RE: SOTW: Renault Clio Renaultsport 172
Discussion
I had a look at a couple of adverts for these last week when I was shed shopping, was very tempted but I thought they would be too heavy on fuel. I was expecting low 30's from these so if they actually go up to 40 that is a surprise.
A lot of car for the money, Ive not driven a phase 1 but the couple of phase 2's I have driven were great fun.
In the end I bought a Saxo VTR last week, similar I suppose but (should be) cheaper to run.
A lot of car for the money, Ive not driven a phase 1 but the couple of phase 2's I have driven were great fun.
In the end I bought a Saxo VTR last week, similar I suppose but (should be) cheaper to run.
I don't know why so many read SOTW and then comment on the car's reliability (or lack of). Lets face it, if you are badly on your ar5e and need a cheap runabout whilst you dig yourself out of a hole, then there are plenty of reliable motors that are also cheap and easy to fix that you can choose from. Unfortunately I've been there, a lot, and I have had 3 Mondeos for exactly this reason (they were all brilliant at serving their purpose tbh).
SOTW in my eyes is an interesting read and highlights cars that have (often surprisingly) dropped into the £1k bracket and are legal to drive off in. It'd be a bit boring if it was things like Accords, Avensis, Civic etc etc (I could name loads). Surely the point of SOTW is the possibility of buying a fun / interesting motor, thrashing it for 6 months then scrapping it or selling it on? You could argue changing a cambelt even for just £300 is like spending £60k on preventative measures on a £200k house. Obviously its a bit different but you know what i mean.
With shed ownership what you want is either nothing to go wrong or something big. My logic is, if a cambelt snaps or gearbox gives way you scrap it and move on. The real expense is small issues, changing the clutch, changing the alternator, electrical gremlins, cv joints, steering rack etc. You wouldn't scrap a car cos it needs a new £90 battery so you can get yourself into that awful spending rut.
So my point is, in my eyes SOTW isn't about finding a long term car its about buying something for a shortwhile that'll put a smile on your face, which this 172 is a great example of.
SOTW in my eyes is an interesting read and highlights cars that have (often surprisingly) dropped into the £1k bracket and are legal to drive off in. It'd be a bit boring if it was things like Accords, Avensis, Civic etc etc (I could name loads). Surely the point of SOTW is the possibility of buying a fun / interesting motor, thrashing it for 6 months then scrapping it or selling it on? You could argue changing a cambelt even for just £300 is like spending £60k on preventative measures on a £200k house. Obviously its a bit different but you know what i mean.
With shed ownership what you want is either nothing to go wrong or something big. My logic is, if a cambelt snaps or gearbox gives way you scrap it and move on. The real expense is small issues, changing the clutch, changing the alternator, electrical gremlins, cv joints, steering rack etc. You wouldn't scrap a car cos it needs a new £90 battery so you can get yourself into that awful spending rut.
So my point is, in my eyes SOTW isn't about finding a long term car its about buying something for a shortwhile that'll put a smile on your face, which this 172 is a great example of.
300bhp/ton said:
Pretty much all fwd vehicles are understeery and it has nowt all to do with tyres or driving lessons.
Good tyres = less understeerTrail braking = less understeer
Use both on a clio and you wont suffer too much understeer, unless of course you are going in far too hot in the 1st place.
great cars, owned 2 ph1 172's now, currently have a mint 70k iceberg silver one, stick a set of eibach sportlines and a whiteline arb and some new cup shocks and the handling is like a go kart. you do need to check the belts are done before the time schedule, mine went on my last one before the 5yr interval, engine was scrapped.
GrumpyTwig said:
It does sound like the problem is more your talent for buying lemons than the manufacturer involved.
Had a BMW E36 328. Never went wrongHad an Integra Type-R. Never went wrong (in 3 years).
Had 2 Nissan Micras and a Primera GT. None went wrong.
350Z. Nothing has gone wrong - I replaced the clutch slave but I probably didn't have to, it was just to improve the clutch action.
Toyota MR2 Turbo - It was tatty, but all that went wrong is a hose popped off.
Fabia vRS - Completely flawless.
Yeah, I'm great at buying lemons.
BalhamBadger said:
RickyJ said:
This was SOTW back in (I think) February 2011, it's appearance then was what got me thinking about, and then buying a 172, 3 months later. Absolutely cracking for the money, although mine was a little more than this one. The sort of car that makes you want to get in and go for a drive just for the sake of it.
Top lurking Ricky! Nice way to break cover but only1ian stole your thunder by one post!Sorry ricky
But seriously does anyone else not think this is the same car? Im a suspious soul after suffering from most motoring scams. This think scream's clocked to me!
Got to say no point buying this and fixing it buy wait till is breaks sell in bits then buy another almost dispossible at this price...
For the 1k plus £4/500 for the cambelt and a few others bits you could buy a minter which is what would make more sense to me 1k buys something ropey whereas for 2k you can get a nice example with all the work done which in the lonbg run will cost you a lot less.
Picked mine up for £1700 03 plate 62k 6 month tax 12 MOT just serviced belts done 20k ago stuck 15k miles on it so far had no issues at all other than needing a new backbox under guarntee from quickfit fantastic cars for the money. Oh and it will also average nearly 40mpg even the way I drive...
For the 1k plus £4/500 for the cambelt and a few others bits you could buy a minter which is what would make more sense to me 1k buys something ropey whereas for 2k you can get a nice example with all the work done which in the lonbg run will cost you a lot less.
Picked mine up for £1700 03 plate 62k 6 month tax 12 MOT just serviced belts done 20k ago stuck 15k miles on it so far had no issues at all other than needing a new backbox under guarntee from quickfit fantastic cars for the money. Oh and it will also average nearly 40mpg even the way I drive...
Sir_Dave said:
300bhp/ton said:
Pretty much all fwd vehicles are understeery and it has nowt all to do with tyres or driving lessons.
Good tyres = less understeerTrail braking = less understeer
Use both on a clio and you wont suffer too much understeer, unless of course you are going in far too hot in the 1st place.
Edited by Roma101 on Friday 14th December 14:30
Mr Wolf said:
BigTom85 said:
only1ian said:
Now i know SOTW has run out of ideas! They are featuring EXACTLY the same car as the last time it made SOTW back in January 2011:
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=162&i=229...
Not just the same model but quite possibly the ACTUAL car itself that or clio cups all come with the same after market steering wheel cover! Check that mileage matches some receipts and MOTs...
Also nice to know deprecation has stopped!
Hmmm, I too am a bit suspicious.http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=162&i=229...
Not just the same model but quite possibly the ACTUAL car itself that or clio cups all come with the same after market steering wheel cover! Check that mileage matches some receipts and MOTs...
Also nice to know deprecation has stopped!
Car from last year has colour coded door handles and no rust
Plus that reg on last years advert has 6 former keepers
only1ian said:
Rust could have easily developed in the last 2 years. Ive gone and checked and dont take your point about the door handles and the wheel cover is definitively the same, as is the sale price. I think this is someone trying to claw their shed money back. For someone who has gone to alot of trouble to clean the car up, they are very low on service details and the 6 owners issue would be covered by "clio previously had a different registration number but this is going onto one of our other cars"
Not to mention it's been clocked..only1ian said:
Rust could have easily developed in the last 2 years. Ive gone and checked and dont take your point about the door handles and the wheel cover is definitively the same, as is the sale price. I think this is someone trying to claw their shed money back. For someone who has gone to alot of trouble to clean the car up, they are very low on service details and the 6 owners issue would be covered by "clio previously had a different registration number but this is going onto one of our other cars"
The steering wheel cover isnt the same though.3 Blocks of white on front face, no shape to them
2 blocks of white, tapers from top around the outside of the wheel
Edited by LocoBlade on Friday 14th December 14:50
Hi guys - having seen a few interesting topics on RenaultSport models over the past few days I thought I'd chip in with my thoughts on reliability.
I've had the following Renaults over the years...
Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 dci 120 (2004)
Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 dci 120 (2005)
Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 dci 130 (2006)
RenaultSport Clio 197 (2007)
RenaultSport Megane 225 (2008)
Renault Koleos (2009)
RenaultSport Clio 200 (2010)
RenaultSport Megane 250 (Jan 2011)
RenaultSport Megane 250 (Dec 2011)
RenaultSport Megane 265 (Sep 2012)
The only "issue" I've had is the Clio 200 had a light come on the dash indicating an engine problem which went to the dealer for a look - they couldnt find any issue but the fiddling around that they did fixed the problem all the same.
The rest of the cars have given me 10 years of trouble free motoring (touch wood).
I've had the following Renaults over the years...
Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 dci 120 (2004)
Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 dci 120 (2005)
Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 dci 130 (2006)
RenaultSport Clio 197 (2007)
RenaultSport Megane 225 (2008)
Renault Koleos (2009)
RenaultSport Clio 200 (2010)
RenaultSport Megane 250 (Jan 2011)
RenaultSport Megane 250 (Dec 2011)
RenaultSport Megane 265 (Sep 2012)
The only "issue" I've had is the Clio 200 had a light come on the dash indicating an engine problem which went to the dealer for a look - they couldnt find any issue but the fiddling around that they did fixed the problem all the same.
The rest of the cars have given me 10 years of trouble free motoring (touch wood).
TameRacingDriver said:
I actually quite like the interior of the Mk1, particularly the Williams. Its got a bit of retro appeal to it.
A couple of yeara go I had a Clio Williams and a 182 cup at the same time, the Williams interior is a nicer place to sit, seats are lower and with better lateral support, the steering wheel is better positioned, the car feels less plasticky than the newer models, just lacks much in the way of toys and is a bit flimsy being 17 yr old crappy french renault quality. I've sat in one, and I much preferred the lower down seating position and general feel of it. They just feel like a much more "serious" car. I've not driven one, but if I was going to tolerate Reno build quality, I think I'd just try and get a minty one of these - they are said to handle so much better than the 172, and are not a million miles behind in a straight line, either.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff