172 Cup and Caterham 7 SV VHPD
Discussion
Long time lurker but first time poster, so please go easy!
Turning 27 and having a bit of disposable income, I thought the sensible thing to do was to invest (ahem, squander!) some hard earned cash on something obnoxious and fun! Despite being a lifelong petrolhead my car history has been somewhat lackluster owing to being a perpetual student! However, a recent change of circumstances meant that I had the opportunity to acquire something interesting, if not to everyone’s tastes.
I had my eyes peeled for a decent Clio 182 for the last year or so but hadn’t really given much thought to the 172s. However, the more research I did the clearer it became that the 172 Cups are the purer cars. They are the lightest of the modern era RenaultSport cars (officially weighing in at 1035kgs), down to using thinner glass for the windscreen, binning the ABS and aircon, as well as the electric leather armchairs found in the standard 172s. Oh and the beautiful (to my eyes) Speedline Turini wheels shave a considerable chunk of unsprung weight. After reading this spec list I knew I had to have one. When I saw a decent car for sale within a 3 hour drive I made the call and (foolishly) agreed the deal sight unseen. I made the 300 mile round trip to pick her up and have been smitten since, despite a few initial misgivings.
My initial impressions were of a strong smell of petrol, a throaty sound from the de-catted exhaust, and pinpoint steering. Then disaster. Ten minutes into the return journey the speedo stopped working. My heart sank. I knew about the seal at the head of the petrol tank that had been misfitted and then realigned, explaining the whiff of petrol, but the lack of speedo was news to me! Had I just bought a duffer?! Was it going to make it the 150 miles home?!
A month later and I can happily report that Cleo (as I have christened her) and I are bonding nicely. Despite not knowing how fast I am going I can report that this thing is f**king rapid. The car feels a little flimsy but, having been checked over by a professional, appears mechanically solid. It needs a front o/s ball joint, a new speedo drive (that runs off the gearbox owing to the lack of ABS sensors), and a suspension strut. Could be worse!
Apologies for the terrible pictures - I will upload better ones once I get a chance. Oh and the wheels and trim pieces will be returned to the standard silver colour when the budget allows!
Turning 27 and having a bit of disposable income, I thought the sensible thing to do was to invest (ahem, squander!) some hard earned cash on something obnoxious and fun! Despite being a lifelong petrolhead my car history has been somewhat lackluster owing to being a perpetual student! However, a recent change of circumstances meant that I had the opportunity to acquire something interesting, if not to everyone’s tastes.
I had my eyes peeled for a decent Clio 182 for the last year or so but hadn’t really given much thought to the 172s. However, the more research I did the clearer it became that the 172 Cups are the purer cars. They are the lightest of the modern era RenaultSport cars (officially weighing in at 1035kgs), down to using thinner glass for the windscreen, binning the ABS and aircon, as well as the electric leather armchairs found in the standard 172s. Oh and the beautiful (to my eyes) Speedline Turini wheels shave a considerable chunk of unsprung weight. After reading this spec list I knew I had to have one. When I saw a decent car for sale within a 3 hour drive I made the call and (foolishly) agreed the deal sight unseen. I made the 300 mile round trip to pick her up and have been smitten since, despite a few initial misgivings.
My initial impressions were of a strong smell of petrol, a throaty sound from the de-catted exhaust, and pinpoint steering. Then disaster. Ten minutes into the return journey the speedo stopped working. My heart sank. I knew about the seal at the head of the petrol tank that had been misfitted and then realigned, explaining the whiff of petrol, but the lack of speedo was news to me! Had I just bought a duffer?! Was it going to make it the 150 miles home?!
A month later and I can happily report that Cleo (as I have christened her) and I are bonding nicely. Despite not knowing how fast I am going I can report that this thing is f**king rapid. The car feels a little flimsy but, having been checked over by a professional, appears mechanically solid. It needs a front o/s ball joint, a new speedo drive (that runs off the gearbox owing to the lack of ABS sensors), and a suspension strut. Could be worse!
Apologies for the terrible pictures - I will upload better ones once I get a chance. Oh and the wheels and trim pieces will be returned to the standard silver colour when the budget allows!
Edited by samsul89 on Wednesday 4th January 20:13
Great cars, How does the JC5 gearbox feel in 2017?
Was a racing blue Clio 182 that got me into cars back when I was 17 (One overtook me at speed when I was giving everything i had in my 1.2 Mk2 clio and I was hooked). I am 28 and still hanker after one although Id want flame red 172 or Petrol Blue 182.
Was a racing blue Clio 182 that got me into cars back when I was 17 (One overtook me at speed when I was giving everything i had in my 1.2 Mk2 clio and I was hooked). I am 28 and still hanker after one although Id want flame red 172 or Petrol Blue 182.
Had mine for nearly 7yrs now, just spent £500 on tyres, battery & oil& filter change so she's not going anywhere!
Never fails to make me grin, has been way more reliable than the internet nay saysayers would have you believe possible & is one of the best cars I've ever owned, despite being one of the cheapest.
Get's used a lot more than my 996, that should say something.
Never fails to make me grin, has been way more reliable than the internet nay saysayers would have you believe possible & is one of the best cars I've ever owned, despite being one of the cheapest.
Get's used a lot more than my 996, that should say something.
Congraulations OP
I was looking for a 182FF at around £2k+ for ages, but stuck here in Devon, everything was miles away. Then up pops a 172 belts done with short MOT for £500 on gumtree, been in hysterics since.
Thought about stripping it for weight and then sorting the suspension mods etc before the girlfriend mentioned that losing my gut would account for probably < 20BHP per tonne. Cow
I was looking for a 182FF at around £2k+ for ages, but stuck here in Devon, everything was miles away. Then up pops a 172 belts done with short MOT for £500 on gumtree, been in hysterics since.
Thought about stripping it for weight and then sorting the suspension mods etc before the girlfriend mentioned that losing my gut would account for probably < 20BHP per tonne. Cow
whythem said:
Congraulations OP
I was looking for a 182FF at around £2k+ for ages, but stuck here in Devon, everything was miles away. Then up pops a 172 belts done with short MOT for £500 on gumtree, been in hysterics since.
Thought about stripping it for weight and then sorting the suspension mods etc before the girlfriend mentioned that losing my gut would account for probably < 20BHP per tonne. Cow
Had the same problem when I bought mine, ended up travelling from Exeter to Plymouth to buy a less than perfect example. Paid a helluva lot more than £500 too!I was looking for a 182FF at around £2k+ for ages, but stuck here in Devon, everything was miles away. Then up pops a 172 belts done with short MOT for £500 on gumtree, been in hysterics since.
Thought about stripping it for weight and then sorting the suspension mods etc before the girlfriend mentioned that losing my gut would account for probably < 20BHP per tonne. Cow
DoubleTime said:
Looks a tidy example from the pics OP. I've had mine going on 3 1/2 years now. Come to think of it, longest car I've ever owned.
Never been a fan of the turinis in black. Silver or a anthracite grey works best imo.
What tyres is it running?
Future plans?
Thanks for all the kind words. Never been a fan of the turinis in black. Silver or a anthracite grey works best imo.
What tyres is it running?
Future plans?
It's currently running the obligatory Nankings on the front but with some tat on the back. This is one of the major things to be sorted as soon as I'm certain the car is reliable. Adding to the new tires, I will be getting a 4 wheel alignment, as the car pulls to the left a little at the moment. Finally, I will definitely be respraying the wheels and trim pieces in the original silver.
Over the longer term I would like to do a few trackdays, which I'm sure will lead to serious project creep! I imagine a set of coilovers and some uprated pads and fluid will be in order within the next 12 months. The dogbone mount has already been replaced with a stiffer item but I'm not sure if any other bushes have been uprated so that might be added to the to-do list too.
For the time being though, I am content just driving the nuts off it!
Good stuff!
I wouldn't bother with coilovers if I was you. The standard items are very good if in good condition, and cheap to replace if not. Fitting some decent lower springs and a rear arb is the best route to go down unless using it specifically for track work. On standard suspension and cook lowering springs my cup won't come unstuck in the corners. Track it may be a different kettle of fish...
Descents tyres will improve things drastically.
I wouldn't bother with coilovers if I was you. The standard items are very good if in good condition, and cheap to replace if not. Fitting some decent lower springs and a rear arb is the best route to go down unless using it specifically for track work. On standard suspension and cook lowering springs my cup won't come unstuck in the corners. Track it may be a different kettle of fish...
Descents tyres will improve things drastically.
DoubleTime said:
Good stuff!
I wouldn't bother with coilovers if I was you. The standard items are very good if in good condition, and cheap to replace if not. Fitting some decent lower springs and a rear arb is the best route to go down unless using it specifically for track work. On standard suspension and cook lowering springs my cup won't come unstuck in the corners. Track it may be a different kettle of fish...
Descents tyres will improve things drastically.
I track mine and run cooksport springs and neg cam on the front and it handles so well. Got the original suspension rebuilt. Good coilovers will cost you the best part of 1k and unless you are really chasing lap times I probably wouldn't bother. I use Dunlop Direzza tyres on mine and they take a while to warm up but when they get up to temperature they are fantastic. Whiteline rear ARB really helps with the handling. Have fun!I wouldn't bother with coilovers if I was you. The standard items are very good if in good condition, and cheap to replace if not. Fitting some decent lower springs and a rear arb is the best route to go down unless using it specifically for track work. On standard suspension and cook lowering springs my cup won't come unstuck in the corners. Track it may be a different kettle of fish...
Descents tyres will improve things drastically.
DoubleTime said:
Good stuff!
I wouldn't bother with coilovers if I was you. The standard items are very good if in good condition, and cheap to replace if not. Fitting some decent lower springs and a rear arb is the best route to go down unless using it specifically for track work. On standard suspension and cook lowering springs my cup won't come unstuck in the corners. Track it may be a different kettle of fish...
Descents tyres will improve things drastically.
Absolutely.I wouldn't bother with coilovers if I was you. The standard items are very good if in good condition, and cheap to replace if not. Fitting some decent lower springs and a rear arb is the best route to go down unless using it specifically for track work. On standard suspension and cook lowering springs my cup won't come unstuck in the corners. Track it may be a different kettle of fish...
Descents tyres will improve things drastically.
For track use the Cup is surprisingly good out of the box. Some stickier tyres, refreshing some key suspension parts with genuine items in addition to getting some track tyres and sporty brake pads works wonders.
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