Fast forward to 2010, I wanted a change (no logical reason). It was a toss-up between a new Clio 200, or a 5-year old Lotus Elise. I preferred the Clio. It was the fastest brand new car I could afford, and I've enjoyed it ever since.
Nothing else has the same character for me. So many cars lack character.
Fast forward to 2010, I wanted a change (no logical reason). It was a toss-up between a new Clio 200, or a 5-year old Lotus Elise. I preferred the Clio. It was the fastest brand new car I could afford, and I've enjoyed it ever since.
Nothing else has the same character for me. So many cars lack character.
