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Imported 172’s - Quick Question
- Thread starter LRTom
- Start date
davo172
ClioSport Club Member
TCR'd 172
Import car is was exactly the same as UK car if RHD.
The only difference was the imports didn't have alarm fitted but were 4 grand cheaper than a new one was in UK at the time of purchase.
MRBILLYUK
ClioSport Club Member
FF Jeden Osiem Dwa
Spot on 👍
davo172
ClioSport Club Member
TCR'd 172
Had mine new in 2002 best new price at reno was 16k
Price i paid (brand new first owner as import purchased in UK) was £11995!
Warranty was 3 years same as UK car even reno UK didn't know it was an import when it went in for work.
Owned it for 12 years!
Price i paid (brand new first owner as import purchased in UK) was £11995!
Warranty was 3 years same as UK car even reno UK didn't know it was an import when it went in for work.
Owned it for 12 years!
Last edited:
NickReilly063
ClioSport Club Member
182 Trophy Rs265
I bought quite a few imported 172’s in 2002 brand new from a friend who had his hands smacked by Renault as they where a dealer group who had the franchise - they cost a touch over 10k - my wife drove one for around 12 months and I sold for £10600 -
Martin_172
ClioSport Club Member
no alarm, no window etching and no locking wheel nuts was the giveaway
MRBILLYUK
ClioSport Club Member
FF Jeden Osiem Dwa
I bought my first 172 import in 2001 from an Independent Renault garage. I think I paid £13k for it and had it 4 years.
My 182 import that's still my daily drive I bought from Motorpoint 18.5 years ago for £12k.
I had both of them fitted with a Toad alarm.
Darren S
ClioSport Club Member
I find stuff like that quite surprising. Surely from a production plant perspective - it would be cheaper just to include all three items on every car made - regardless of destination?
I do get the JDM stuff though, where the UK spec cars had to retrospectively get undersealed and with a rear fog light fitted etc - as these items weren't required in Japan.
Martin_172
ClioSport Club Member
I believe all those were done at the UK import centre, I know certainly the alarm was as that's why they are all installed differently depending on who fitted it
It happens today, it’s quite common for post production additions to be added port side. In the case of Uk specific Renaults. They had their thatcham approved alarms and glass etching done by CAT at the Uk import centre.
European imported vehicles were the same, but didn’t have these as they didn’t enter the UK via the Uk port of entry. Their warranty was different, but in the early days dealers didn’t know quite often until it became widespread at which point they’d start declining claims.
It’s why I laugh at the “official” numbers of how many Clios were sold by colour. I’d probably double some of the numbers officially imported. But no one will ever know.
That’s only reliant on them being registered correctly. Many were just down as Clio on the log book so won’t be defined as 172/172 cup etc. some will.
Darren S
ClioSport Club Member
If those figures are indeed correct - that's even more motivation for me to keep mine on the road! 😁
Not even 1,500 licenced for the 182 currently.
Darren S
ClioSport Club Member
OK, own up. Who's got the one and only 10-litre RS Clio? 
CLIO 197 CUP,
Daft question why did they import these cars? Were they originally destined for Japan / Aus?
So at its peak European prices were considerably cheaper than the UK list. European dealers could order vehicles in both left and right hand drive. Uk was obviously part of the EU at the time so vehicles met type approval, but excluded the UK “standards” things like Thatcham insurance approved alarms etc. in essence the difference in price offset the cost of importing the vehicle into the UK. Block exception rules helped with things like servicing and warranty. Basically the cars came from places like Belgium, Ireland etc. and were significantly cheaper. Brokers bought them on fleet deals so benefitted from additional fleet discounts.
The UK new car market works as agents of European car manufacturers (national sales centres or companies) so there are additional costs in selling vehicles into the Uk, including port side, type approval etc.
Net result was a cheaper car. The gap closed massively as OEM’s and NSC’s reduced the new vehicle prices, the fluctuations and strength of the GBP dropped to the point where it wasn’t cost effective to import vehicles. Coupled with Dealers and OEM NSC’s making warranty difficult. It all died a death In about 2005/6
The UK new car market works as agents of European car manufacturers (national sales centres or companies) so there are additional costs in selling vehicles into the Uk, including port side, type approval etc.
Net result was a cheaper car. The gap closed massively as OEM’s and NSC’s reduced the new vehicle prices, the fluctuations and strength of the GBP dropped to the point where it wasn’t cost effective to import vehicles. Coupled with Dealers and OEM NSC’s making warranty difficult. It all died a death In about 2005/6
Clio 172
So are you saying they would sell RHD cars in Europe??? Seems odd
CLIO 197 CUP,
Excellent. Thank you for explaining 😀
Bluebeard
ClioSport Moderator
Whichever has fuel
Don’t you have a Cup?
leeds2592
ClioSport Club Member
Bean 182 + E70 X5
Nope. It’s got air con, I put the cup spoiler on, I’ve a receipt from the previous owner that bought the cup splitter, it had half leather seats and xenon’s when I bought it and it’s got 54mm hubs 🤷
They did yes, absolutely. They were never registered in Europe apart from in Cyprus & Ireland (they drive on the left)
I used to import them and sell them back in the early 00’s we used to buy vehicles made for Belgium market or Ireland.
NickReilly063
ClioSport Club Member
182 Trophy Rs265
I first started importing Ford Puma 1.7 ‘s in 1998 when all the Ford dealerships had sold out - they came from Belgium 🇧🇪 too - great little cars in there day
CLIO 197 CUP,
Massive soft spot for the Racing Puma’s!
Bluebeard
ClioSport Moderator
Whichever has fuel
One of the most underrated cars of the modern era. Just a shame anyone taller than @Touring_Rob (which is a high percentage, have you seen him?! c**t still shops in Mothercare) has to have their head rubbing the ceiling.
Amazing chassis though, and proper pin point steering. 👌🏽
MRBILLYUK
ClioSport Club Member
FF Jeden Osiem Dwa
You should have auto wipers and lights, regardless whether it's an import or not.
Both of mine did. Maybe you've got a fault with gel pack on the windscreen, or had your windscreen replaced at some time and it wasn't fitted?
leeds2592
ClioSport Club Member
Bean 182 + E70 X5
Maybe so, must have been done within the first few years of its life as this photo is from a previous owner around 2008-2009 time
Darren S
ClioSport Club Member
Piss poor playback quality - but I remember watching this the first time around on TV.
My wife had a 1.7 Puma and loved the thing. Despite it having the usual rusty arches and an engine that liked to be on form approximately 3.6 times per week (don't ever stall it when it was warm!) - she would have another one today.
Still her most favourite car that she's ever owned. She'd probably murder @Gally for his FRP if he lived closer.
Robbie Corbett
ClioSport Club Member
Still taller than you ginger chops.
I have one (FRP) in for restoration just now, me and the owner took it a small drive, apart from the suspension alignment needing checked it still drives so well, the combo of the steering and gearbox and high revs is as brilliant as ever!
Bluebeard
ClioSport Moderator
Whichever has fuel
And I’m rich with long flowing locks.
Brigsy
ClioSport Club Member
T.Turbo
Love the racing puma's. Get some pics up
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