RE: Renaultsport Clio 182: PH Fleet

[DailyHack]

These were great cars, and surprisingly reliable for this era of Renault.

Miss these days when hot hatches were small and nimble - saw one few months back on the motorway, they look lost now in a sea of over sized vehicles nowadays.

[VeeFource]

TheAntics said:

Having recently written of my M140 and my job being on the line I decided to not chunk a load of money into a like for like replacement until my work situation improves. Cheap run around that wasn't going to make me hate driving? RS182. Paid a ridiculously low amount of money for my 182 FF (largely because it was that or scrap heap judging by its condition).

I'm utterly in love, completely unmodified, now considerably tidier, belts and dephaser done and a new set of shoes. It's amazing fun to drive, I feel so connected to it and I've only owned it about a month. Every time I drive it it makes me laugh out loud at how capable it is.

In fact I like it so much, I've bought another one...a cup in inferno.

Sorry to hear of the misfortunes but definitely sounds like there's a real bright side! I've had a similar experience going from a 350Z to a Suzuki Swift Sport. It's so much more rewarding and involving on a good B road despite how unlikely this would seem on paper.

Greg 172 said:

Nice to see light coloured alloys winning out - light objects seem bigger because they reflect more light. I really don't understand why so many cars now have black or anthracite alloys when it makes them look smaller. Maybe to encourage upgrades to a larger size?

Interesting, I always thought darker wheels look bigger as they blend into the tyre more.

[dhamilton99]

I wave goodbye to my 182 this coming week to welcome a new Focus ST-3. Loved the little clio from day 1, was a perfect upgrade from my first car which was a C2 Code.

[xu5]

hondansx said:

I agree, good fuel economy should be a given really. They've gotten bigger and heavier, but for me the ideal is that - relatively - they should deliver far better economy than a sports car with similar performance.

I have a Trophy and love it. I am homing in on 120,000 miles and it is parked next to a Huracan Performante - I don't consider the Trophy the poor relation!

Back to fuel economy, wouldn't it be great to have a 6th gear? It would help motorway driving so much, and I reckon it could crack 50mpg if it was a proper overdrive gear.

Which brings me onto a question for the wider PH community. Would you spend closer to £15,000 on one (or £200 a month)? As in, the same price of a brand new Fiesta ST?

I'm genuinely tempted to buy a 172 Cup and restore to as new but better in every area: driving dynamics, performance and also refinement. The aim would be to beat the lap times of modern hot hatches, but retain the old school nature whilst improving ride quality and daily usability - a car without compromise. I wouldn't go mad on the exotic materials, but it would have some nice attention to detail to show where the money goes, and only use top-notch aftermarket parts.

I'm just wondering if there would be a market for this, with the advent of the £250,000 'Singer-esque' Lancia Integrale. I love hot hatches, but sadly not a single new one. But i'm also a realist, I bought my Trophy from memory (I had a 172 about 12 years ago), and once you take the rose-tinted glasses off, there are some obvious areas where modern cars are better. But a 182 is still better where it counts: driving.

I would be tempted. Likewise modern hatches and almost all performance themed cars out now leave me cold. After a long line of old school French hatches nothing current was taking my fancy, until Mazda cut through the bullst with the ND MX5. The last hot hatch I owned was a 172 Cup, did 60,000 miles in it and loved it. I don't think it would need a 6th gear for my needs but ITB's would make it something truly special!

[greenarrow]

Maldini35 said:

hondansx said:

Which brings me onto a question for the wider PH community. Would you spend closer to £15,000 on one (or £200 a month)? As in, the same price of a brand new Fiesta ST?

I'm genuinely tempted to buy a 172 Cup and restore to as new but better in every area: driving dynamics, performance and also refinement. The aim would be to beat the lap times of modern hot hatches, but retain the old school nature whilst improving ride quality and daily usability - a car without compromise. I wouldn't go mad on the exotic materials, but it would have some nice attention to detail to show where the money goes, and only use top-notch aftermarket parts.

I'm just wondering if there would be a market for this, with the advent of the £250,000 'Singer-esque' Lancia Integrale. I love hot hatches, but sadly not a single new one. But i'm also a realist, I bought my Trophy from memory (I had a 172 about 12 years ago), and once you take the rose-tinted glasses off, there are some obvious areas where modern cars are better. But a 182 is still better where it counts: driving.

Love it - Great idea!
I’m in the process of restoring 172 Cup which i’m thoroughly enjoying. Most friends think I’m nuts lavishing care, attention and money on an old shopping trolley.
I decided to keep everything stock but have found myself making a few exceptions : Uprated bushes, air filter, brake hoses, pads etc.
The thought of of a standard looking car made as good as it could be (without forgetting it’s a road car ) would be superb. 200 bhp+ but no turbo charging mmmm

There are a fair few old Clios advertised with more than stock power. One near me on Gumtree, 195BHP, guy wants £2K. Seems a fairly quick car for the money..

I'd be interested in seeing what an uprated modded Clio would do, compared with say, a modern Fiesta ST. I suspect the mega hatches will always be out of reach though.

[f1ten]

i do fancy one myself. Am I too old at erm 40 to be driving one?
great fun little things. Drove a cup track car at Bedford and really enjoyed throwing it around...

[tumble dryer]

greenarrow said:

Maldini35 said:

hondansx said:

Which brings me onto a question for the wider PH community. Would you spend closer to £15,000 on one (or £200 a month)? As in, the same price of a brand new Fiesta ST?

I'm genuinely tempted to buy a 172 Cup and restore to as new but better in every area: driving dynamics, performance and also refinement. The aim would be to beat the lap times of modern hot hatches, but retain the old school nature whilst improving ride quality and daily usability - a car without compromise. I wouldn't go mad on the exotic materials, but it would have some nice attention to detail to show where the money goes, and only use top-notch aftermarket parts.

I'm just wondering if there would be a market for this, with the advent of the £250,000 'Singer-esque' Lancia Integrale. I love hot hatches, but sadly not a single new one. But i'm also a realist, I bought my Trophy from memory (I had a 172 about 12 years ago), and once you take the rose-tinted glasses off, there are some obvious areas where modern cars are better. But a 182 is still better where it counts: driving.

Love it - Great idea!
I’m in the process of restoring 172 Cup which i’m thoroughly enjoying. Most friends think I’m nuts lavishing care, attention and money on an old shopping trolley.
I decided to keep everything stock but have found myself making a few exceptions : Uprated bushes, air filter, brake hoses, pads etc.
The thought of of a standard looking car made as good as it could be (without forgetting it’s a road car ) would be superb. 200 bhp+ but no turbo charging mmmm

There are a fair few old Clios advertised with more than stock power. One near me on Gumtree, 195BHP, guy wants £2K. Seems a fairly quick car for the money..

I'd be interested in seeing what an uprated modded Clio would do, compared with say, a modern Fiesta ST. I suspect the mega hatches will always be out of reach though.

Guess which one gives me the most smiles...

[Salamura]

Love it!

I've had my 172 for 2 years now. Initially the idea was to use it for a while and replace it with a Megane 225. But I've enjoyed having it so much, that I'm considering keeping it and giving it some love instead: 2nd cambelt change, new (possibly updated) brakes and a better exhaust. A refurb on the alloys and it'l look a lot better, granted the alloys on a non-cup 172 aren't the best design.

The best features for me are the incredibly communicative steering, the immense grip, the ability to provoke lift-off oversteer, the feeling of lightness and the oldskool NA engine. The economy has been quite good as well: I easily get over 40 MPG on a run. The reliability has been really good: an alternator and an exhaust rear box mount are all that's gone wrong. The worst bit: interior rattles. But hey, who gives a crap

[aea730]

Here’s my collection

[Patrick Bateman]

45mpg on a run sounds ambitious unless sitting at about 50mph.

I've seen 42mpg on the way through to Edinburgh doddling along but there's a significant fuel penalty when cruising at 70mph vs. 60mph due to the gearing.

Realistic mpg over a tank would be low 30's.

[VeeFource]

aea730 said:

Here’s my collection

Very nice! So how do they compare?

[LordHaveMurci]

Love my 172 Cup, had it 8.5yrs & don't ever want to part with it despite struggling to justify it in recent years.

[AndrewGP]

f1ten said:

i do fancy one myself. Am I too old at erm 40 to be driving one?

Absolutely not, I’m 42 and have the a Racing Blue 182 as my daily driver. I’ve never had any negative comments about it, in fact quite the opposite as it’s in immaculate standard condition, kept spotlessly clean and always waxed and polished. If you fancy one, just do it, life’s too short to drive boring cars

[RM]

AndrewGP said:

f1ten said:

i do fancy one myself. Am I too old at erm 40 to be driving one?

Absolutely not, I’m 42 and have the a Racing Blue 182 as my daily driver. I’ve never had any negative comments about it, in fact quite the opposite as it’s in immaculate standard condition, kept spotlessly clean and always waxed and polished. If you fancy one, just do it, life’s too short to drive boring cars

An owner pushing 50 here! I don't notice any negative feeling, at the moment it is nicely between just second hand, and old and interesting, so doesn't get much attention. One owner 182 with 60K, I hope never to have to part with it.

[LordHaveMurci]

RM said:

AndrewGP said:

f1ten said:

i do fancy one myself. Am I too old at erm 40 to be driving one?

Absolutely not, I’m 42 and have the a Racing Blue 182 as my daily driver. I’ve never had any negative comments about it, in fact quite the opposite as it’s in immaculate standard condition, kept spotlessly clean and always waxed and polished. If you fancy one, just do it, life’s too short to drive boring cars

An owner pushing 50 here! I don't notice any negative feeling, at the moment it is nicely between just second hand, and old and interesting, so doesn't get much attention. One owner 182 with 60K, I hope never to have to part with it.

I'm closer to 50 than 40.

[aea730]

I’m closer to 60!

[ij]

f1ten said:

i do fancy one myself. Am I too old at erm 40 to be driving one?
great fun little things. Drove a cup track car at Bedford and really enjoyed throwing it around...

I too drove one of the cup cars at Bedford some years back. A manic thing if ever there was one.

I'm 46 and love my blue 182 cup on white turinis. It sits alongside my first car, a 1990 MX5, in blue as well and very non-standard. They share their space with an RX8 PZ that my wife tells me is the only grown up car i've owned...

Never too old for a Clio RS.

[LordHaveMurci]

aea730 said:

I’m closer to 60!

Time you started acting your age & buy a Peugeot 308 diesel then

[RM]

ij said:

I'm 46 and love my blue 182 cup on white turinis.

LordHaveMurci said:

I'm closer to 50 than 40.

aea730 said:

I’m closer to 60!

Excellent! Glad to know I'm in good company.

[986johnjohn]

I’ve had my 182 since March I love it
So far it’s done a track day at Brands a Carlimits airfield activity day, a driver training day. and another airfield activity day is booked.
It’s a keeper and so much fun
Oh I will be 60 in 4 weeks🤗 60 isn’t old being 80+ is elderly