Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy: PH Fleet
New boy Ben sees the light and chops in a Fabia vRS for a Clio Trophy - here's the story so far
But then I came across the Clio Renaultsport PH Buying Guide. There was a considerable amount of peer pressure from my colleagues too, Mr Trent and Drake in particular. After a number of chats and probably expecting the inevitable, Dan kindly invited me along to the Renaultsport Clio test at Brands Hatch. That turned out to be rather an expensive day.
I simply fell head over heels for the 182 Trophy. The newer RS 200 felt faster, more planted and generally more advanced, but for me it just didn't have the character of the Trophy in both looks and feel. As yet it's an intangible affection, something I can't quite put my finger on. If you have ever faced "Why do you love me?" and struggled to find an answer, that's how I feel about the Trophy.
I've always been a lover of the lightweight cars, and having sold an S2 Lotus Elise 111S recently to build a Caterham Seven I hope that proves it. But more on that another time! The Trophy therefore fits in perfectly, its lithe 1,070kg made to look especially lean compared to that other red hot hatch on the PH Fleet, the 1,476kg (!) Golf R. Throw in a 182hp 2.0-litre engine paired with those very special Sachs remote-reservoir front dampers and the result is, as I'm now discovering, an absolute B-road weapon and one that looks incredibly good value as well.
Exactly a week after Brands I set off on a 300-mile trip to Truro from Kent in the hope that my new Clio was a real keeper. And damn it is! Owned by a Renault technician for eight years who genuinely wept as I took the keys from his hand, I knew I'd made the right decision. I proceeded to rack up another 550+ miles over the weekend with a trip to Rhayader followed by our Morgan Sunday Service.
Suffice to say I'm besotted but also a tad frustrated that its taken me over 10 years to discover what fast Clios are all about! I'm only a few days into ownership but there's going to be plenty to say about this incredible hot hatch over the coming months. I just need to be careful where I leave the keys in the office...
FACT SHEET
Car: 2005 Renault Clio 182 Trophy
Run by: Ben Lowden
Bought: April 2015
Mileage: 75,163
Last month at a glance: A hot hatch hero joins the PH staff Fleet!
I wonder how much a 75k clio costs to buy an insure my guess is not much for a performance bargin with 4 usable seats an a boot
Enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGyY9V068x4
I wonder how much a 75k clio costs to buy an insure my guess is not much for a performance bargin with 4 usable seats an a boot
197 cams, de-cat, RS2 inlet manifold and a re-map would get you there, but you won't have any change from £2K even when using second hand bits.
Getting another 70KG of weight out of it is tough when there is already no AC, no Xenons up front and the wheels are aleady light.
My advise? Get yourself a Whiteline rear ARB (if it doesn't already have one) and enjoy maximum lift-off oversteer fun!
My PH garage is (mostly) up to date with costs if you're interested. But mine isn't a Trohpy (although I do have the recaros :-) )
Would love a proper little hot hatch but unfortunately I need more space!
Nowhere near the same league I know but my wife had a 206cc with the 2.0l N/A in it. I know people slate the 206 but compared to most modern cars it was actually fun to drive - the induction noise with the roof down was intoxicating!
I'll almost certainly own another Trophy at some point.
Here it is with it's old best mate in the foreground.
Renault Sport Clio Trophy by feirny, on Flickr
I had a 182 with cup packs and it was a great drive, yes it had the odd foible but nothing too bad and certainly nothing unforgivable. It was unfortunately stolen off the driveway when I left it at my mums. Since then I'd almost forgotten how good they were. However, having just taken a new job that requires I drive 110+ miles a day, on the m25 and m4, and seeing as I have a golf r on lease so can't do that kind of mileage I just bought myself a 172 phase 2.
I'm now busy reacquainting myself with just how good cliosports are. Unbelievably cheap at the moment as well. Everyone should get one while they can.
I had a 182 with cup packs and it was a great drive, yes it had the odd foible but nothing too bad and certainly nothing unforgivable. It was unfortunately stolen off the driveway when I left it at my mums. Since then I'd almost forgotten how good they were. However, having just taken a new job that requires I drive 110+ miles a day, on the m25 and m4, and seeing as I have a golf r on lease so can't do that kind of mileage I just bought myself a 172 phase 2.
I'm now busy reacquainting myself with just how good cliosports are. Unbelievably cheap at the moment as well. Everyone should get one while they can.
I was doing around 800 miles a week and in that short time, while in parts it was fun, I was convinced I needed something more comfortable, economical, quieter and better built. Went for a Golf Ed30.
No tears when I sold the 182 and I don't miss it one bit.
Kept the Ed30 for 3 years and really miss that though.
I was doing around 800 miles a week and in that short time, while in parts it was fun, I was convinced I needed something more comfortable, economical, quieter and better built. Went for a Golf Ed30.
No tears when I sold the 182 and I don't miss it one bit.
Kept the Ed30 for 3 years and really miss that though.
It would be a daily occurrence for me, white vans, reps in diesels etc always up my chuff or desperate to overtake.
Became very tiresome.
Same journey in the ED30 and I was totally ignored.
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