2005 Renault Clio 182 Cup

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

• Lovely example of Renault’s iconic hot hatch

• Just two owners from new

• In current ownership 15 years

• Comprehensive history

• Recent major service including cambelt and front brakes

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

The demise of the Renaultsport Clio was a sad day for most PHers. With the push towards electrification, we’ve seen the end of a widely celebrated family of hot hatches, with their chassis tuned by some of the best in the business.

Not content with producing small cars with large engines that competed with their peers for everyday usability, however, Renaultsport also catered to the more hardcore drivers amongst us and produced ‘Cup’ versions which prioritised low weight over refinements (though some could be optioned back in).

Renaultsport Clios proved very popular back in the day and so there is a ready, although diminishing, supply of used examples, though if you want the full technicolour driving experience then you’ll need one in Cup spec that’s been well looked after.

Fortunately, this two-owner example is one such car. With an extensive history that is largely backed up by receipts, it’s clearly wanted for nothing on the mechanical front. While there are a few minor cosmetic issues that the next owner may want to deal with, all the oily bits have been kept in tip top condition which means that it should be a riot to drive.

If you want to experience one of the most highly rated hot hatches ever produced, you should get in quickly before all the good ones get snapped up and stored away; while we can’t predict the future, this one will surely be a wise investment.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

• Registered new 14 Feb 2005

• Services by a mix of main dealers and specialists as follows:

Nov 2005 - oil and filter service @12,126 miles

May 2007 (written as 14/07/05, but we suspect this is meant to be 14/05/07) - oil and filter service @24,250 miles

Apr 2009 - large service @34,722 miles

May 2009 - cambelt and auxiliary belt @35,000 miles

Jun 2010 - oil and filter service @38,591 miles

Sep 2011 - large service @41,524 miles

Nov 2011 - small service plus spark plugs @44,502 miles

Sep 2014 - large service, cambelt and auxiliary belts, brake fluid @49,761 miles

Mar 2016 - oil and filter service @59,802 miles

Jun 2016 - shock absorbers and springs @61,000 miles

Apr 2019 - oil and filter plus coolant and antifreeze service

Jun 2021 - oil and filter service

Jun 2023 - major service, cambelt and auxiliary belt, dephaser belt, multi-vee belt, alternator, catalytic converter, water pump, front disks and Brembo pads @88,804 miles

• In addition, the owner tells us that he’s carried out oil changes every 5k miles or so and that the gearbox oil was replaced at 55k miles

• The car is accompanied by the original books and all the old tax discs

• The current, advisory free, MOT is valid until 5 June 2024

• V5 present in the owner’s name

• Two keys, though the spare requires a battery

• HPI clear

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

• Although not famed for their durability, the interior of this car has worn generally very well with unmarked original seats and side bolsters that remain in great condition

• Being a Cup model, there are none of the problems with sticky plastics that afflict other versions of the Clio but the heater control panel is flaking; however, these are cheap enough to buy on eBay and simple to replace

• The steering wheel suffers from the common ‘melting’ around the thumb grips and would benefit from a retrim - we’ve had ours done by Royal Steering Wheels in the past

• Despite being the Cup specification, it’s not devoid of creature comforts and has electric windows, cruise control, air conditioning and an aux-in socket, which is currently the best way to play music as the original CD player no longer works. It’s rare to see a Clio without an aftermarket head unit nowadays

• The boot is clean and tidy and the parcel shelf in good shape, and the original tyre foam, cargo net and tools are present

• Overall, it’s fared better than most Clios of a similar age and, with a couple of tweaks, would be up there with the best

𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

• Presented in desirable Inferno Orange paint and with professionally powder-coated wheels, it certainly looks the part

• On closer inspection, there are a few parking dents on the driver door but the paintwork, which is believed to be all original, is generally very good

• Looking at the areas that commonly rust on these cars, a couple are showing a bit of bubbling: a small area on the offside leading edge of the bonnet and in the fuel filler area, but the rear arches look very tidy bar a little gravel rash commensurate with the car’s age and mileage

• The wheels have no kerbing and, while the car was recently shod with new tyres all round (with wheel alignment carried out at the same time), owing to a mix up at the tyre supplier, there are Michelin PS3s at the front and budget Sumimoto items at the rear; these will want replacing with decent rubber so that it drives exactly as Renaultsport intended

• The original alloy wheels centre caps will be supplied with the car, along with an aftermarket front splitter and a spare set of headlights

• Please note that the front bumper is showing a fair amount of road grime in the photos but it’s otherwise in great condition bar a few small stone chips commensurate with the age and mileage

• In summary, while there’s a few areas that could be attended to, it looks in great shape great for its age

𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹

• F4R730 1,998cc 2.0-litre petrol engine with variable timing 16-valve head, rated at 182hp, unsurprisingly given the name

• Five-speed manual gearbox

• Suspension is MacPherson struts at the front anti-roll bars and at the rear there's a torsion beam with trailing arms and anti-roll bar

• Fresh OE shocks and Eibach springs were installed in 2016

• A K-Tec cat-back exhaust was installed in 2010

• The car is supplied with a number of spares: spare rear exhaust brackets, crank sensor and new rear discs and pads

• The seller reports that the car has wanted for nothing and drives very well

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆

Really nice examples of Renaultsport Clios of this era are becoming increasingly hard to find. This one has been well looked after mechanically and, bar a few cosmetic areas that could easily be remedied, it’s in lovely condition. With a recent full service, you could be enjoying your favourite B roads in it straight away or it would make the perfect track car too.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.