Bored of the 197 ( But will probably keep it. Because they are awesome )

[shells2074]

You should get your car on a rolling road might help telling you were your car is power wise. I got mine on the rollers last Feb at a rolling road day and I guy had his 200 on before mine he a
Had previously said he thought his felt ok and his ran 168bhp and mine ran 189bhp and mine was 3 years older with 35k more turned out his flexi on the exhaust manifold was split and he did not know! Don't know how right enough! Maybe a starting point to see how the car is performing. [emoji106]

Yes I'm defo going to be getting it on a rolling road at some point. I just don't think it's right. The exhaust is fine albeit standard.

 

[shells2074]

The 197 needs revving then it will give you the power. Looking at a naturally aspirated production based competition cars like m3, 190 cosworth, ford escorts, etc. from nearly any point in the last 40 years, they are pathetic until the revs start rising. Maybe you are changing gear too early. The 197 has a more racey cam than the 182 and 172s which means that you get more power but it's higher in the rev range. If you look into engine tuning there is a lot of knowledge on this subject in the world of historic rallying mainly with mk1 and 2 ford escorts.

It's getting revs trust me haha. It has to cos it's crapper at the lower rev range haha.
Maybe it's cos I've driven way faster cars too and expect too much. My bro had a 500bhp scooby haha.

 

[litchy]

197 is not a fast car, it's a car that carries spend into bends well. The gearbox gives the illusion that your travelling quickly but your really not. That engine is the worst I've had 30 years and without the absolute epic chassis and superb brakes of the Clio, would be very ordinary car.

 

[Chrisgti6]

I'm with [MENTION=1286]litchy[/MENTION] on this one, the 197 just isn't an exctiting car really. Although, I think your's sounds broken. If it's slower than befroe they changed the manifold i'd say something has been cocked up.

Pay £40, get it on a dyno and see what it's putting out, somewhere between 180-190bhp would be about right, anythign below that and you've got a problem.

I moved away from the 197 as I just felt it wasn't a fast car, those that think it's fast clearly haven't driven a proper 'fast' car. I rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the handling, so moved to something with straight line speed.

 

[Chris]

I'm with @litchy on this one, the 197 just isn't an exctiting car really. Although, I think your's sounds broken. If it's slower than befroe they changed the manifold i'd say something has been cocked up.

Pay £40, get it on a dyno and see what it's putting out, somewhere between 180-190bhp would be about right, anythign below that and you've got a problem.

I moved away from the 197 as I just felt it wasn't a fast car, those that think it's fast clearly haven't driven a proper 'fast' car. I rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the handling, so moved to something with straight line speed.

Exciting and fast are two different things....

I would agree the 197 isn't a fast car, but it depends what your comparing it too, too an M3? Yes its slow... To a 1.2 fiat punto, its fast. Its all relative.

I would say its an exciting car to drive though, in the bends its great fun and puts a smile on your face.

 

[Pav]

Exciting and fast are two different things....

I would agree the 197 isn't a fast car, but it depends what your comparing it too, too an M3? Yes its slow... To a 1.2 fiat punto, its fast. Its all relative.

I would say its an exciting car to drive though, in the bends its great fun and puts a smile on your face.

this :clap:

 

[shells2074]

Yeah it handles well but speed it hasn't really. It's good up top end. I'm going to get them to check over the manifold again.
Anyone done their alloys themselves or got anyone to do them? Really badly kerbed one. Is it worth trying yourself or getting a pro?

 

[Chris]

Some guides in the how to section of the forum for doing then yourself, depends what your happy with.

 

[chris1888-197]

My work painted mine looked easy enough to do. But as [MENTION=462]Chris[/MENTION] said depend how good a finish you want.

 

[shells2074]

Those kits look ok but there's mobile guys for £65/alloy.

 

[nicknameless]

I'm with @litchy on this one, the 197 just isn't an exctiting car really. Although, I think your's sounds broken. If it's slower than befroe they changed the manifold i'd say something has been cocked up.

Pay £40, get it on a dyno and see what it's putting out, somewhere between 180-190bhp would be about right, anythign below that and you've got a problem.

I moved away from the 197 as I just felt it wasn't a fast car, those that think it's fast clearly haven't driven a proper 'fast' car. I rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the handling, so moved to something with straight line speed.

Agree with Chris91. On the road you really don't need a faster car and if excitement is accelerating quicker to the speed limit (or wherever) then the clio's not the car. On track the clio could do with more grunt but the fun is all in the corners and stopping. Have driven and had faster cars which I found to be far less fun. Once you've got used to squirting the right hand pedal then .......

 

[shells2074]

It's acceleration, the flat spot does my head in.

 

[CallorFold]

It's acceleration, the flat spot does my head in.

Can't say the flatspot is all that noticeable in mine - if it's that bad, adjust your driving slightly? If you want to hoof it, drop a gear and keep it above 3K? If you're just plodding around then the flatspot doesn't really matter anyway, and if it does, just stay in a lower gear? 3rd at 30 rather than 4th for example.

 

[Kazumz]

Yeah it handles well but speed it hasn't really. It's good up top end. I'm going to get them to check over the manifold again.
Anyone done their alloys themselves or got anyone to do them? Really badly kerbed one. Is it worth trying yourself or getting a pro?

Stop wasting your time and get it to RSTuning, save all the faffing. If they've done it twice wrong, they're not going to get it third time lucky.

 

[Kazumz]

It's acceleration, the flat spot does my head in.

My flat spot is noticable on WOT from 1,000 RPM, it'll dip around 1700RPM to hardly any power then hammer away at 2.2K RPM

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Just buy petes or a Meg 250/265

 

[Rogue]

She hasn't got the money.

225 will suit you I think.

 

[shells2074]

It's just boring, simple haha.
Yes I'd like one Pete.
Ps I know some of you may think cos I'm female I don't know how to drive cars properly but I can lol. I've driven alsorts over the years. My dad was big into rallying and building RS2000 and Mexico. I've grown up around it and although much to learn about the mechanics of them, I know how to drive well.
Maybe I've just got used to it and the thrill has gone.
I'd like a Meg but the upkeep of these cars isn't cheap and im torn now wether to just sell it and get something smaller engine wise and go shoe shopping
AND in all honesty I don't want to buy a car and modify it costing a fortune. I live on my own, I love cars but not that much. I simply can't afford to do all that. I just wanted a fast car and 'drive ' it.

 

[The ANT]

It's just boring, simple haha.
Yes I'd like one Pete.
Ps I know some of you may think cos I'm female I don't know how to drive cars properly but I can lol. I've driven alsorts over the years. My dad was big into rallying and building RS2000 and Mexico. I've grown up around it and although much to learn about the mechanics of them, I know how to drive well.
Maybe I've just got used to it and the thrill has gone.
I'd like a Meg but the upkeep of these cars isn't cheap and im torn now wether to just sell it and get something smaller engine wise and go shoe shopping
AND in all honesty I don't want to buy a car and modify it costing a fortune. I live on my own, I love cars but not that much. I simply can't afford to do all that. I just wanted a fast car and 'drive ' it.

I get the impression that you don't really want it to live up to the 172

 

[shells2074]

It's not that but actually there's more to it thinking about it. When my dad died I was left a bit of money which enabled me to purchase the 172 and insure it. Had it 7 years and was a little reluctant to part but it was getting on and had running issues intermittently. I was very attached to the car obviously. I thought buying the 197 would give me the same buzz and some. Think I regret parting with it. Considering what I've already spent but obviously not forseeing it, I could have ploughed that money into my 172. So maybe you're right a tad in some respect.
So maybe the cars fine and I need a remap! ! You could be onto something there Ant, cheers. Oh and the fact it's cost me too, maybe fallen out with it. Question is will the love come back?