Would I regret buying a Clio 182?
Discussion
I have always wanted to get into trackdays and finally am in a position I can think about it seriously.
I have been toying with upgrading the daily when I suddenly thought if I didnt bother doing that I can just go straight out and by a track day car and insure tax and maintain it for less than the price of an upgrade .
I have kept an eye on clios and have a real interest because they seem simple, I assumed a front wheel drive car would be a good way into trackdays before graduating to RWD, and...I actually think they look fantastic..
Is there anything I should particularly consider or is a 182 a solid bet? There seem to be so many of them out there.
I have been toying with upgrading the daily when I suddenly thought if I didnt bother doing that I can just go straight out and by a track day car and insure tax and maintain it for less than the price of an upgrade .
I have kept an eye on clios and have a real interest because they seem simple, I assumed a front wheel drive car would be a good way into trackdays before graduating to RWD, and...I actually think they look fantastic..
Is there anything I should particularly consider or is a 182 a solid bet? There seem to be so many of them out there.
I had a phase 1 Clio 172, it was fun but brittle and couldn't take track work. I kept it 8 months, did 3 trackdays in it and destroyed 2 gearboxes. It was just over 3 years old at the time, on 27k. I flogged it and bought a 306 GTi-6 on 40k which was 6 years old, which was more fun, did more trackdays and never broke. Kept it 8 years, did numerous Ring trips in it, UK trackdays and used as a daily, utterly reliable and wish I'd not sold it. Still on the road today, owned by someone who has a collection of Pug hot hatches, refuses to sell it back - R448 CHP.
On the flip side, a mate has a 182 approaching 200k, which he tracks and it's been fine for him. Maybe I had a Friday afternoon car?
On the flip side, a mate has a 182 approaching 200k, which he tracks and it's been fine for him. Maybe I had a Friday afternoon car?
I have had a 182 for 3 years, funnily enough, I have a Z4M too.
For the track, they are great bang for your buck. They drive very well out of the box, with a few modifications they'll rung circles round some much faster cars too.
But, they are still small cars. 4 up on the way back from the pub is uncomfortable, and you won't get a lot in them.
Cambelts are a costly job, so either buy low and get it done ASAP or buy one with a reciept for the work. Also, the gearboxes are made from chocolate, I've just spent £1k refurbing mine. Everything else is generally a doddle on these cars. They are light (people have got them below 900Kg) with a revvy engine, so a good blast. I don't really drive the Z in anger anymore, as the clio is much more engaging.
Parts are generally easy to get ahold of, and there is a wealth of knowledge on the clio sites and FB pages.
I don't regret getting one, and still love driving it, but it has cost me way more than I thought. For a initial £1400 purchase, I've spent 2 times that maintaining it (granted the gearbox was expensive, and I had the belts done recently too).
My topic on the Clio: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... Yet to update about the gearbox
For the track, they are great bang for your buck. They drive very well out of the box, with a few modifications they'll rung circles round some much faster cars too.
But, they are still small cars. 4 up on the way back from the pub is uncomfortable, and you won't get a lot in them.
Cambelts are a costly job, so either buy low and get it done ASAP or buy one with a reciept for the work. Also, the gearboxes are made from chocolate, I've just spent £1k refurbing mine. Everything else is generally a doddle on these cars. They are light (people have got them below 900Kg) with a revvy engine, so a good blast. I don't really drive the Z in anger anymore, as the clio is much more engaging.
Parts are generally easy to get ahold of, and there is a wealth of knowledge on the clio sites and FB pages.
I don't regret getting one, and still love driving it, but it has cost me way more than I thought. For a initial £1400 purchase, I've spent 2 times that maintaining it (granted the gearbox was expensive, and I had the belts done recently too).
My topic on the Clio: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... Yet to update about the gearbox
Illmonkey thanks for that really helfpul if a little scary. I dont mind bills along the way but what will frustrate me is buying a car that immediatly needs serious money going into it.
ARe there any ways to assess the gearbox or any upgrades that people make to solve the issue? I am wondering whether it makes more sense to buy a track prepped car
ARe there any ways to assess the gearbox or any upgrades that people make to solve the issue? I am wondering whether it makes more sense to buy a track prepped car
Z4MCSL said:
Illmonkey thanks for that really helfpul if a little scary. I dont mind bills along the way but what will frustrate me is buying a car that immediatly needs serious money going into it.
ARe there any ways to assess the gearbox or any upgrades that people make to solve the issue? I am wondering whether it makes more sense to buy a track prepped car
A car with no proof of belts is under £1000, with belts it'd be £1500ish. Belts cost me £650 to get done. I'd be half tempted to buy a car without them and get them done yourself, so you know it's done. Obviously, all of them will be different, but for a hot hatch (of its time), most of them will have been ragged and tracked. Buy on history. Or buy a prepped car, generally, they are cheaper than the sum of parts, but you'd be looking at more outlay. Depends on your budget.ARe there any ways to assess the gearbox or any upgrades that people make to solve the issue? I am wondering whether it makes more sense to buy a track prepped car
My gearbox was fine for 24 months then started grumbling. It did start to crunch into 3rd and 4th (common) before, so watch out for that. Gearboxes can be had for £250, but obviously, you don't know the state of it. So I went all out and got mine as refurbed as it needed. Not sure there are any options for different gearboxes or parts inside, it didn't get mentioned by the guy who done mine and he was basically fixing clios constantly.
When I got mine, the following weekend we were at Oulton park without doing any work on it, and it was fine. They take some stick, but will get unhappy sometimes.
Where are you based? Happy to take you for a spin
Thanks that is really helpful.
I am based in south London? Anywhere near you? Near Crystal Palace?
Appreciate the car is small but it has to be better than a the TTS which I cant even physically get into in the back!? and god knows what would happen if you crashed with people in the back - heads straight through the wear window?!??!
I am based in south London? Anywhere near you? Near Crystal Palace?
Appreciate the car is small but it has to be better than a the TTS which I cant even physically get into in the back!? and god knows what would happen if you crashed with people in the back - heads straight through the wear window?!??!
For a number of years the 172/182 has been my #1 suggestion for a fwd track car, to people starting out.
My wife had a 182 with cup suspension when they were still quite new on the road and I used it a couple of times on track when my Impreza was not available, for whatever reason.
My own track car hatchback, still has rear seats and aircon fitted in case I ever need it to carry more than two people. Once you realise that track days are more about your own enjoyment, than they are about swapping fastest ever lap time stories with the guy in an identical car, the extra weight becomes irrelevant.
Z4MCSL said:
Looks like you bought yours stock too? Happy with that choice?
I get that financially it makes sense to buy a prepped car but I like the idea of enjoying the process of the car gradually getting better on track.
I'm north Oxford, so a bit of a trek. I get that financially it makes sense to buy a prepped car but I like the idea of enjoying the process of the car gradually getting better on track.
Yea, stock is fine. I'd not fettle with the engine really, it's powerful enough, although some chase every BHP for huge costs. I've done a few tweaks like lowering, spacers, camber, poly mounts, brembo calipers, air filter etc. It's still a daily, so don't want to do much more, and it is a lot better than stock without stripping it out etc. All over the time I've owned it, so it's got better over the time.
I actually bought it to learn on, I'd done repairs and swapped parts out before, but nothing big. This car I've got more involved, it's been a great learning experience. It's worked for me. Just didn't have the balls to drop the gearbox and repair it!
I can send you a spreadsheet if you want, but you might regret it
Had my 172 Cup for almost 9.5yrs, bought it to hillclimb with & will never sell it as it's simply too much fun!
Yes, my gearbox failed but I was flat out on a hillclimb, other than that it's been very reliable & has a solid MoT history. Belts are expensive, other than that they're pretty cheap to run. They're good on petrol too, seen 40+ out of mine on a slow dual carriageway run, it's never dipped below high 20's.
There are numerous common upgrades should you wish to go down that route, mine is fairly standard, mainly upgrade to better parts when something wears out (dampers, exhaust etc).
I preferred the 182 looks but ended up with a 172 Cup as it's the lightest & I was competing in it, absolutely no regrets from me.
There are still people that will say it's French therefore it's s
t but they are missing out, they really are.
Yes, my gearbox failed but I was flat out on a hillclimb, other than that it's been very reliable & has a solid MoT history. Belts are expensive, other than that they're pretty cheap to run. They're good on petrol too, seen 40+ out of mine on a slow dual carriageway run, it's never dipped below high 20's.
There are numerous common upgrades should you wish to go down that route, mine is fairly standard, mainly upgrade to better parts when something wears out (dampers, exhaust etc).
I preferred the 182 looks but ended up with a 172 Cup as it's the lightest & I was competing in it, absolutely no regrets from me.
There are still people that will say it's French therefore it's s
t but they are missing out, they really are.Z4MCSL said:
And I guess this is a whole separate post but is there an argument to consider around 172 vs 182
As far as driving is concerned there's little to no difference. Like you I preferred the 182 for its slightly more modern style, and of course because it's that bit younger.I've taken the rear seats out (in fact all the seats) and replaced the fronts with a set from Corbeau; it certainly feels more nimble but that's equally likely to be part placebo - they're not noted for their brilliant driving position.
As mentioned before parts supplies are plentiful and cheap and there's a great online community.
Loads of good info here, and if you buy one, well worth joining: https://www.cliosport.net/forums/
Good luck.
We have a 182 in the household but it's not our track car. Nowadays we essentially use it for a van, rear seats are down all the time and it gets used for tip runs and stuff like that 
I have been in/around plenty of tracked 182's though and they're brilliant starter cars - and will perform way beyond their cost/expectations if you stick with them.
Reliability wise we bought ours with an "apparent" belt service but after a few months it just felt naff, down on power and sprung a couple of minor oil leaks. We had it to a specialist in 2018 and spent about £1k on it (including belts/dephaser) and have since done balljoints/TRE's myself and replaced a few brake lines etc.
At 106k miles it now performs great, pulls really well and is just a joy to drive. Unfortunately it needs to go pretty soon, as we need to make room for something with more doors.
I have been in/around plenty of tracked 182's though and they're brilliant starter cars - and will perform way beyond their cost/expectations if you stick with them.
Reliability wise we bought ours with an "apparent" belt service but after a few months it just felt naff, down on power and sprung a couple of minor oil leaks. We had it to a specialist in 2018 and spent about £1k on it (including belts/dephaser) and have since done balljoints/TRE's myself and replaced a few brake lines etc.
At 106k miles it now performs great, pulls really well and is just a joy to drive. Unfortunately it needs to go pretty soon, as we need to make room for something with more doors.
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