Best hot hatch of the century - the results!
Discussion
LordHaveMurci said:
mmmctavish said:
The Clio 182 Trophy. The number 1 most overrated hot hatch of the last century. Confirmed by the fact the Clio 200 Cup appears 8 places lower.
Don’t believe the hype!
Half decent lurking, hardly an informative post though. Don’t believe the hype!
Some informative informing for you...
I had a 182 Cup for 7 years. Originally owned by Tim Harvey of BTCC fame. Did 80k in it. Never let me down. Great car.
Sold it. Bought a Mk1 MX5. Realised my mistake. Fitted Ohlins coilovers. Still not satisfied.
Tried a 182 Trophy. Came on Cup shocks with fresh rebuilt dampers in the boot. Drove it for a few weeks and then put on the proper stuff. Couldn’t see what the fuss was about. Never tracked the Cup and was impressed at just how good the Trophy was without any specific track mods. Drove it a lot round Scotland. Did some hill climbs too. 6 months later sold it wondering what the fuss was all about and happy to have made £1k profit.
A racing blue 182 Cup sans stripes and with the Trophy wheels/seats would do the job.
Drove an R27 F1 on a test drive and instantly forgot about the Mk2 Clio all together. Bought a 197. Will hopefully get a 200 Cup with Recaros once budget permits. Can’t imagine a 182 would see which way it went. Superior in every way in my book. More speed, more brakes, more safety and more waggly at the arse when required. 182 = mallet. 200 = shiny spikey toffee hammer.
Ive got the top two tucked away in my workshop
Both1 owners cars.
A black R26.R with 20k miles and a Trophy with 30k miles. Ive just recieved the 26 back from Birchdown following the cambelt service and had a splash in it just esterday - jee its a very special car that just oozes the core values of a proper Hot hatch
Both growing in value nicely too!
As a road car the CT is the right choice albeit a little firm. The damping on the R26.R is sublime
Both1 owners cars.
A black R26.R with 20k miles and a Trophy with 30k miles. Ive just recieved the 26 back from Birchdown following the cambelt service and had a splash in it just esterday - jee its a very special car that just oozes the core values of a proper Hot hatch
Both growing in value nicely too!
As a road car the CT is the right choice albeit a little firm. The damping on the R26.R is sublime
lord trumpton said:
Ive got the top two tucked away in my workshop
Both1 owners cars.
A black R26.R with 20k miles and a Trophy with 30k miles. Ive just recieved the 26 back from Birchdown following the cambelt service and had a splash in it just esterday - jee its a very special car that just oozes the core values of a proper Hot hatch
Both growing in value nicely too!
As a road car the CT is the right choice albeit a little firm. The damping on the R26.R is sublime
Lucky you 😉Both1 owners cars.
A black R26.R with 20k miles and a Trophy with 30k miles. Ive just recieved the 26 back from Birchdown following the cambelt service and had a splash in it just esterday - jee its a very special car that just oozes the core values of a proper Hot hatch
Both growing in value nicely too!
As a road car the CT is the right choice albeit a little firm. The damping on the R26.R is sublime
Not a bad collection at all.
I've never driven either but from reading reviews over the years they both offer something a little different but equally great as well.
One big plus for the Megane over the Clio I'd imagone is not having to worry about potentially having to fork out for a damper refurbishment.
I've seen a black R26R for sale with the full sticker pack plus the red wheels.
It does look pretty tasty and I'd imagine it's not something to own if your the shy retiring type 😁
Have you had them from new or are you just the second owner?
Turbojuice said:
LordHaveMurci said:
TTmonkey said:
Surprised no Mini. Such as the GP. Or are we just too snobby to admit the one of the most fun cars the century isn’t PH enough?
Have to say I wouldn’t have the alpha, the Clio v6 or the BMW in my list of hot hatches. Despite 2 of these being some of my favourite cars.
Alfa.Have to say I wouldn’t have the alpha, the Clio v6 or the BMW in my list of hot hatches. Despite 2 of these being some of my favourite cars.
And why would anybody be too snobby to include a MINI when Renault who are French & therefore s
t according to most of the internet, have stormed it? Was a MINI suggested by anybody in the initial thread?From what I could tell nearly all Clio 172 nominations were for the Cup version, and 182 ones for the Trophy, so there wasn’t the same sort of split
Titan2 said:
lord trumpton said:
Ive got the top two tucked away in my workshop
Both1 owners cars.
A black R26.R with 20k miles and a Trophy with 30k miles. Ive just recieved the 26 back from Birchdown following the cambelt service and had a splash in it just esterday - jee its a very special car that just oozes the core values of a proper Hot hatch
Both growing in value nicely too!
As a road car the CT is the right choice albeit a little firm. The damping on the R26.R is sublime
Lucky you ??Both1 owners cars.
A black R26.R with 20k miles and a Trophy with 30k miles. Ive just recieved the 26 back from Birchdown following the cambelt service and had a splash in it just esterday - jee its a very special car that just oozes the core values of a proper Hot hatch
Both growing in value nicely too!
As a road car the CT is the right choice albeit a little firm. The damping on the R26.R is sublime
Not a bad collection at all.
I've never driven either but from reading reviews over the years they both offer something a little different but equally great as well.
One big plus for the Megane over the Clio I'd imagone is not having to worry about potentially having to fork out for a damper refurbishment.
I've seen a black R26R for sale with the full sticker pack plus the red wheels.
It does look pretty tasty and I'd imagine it's not something to own if your the shy retiring type ??
Have you had them from new or are you just the second owner?
No not owned these two from new - bought from their origianl owners and just registered them to trade (i own a car related business) to keep the owner count to 1.
I have owned one of each from new though - I bought a new trophy back in 2006 after spending a week in cornwall reading evo car of the year review. Sold that after a couple of years.
I also bought a lunar grey r26.r new back in 2009 but again sold.
It was a bout 2 years ago when I bought these current two - Ive been putting money into future hero cars as investments.
I think the r26.r is, in my opinion one vary very special car - and if anyone has the 'spare' money they will make a very smart buy now.
TTmonkey said:
Surprised no Mini. Such as the GP. Or are we just too snobby to admit the one of the most fun cars the century isn’t PH enough?
Have to say I wouldn’t have the alpha, the Clio v6 or the BMW in my list of hot hatches. Despite 2 of these being some of my favourite cars.
"alpha?" WHY? Have to say I wouldn’t have the alpha, the Clio v6 or the BMW in my list of hot hatches. Despite 2 of these being some of my favourite cars.
Alpha... hand in your PH card on the way out.
Been in a R26R and thought it was capable, but less fun than the Trophy. It is clearly meant to be more about delivering a decent lap time; not knocking it but I'd rather a more playful chassis.
I fitted proper coil-overs to my Trophy and turned it into a right pest on track days, but it was less fun so got my Sachs dampers refurbished and put back on. Slower, but more biddable and involving.
Also, I know it's subjective, but the whooshing noises of the Megane sound absolutely gash versus proper induction noise from the Clio (open induction kit a must).
Been in a R26R and thought it was capable, but less fun than the Trophy. It is clearly meant to be more about delivering a decent lap time; not knocking it but I'd rather a more playful chassis.
I fitted proper coil-overs to my Trophy and turned it into a right pest on track days, but it was less fun so got my Sachs dampers refurbished and put back on. Slower, but more biddable and involving.
Also, I know it's subjective, but the whooshing noises of the Megane sound absolutely gash versus proper induction noise from the Clio (open induction kit a must).
vz-r_dave said:
Clio wins with its Bus like driving position.... has to be PH.
Clio wins despite its bus driving position and huge wheel and bad brakesthey drive very well and on track are insane. the speeds you can push through corners with them is nuts.
the mk7 fiesta is a better car with much more responsive steering, can actually stop, feels much faster and is well equipped
but... there is something undeniably special about the trophy
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