172/182 Buying advice for a 40yr old noob!

[WhiteHartMart]

Spending half of my working day searching online for a 172/182 to have a bit of fun in as a 2nd car. Only will be doing about 5000 miles a year in it max.

Question is - apart from the belts and dephaser - is there anything else that I should automatically look out for. I'm guessing I'm asking how good these are when at higher mileages also - been looking for something with no more than 60 - 75k I guess but have seen a few at under 40k with a premium in price obviously - just trying to justify the extra outlay or whether to spend the cash on a few subtle modifications

 

[.LiamC.]

I'd say just look for the usual really, FSH and/or receipt's are a must IMO. Engine wise, there are many 1*2's on here that are on 100k+

Depending on your budget I'd be looking for a 182 Trophy

 

[WhiteHartMart]

I'd say just look for the usual really, FSH and/or receipt's are a must IMO. Engine wise, there are many 1*2's on here that are on 100k+

Depending on your budget I'd be looking for a 182 Trophy

Cheers - have my eye on a couple of Trophy models - but they are right at the top of what I want to pay. Decisions, decision eh!

 

[Arron Pearce]

Does the dephaser get changed every cambelt change? How do you know if its on its way out also?

 

[jesus]

If you can stretch to a Trophy then do that. Out of the box, they are spot on and require no modifications, plus you get better seats and better resale value. If you do though, just make sure that the dampers have been refurbed with evidence, and test them when you view it (there should be next to zero body roll from the front if you push down on the wings).

 

[Harbinger]

They are recommended to be changed every 2 cambelt changes but you won't know it's gone until it has and starts rattling.
Personally for the Money after chucking so much into my 182 I'd say.... Get FatRS on here to sell you his Nice Petrol Blue 182 with Cup Packs it's very nice example, or buy a Trophy or a 172 Cup, wouldn't bother with anything else. Trophy can be a money pit if not looked after or had Sachs refurb.

 

[jesus]

Trophy can be a money pit if not looked after

How so compared with other RS models? Apart from the dampers?

 

[Budgie]

Don't panic about miles.

I've owned knocking on 15-20 RS's over the years- they get better with miles as long as they're maintained well.

 

[Chi]

If I were you Id avoid a Trophy. IMO they only come into there own on track and the cost of having to refurb the sachs on a car you will be doing so few miles isnt warranted. They will hold there value to an extent but the upkeep is considerably more and a cheap 172 cup or a FF182 will also hold its value if you look after it.
​

 

[WhiteHartMart]

Thanks for the different viewpoints! - due to the little it will be used I'd prefer to keep the budget around the £3.5k max mark so think I'll spend my time concentrating on nice 182s for now (famous last words though as a Trophy then suddenly appears on my drive!!)

 

[Harbinger]

How so compared with other RS models? Apart from the dampers?

Just the Dampers is all, extra few hundred on top of any other Clio, that said Trophys are probably looked after a bit better.

 

[Chi]

Theres a Trophy for £3.5k on ebay if you can stretch to it.. I would probably agree they tend to be cherished a little more..

 

[Harbinger]

Theres a Trophy for £3.5k on ebay if you can stretch to it.. I would probably agree they tend to be cherished a little more..

3.5K is a bargain for a Trophy, almost worth buying and breaking it. Dude BUY it now! is it the Scottish one though that's been up for sale for nearly 6 months?

 

[jesus]

Theres a Trophy for £3.5k on ebay if you can stretch to it.. I would probably agree they tend to be cherished a little more..

If I were you Id avoid a Trophy. IMO they only come into there own on track and the cost of having to refurb the sachs on a car you will be doing so few miles isnt warranted. They will hold there value to an extent but the upkeep is considerably more and a cheap 172 cup or a FF182 will also hold its value if you look after it.
​

:S

Also with the dampers, if they've been done then you're onto a winner. If not, use it as a bargaining tool to get money off the purchase price so you can get them done.

Most of them will have been done by now.

 

[Adam G]

Just get the straightest one, in the colour you like. Don't worry about the miles, just history is important. At our age we don't look at them the same as the youngsters. Any model will reward you with a smile and you'll be hard pushed to notice any performance difference between normal, Cup or Trophy. I will admit the Trophy is probably the nicest though.

 

[cliokid182]

If I was getting a second car it would be a 172 cup no doubt, infact I wish I bought I 172 cup instead of a 182. Apart from the exhaust and price difference there is nothing between a 172 or a 182. Buy a 172 and spend the left over cash on refreshing parts and a few handling mods.

 

[r0ss172]

If I was getting a second car it would be a 172 cup no doubt, infact I wish I bought I 172 cup instead of a 182. Apart from the exhaust and price difference there is nothing between a 172 or a 182. Buy a 172 and spend the left over cash on refreshing parts and a few handling mods.

Having owned a ph1 172, 172 Cup, and a 182FF, id say the best one was the 182. IMO because of the extra's you get on it compared to the empty cup. If youre going to strip it within an inch of its life and turn it into a track car then yeah, go for for a 172 Cup. However, if you plan to drive it on the roads and its a hot summers day you cant beat the climate control, then on a run you've got cruise control, auto wipers, etc etc. Then theres the difference in performance which really is negligible, unless youre lewis hamilton and trying to get every last second per lap out of it you can on a track day.

All IMO of course

 

[Edd]

If I had 3.5k to spend on a 1*2 as a second car, I'd be after a very tidy phase 1 that was due it's second belt change for around the 1.5k mark. You can then do a full belt change (including dephaser) at a specialist and you know it has been done right. The belt change will set you back between £450 and £600. I'd then do a complete suspension over haul, all the bushes, track rod ends, struts, springs etc. You might want to do the discs and pads whilst your at it but that won't set you back much. In total it would end up costing between £2500 and £3000.

 

[cliokid182]

Having owned a ph1 172, 172 Cup, and a 182FF, id say the best one was the 182. IMO because of the extra's you get on it compared to the empty cup. If youre going to strip it within an inch of its life and turn it into a track car then yeah, go for for a 172 Cup. However, if you plan to drive it on the roads and its a hot summers day you cant beat the climate control, then on a run you've got cruise control, auto wipers, etc etc. Then theres the difference in performance which really is negligible, unless youre lewis hamilton and trying to get every last second per lap out of it you can on a track day.

All IMO of course

He said he is going to use it as a second car otherwise I would have said a 172.

 

[r0ss172]

He said he is going to use it as a second car otherwise I would have said a 172.

Yeah a 2nd car, not a track car.

I was saying if its a track car then 172 Cup, for a 2nd car id go for all the options and buy a 182FF, 99.9% of the driving experience/performance with no draw backs

 

[WhiteHartMart]

Thanks for all the tips guys - think I'll be happy with either tbh - preference will be a 172 Cup with climate or a 182 FF.

Not really bothered about cruise, auto wipers etc but if they're in the package it's a bonus.

Hopefully will be posting pics in the next few weeks

 

[Chris Lewis]

They are all essentially the same car. Just get the colour you like with the spec you like. Nothing between them speed wise, and the trophy is over hyped as what it gains on the track it loses by taking your spine out on a B road.

If i were to get a 172 / 182 i would get a full fat black 182, just because i like them. I dont care that a cup in 0.002 seconds faster round a track, particularly if it is that horrid orange colour.

 

[TTrev]

I'd say just look for the usual really, FSH and/or receipt's are a must IMO. Engine wise, there are many 1*2's on here that are on 100k+

Depending on your budget I'd be looking for a 182 Trophy

^ This ... and the other Trophy comments

Im on the look for a nice cheap cup (any) to build into a track car (gotta shift my mk2 and scoob first) ... never been into fwd but this car has turned me ....strange!

good luck