I sold my GP 1.9 JTD Sporting in September and bought a Clio 197 - not sure I've changed my signature yet!? I've had pretty much all the Renault hot hatches since the Clio 16V, but fell for the GP before the 197 was on sale.
I had my GP for over a year and there's no doubt that it was a respectably quick car in certain circumstances, especially in "normal" driving where flexibility is key. But there's also no question that a Renaultsport 197, 182, 172 etc is a quicker car.
As an example: with 3 passengers aboard, I found that my GP was able to match a 180bhp Audi TT through the gears after I'd held it behind and let the revs drop right down to 2,000rpm :devil:. But, in a proper dual carriageway assult against some boggo 2.0 petrol rep-mobiles, I found that the GP was only just keeping pace!
There's no question that my 197 now (which is closer to 172 than 182 pace) dispenses with anything like that...should I be able to drop a gear or three!
Handling is a very personal thing, but most would agree that although the grip of the GP is really good, the Renaultsport cars have far more fluidity and feedback - where the GP can be unsettled and harsh. But I guess the Abarth addresses this; the GP would muller a Clio DCi Dynamique!!
I made the move back to the Renaultsport fold because 45+mpg wasn't much use to me when I only do 8k miles a year and wanted some induction gargle at 7,000rpm! But I'd find it very hard to argue with anyone choosing the GP as a swift and able all-rounder in the face of a daily commute or as a company car.
