The Clio 172 Mk2...

Lead_Head

Lead_Head

Lead_Head

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26 Jan 2003
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Tell me everything I need to know about this car.

Good points (obv handling + used price),

Bad points (Cost of tyres etc),

Service intervals (How much for a service?),

What to look out for,

Known defects,

Anything else worth mentioning? I'm currently saving up some £££ to buy a new (used) car, and the 172 is something that I'm very keen on. I've been in one and was pretty impressed. I think for a hatchback it holds good road presence from the front. The rear is somewhat dissapointing as it hasn't been modified from the old basic Clio's, only the 'Sport' badge gives it away.
 
Hm lets see, ive only driven a 182 FF but I don't think there's an astronomical difference in handling between that and the 172s, well maybe there is with the cup but ill try give you some basic details.

Handling wise all the 1x2s are excellent, lots of feedback although I find the car can feel a bit on the nervous side when taking corners at speed.

Power doesn't really come in till 4000rpm with max torque (and a subtle kick at about 5200 rpm) off the line their genuinely quick but its not the most torquey engine out there.

Um services are ever 12,000 miles with big services at 36k and 72k servicing costs aren't mega with the exception of the 72k when the cambelt needs doing. Tyres vary allot but I guess your looking at £300ish for all 4, I assume the 172 has 205/45/16s like the 182.

then there's the build quality.. well its a small French hatch so things tend to rattle - quite allot in some cases. Electrics are in all honesty a joke in them although maybe ive just been unlucky as my 182 has had allot of electrical problems over the past few months.

On the cosmetic side of things the 172 is actually more different than you may think from the rear, different bumper ect but if you really want it to look different then I guess you could save a bit more and get a 182.

Out of curiosity how much were you looking to spend as there's quite a few options about, 172 "Full Fat", 172 Cup, 182 "Full Fat", 182 Cup and the 182 Trophy.

The full fats have plenty of extras on them but once again I've only had experience with the 182s.

Hope that's of some help ill try tidy this up a bit later.
 
Im looking to get a trophy in the summer :D
Either that or a high mileage s2000... but that would get robbed proper quick around here! :(
 
Looking back I wish id saved that bit longer and bought a Trophy, gorgeous cars I realy like that red, and the recaros. :)
 
It'd be a 172 Full Fat, I won't be able to afford a 182, nor the insurance / running costs. The alloys on a 182 however are really nice.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
Sidenote: if the car is either 5 years old or done more than 60k I thoroughly recommend getting the cambelt replaced beforehand.

They are very cheap to run in terms of performance. You can pick up a decent 2002 172 with average mileage on it for about 6k or less. Plus you get leather/alcantara seats, xenons, autowipers and autolights.
 
Lead_Head said:
It'd be a 172 Full Fat, I won't be able to afford a 182, nor the insurance / running costs. The alloys on a 182 however are really nice.

Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...

Running costs are both the same, 172/182
 
Biohazard said:
Try your best to get a Cup as opposed to a normal 172
Click to expand...

Depends what he wants really. If he wants climate control, leather, xenons, ABS etc go for the standard 172. The cup is slightly faster point to point and a little more focussed, but you lose all of those and AFAIC the standard 172 is just as much fun with the extra toys too.
 
Engine mounts and gearboxes are the major weaknesses. Both are a little chocolate like...
 
If your on the look out watch for a 172, keep an eye out for imports. They tend to be missing an alarm or have a 3rd party on installed (UK models have a red LED to the left of the gear stick), locking wheel nuts and the side windows dont have security stickers on them either.

Faults tend to to include engine mounts failing, steering wheel melting/falling apart and top struts rubbing. Think they tend to be the main ones to look out for.
 
I've seen the Cups but the interior on the normal 172 is more to my taste. The Cup is more geared to racing or track day, I'd like the comfort and feel of the alacantra / leather seats, plus air con / xenons etc.

How can I check for a knackered gearbox? Engine mounts would be obvious I'd of thought?

Thanks for the pointers about imports.
 
Cup has a terrible interior, the 172 is much nice. I would probably opt for a FF rather than having a Cup again.

Found the Cup to be quite nervous at times, sometimes you can sense its about to let go and you have to ease off. Then again there was the lack of ABS. Never fully confident knowing I didn't have ABS as its quite valuable. I'm not a racing driver so its nice to have :)
 
Cup with some new seats installed would be the ideal scenario, it has the best wheels and best stock suspention setup on the mk2 172s.

Most the info has already been given above.

Running costs are pretty good for what you get, decent mpg and not too horrendous servicing.

I've racked up well over 30k miles in my mk1 in 2 years and it's great. First proper mods going on this week :)
 
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I get about 44mpg on a run (Cruise set to 70mph) and about 27mpg stop start around town in my ph2 172.

Recently had its 36k service which cost just over 300 quid (I had other bits and pieces to do as well, which bumped the price a smidge).

Mines an import but I've added all the stuff that didn't come on it, thats no big deal. The imports came with 2 years warranty, as opposed to the 3 of the normal UK cars, not that that matters anymore since there won't be any still in warranty.

The ph2 cars from bout mid 03 onwards have ESP (which is completely useless at the best of times :p) and the 53/04 (Very few 04 plate ones) have cruise control and a speed limiter. They also have no door lock on the drivers side (its a French cost cutting thing)

They come in 4 colours.. (well, 5 if you include Mondial Blue on the Cup) Iceburg Silver (which is what mine is), Monaco Blue, Flame red and Pearl black

Thats bout all I think can think of that hasn't been mentioned already :)

Edit: Insurance isn't too bad on them. 172 ph2 FF's are Group 16, the Cup is 17. Quite a few insurers won't insure the Cup's anymore, due to too many superheroes crashing them :p. I pay £950 FC and I'm 23, 1 years no claims (2 years driving) with a London postcode. (Thats with Greenlight Insurance).
 
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I'd also recommend test driving one if you haven't done so yet, some people aren't too keen on the driving position and putting new seats + subframes in to fix it isn't exactly cheap.

Insurance isn't too bad as sad as well, I'll be looking at £300 FC @26 this year :)
 
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