RE: Renault Clio 182 Trophy: PH Hero
Discussion
I’ve had a 182 and I’ve got the remnants of a 172 and at some point I’ll pick up a 182 cup, but despite my love of the clio I actually think my 306 gti is ever so slightly better. They are very similar, but the 306 is just that little more playful. Maybe the Sachs dampers would swing the pendulum back to the trophy, but then £1500 quids worth of dampers on a 306 or 182 would hopefully make a nice difference.
jago-fq3vy said:
Totally brilliant car, I bought the best one I could after watching Harry Metcalfe’s YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/BTTI-aMKn60
Unfortunately young family and work commitments mean it doesn’t get used so I may stick it up on pistonheads tomorrow for someone else to enjoy...
I hope you're serious as I'd be very interested in taking it off your hands!https://youtu.be/BTTI-aMKn60
Unfortunately young family and work commitments mean it doesn’t get used so I may stick it up on pistonheads tomorrow for someone else to enjoy...
I have fond memories of these and 182's as I sold them, I ran a 182 Cup as a demo and I have to say to date it has been my favourite car I have ever had as a demo car.
I sold 5 Trophy's from new, absolutely fantastic cars, only issue was when Renault panicked and threw loads of money at them and dealers where knocking them out for around £12500, haven't a clue why as they were routinely billed in the press as superb value for money at £15,000 (or whatever they were), but hey it wouldn't be the first time and won't be the last.
I would love a totally unmolested and original example.
I sold 5 Trophy's from new, absolutely fantastic cars, only issue was when Renault panicked and threw loads of money at them and dealers where knocking them out for around £12500, haven't a clue why as they were routinely billed in the press as superb value for money at £15,000 (or whatever they were), but hey it wouldn't be the first time and won't be the last.
I would love a totally unmolested and original example.
Ran one daily for 5 years or so.
Absolutely hilarious. I probably laughed out loud on about 50% of those journeys. No kidding.
Currently restoring it's nemesis the DC2 to see if it's all that's cracked up to be. First signs are promising. (ie. you can go around roundabouts at frankly ludicrous speeds).
Absolutely hilarious. I probably laughed out loud on about 50% of those journeys. No kidding.
Currently restoring it's nemesis the DC2 to see if it's all that's cracked up to be. First signs are promising. (ie. you can go around roundabouts at frankly ludicrous speeds).
I co-own a 172 Cup as a track car project, picked it up for £850... absolute riot of a car. The Cup is right up there as one of the most fun out of all the cars I've had the chance to drive! Literally can't not smile when behind the wheel on a b-road, it begs to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck and absolutely thrashed. Can't wait to get some sticky tyres and bucket seats for it
SidewaysSi said:
Does road salt mess up the dampers on these? In which case does it limit year round use? Damper rebuilds on a daily always seem a bit of a pain to me.
They aren't sealed as well as road dampers and not sure if they can be made more resistant - I sold mine before rebuilds started becoming necessary.Had a Clio 182 FF for three years, which I sold last summer and replaced with a 130i. Twas a good car. Mine was the less common Racing Blue with factory white stripes (a colour scheme dating back to the 60s Renault 8 Gordini). It's the only car I've ever bought in my life because I like the colour, seriously. Another colour worth looking out for is yellow, which is rare, as I understand it was a special order colour at considerable extra expense. Nice.
Things I learned buying and owning mine which might benefit future owners (look away now if easily bored):
1. Only 5000 182s (of all types) were ever built. Many did high mileages and many expired early through abuse. So if you want one, get your skates on.
2. Unless you're buying one with a miniscule mileage, try to get one with a new exhaust. They are humongous money. Just the last foot and a half of rear section is £860 (parts only), and none of the tyre and exhaust centres or any other third parties can get them. The Renault main dealer network carefully restricts the supply to themselves alone. The only alternative you have is an aftermarket modified system - choice of slightly noisier or much noisier, and still quite expensive.
3. The dephaser (Renault speak for a variable valve timing pulley) starts to fail typically around 80k. It can only be changed along with the cambelt, and many owners don't bother if it hasn't actually gone, because it adds a couple of hundred to an already expensive cambelt job. I had my cambelt, aux belt (crucial, as if it goes, it takes the cambelt with it on a 172/182), the dephaser, water pump, and various pulleys and what nots changed by an independent Renault specialist in Farnborough, and the bill was £915. That would be around £100 or so cheaper on a car without air-con.
4. Don't think about it, just get one! One of the best compromises ever between (small) family car and sports car. And aside from cambelt and exhaust, surprisingly cheap to maintain, and shockingly economical for the performance. My 130i drinks like a fish by comparison. Hope that helps somebody. Get out there and have some fun!
Things I learned buying and owning mine which might benefit future owners (look away now if easily bored):
1. Only 5000 182s (of all types) were ever built. Many did high mileages and many expired early through abuse. So if you want one, get your skates on.
2. Unless you're buying one with a miniscule mileage, try to get one with a new exhaust. They are humongous money. Just the last foot and a half of rear section is £860 (parts only), and none of the tyre and exhaust centres or any other third parties can get them. The Renault main dealer network carefully restricts the supply to themselves alone. The only alternative you have is an aftermarket modified system - choice of slightly noisier or much noisier, and still quite expensive.
3. The dephaser (Renault speak for a variable valve timing pulley) starts to fail typically around 80k. It can only be changed along with the cambelt, and many owners don't bother if it hasn't actually gone, because it adds a couple of hundred to an already expensive cambelt job. I had my cambelt, aux belt (crucial, as if it goes, it takes the cambelt with it on a 172/182), the dephaser, water pump, and various pulleys and what nots changed by an independent Renault specialist in Farnborough, and the bill was £915. That would be around £100 or so cheaper on a car without air-con.
4. Don't think about it, just get one! One of the best compromises ever between (small) family car and sports car. And aside from cambelt and exhaust, surprisingly cheap to maintain, and shockingly economical for the performance. My 130i drinks like a fish by comparison. Hope that helps somebody. Get out there and have some fun!
Best decision I ever made was purchasing my 182. Love the look of the trophy, but for the price and the added insurance cost at my age (24), I decided to stick with a 182 and put the rest towards my house deposit. Everytime I drive it it puts a smile on my face, and it's the first car I'm actually proud to say I own.
If you are debating getting a 172 or 182, just take the plunge, you'll love it.
If you are debating getting a 172 or 182, just take the plunge, you'll love it.
Johnny5hoods said:
Had a Clio 182 FF for three years, which I sold last summer and replaced with a 130i. Twas a good car. Mine was the less common Racing Blue with factory white stripes (a colour scheme dating back to the 60s Renault 8 Gordini). It's the only car I've ever bought in my life because I like the colour, seriously. Another colour worth looking out for is yellow, which is rare, as I understand it was a special order colour at considerable extra expense. Nice.
Things I learned buying and owning mine which might benefit future owners (look away now if easily bored):
1. Only 5000 182s (of all types) were ever built. Many did high mileages and many expired early through abuse. So if you want one, get your skates on.
2. Unless you're buying one with a miniscule mileage, try to get one with a new exhaust. They are humongous money. Just the last foot and a half of rear section is £860 (parts only), and none of the tyre and exhaust centres or any other third parties can get them. The Renault main dealer network carefully restricts the supply to themselves alone. The only alternative you have is an aftermarket modified system - choice of slightly noisier or much noisier, and still quite expensive.
3. The dephaser (Renault speak for a variable valve timing pulley) starts to fail typically around 80k. It can only be changed along with the cambelt, and many owners don't bother if it hasn't actually gone, because it adds a couple of hundred to an already expensive cambelt job. I had my cambelt, aux belt (crucial, as if it goes, it takes the cambelt with it on a 172/182), the dephaser, water pump, and various pulleys and what nots changed by an independent Renault specialist in Farnborough, and the bill was £915. That would be around £100 or so cheaper on a car without air-con.
4. Don't think about it, just get one! One of the best compromises ever between (small) family car and sports car. And aside from cambelt and exhaust, surprisingly cheap to maintain, and shockingly economical for the performance. My 130i drinks like a fish by comparison. Hope that helps somebody. Get out there and have some fun!
The 5 yearly cam belt change on all Clios of this generation, RS or bog standard, is painfully expensive - when I had a Clio Campus Sport (all 1.2 16 valve & 75bhp of it) a main dealer wanted over £650! I paid £450 at a local garage including a new water pump - at least on the 172/182/Trophy it’s worth it compared to the value of the car & the performance you get.Things I learned buying and owning mine which might benefit future owners (look away now if easily bored):
1. Only 5000 182s (of all types) were ever built. Many did high mileages and many expired early through abuse. So if you want one, get your skates on.
2. Unless you're buying one with a miniscule mileage, try to get one with a new exhaust. They are humongous money. Just the last foot and a half of rear section is £860 (parts only), and none of the tyre and exhaust centres or any other third parties can get them. The Renault main dealer network carefully restricts the supply to themselves alone. The only alternative you have is an aftermarket modified system - choice of slightly noisier or much noisier, and still quite expensive.
3. The dephaser (Renault speak for a variable valve timing pulley) starts to fail typically around 80k. It can only be changed along with the cambelt, and many owners don't bother if it hasn't actually gone, because it adds a couple of hundred to an already expensive cambelt job. I had my cambelt, aux belt (crucial, as if it goes, it takes the cambelt with it on a 172/182), the dephaser, water pump, and various pulleys and what nots changed by an independent Renault specialist in Farnborough, and the bill was £915. That would be around £100 or so cheaper on a car without air-con.
4. Don't think about it, just get one! One of the best compromises ever between (small) family car and sports car. And aside from cambelt and exhaust, surprisingly cheap to maintain, and shockingly economical for the performance. My 130i drinks like a fish by comparison. Hope that helps somebody. Get out there and have some fun!
Having owned a 106 (basically a Saxo) & a bogo Clio of this generation, the person trying to argue a Saxo VTS is better than a Clio 182 Trophy must be having a laugh - the Clio handles better, is as much fun but more stable, has a driving position designed for humans (still not perfect even with Reacros), was made by someone who’d at least heard of sound deadening (so has some refinement) & has 40% more power. I’d allow them to argue that a Saxo VTS is better than a 106 GTI but not a Clio Trophy.
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