Clio 182... a good purchase?

[lloydmartin]

Will be turning 21 in march, which also means I will be gaining 3 years no claims, and this really seems to have made a difference on insurance quotes, thank God! So was just wondering would this be a good second car? If not what would you recommend? Fancy something quite quick, as I've built my few no claims up on a little 1.1 106 |:

Thanks

Lloyd

[ali4390]

Great little cars in terms of 'fun'. Not the quickest car but has a brilliant chassis and handles like a go kart on steroids! The interior isn't great but its not the worst!

Just make sure you check things like cambelt etc have been done to save yourself some hefty bills and you can get yourself a great little car for not much money!

[neilbauer]

1.1 with i'd guess at about 70bhp to 182bhp is quite a jump! They are good cars IMO just take it easy for a while until you get used to it.

[RemyMartin]

So long as you can afford the insurance, go for it?

I ran one for a couple of years and loved it, just make sure you buy one thats had the auxillary and cambelt services A) often and B) recently. As its costly even in independants. Oh and they have a habit of snapping early, plus its known for the auxillarys to go and damage the cambelt in the process. Not to scaremonger you because in 'full fat' trim they are every bit of car you need and very well specced, you just need to go in with your eyes open.

[aka_kerrly]

Have only tried a 172 and that was pretty dam cracking.
Coming from a 1.1 106 the 182 will be RAPID, you will be able to go faster than your 1.1 could ever manage in 3rd gear should keep you entertained!!

[andye30m3]

I enjoyed my 172 did around 9,000 miles without any major issue including a trip down to Italy

depending on your budget, also have a look at integra type R's, better car IMHO if a little older.

[roystinho]

Great little cars, make sure FSH and cambelts have been done (never heard of one snapping early though?)

If you can get one with Recaros theyre worth the extra as the standard seats aren't the best

Definitely go for a 'FF' version, ie not a cup, but still has cup suspension and cup spoilers, known as 'cup packs'

Depending on budget I'd be seeing if I could get a Trophy as it was the best 1*2, failing that a Liquid Yellow or Racing Blue. The other colours aren't as good imo, but none are really offensive

[lloydmartin]

Well I'm insured on my mum and dads 07 Golf Gti, and have driven that for a few months. So the power isn't going to be a massive shock, ultimately I would love to buy a Gti, but the insurance is steeper than the Clio and Golfs are more expensive, looking at about 900 a year for the Clio, which I didn't think was too bad.

[xr287]

roystinho said:

Definitely go for a 'FF' version, ie not a cup, but still has cup suspension and cup spoilers, known as 'cup packs'

I wouldn't say that was essential. The only noticeable differences between a cup and an FF is you don't get xenons which tend to end up with leaky washer jets anyway, you get the same seats but they are not half leather and instead of the climate control display you have to turn the knobs yourself instead of pressing some buttons.

I went for a cup because it was cheaper and had less things to go wrong.

[roystinho]

I agree it's not absolutely essential, but the leather interior, climate and better headlights with auto wipers are worth the extra imo for everyday driving. If it was purely a weekend car to go out for a blast or tracking it, yeah, it wouldn't matter I suppose

[simoid]

xr287 said:

I wouldn't say that was essential. The only noticeable differences between a cup and an FF is you don't get xenons which tend to end up with leaky washer jets anyway, you get the same seats but they are not half leather and instead of the climate control display you have to turn the knobs yourself instead of pressing some buttons.

I went for a cup because it was cheaper and had less things to go wrong.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Cup has a fair bit of soundproofing, and I think heatshields removed. And suspension revisions.

I've got a 182 with Cup packs, got it when I was 21.

Love it!

[roystinho]

If you get the 182 with cup packs, as opposed to a cup, you get the same suspension.

The weight difference is negligible to be honest (about 30kg from memory), but don't think it included soundproofing, was the leather back seats and climate removed that saved weight/money

[roystinho]

Echo

Edited by roystinho on Tuesday 31st January 23:30

[simoid]

I saw a 'guide for dummies' type thing on a website once upon a time... I wonder if anyone has a link to it. Can't find it!

[chris7676]

doogz said:

I hated my 182.

It was slow, brakes were st, interior/driving position seems to have been designed around the hunchback of Notre-Dame, economy was disappointing, exhaust, rear shocks, and brake servo all lasted less than 40k miles, steering wheel seems to be out of a bus, i could go on, but i won't.

Must have been lots wrong with it.
The driving position is not brilliant but I found it comfortable and the seats surprisingly supportive on a track.
You can get a 172 for less money.

[alfa pint]

When it goes, it'll be great fun (apart from the bland plastic interior). Great chassis.

When bits fall off it, when the electrics give up and the ECU starts mucking about, it'll be as ste as any other renault / peugeot / citroen.

Mate of mine gave up on his and bought a TVR Griffith which proved to be more reliable. And the Clio 182 at the bottom of my street hasn't moved for 4 months while the owner works out where the ignition fault is coming from.

Thought about a fabia VRS instead? Or one of the sportier fiestas?

[VXED]

doogz said:

I hated my 182.

It was slow, brakes were st, interior/driving position seems to have been designed around the hunchback of Notre-Dame, economy was disappointing, exhaust, rear shocks, and brake servo all lasted less than 40k miles, steering wheel seems to be out of a bus, i could go on, but i won't.

I've had my 182 for about 6 months now, and would agree and disagree with some of what you've said. It is slow when not high up in the revs, the brakes are superb i think and i don't think mine are even as good as the original renault set-up, economy wise i was getting about 38mpg with general driving and now up to 42mpg with a long motorway commute. Mine's still on it's original renault exhaust after 8 years and 65k miles, not sure on the shocks and brake servo but i'd guess they're the originals. Yes, the steering wheel is massive and has somewhat melted!

[jaik]

alfa pint said:

Thought about a fabia VRS instead? Or one of the sportier fiestas?

They don't really compare in terms of handling though, do they? Or straight line speed (unless you remap the VRS).

[simoid]

Driving position definitely [takes a bit of getting used to/ is terrible] but that's totally subjective, as is the ARB set-up.

Objectively - it's difficult to find a hot hatch with so much kit, 7 seconds to 60, 35mpg combined.

Best to try one and see if you fancy it, OP, and not listen to us with our biases

[172ff]

doogz said:

Mine never bettered 32mpg, the brakes being crap was, as it turned out, partly due to the leaking servo, but the exhaust and rear shocks failing at 40k/4 years was disappointing.

I just didn't get along with it. It was slow, but i'm convinced it was down on power, our Cooper S would destroy it, and i had just came from a 300bhp Impreza, so it was always going to feel slower.

I did enjoy the handling, but i always felt the ARB's could do with being a bit stiffer. Never kept it long enough to do anything about it though.

You sound like you had a nail. They need to be well looked after to keep their crispness.

Dephaser was probably shot if it couldn't keep up with a mcs.