The 1999 Clio Renaultsport 172 became the first hot hatch to officially wear the Renaultsport badge. Offering 140mph performance at a sensible £15,995 price, its 172hp 1,998cc engine came with variable timing and a 16-valve head. A five-speed manual gearbox was standard, capable of taking the 172 to 62mph in just 7.2 seconds.
Cup was just £12,995 (!) back in the early 2000s
A bargain no-frills £12,995 Cup version was launched in 2002 aimed at enthusiasts who wanted a Clio that they could throw around a race track. And in January 2004 the more powerful facelifted £14,600 Clio Renaultsport 182 was launched.
Shaving 0.1 seconds from the 62mph time, the 182hp Clio was joined in September 2004 by another lighter 182 Cup version, which was in turn superseded by the brilliant 182 Trophy in May 2005. With a production run of just 550 and finished in Capsicum Red with trick Sachs dampers, 500 examples came to the UK.
For those who fancied an even wilder Clio, Renault launched the mid-engined, two-seat, rear-wheel drive Clio V6 in 2001. Built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing its 2,946cc V6 engine produced 230hp and took the V6 to 62mph in just 6.2 seconds. A 255hp Phase 2 Clio V6, capable of reaching 62mph in an even quicker 5.9 seconds, followed in 2003. The later car is commonly regarded as the more enjoyable thanks to a raft of suspension tweaks.
Early 172s now over 15 years old
Although all the Clio II Renaultsport models are highly rated, not all are sound investments. "The 172 and 182 will always be a good fun budget car for the track, but I don't think they will ever be a future classic," explains Paul Murray at Clio experts RS Tuning Limited. As a cheap track day ride though these are close to unbeatable. "And there are many upgrades available to help you get the best from these cars when on circuit," David at K-Tec Racing points out. In fact the only 2.0-litre Clio II models currently holding value are mint-condition versions of the 172 Cup and 182 Trophy.
"It's a different story with the V6s though, with values starting to rise," maintains Rob Donaldson at Glass's. A special car to all Renault fans tidy examples are a sound investment. "A future classic, we sold a 900-mile example earlier this year to a collector for a considerable amount more than the car cost new," reveals David at K-Tec Racing.
Buy if: You're seeking the best value track day Clio
Don't buy if: You're looking for an investment (V6 models aside)
We found: 2005 Clio Renaultsport 182 Cup, black, service history, 87K miles, £2,750
Price Guide
Poor: Under £1,500
Good: £1,600 to £2,995
A1: £3,000+
Special Editions: Clio 182 Trophy £4,000 to £7,000, Clio V6 Renaultsports easily can fetch over £20,000