Friday 20th November 2015

Renault Clio 172 Cup: Spotted

Well if the Vel Satis isn't quite focused enough for your cheap Renault then this should do the trick!

---

We all have them all the time; those discussions where we talk about 'special' cars that we could realistically afford but which also could rise in value. A lot of those discussions are on here. The great car that might not cost you very much, if anything, to run is surely the dream scenario.

89kg less than the already light Clio 172

We hereby give you the Clio 172 Cup. Yes everyone bleats on about fast Clios quite a bit, and you may think it should solely be reserved for Shed status now, but the Cup is really quite an incredible car when you remember the details. This one is also £1,750, which is an absurdly low sum of money.

The Cup removed 89kg from an already very light little car. The front glass was thinner, sound deadening was removed and a simpler bench was used for the rear seat. Because who cares about those in the back? As standard there was no ABS, no traction control and no air conditioning. All that stuff that gets people excited about stripped out sports cars, in a Clio. This also in a car launched in the early 2000s, which really isn't that long ago. Has there been a hot hatch since offered in such a focused spec? Even an R26.R has ABS...

It's this Spartan nature that makes the Cup ever more appealing just over a decade on. As cars become ever more complicated and detach the driver further and further, so the enthusiasts begin looking to older stuff to experience the thrill of involvement again. We've all seen certain cars, including a few hot hatches, absolutely rocket in value recently and here languishes one of the finest at less than two grand. But then it's not lost that much given they were £12,995 new...

Spartan interior with no ABS or traction control

It's about as PH as hot hatches get really, which is probably why we're always droning on about them. Moreover, this car looks to have been really well cared for and the ad is full of details we all love to read: it's now on its third cambelt, there are four good matching tyres, the mods are sensible and the seller even knows the kerbweight! That he's had four other Renaultsport Clios of this generation would suggest he's quite a fan.

There won't be hot hatches in the mould of this Clio Cup again; imagine trying to sell a car without ABS or traction control in 2015! This looks like one to have and enjoy while the rest of the world wakes up to the best hot hatches being about maximum fun and minimum fuss. Howmanyleft reckons numbers of taxed cars in the UK have nearly halved since 2009 too. The Cup may not ever reach the hallowed status of the Williams (see how much this one sold for!) but at this money it looks criminally undervalued. And even if it doesn't appreciate, you will be left with one of this century's best hot hatches for less than two thousand pounds, which sounds like a result.

---

RENAULT CLIO 172 CUP
Engine: 1,998cc, inline-four 
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive 
Power (hp): 174@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 148@5,400rpm
MPG: 34
CO2: 194g/km
First registered: 2003
Recorded mileage: 92,700
Price new: £15,495
Yours for: £1,750

See the original ad here.

[neil-935ql]

These are great little cars I have one ! Not sure there gonna increase in value but I could be wrong , just make sure you get a good one

[gashead1105]

Bugger, it's properly local. I wonder what my wife would say...

[V88Dicky]

I bought one brand new in October 2002. In fact it is the only car I've ever had from new.

Although it went back to the dealer over a dozen times for warranty work, I still enjoyed owning and driving it. To me it was the very essence of a hot hatch.

[MikeGoodwin]

My last memory of a cup was of one hoofing it across a carpark and then slamming on the brakes. My mate also wrote one of these off.

[LordHaveMurci]

Brilliant cars, been running mine alongside my 996 for 5.5yrs now, done many hillclimbs in it as well as being used as a daily.

Not a refined mile muncher but great fun on a twisty road, not much would leave it especially on a narrow road.

Most have probably been ruined by the Barry boys but find a good one & I bet you'll love it, forget the cliched 'it's French, it's rubbish, the electrics are crap', mine has in the main been very reliable.

[VF7]

Seems a very cracking car indeed!! Looks faboulous!

The only thing I'm not sure is the lack of ABS. I'm OK with the lack of TC but I'm not sure I'd want a daily driver of this sort without ABS...
I'd sooner part with the airbag, I think.

Is the ABS really such a killjoy on a track? Or does it weight a considrable amount?

BTW this is the only car I can think of with airbag, but without ABS. Are there other like this?

Edited by VF7 on Friday 20th November 16:58

[anonymous-user]

The ABS pump and associated gubbins is quite heavy. Also don't forget this was before making a car lighter by removing bits made it more expensive, so they were making it cheaper too

[PHMatt]

I don't understand why new Clio's are so expensive now.
The latest RS Clio starts at £19,145
For a Clio. It seems like an enormous jump from the £12ish k the 172 & 182 cars cost new too.

[Alex_6n2]

LordHaveMurci said:

Brilliant cars, been running mine alongside my 996 for 5.5yrs now, done many hillclimbs in it as well as being used as a daily.

Not a refined mile muncher but great fun on a twisty road, not much would leave it especially on a narrow road.

Most have probably been ruined by the Barry boys but find a good one & I bet you'll love it, forget the cliched 'it's French, it's rubbish, the electrics are crap', mine has in the main been very reliable.

I concur! Aside from the usual stuff you expect to start failing around ~100K miles, mine has also been very reliable thus far.

Sticking one of these on some Federal RSRs and heading out to Wales on a warm day is the most fun you can have for less than £2K in my opinion!

I shall be keeping my 182 when the M235i arrives and run both like yourself. Can't see why I would ever want to sell it!

[tomjol]

PHMatt said:

I don't understand why new Clio's are so expensive now.
The latest RS Clio starts at £19,145
For a Clio. It seems like an enormous jump from the £12ish k the 172 & 182 cars cost new too.

There's this thing called inflation.

[Kart27]

I have had 2 Renault Sport Clios and a Williams 3 and my current 172 Cup is my favourite for the sheer driving thrill it gives. Last year I had it up North of Scotland on a PH run and blew are few rather expensive sports cars away. A true classic!

[neil-935ql]

Totally agree best fun for 2k , I use mine as a daily and keep my caterham for weekend fun , anyone who loves driving would love a Renaultsport Clio

[ukaskew]

I still miss S25 CUP, best car I've ever owned.

Apart from the melting steering wheel and chocolate exhaust (only an issue from new, presumably they've all fallen off and been replaced by now) they are fabulous, simple cars.

[The Vambo]

ukaskew said:

I still miss S25 CUP, best car I've ever owned.

Apart from the melting steering wheel and chocolate exhaust and rear wheel bearings made of cheese and rear dampers and top mounts and dog bones and sticky callipers and glazed headlights they are fabulous, simple cars.

EFA

[LordHaveMurci]

The Vambo said:

ukaskew said:

I still miss S25 CUP, best car I've ever owned.

Apart from the melting steering wheel and chocolate exhaust and rear wheel bearings made of cheese and rear dampers and top mounts and dog bones and sticky callipers and glazed headlights they are fabulous, simple cars.

EFA

Lol - you forgot TDC sensor etc !

[texr2000]

I have a 182 CUP, i wanted i nice 205 GTI, but they have got quite expensive for a daily and probs should be more a well kept weekend car. Thought id try the nearest thing i could think of to a 205 and looked at RS clios. I only got it as a stop gap as needed a practical car to get me around while deciding what to buy, but almost a year later i havnt looked into a replacing it yet.

[DC2 Mark]

Superb value for a cracking hot hatch. We run one (well a 182) as a daily alongside a R53 JCW Cooper S (bit of a hot hatch addiction going on) and the original Caterham Superlight. The RS Clio is far from shamed, it is an absolute riot on a decent B road. You soon ignore the driving position when the road gets twisty. A damper refresh was as cheap as chips and has kept it feeling tight. We've owned our's for 9 years, it gets driven enthusiastically and has been pretty reliable on balance. My wife says she will never sell it and I'm certainly not arguing.

Edited by DC2 Mark on Friday 20th November 22:05

[1878]

tomjol said:

PHMatt said:

I don't understand why new Clio's are so expensive now.
The latest RS Clio starts at £19,145
For a Clio. It seems like an enormous jump from the £12ish k the 172 & 182 cars cost new too.

There's this thing called inflation.

Yup. UK inflation calculator says £12995 in 2003 = £18351 in 2014
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/res...

[FD3Si]

Brilliant cars to drive, terrible to own.

Mine was the most unreliable car I've ever had. And I own an RX7.
It had a full dealer and specialist service history, under 70k on it, all belts done etc etc, and I didn't pay pennies. I sold it after a year as I was so fed up of things going wrong. I pretty much had the full bingo sheet of standard fit problems, and a load of smaller ones as well. It got to the point where another light showed up on the dash, or another clunk appeared, or the engine did another odd thing, and even if it was an easy and cheap fix, it had worn me down so much I'd just had enough.


Absolutely fabulous on the right road though. Next best thing to a DC2 IMO.

[Racea]

LordHaveMurci said:

Brilliant cars, been running mine alongside my 996 for 5.5yrs now, done many hillclimbs in it as well as being used as a daily.

Not a refined mile muncher but great fun on a twisty road, not much would leave it especially on a narrow road.

Most have probably been ruined by the Barry boys but find a good one & I bet you'll love it, forget the cliched 'it's French, it's rubbish, the electrics are crap', mine has in the main been very reliable.

Snap :-) I have just bought one to use on the hill sprint circuit next season after giving my 996 turbo a few blasts out last year. I wanted something more focused and the Clio is spot on for the job. I found a very well looked after example - well chuffed.

Edited by Racea on Saturday 21st November 07:46