Purchased a small French lightweight hot hatch - Renault Clio 172 Cup & NOW 182 Trophy

[Gibbo]

If it's only when hot it could be crank position sensor. Had very similar symptoms on my mates mx5 when he was in the process of turbo charging it.

Ordered coil pack, I shall make that next on the list as its also a cheap item.
Assume this is the part:
https://www.renaultpartsdirect.co.uk/parts/engine-parts/renault-clio-172-182-crankshaft-sensor/
https://www.renaultpartsdirect.co.u...lt-crankshaft-tdc-sensor-loom-various-models/

Coil pack is on the way, no improvement and as long as the above is simple job that can be next one on the list to try.

 

[Gibbo]

Which spark plugs did you use?

Ones from Renault.

Had same issue with mine, was the coilpack breaking down when warm.

Luckily I had a spare coilpack from another Cup I broke for spares and was good to go again

What’s my money is on, cheap and easy to replace plus it’s the original item so 56k miles and nearly 18yr old.

 

[Gibbo]

Might be worth checking, they tried to sell me Bosch ones when I had my 182 and you need NGK ones as it won't run properly.

Think was NGK, shall see if I can find my order history or invoice, but car drove fine after service, was spot on.

I expect it's the coil packs, I've never known a Renault not to have coil pack issues so it's the first thing I'd replace.

Well does not have coil packs as to speak, just a coil pack distributor at back of engine, HT leads already tried swap, tomorrow the distributor should arrive, quick job, see if it sorts it, fingers crossed.

Last night at an event for work I met Henry Catchpole and had quite an in depth conversation with him about cars; he's currently running a Clio 182 and absolutely loves it, which got me thinking about buying another one (I had a phase 2 172 in 2006). I think a 172 or 182 cup will be on my list in the near future. The only thing I remember was the poor driving position and I remember a lot of other people complaining about it.

You sit high, does it bother me? No!
I can rev match and heel and toe so easy in this car, visibility is incredible and its so small you can drive it like your doing the Italian Job.

It is huge fun, passengers actually say getting in the Clio with me is more scary than the M3 or SVR, simply as I drive like a total idiot, sliding, unsettling the car and just driving blatantly like I stole it, yes its huge fun in its own unique way, it has many faults but just like Henry says, I doubt there is a single car out there for under £5000 that is as much fun or as a cheap to run for smiles per mile. If your doing motorway commutes, avoid unless the newer ones had six speed boxes.

 

[Gibbo]

Henry has the Trophy. That’s the one.

Think you mean Harry, unless Henry has both a 182 tatty edition and a 182 Trophy edition.

 

[Gibbo]

That’s him wrong geeza as I was watching his Trophy review last week.

172 Cup, 182 Trophy easily the most fun cars on road I'd go as far as saying, right up there with MX5's for fun factor. Performance is not everything, slow and flat out can be huge fun, though they don't feel slow at all behind the wheel, quite opposite.

 

[Gibbo]

Just had the car MOT, failed due to emissions, the problem I mentioned earlier, as expected it was the pre-cat 02 sensor, all fixed and passed, also had a new pair of CV boots as they were looking a bit tired.

Now its just the case of keep this or sell it and get an Abarth, quite a tough decision really as its such a good car and so so capable and so much fun, only real downsides is you know your driving an old French car, no AC, odd rattle, basic stereo, its a proper drivers car and raw, which I love, but can also be annoying.

 

[Gibbo]

Keep the Clio, everyone knows 500 drivers are gayers.

Haha I’ll let my Mrs know what people would think of her if she drives a 500 rather than a Clio.

 

[Gibbo]

Surely you could keep the clip as an appreciating asset and buy the Abarth too?

Don’t want three cars any more and I’m planning on moving and we only want to have two cars ideally. Hence M3 going too just don’t want to use Ferrari as a daily.

 

[Gibbo]

Shame it's not the full fat.

I had a Clio 172, the AC worked really well.

I loved that car.... I would buy another, but they seem to be the exact same price as I paid for mine 5 years ago... Which is mental.

This is a Cup, much more limited, no AC, no ABS, the rawest of them all and the lightest I believe at around 990kg.

As a second car to the Ferrari, yes a more regular 182 loaded with options would probably be better, but I got this as a project and its a fun car, probably the rawest modern hot hatch there is, only way to go rawer is to go real old school like 205GTi, R5GTT etc.

 

[Gibbo]

Thought the Ferrari as a daily was the whole point?

Or is it more a case of reality being different from the theory as such? - I can well imagine a 458 as a sole daily can be a bit of a hassle...

A daily in Summer months, but during Winter months I absolutely don't want to be using it on salty roads and it would be nice to have something with AC and can handle snow within reason as if we move where were planning its a bit out in sticks. Weather like today then yes the Ferrari gets plenty of use.

 

[Gibbo]

I think you should turbo the Clio

And ruin it!
Such a project be far better done on a more common 182, not a rarer special edition, would instantly de-value it.

I think it comes down to priorities change, has the 182 appreciated to a level you're happy to let it go to a loving home? Will you be kicking yourself in a couple of years if it goes up another £x? If so, keep it. If not, time to let go and move to something a little more dailyable.

Yes even if it sold for 4-5k now be fine, even if next year if would fetch 7k, it is 2k and in the grand scheme of things is not much, life will be easier with just a pair of modern cars, one is extremely special and the other can just be a modern warm/hot hatch.

 

[Gibbo]

Which is what the Abarth would excel at, comfortable, still fun to drive and yet practical (somewhat... have you worked out how you're going to go food shopping? Or fit a car seat? )

Yes an Abarth is favourite, will probably go all out and get a 66 or newer 180 Comp, spec needs to be xenons, performance pack and ideally beats with 7" in either Rosso red or Modena yellow. They seem to hold value reasonably well, be looking at a used 1-3yr old example, so 13-15k expenditure and probably lose a grand or so each year in depreciation but low running cost. Spotted a Rosso red for sale, facelift 16 plate, 40k miles £11,400 and open to offers and has performance pack, which seems quite a bargain but my guess is mileage heavily impacts the value of them.

Only other car considered is something like a 2.0TFSi Scirroco, maybe even R in the Viper green with DSG, because they excel at comfort, but on the flip side they are quite dull to drive but that is also what makes them good.

Think it needs to be be more fun, quirky/cool, 20-30mpg when driving around city and b roads with around 35mpg on a run and pretty cheap running cost which an Abarth does seem to excel at.

I could keep the 172 Cup as it pretty much returns 30mpg plus no matter how you drive it and can do 40mpg on a run (36mpg overall average), its quicker than an Abarth and handles a lot better, but its also a bare French hatch which literally just has 3 pedals and wheel, but as a drivers car I really can't think of any better hot hatch it is superb, but I will admit driving the Abarth put just as much a smile on my face and it felt more special, no doubt the Ferrari connection and the fact its got decent infotainment and toys in comparison to a baron French lightweight hot hatch special. The Abarth though technical not the best hatch, beaten by many and odd seating position seems to win hands down at generating smiles per mile, which is maybe to me what is more important in a car these days than outright performance. Why I went 458 over say a 488 or a Hurracan or 570S all of which are faster but in comparison felt somewhat numb at legal speeds.

 

[Gibbo]

Quick walk around video

Dirty because bad weather, looking for 5-6k, being offered 4.5k so far but not advertised it yet, feel it will fetch 5k plus easily.

 

[Gibbo]

So its time to now try what people argue as potentially the best hot hatch of all time - the 182 Trophy

2005 RENAULTSPORT CLIO 182 TROPHY for sale by auction in Hove, East Sussex, United Kingdom

collectingcars.com

Will either get it transported to me or aim to go collect it in coming days.

So will now own what is regarded as two of the best hot hatches of all time.

 

[Gibbo]

I was literally going to post the car in the noteworthy cars for sale thread the other day when I saw it

I did bid on it first time when it had a reserve which meant it failed to sell (reserve not met). This time the seller put it up with no reserve so it was selling no matter what, my limit was £9500 so happy with the result, shall enjoy it and then potentially sell it on based on what I think of it but at the price paid should cost me nothing to own, might even be fortunate how I was with 172 and make a few grand.

 

[Gibbo]

Morning Gibbo, welcome to pink clio ownership I enjoyed my tenure with a Trophy. Had a quick skip through some of that paperwork on CC noticed that unless there is anything more recent the Aux belt is a year overdue and Cam belt is about 6 months off.

I know you have owned a 172 in the past so probably aware of it. But just in case!

They were all done along with dephaser in 2019 at 116,000 miles, so less than 9000 miles ago and around 4.5 years, not sure if different on 182 but on 172 think it was every 56,000 miles or 5 years whichever came sooner. Based on that it will probably be wise to change just the belts within the next 6-12 months.

 

[Gibbo]

Aux belt is 3 years 36k and Cam 5 years 72k if I remember correctly.

I'd never chance it, too many stories of the aux belt snapping and taking the cambelt with it.

Thanks I shall refrain from driving it too hard on way home then.

 

[Gibbo]

Not a problem! I did double check with my best friend who owned his Trophy for 8 years and he also said the same.

Yeah it seems Renault state five years in the manual for a Clio Sport 2.0l on both AUX and Cambelt and is supposedly the guidelines Renault follow.

Clio Sport forum recommends AUX every 3yr so maybe an enthusiast thing unless Renault have since made an official statement and updated?

I’ll personally go with caution and get it done and maybe along with anything else too by Birchdown

 

[Gibbo]

So got the car back drove it from Brighton to Bournemouth, then around Bournemouth, then all way back to Stoke and still over 50 miles in the tank as took it easy but engine just purring so dephaser is spot on but got cambelt and aux belt kits on the way.

It’s cleaned up well but the car needs a lot of TLC:




So far the paint is beyond rescuing on front as deep scratches to front bumper and a lot of stone chips to bonnet, the door handles and rear bumper have also gone a bit pink due to been damaged plastic. As such I’m going to get the car painted.

Belts will be done by Birch Clio specialist along with a full check over.

Rear speakers fart so new Alpines ordered, parcel shelf missing so been gifted one and the seat belts are dirty so if I can’t clean those up I’ll get new belts for front if possible and some new red release buttons.

Car is on PS3’s dated 2022 and lots of tread so those will stay and the wheels are in good condition just some minor marks so those can stay. New brakes and dampers rebuilt this year and it does damp very well, can’t wait to drive it in proper anger, wet handling was superb, great steering feel.

But before any hard driving or long trips belts will be done and then paint job. I’ll go over the interior and properly clean it all down and drivers seat bolster is marked so will get that sorted.

 

[Gibbo]

Yep, that's how I did the belts on my old R26 and they came up great

Thanks will give this a go, any particular APC you used?