RE: Renault Clio 182 Trophy: PH Hero
Discussion
downhillmalins said:
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
My OH describes mine as a terrier, small & full of attitude! Totally agree with you, they are bloody great fun & I'll often take mine over my 996 if it's a short journey.
I'd love to know just how much difference those dampers make on the Trophy, in every other way the 172 Cup is the 'better' (more hardcore) car yet values really don't reflect this (yet).
...great car.....I remember it coming out and thinking "I want one of those one day". I felt exactly the same about the Clio Williams back in 1993......and the 205 GTI 1.9 earlier, in about 1987...at least I did eventually get a 205.....
In fact looking at so many of the comments on here makes me realise that the most fun and enjoyable and also usable cars are usually the small, nippy ones with enough power to make the chassis dance. Also so many people saying "wish I had kept it"......
..its why I am resisting the time when I have to part company with my 19 year old MX-5...I just know I will so miss it when its gone..
..A Clio 182 is on my list of cars to buy next.....
I have a 182 with both cup packs. Had it for about 16 months so far and have no inclination to move it on. It's great for every day use and fun, although on occasion its small size is limiting but that's what friends with bigger cars are for. 
I also take the view that whilst the 182 with cup packs is 90-95% of the Trophy, I doubt you would really notice the difference unless properly pushing on and even then is it worth having one if it is twice / three times the price and you're going to use it daily?
I also take the view that whilst the 182 with cup packs is 90-95% of the Trophy, I doubt you would really notice the difference unless properly pushing on and even then is it worth having one if it is twice / three times the price and you're going to use it daily?
I fondly remember a trackday at Bedford GT circuit some 10 years ago, whereby my friend in his 172 cup had obviously forgotten his lack of ABS.
He was leading me in my (soon to expire on track with a blown HG) Fiat Coupe Turbo. He must have also forgotten where he was on track as he approached the very slow left hand hairpin towards the end of the lap. Leaving it waaaay late, the car suddenly disappeared in an enormous cloud of tyre smoke, as he hurtled straight on past the turn in point and off track. No harm done, but I could hardly drive for laughing.
We had swapped cars earlier on in the day, and my 2 abiding memories are
1. How much more quickly that little Clio could hustle through the fast left-right chicane on the back straight. Mind bending ability to change direction.
2. How much time its inside front wheel spent spinning up when under serious cornering load. It would have been better with an LSD, but then I suppose it wouldn`t have been such a bargain.
Would absolutely love to have a go in a Trophy.
He was leading me in my (soon to expire on track with a blown HG) Fiat Coupe Turbo. He must have also forgotten where he was on track as he approached the very slow left hand hairpin towards the end of the lap. Leaving it waaaay late, the car suddenly disappeared in an enormous cloud of tyre smoke, as he hurtled straight on past the turn in point and off track. No harm done, but I could hardly drive for laughing.
We had swapped cars earlier on in the day, and my 2 abiding memories are
1. How much more quickly that little Clio could hustle through the fast left-right chicane on the back straight. Mind bending ability to change direction.
2. How much time its inside front wheel spent spinning up when under serious cornering load. It would have been better with an LSD, but then I suppose it wouldn`t have been such a bargain.
Would absolutely love to have a go in a Trophy.
Patrick Bateman said:
Can you get one for near £5/6k?
When I was trading mine in for the Noble I was offered a Brand new R26r with every option for £16.000! (Titanium exhaust included) Always remember the Renault dealer saying that they couldn’t sell them........ as I have already said I should have stuck with the Clío or even tried the R26r
To those who are wondering if the Trophy is that much better than other 172/182s, my advice is to drive one and see for yourself. I used to think the same way when I had a Cup-packed 182, and having driven Ph1 and Ph2 172s as well, I can honestly say that the Trophy is on an entirely different level. I've had mine for two years now, and as well as the damping, the way it changes direction still astounds me. I've kept it mostly standard apart from breathing mods and uprated pads and mounts and bushes as it was a daily driver, but I've got an E39 for that now so the Trophy will be getting an LSD, shorter FD and 197 Brembos in the near future. Can't wait to see how the LSD works with it, as when grip is low, it tends to struggle a bit. Running Michelin Pilot Sport 3s, but will probably change to something stickier.
MM27 said:
To those who are wondering if the Trophy is that much better than other 172/182s, my advice is to drive one and see for yourself. I used to think the same way when I had a Cup-packed 182, and having driven Ph1 and Ph2 172s as well, I can honestly say that the Trophy is on an entirely different level. I've had mine for two years now, and as well as the damping, the way it changes direction still astounds me. I've kept it mostly standard apart from breathing mods and uprated pads and mounts and bushes as it was a daily driver, but I've got an E39 for that now so the Trophy will be getting an LSD, shorter FD and 197 Brembos in the near future. Can't wait to see how the LSD works with it, as when grip is low, it tends to struggle a bit. Running Michelin Pilot Sport 3s, but will probably change to something stickier.
Apart from the dampers and springs (amongst the loss of xenons and climate control) what does it have over the Cup equipped 182?Although saying that a lot of these now run Eibach Sportline or Proline springs (the latter seems to drop them to the same height as the Trophy, but probably still vastly different spring rates given stock dampers).
cib24 said:
Cool car, but what was a better car to own and drive?
Clio 172 and 182 vs. EK9 Civic Type R or Integra Type R DC2
Clio 197/200 vs. Integra Type R DC5 or Civic Type R FD2
I wish there was an online review comparing these cars as they seem like the most obvious comparables.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/suzuki-swift-sport-vs-honda-civic-type-r-mugen-vs-renault-clio-cup-group-testClio 172 and 182 vs. EK9 Civic Type R or Integra Type R DC2
Clio 197/200 vs. Integra Type R DC5 or Civic Type R FD2
I wish there was an online review comparing these cars as they seem like the most obvious comparables.
Patrick Bateman said:
Can you get one for near £5/6k?
When I was trading mine in for the Noble I was offered a Brand new R26r with every option for £16.000! (Titanium exhaust included) Always remember the Renault dealer saying that they couldn’t sell them........ as I have already said I should have stuck with the Clío or even tried the R26r
DickP said:
MM27 said:
To those who are wondering if the Trophy is that much better than other 172/182s, my advice is to drive one and see for yourself. I used to think the same way when I had a Cup-packed 182, and having driven Ph1 and Ph2 172s as well, I can honestly say that the Trophy is on an entirely different level. I've had mine for two years now, and as well as the damping, the way it changes direction still astounds me. I've kept it mostly standard apart from breathing mods and uprated pads and mounts and bushes as it was a daily driver, but I've got an E39 for that now so the Trophy will be getting an LSD, shorter FD and 197 Brembos in the near future. Can't wait to see how the LSD works with it, as when grip is low, it tends to struggle a bit. Running Michelin Pilot Sport 3s, but will probably change to something stickier.
Apart from the dampers and springs (amongst the loss of xenons and climate control) what does it have over the Cup equipped 182?Although saying that a lot of these now run Eibach Sportline or Proline springs (the latter seems to drop them to the same height as the Trophy, but probably still vastly different spring rates given stock dampers).
Those trick dampers give the car a level of composure and security whilst still retaining the fun adjustability that the standard cup chassis cant replicate.
As has been said the Trophy really is a fantastic drive even when compared to much more expensive cars.
blade7 said:
Always liked the 182, 3 years ago I looked for one as a runaround for her indoors. At the time I couldn't find one that hadn't been well hammered or had dodgy history. I gave up in the end and bought her a new Fiesta ST. How would the Cup compare to the ST?
I've considered doing the same thing. However, at the cost of what you can get a decent 172/182 for, i just feel like i'm not getting much more with the Fiesta, other than an newer car and tuning ability. Obviously, that's at the cost of alot of depreciation though.With them being so cheap, there are many out there that have been neglected and/or chavved up. There are plenty of good ones out there though too, you just need to search far and wide and potentially up the budget a little bit too.
These really can't drop any more in value. I really need to stop procrastinating/changing my mind and just buy one!
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