Clio 182 Trophy
Discussion
Very brief question but are they worth the money they're fetching? £5k plus
I know they are very good cars and if I can get a few people to convince me that they aren't suddenly going to become worthless (which I don't think they will, I think they may increase in value) I'll make the plunge!
I've read about them a lot so know what is good and what is bad I just want to get some advice on their value.
I know they are very good cars and if I can get a few people to convince me that they aren't suddenly going to become worthless (which I don't think they will, I think they may increase in value) I'll make the plunge!
I've read about them a lot so know what is good and what is bad I just want to get some advice on their value.
I would whole heartedly recommend one. I ran one as a daily for 2 years completely fault free and an absolute hoot. Not the fastest but alot of fun and involving to drive. Good size too for narrower country lanes.
The Sachs shocks are a bit of an inconvenience if they need a refurb, IIRC the official Sachs BG-motorsport) centre is at Silverstone. NO doubt you can get them refurbed at independents though.
The Sachs shocks are a bit of an inconvenience if they need a refurb, IIRC the official Sachs BG-motorsport) centre is at Silverstone. NO doubt you can get them refurbed at independents though.
They are terrific little cars and I love mine dearly hence will probably never sell it. That said, I have never driven a standard 182 though so I'm not sure whether one could justifiably pay the extra unless you, in your heart of hearts, really wanted a Trophy.
One thing I will say is MAKE SURE THE DAMPERS HAVE BEEN SERVICED! It is a right carry on getting them refurbed not to mention the £400-500 cost involved. I'd be wary of any cars still on original springs and same goes for exhaust mounts. Have a look in my garage blog for the hassle I had this past summer with my Trophy!
EDIT: I will echo what was said above, the seating position isn't great and they are not THAT fast although it depends what you are used to. I'd like to get mine mapped for a bit more responsiveness and maybe the manufacturer's quoted 180bhp. My Impreza leaves it completely and utterly for dead in a straight line.
One thing I will say is MAKE SURE THE DAMPERS HAVE BEEN SERVICED! It is a right carry on getting them refurbed not to mention the £400-500 cost involved. I'd be wary of any cars still on original springs and same goes for exhaust mounts. Have a look in my garage blog for the hassle I had this past summer with my Trophy!
EDIT: I will echo what was said above, the seating position isn't great and they are not THAT fast although it depends what you are used to. I'd like to get mine mapped for a bit more responsiveness and maybe the manufacturer's quoted 180bhp. My Impreza leaves it completely and utterly for dead in a straight line.
Edited by HonestIago on Thursday 19th December 08:53
Tickle said:
I would whole heartedly recommend one. I ran one as a daily for 2 years completely fault free and an absolute hoot. Not the fastest but alot of fun and involving to drive. Good size too for narrower country lanes.
The Sachs shocks are a bit of an inconvenience if they need a refurb, IIRC the official Sachs BG-motorsport) centre is at Silverstone. NO doubt you can get them refurbed at independents though.
I've heard nothing but praise for them. The Evo diaries video is informative too, I only want to check the values are about right. The Sachs shocks are a bit of an inconvenience if they need a refurb, IIRC the official Sachs BG-motorsport) centre is at Silverstone. NO doubt you can get them refurbed at independents though.
I liked mine. My wife didn't. Made her very car sick for some reason. Bought the hooligan out in me when I drove it, so that was probably the reason! I actually found it very comfortable to drive and I loved the seats.
Front struts are expensive to repair, even more to replace, but 182 ones are a direct replacement. I think they are a car where people ask good money for them, then they don't sell, and they end up taking a deal on them.
I struggled with the image the car has...
Front struts are expensive to repair, even more to replace, but 182 ones are a direct replacement. I think they are a car where people ask good money for them, then they don't sell, and they end up taking a deal on them.
I struggled with the image the car has...
GravelMachineGun said:
I like the idea of the image. It just looks like a Clio to an untrained eye. They'll either think I'm a chav or a normal person! I don't want a car that gets loads of attention.
They are quite striking wee things if clean and in good nick, and I would say they get a reasonable amount of attention. Mine has a bit of a fruity exhaust but people have occasionally admired it even at the petrol station forecourt and come over for a chat 
On refurbed dampers and sportline springs the handling really is brilliant, so sharp and precise with immense front end grip and almost no roll. I drove mine from Aberdeen to Applecross and back in a day this summer and it was a sheer joy on the narrow, twisty, bumpy and generally sketchy roads over there. Doubt anything could have taken the Applecross pass much quicker!
The cam belt is a difficult (read expensive) one to do, and needs to be done by someone who knows what they are doing, not your average servicing guy... its tight in there, nothing is on a keyway, and you need special tools... best do a water pump while in there...
Original back boxes are prone to quickly rotting but stainless aftermarket ones are OK. The original front shocks were very worn at 50k miles so I replaced them with some standard 182 new ones... handling improved no end. Then I bought some almost new original shocks (for £50 for all four!!!) and had these checked by a specialist and fitted them... to be honest I could tell little difference in the handling on the road.
I loaned it to a none petrolhead mate for a day once... an hour after he drove off I had a text to say fooking hell this car is amazing!
I had it 2 years, enjoyed it while I had it, sold it for £200 less than I paid for it, and then sold the old shockers for £300!
Original back boxes are prone to quickly rotting but stainless aftermarket ones are OK. The original front shocks were very worn at 50k miles so I replaced them with some standard 182 new ones... handling improved no end. Then I bought some almost new original shocks (for £50 for all four!!!) and had these checked by a specialist and fitted them... to be honest I could tell little difference in the handling on the road.
I loaned it to a none petrolhead mate for a day once... an hour after he drove off I had a text to say fooking hell this car is amazing!
I had it 2 years, enjoyed it while I had it, sold it for £200 less than I paid for it, and then sold the old shockers for £300!
doogz said:
It was never making 182bhp in it's puff.
I just didn't get all the fuss about it. I should never have bought it, sold it after 6 months when I got fed up fixing it. The roll on the standard 182 was horrific IMO, the ride was actually quite nice, but I don't have much else nice to say about it. Preferred the Cooper S in every way tbh.
No-one else think the gear shift, and box in general, is a bit crap? That the steering wheel is far far too big?
I prefer my 106 rallye to either, no ABS, no TC, no power steering, more my kinda thing. Or my Mk3 MR2, one of the most fun cars I've ever driven.
Was just offering my opinion, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been told I have odd taste.
No problem, your opinion is as valid as anyone else's but for a MCS to be much faster than a 182 either the clio was broken or the MCS was modifiedI just didn't get all the fuss about it. I should never have bought it, sold it after 6 months when I got fed up fixing it. The roll on the standard 182 was horrific IMO, the ride was actually quite nice, but I don't have much else nice to say about it. Preferred the Cooper S in every way tbh.
No-one else think the gear shift, and box in general, is a bit crap? That the steering wheel is far far too big?
I prefer my 106 rallye to either, no ABS, no TC, no power steering, more my kinda thing. Or my Mk3 MR2, one of the most fun cars I've ever driven.
Was just offering my opinion, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been told I have odd taste.
doogz said:
It was never making 182bhp in it's puff.
I just didn't get all the fuss about it. I should never have bought it, sold it after 6 months when I got fed up fixing it. The roll on the standard 182 was horrific IMO, the ride was actually quite nice, but I don't have much else nice to say about it. Preferred the Cooper S in every way tbh.
No-one else think the gear shift, and box in general, is a bit crap? That the steering wheel is far far too big?
I prefer my 106 rallye to either, no ABS, no TC, no power steering, more my kinda thing. Or my Mk3 MR2, one of the most fun cars I've ever driven.
Was just offering my opinion, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been told I have odd taste.
The issues you have with it are definitely things I notice in my 182. But the steering wheel I got used to after about a week and now quite like it, although mine isn't melted like most. Coming from an Ep3 the gearshift was a bit poor to start with but it's not terrible, just not what you'd expect from a hot hatch. I just didn't get all the fuss about it. I should never have bought it, sold it after 6 months when I got fed up fixing it. The roll on the standard 182 was horrific IMO, the ride was actually quite nice, but I don't have much else nice to say about it. Preferred the Cooper S in every way tbh.
No-one else think the gear shift, and box in general, is a bit crap? That the steering wheel is far far too big?
I prefer my 106 rallye to either, no ABS, no TC, no power steering, more my kinda thing. Or my Mk3 MR2, one of the most fun cars I've ever driven.
Was just offering my opinion, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been told I have odd taste.
Body roll is not something I can agree with. Mine is fitted with 20mm Eibach Sportlines and handles brilliantly, it actually feels like it has less roll than my R53 MCS had. I would imagine that the Trophy with the Sach's dampers would only improve the Clio. The seating position is also something you get used to very quickly although I do still think it's the Clio's biggest shortfall, the Recaro Trendlines in the Trophy are meant to drastically improve this though.
The Trophy is unlikely to ever fall in value IMO. However I also doubt they will increase much either. For around £5-6k....yeah I'd say it's worth every penny
Robb F said:
No problem, your opinion is as valid as anyone else's but for a MCS to be much faster than a 182 either the clio was broken or the MCS was modified
Yes unless the Mini Cooper S was mapped that is a utter b
ks statement I am afraid it is probably the turbo that made you think it was quicker than it was...Clio 182 Trophy = 169 bhp tonne
R56 Cooper S = 148bhp tonne
doogz said:
Have you ever driven a go-kart?
You know, those little vehicles with no suspension, RWD, no differential, and no front brakes?
If it feels like a go kart, it's quite seriously fked! 
OT... That phrase drives me mad. People used to ask If my mini handled like a go kart. Annoyed me. You know, those little vehicles with no suspension, RWD, no differential, and no front brakes?
If it feels like a go kart, it's quite seriously f
ked! doogz said:
I don't imagine I can drive one car particularly better than the other.
But the hillclimb times showed the Mini to be the quicker car. Side by side on the road, the Mini would pull away. It had a chunk more torque as well as the temporary overboost facility, and I do think that whilst the Clio was in generally good condition, not that old at the time, and with a full service history, well maintained, it wasn't making the full quoted amount of power.
So I think utter bks is a bit out of line, given that I owned and tracked both cars at the same time, I'm not making this stuff up.
I am surprised because my 172 was quicker than a friends New Cooper S in a straight line and mine was the heavy standard model.But the hillclimb times showed the Mini to be the quicker car. Side by side on the road, the Mini would pull away. It had a chunk more torque as well as the temporary overboost facility, and I do think that whilst the Clio was in generally good condition, not that old at the time, and with a full service history, well maintained, it wasn't making the full quoted amount of power.
So I think utter b
ks is a bit out of line, given that I owned and tracked both cars at the same time, I'm not making this stuff up.Was your cooper S the 184 model? My friend had the 175 (ish) one and heard the 184 make more power than quoted which may explain why
Surprised it was quicker on track however the renaults tend to be kings when it comes to that the mini may have suited your driving style better perhaps
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