Clio 182 reliability
Discussion
Bit of a thorny issue but of those PHers who own/have owned clio 182's, how did the car hold up to daily use and hooning? it ticks all the boxes for my new car (im now down to a CTR or 182 with cup packs). The only areas the civic wins (based on what ive heard) is build quality/reliability. Have any of you had consistent issues with your 182's from bits of trim falling off or more serious mechanical stuff? any comments?
Edited by davey68 on Friday 18th May 10:33
I am currently on my second clio sport having previously owned a 172 cup, i now have a 182 with the cup suspension. Great cars and never had any real problems mechanically, though one of my xenons has stopped working at the moment..hopefully should be sorted under warranty once the Renault monkeys have had a look at it. Of the two cars i preferred the 172 cup..was very raw and nice and basic(less bits to go wrong). I do about 300 miles a week commuting with the occasional little blast and the 182 seems to be holding up well.
Never driven the Honda but you pretty much know it would easily go for many many miles!
Hope this helps!
Never driven the Honda but you pretty much know it would easily go for many many miles!
Hope this helps!
I am on my second 182 cup and have had no problems with this car. I had a few things done under warranty with the first car but it was general faults found the 182's. If it was that bad i would not bought another one a year later.
Renault are not known for build quality but if you want to find out about common faults and what to look for try Renaultsport.co.uk and cliosport.net. Honda's are known for being more reliable but you can still get problems with them
For driving fun my 182cup brings a smile to my face each day
Renault are not known for build quality but if you want to find out about common faults and what to look for try Renaultsport.co.uk and cliosport.net. Honda's are known for being more reliable but you can still get problems with them
For driving fun my 182cup brings a smile to my face each day
Edited by pumpkin182 on Friday 18th May 21:03
I don't have a 172/182 and neither have I had a CTR...BUT I have a had a 1996 Civic with over 100k miles and Vtec Prelude with over 185k miles. I now have a 2002 Clio 1.4.
The Hondas were bullet proof, in particluar the civic and I never spent a penny on it a drove it very hard. The prelude gave me suspension trouble-needed balljoints and bushes. However, after 185k miles that could be forgiven!
In contrast, My 2002 clio with just 35k miles needs new dampers, gearbox mounts, some suspension bushes and rattles like crazy. Admittedly, I owned the Hondas in the UK and the Clio has spent all it life in Greece (where the roads are unbelievable bad!!). Despite the roads, the Clio is not putting in a good showing. I have driven other cars here (Seat, Audi, Suziki etc) with the same and more mileage but they have not suffered the problems nor rattle as much.
So although not a direct comparison I think it safe to say the clio is certinly not as bullet proof as a honda. However, even this basic 1.4 model is more fun in the handling department than the Hondas...that said the hondas have the own special charm, that manic vtec engine, rifle bolt gearshifts and that feeling that you can drive it hard and not worry about bits falling off!
The Hondas were bullet proof, in particluar the civic and I never spent a penny on it a drove it very hard. The prelude gave me suspension trouble-needed balljoints and bushes. However, after 185k miles that could be forgiven!
In contrast, My 2002 clio with just 35k miles needs new dampers, gearbox mounts, some suspension bushes and rattles like crazy. Admittedly, I owned the Hondas in the UK and the Clio has spent all it life in Greece (where the roads are unbelievable bad!!). Despite the roads, the Clio is not putting in a good showing. I have driven other cars here (Seat, Audi, Suziki etc) with the same and more mileage but they have not suffered the problems nor rattle as much.
So although not a direct comparison I think it safe to say the clio is certinly not as bullet proof as a honda. However, even this basic 1.4 model is more fun in the handling department than the Hondas...that said the hondas have the own special charm, that manic vtec engine, rifle bolt gearshifts and that feeling that you can drive it hard and not worry about bits falling off!
I'm on my second 182 - they're not the best built cars around, but at the money there's nothing else thats as much fun. I think you can be unlucky with any make - the two most unreliable cars I've owned have been an Audi and a Mercedes ! If you buy one off cliosport search the vendor's old posts to see if he's reported any problems before.
I sell many Clio 182s and have very few problems to rectify pre or post-sale. However, German cars, particularly 3 to 5 years old are a pain in the butt for electrical problems. Usually of the engine management variety. Classing MINI as German too, they are dreadful for creaks in steering column, engine mountings and rattles everywhere - compared to a three year old Renaultsport which are pretty well screwed together by comparison.
Hondas fly through MOTs and have low recon costs, I've had the odd throttle body / idle problem to contend with. Otherwise no probs at all.
Hondas fly through MOTs and have low recon costs, I've had the odd throttle body / idle problem to contend with. Otherwise no probs at all.
Ive had my 2004 182 cup for 7 months now, in that time ive put 16000 miles on it. Costs so far have been 2 front tyres, rear brakes, some oil(not a lot considering) and a couple of magic trees. Only 2 warranty jobs..one was a broken cruise control button, the other was a broken wire in the rear lights (hardly big problems). Im sure someone told me it would be unreliable but its yet to prove that as its sound as. Im overdue a service but its not showing in its running yet!
As said above, I had problems with two new Porsches in the past-my 987S had a new gearbox at 2k! Bought my 182 initially as a second car (it became my only car). Fast, yet enconomical with loads of standard kit. Averaged well over 35mpg driven at 70ish on motorway. I tracked it and stood up fantastically well. Only problem i had was a dead battery.
Fantastic little cars for the money-the successor to the 205 1.9GTi. I dont doubt the old shape Type R is fast and reliable. But its way more than a comparable (age/mileage 182) and looks like a people carrier.
Fantastic little cars for the money-the successor to the 205 1.9GTi. I dont doubt the old shape Type R is fast and reliable. But its way more than a comparable (age/mileage 182) and looks like a people carrier.
Before the teg I had a 182, and I drove a civic type R. I had nothing major go wrong with the 182, just niggly things like alarm, climate control, and a wind squeel through the windscreen, all fixed under warranty. Oh and the thumbgrip split on the steering wheel split, and they wouldnt repair that, said it was wear and tear 
Apart from that, good cars... just dont be too rough with the gearbox, because the synchros i have heard can be a weak spot and i did manage to "crunch" the gears once or twice while doing some hard accelerating from 1st to 2nd.
Loved it, and preferred it to the CTR to drive, much more fun.
Apart from that, good cars... just dont be too rough with the gearbox, because the synchros i have heard can be a weak spot and i did manage to "crunch" the gears once or twice while doing some hard accelerating from 1st to 2nd.
Loved it, and preferred it to the CTR to drive, much more fun.
I've owned both cars 
Never had any problems with my Clio Sport and loved every minute of her.. I know a few pple who have had problems with them tho but I guess its the luck of the draw.
The CTR again lovely car and I love this baby too.. The reason I got my CTR one because I had the extra cash and well I'd done pretty much everything I wanted to do with the Clio and there was a good deal to be had on the premier.
I found the Clio better on the fuel out of the two but maybe the Honda brings out the devil in me more who knows both great cars..
My advice go out and drive them both see which one "you" like the most.
Happy motoring
Never had any problems with my Clio Sport and loved every minute of her.. I know a few pple who have had problems with them tho but I guess its the luck of the draw.
The CTR again lovely car and I love this baby too.. The reason I got my CTR one because I had the extra cash and well I'd done pretty much everything I wanted to do with the Clio and there was a good deal to be had on the premier.
I found the Clio better on the fuel out of the two but maybe the Honda brings out the devil in me more who knows both great cars..
My advice go out and drive them both see which one "you" like the most.
Happy motoring
I owned a 172 Cup from new and it's probably the most unreliable car I've owned! 
Don't get me wrong, it was a great car and I loved driving it, but mine was plagued with loads of problems, so after 9 months I'd had enough and chopped it in for a CTR
The Civic was faultless, but the Clio was more "fun" to drive in my opinion
Don't get me wrong, it was a great car and I loved driving it, but mine was plagued with loads of problems, so after 9 months I'd had enough and chopped it in for a CTR
The Civic was faultless, but the Clio was more "fun" to drive in my opinion
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