RenaultSport Clio daily driver for £2.5k?
Discussion
I've fancied a change from my Fiesta ST for a while now and could also do with freeing up some money for a course I need to pay for. I fancy a RenaultSport Clio as I've never had one before and they do get good write ups here on PH.
My daily commute is only 13 miles one way with the occasional 2 hour motorway trip thrown in (around once a month). I want to have the option of reasonable fuel consumption and an entertaining drive, all of which I read the Clio is capable of.
So what should I go for? Is ph2 'better' than a Ph1? Cup or no Cup Chassis? 'Must have extras' and any other pointers would also be appreciated! I guess I'm looking for standard things like has the cambelt been done (what is the interval?) and replacement exhaust back box would also be recommended?
All info gratefully received
My daily commute is only 13 miles one way with the occasional 2 hour motorway trip thrown in (around once a month). I want to have the option of reasonable fuel consumption and an entertaining drive, all of which I read the Clio is capable of.
So what should I go for? Is ph2 'better' than a Ph1? Cup or no Cup Chassis? 'Must have extras' and any other pointers would also be appreciated! I guess I'm looking for standard things like has the cambelt been done (what is the interval?) and replacement exhaust back box would also be recommended?
All info gratefully received
Dont go for the cup.
I'd say go for a good 172sport. Only sat nav was an optional extra so that's covered off.
Cambelt isn't it a three year thing or four but 36k miles from memory
Exhaust - frankly on a 172 the age of the car I'd be budgeting for a brand new complete system then no worries
Don't go for a modified one
Buy one with the STD 16onch alloys
Don't buy one which has been accident damaged
Clutch may be towards the end of it's life so thibk cambelt clutch exhaust and new pads and discs all round plus a major service and it will be a fine runner.
I'd say go for a good 172sport. Only sat nav was an optional extra so that's covered off.
Cambelt isn't it a three year thing or four but 36k miles from memory
Exhaust - frankly on a 172 the age of the car I'd be budgeting for a brand new complete system then no worries
Don't go for a modified one
Buy one with the STD 16onch alloys
Don't buy one which has been accident damaged
Clutch may be towards the end of it's life so thibk cambelt clutch exhaust and new pads and discs all round plus a major service and it will be a fine runner.
I have a 172 Cup and WOULD NOT recommend it as a daily driver, not if you do 2hr motorway drives anyway! I've never driven a FF 172 or 182 but I'm guessing they are both more civilised places to spend time & they will drive very similar to the Cup ie a complete hoot!
From memory look out for cambelt @ 70k or earlier, exhaust, rear dampers, front splitters. To be honest, head over to Cliosport.net for a lot of help & info.
From memory look out for cambelt @ 70k or earlier, exhaust, rear dampers, front splitters. To be honest, head over to Cliosport.net for a lot of help & info.
Absolutely I use a ph1 172 nearly every day great fun, not comfortable or quiet! However it's do-able, the worst problems are parts prices. Before I found an independant garage I was looking at £526 for two rear shocks, rear discs and pads plus a small service. I also had a mechanic mate have a look at the service guide for changing the cambelt and he said he'd never seen one so complicated and reckoned that it was a full days work.
Don't let this put you off though, tax is reasonable as the emmisions are just under 200g/km, the fuel usage if you're considerate isn't extreme I'm averaging about 37mpg. The driving experience is what really sells it, the car flows down the road communicating every part of the road pointing where you put it and sniffing the apexes. It goads you on until you really lose yourself in the experience. It will never be cheap fun but it's very good fun.
Oh, and I've heard that the ph1 is sharper than the ph2 because it's got a cable throttle and a better airbox. (having learnt to drive in a ph2 and now owning a ph1 I couldn't honestly tell you the difference)
The other advice is spot on, don't get anything modified, unless it's for a good reason. Such as stainless exhaust, better brakes or even a remap, mine suffers from a misfire from 2-2.5k and my mums even from new in 2004 had a minor misfire seems they're prone to it.
Hope you take the plunge, you'll not regret it!
Don't let this put you off though, tax is reasonable as the emmisions are just under 200g/km, the fuel usage if you're considerate isn't extreme I'm averaging about 37mpg. The driving experience is what really sells it, the car flows down the road communicating every part of the road pointing where you put it and sniffing the apexes. It goads you on until you really lose yourself in the experience. It will never be cheap fun but it's very good fun.
Oh, and I've heard that the ph1 is sharper than the ph2 because it's got a cable throttle and a better airbox. (having learnt to drive in a ph2 and now owning a ph1 I couldn't honestly tell you the difference)
The other advice is spot on, don't get anything modified, unless it's for a good reason. Such as stainless exhaust, better brakes or even a remap, mine suffers from a misfire from 2-2.5k and my mums even from new in 2004 had a minor misfire seems they're prone to it.
Hope you take the plunge, you'll not regret it!
I use my daily, it's now on 93k and I've had very few issues, with the exception on regular consumables. Great fun for a spirited drive on a Sunday afternoon or long motorway drives. I took mine to the south of France and back last year and other than my own stupidity we had no issues.
I personally prefer the look of the Phase 1, if you can stand the very plain and dull interior you'll be fine. It apparently has a more responsive throttle cable, rather than an electric one found on the Phase 2
Have a ready through the buyers guide in the 'French bred' section
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
Service interval for the cambelt is 72k or 5 years, which ever comes soonest. Normal service at 12k intervals and Auxiliary belts service 36k or 5 years. A good independent will charge about £460 for a cambelt and auxiliary belt change, which is not bad considering a full cambelt kit and a full auxiliary belt kit cost £200 alone.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?4679...
http://www.btmperformance.com/
I personally prefer the look of the Phase 1, if you can stand the very plain and dull interior you'll be fine. It apparently has a more responsive throttle cable, rather than an electric one found on the Phase 2
Have a ready through the buyers guide in the 'French bred' section
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
Service interval for the cambelt is 72k or 5 years, which ever comes soonest. Normal service at 12k intervals and Auxiliary belts service 36k or 5 years. A good independent will charge about £460 for a cambelt and auxiliary belt change, which is not bad considering a full cambelt kit and a full auxiliary belt kit cost £200 alone.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?4679...
http://www.btmperformance.com/
Edited by Snails on Sunday 28th August 17:41
Snails said:
I use my daily, it's now on 93k and I've had very few issues, with the exception on regular consumables. Great fun for a spirited drive on a Sunday afternoon or long motorway drives. I took mine to the south of France and back last year and other than my own stupidity we had no issues.
Service interval for the cambelt is 72k or 5 years, which ever comes soonest. Normal service at 12k intervals and Auxiliary belts service 36k or 5 years. A good independent will charge about £460 for a cambelt and auxiliary belt change, which is not bad considering a full cambelt kit and a full auxiliary belt kit cost £200 alone.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?4679...
http://www.btmperformance.com/
Tell us about the stupidity!!Service interval for the cambelt is 72k or 5 years, which ever comes soonest. Normal service at 12k intervals and Auxiliary belts service 36k or 5 years. A good independent will charge about £460 for a cambelt and auxiliary belt change, which is not bad considering a full cambelt kit and a full auxiliary belt kit cost £200 alone.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?4679...
http://www.btmperformance.com/
Thanks chaps, all good stuff
I'm pretty happy to have a less comfortable car as the daily commute is so short and the 2 hour trip on the motorway is only once a month.
Seems like a 172 Sport is the one to go for then. Thoughts on Ph1 or Ph2 then? Seems to be more Ph2 ones in the classifieds but I'm guessing they're pretty similar?
I'm pretty happy to have a less comfortable car as the daily commute is so short and the 2 hour trip on the motorway is only once a month.
Seems like a 172 Sport is the one to go for then. Thoughts on Ph1 or Ph2 then? Seems to be more Ph2 ones in the classifieds but I'm guessing they're pretty similar?
Phase 1's are rarer an that bit older now. Phase 2's have a better dash etc.
I up-graded from a Phase 1 1.2 to a Phase 2 172 Cup a couple months ago. The Cup ditches 90kg compared to the normal 172 so much more raw. Depends if you want ABS, half leather, more sound deadening etc. I didn't!
Here is the thread I started and a few pics of mine.
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
I up-graded from a Phase 1 1.2 to a Phase 2 172 Cup a couple months ago. The Cup ditches 90kg compared to the normal 172 so much more raw. Depends if you want ABS, half leather, more sound deadening etc. I didn't!
Here is the thread I started and a few pics of mine.
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
grenpayne said:
Thanks chaps, all good stuff
I'm pretty happy to have a less comfortable car as the daily commute is so short and the 2 hour trip on the motorway is only once a month.
Seems like a 172 Sport is the one to go for then. Thoughts on Ph1 or Ph2 then? Seems to be more Ph2 ones in the classifieds but I'm guessing they're pretty similar?
Have a drive in both and see which you prefer? They are broadly similar, Ph1 has longer gear ratios and a cable throttle, the Ph2 have a nicer interior an electric throttle and shorter gear ratios, but they are broadly similar. They're good fun little cars and should be slightly quicker than a ST.I'm pretty happy to have a less comfortable car as the daily commute is so short and the 2 hour trip on the motorway is only once a month.
Seems like a 172 Sport is the one to go for then. Thoughts on Ph1 or Ph2 then? Seems to be more Ph2 ones in the classifieds but I'm guessing they're pretty similar?
exigepete said:
Phase 1's are rarer an that bit older now. Phase 2's have a better dash etc.
I up-graded from a Phase 1 1.2 to a Phase 2 172 Cup a couple months ago. The Cup ditches 90kg compared to the normal 172 so much more raw. Depends if you want ABS, half leather, more sound deadening etc. I didn't!
Here is the thread I started and a few pics of mine.
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
The 90kg it ditches depend on if you're comparing to a Ph1 or a Ph2. I up-graded from a Phase 1 1.2 to a Phase 2 172 Cup a couple months ago. The Cup ditches 90kg compared to the normal 172 so much more raw. Depends if you want ABS, half leather, more sound deadening etc. I didn't!
Here is the thread I started and a few pics of mine.
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
A Ph1 has a kerb weight of 1035kg,
A Ph2 a kerb weight of 1110kg
Cup has a kerb weight of 1021kg
I'd like a Cup one day, just to see what the fuss was about, I doubt the lack of ABS would be an issues and I've already learnt to love the 'basic' interior of a Ph1
FRA53R said:
Absolutely I use a ph1 172 nearly every day great fun, not comfortable or quiet! However it's do-able, the worst problems are parts prices. Before I found an independant garage I was looking at £526 for two rear shocks, rear discs and pads plus a small service. I also had a mechanic mate have a look at the service guide for changing the cambelt and he said he'd never seen one so complicated and reckoned that it was a full days work.
Don't let this put you off though, tax is reasonable as the emmisions are just under 200g/km, the fuel usage if you're considerate isn't extreme I'm averaging about 37mpg. The driving experience is what really sells it, the car flows down the road communicating every part of the road pointing where you put it and sniffing the apexes. It goads you on until you really lose yourself in the experience. It will never be cheap fun but it's very good fun.
Oh, and I've heard that the ph1 is sharper than the ph2 because it's got a cable throttle and a better airbox. (having learnt to drive in a ph2 and now owning a ph1 I couldn't honestly tell you the difference)
The other advice is spot on, don't get anything modified, unless it's for a good reason. Such as stainless exhaust, better brakes or even a remap, mine suffers from a misfire from 2-2.5k and my mums even from new in 2004 had a minor misfire seems they're prone to it.
Hope you take the plunge, you'll not regret it!
Ph.1 or Espace V6 airbox with a decent filter is a cheap & easy upgrade on the ph.2Don't let this put you off though, tax is reasonable as the emmisions are just under 200g/km, the fuel usage if you're considerate isn't extreme I'm averaging about 37mpg. The driving experience is what really sells it, the car flows down the road communicating every part of the road pointing where you put it and sniffing the apexes. It goads you on until you really lose yourself in the experience. It will never be cheap fun but it's very good fun.
Oh, and I've heard that the ph1 is sharper than the ph2 because it's got a cable throttle and a better airbox. (having learnt to drive in a ph2 and now owning a ph1 I couldn't honestly tell you the difference)
The other advice is spot on, don't get anything modified, unless it's for a good reason. Such as stainless exhaust, better brakes or even a remap, mine suffers from a misfire from 2-2.5k and my mums even from new in 2004 had a minor misfire seems they're prone to it.
Hope you take the plunge, you'll not regret it!
A decent SS exhaust is pretty much a must, be careful when choosing as I've heard the K Tec ones are silly loud, I opted for a BTB which registers about 90db @ 4500k revs and isn't boomy at speed. The rear shocks can leak, if they do replace with Koni adjustables & change the springs for Eibachs, they improve the ride slightly & lower the car a little.
Quick update, I did take the plunge having picked up the car today.
It's a totally standard Ph2 172 in silver in pretty good condition with FSH (including cam and aux belt change), a new OEM exhaust and 44,000 fully documented miles on the clock. Not bad for £2000 dead.
The wheels could do with a refurb and it's due a service but other than that (oh, new set of mats wouldn't go amiss) it seems pretty tidy and even returned 50mpg on the way home!
Hopefully it won't let me down!!!
It's a totally standard Ph2 172 in silver in pretty good condition with FSH (including cam and aux belt change), a new OEM exhaust and 44,000 fully documented miles on the clock. Not bad for £2000 dead.
The wheels could do with a refurb and it's due a service but other than that (oh, new set of mats wouldn't go amiss) it seems pretty tidy and even returned 50mpg on the way home!
Hopefully it won't let me down!!!
grenpayne said:
Quick update, I did take the plunge having picked up the car today.
It's a totally standard Ph2 172 in silver in pretty good condition with FSH (including cam and aux belt change), a new OEM exhaust and 44,000 fully documented miles on the clock. Not bad for £2000 dead.
The wheels could do with a refurb and it's due a service but other than that (oh, new set of mats wouldn't go amiss) it seems pretty tidy and even returned 50mpg on the way home!
Hopefully it won't let me down!!!
Wow that is a good deal! It's a totally standard Ph2 172 in silver in pretty good condition with FSH (including cam and aux belt change), a new OEM exhaust and 44,000 fully documented miles on the clock. Not bad for £2000 dead.
The wheels could do with a refurb and it's due a service but other than that (oh, new set of mats wouldn't go amiss) it seems pretty tidy and even returned 50mpg on the way home!
Hopefully it won't let me down!!!
You've got me scheming now!
Well that was read off the trip computer so to be fair it's anyone's guess if it correct! The service light isn't on but is due based on miles and on time. It also seems sensible to get it serviced as I've just bought it.
I'll wait until I've done a full tank of fuel and then work out the mpg properly.
I'll wait until I've done a full tank of fuel and then work out the mpg properly.
Do you need to spend that much for a normal (non-Cup) 172? My understanding was that something pretty useable could be had from about £1,500? If you're looking at £2.5k+ you're probably getting pretty close to basic 182 money?
I don't doubt they're flawed as a long distance motorway car, but those 172 Cups on the Turini wheels do look great!
I don't doubt they're flawed as a long distance motorway car, but those 172 Cups on the Turini wheels do look great!
grenpayne said:
Quick update, I did take the plunge having picked up the car today.
It's a totally standard Ph2 172 in silver in pretty good condition with FSH (including cam and aux belt change), a new OEM exhaust and 44,000 fully documented miles on the clock. Not bad for £2000 dead.
The wheels could do with a refurb and it's due a service but other than that (oh, new set of mats wouldn't go amiss) it seems pretty tidy and even returned 50mpg on the way home!
Hopefully it won't let me down!!!
It WILL let you down, you can count on that! Great little cars all the same, enjoy It's a totally standard Ph2 172 in silver in pretty good condition with FSH (including cam and aux belt change), a new OEM exhaust and 44,000 fully documented miles on the clock. Not bad for £2000 dead.
The wheels could do with a refurb and it's due a service but other than that (oh, new set of mats wouldn't go amiss) it seems pretty tidy and even returned 50mpg on the way home!
Hopefully it won't let me down!!!
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