197 / 197 Cup / 197 F1

[evenflow]

Can anyone give me a brief overview of the main differences between these three?
As I understand it:

197 - Full fat
197 Cup - A bit cheaper new, a bit lighter than full fat due to loss of equipment (AC? Electric windows?) Suspension changes?
197 F1 - More power? Longer 6th gear?

Also, what are the build dates, ie when were the Cup and F1 versions introduced?

Many thanks.

[Slagathore]

The F1 is also known as the R27! Only 500 made.

I can't find any exact dates, but I think the R27 went on sale in 2007.

It isn't anymore powerful than the other 2 in the lineup. It does come with the Cup Chassis, though. Which is optional on the full fat and standard on the Cup.

I think the Cup was introduced at the beginning of the year. I've heard it only saves around 20kg over the full fat. So if you don't mind paying extra, you may aswell get a full fat and just spec the Cup Chassis.

All of the new order 197's will have the longer 5th and 6th gears now.

The R27 had alot of the items from the options list as standard. Making them quite a decent buy 2nd hand.

[Polarbert]

evenflow said:

197 Cup - A bit cheaper new, a bit lighter than full fat due to loss of equipment (AC? Electric windows?) Suspension changes?
197 F1 - More power? Longer 6th gear?

The new 'Cup' is the biggest marketing ploy ever.

I'd go for a either the proper 197 with Cup packs, recaros, xenons and climate, or an F1

But if I was buying new again I'd definately get the 230 R26 Megane.

[TGJR]

Your missing the main point here. The 197 Cup may only be 25kg lighter than a standard 197 but by the time you add on a load of electronic gizmo's from the options list you will probably by talking nearer 50kg. That could be the equivelent to 2 sacks of spuds in the boot!!! As for calling the cup a 'marketing ploy' .....well its a pretty poor one when they charge customers £1000 less, in fact £1400 less if you buy a 197 with the cup suspension option!

[Mutt]

All 197s, whatever the model, had a longer sixth ratio from around mid-November 2007. There's an exact "build week" if you want to be certain; sign up to www.renaultsport.co.uk and ask on there.

[Polarbert]

TGJR said:

Your missing the main point here. The 197 Cup may only be 25kg lighter than a standard 197 but by the time you add on a load of electronic gizmo's from the options list you will probably by talking nearer 50kg. That could be the equivelent to 2 sacks of spuds in the boot!!! As for calling the cup a 'marketing ploy' .....well its a pretty poor one when they charge customers £1000 less, in fact £1400 less if you buy a 197 with the cup suspension option!

I highly doubt that adding electronic options to the car will add that much weight.

[WildCards]

Doesn't the R27 come with a slippy diff as standard too whereas the others don't?

[Slagathore]

Nope, one of the versions of the Megane has a slip diff.

just go for the 'Full Fat' version. the saving in weight is not even worth mentioning.

And then you get all the nice stuff, including the keyless go systerm, which is incredibly handy.

[Catherine197]

I have a full fat one with cup pack.

I wouldn't touch the cup the interior is just plain nasty.

[Mutt]

Catherine197 said:

I have a full fat one with cup pack.

I wouldn't touch the cup the interior is just plain nasty.

Agreed.

[John D.]

Catherine197 said:

I wouldn't touch the cup the interior is just plain nasty.

Disagreed.

[TGJR]

Catherine197 said:

I have a full fat one with cup pack.

I wouldn't touch the cup the interior is just plain nasty.

Absolute rubbish!

[artdealer]

There's nothing wrong with the 197 Cup, especially at some of the new car prices - also I've sold some nice ones in good colours up to £12500. The interior is fine.

[Polarbert]

WildCards said:

Doesn't the R27 come with a slippy diff as standard too whereas the others don't?

Thats the R26 Megane.

[warren182]

The 197 interior has one major cost cutting flaw which would put me off, the lack of reach adjustability. Like the 182cup, the 197cup is a marketing exercise. No great weight advantage, poorer cabin, and unpainted side strips. Not worth the cost saving, better off buying a year old R27.

[warren182]

TGJR said:

Your missing the main point here. The 197 Cup may only be 25kg lighter than a standard 197 but by the time you add on a load of electronic gizmo's from the options list you will probably by talking nearer 50kg. That could be the equivelent to 2 sacks of spuds in the boot!!! As for calling the cup a 'marketing ploy' .....well its a pretty poor one when they charge customers £1000 less, in fact £1400 less if you buy a 197 with the cup suspension option!

Ludicrous post. If your looking at getting either a cup or a cupped 197, why would you start adding options. I'm sure a large number of people have added air con to the cup, so the weight difference is even further reduced.

[TGJR]

warren182 said:

TGJR said:

Your missing the main point here. The 197 Cup may only be 25kg lighter than a standard 197 but by the time you add on a load of electronic gizmo's from the options list you will probably by talking nearer 50kg. That could be the equivelent to 2 sacks of spuds in the boot!!! As for calling the cup a 'marketing ploy' .....well its a pretty poor one when they charge customers £1000 less, in fact £1400 less if you buy a 197 with the cup suspension option!

Ludicrous post. If your looking at getting either a cup or a cupped 197, why would you start adding options. I'm sure a large number of people have added air con to the cup, so the weight difference is even further reduced.

You can't add many options to a cup as there are'nt many available. As for your second point that people buying a 197 with cup pack would not add on any of the other extensive extras available, well, ludicrous! In fact, why buy a 197 if you are'nt planning on getting a selection of the extras available? Oh sorry, forgot about the lovely squidgy £1k dash.

[spoonoff]

John D. said:

Catherine197 said:

I wouldn't touch the cup the interior is just plain nasty.

Disagreed.

Indeed. When you actually see a Cup they look fantastic with the alloys, spoiler, and low, wide stance. Interior looks mean and purposeful too, the slim Recaro's look the buisiness. The standard car dosen't relly have much to mark it out apart from the diffuser.

The only problem is (like the 182 cup), for all the looks, it wouldn't actually be much faster than a full fat. If Renault made a proper stripped out homologation special like the 172 cup then that would be a seriously good car... Wouldn't make any money though.

[warren182]

Love how people get so defensive. People who buy the 197 buy it as it's cheaper. End of. It's no quicker in the real world than a 197 on cup packs. As per the 182cup, it's a marketing exercise, more of a trim level than a true lightened, stripped out special. The biggest fault of the 197 is not the lack of a so called squigy dash, it's the lack of steering adjustment, the wheel always feels slightly too far away. And unpainted side strips and door handles look hideous on a new car.

[Slagathore]

spoonoff said:

John D. said:

Catherine197 said:

I wouldn't touch the cup the interior is just plain nasty.

Disagreed.

Indeed. When you actually see a Cup they look fantastic with the alloys, spoiler, and low, wide stance. Interior looks mean and purposeful too, the slim Recaro's look the buisiness. The standard car dosen't relly have much to mark it out apart from the diffuser.

The only problem is (like the 182 cup), for all the looks, it wouldn't actually be much faster than a full fat. If Renault made a proper stripped out homologation special like the 172 cup then that would be a seriously good car... Wouldn't make any money though.

The only real cosmetical difference between the two cars is the Cup sits 7mm lower and has black side strips. Other than that, they pretty much look the same.

The alloys, spoiler and Recaro's are all optional on the Cup.