172 cup owners opinions

[carl1976]

Hi,
am due to get a 172 cup next year and am wondering what you guys think of yours and what problems you've had, if any?Is there any downsides to a 172? Also how do you cope without a sparewheel?!! is it a case of carrying tyre weld in the boot?

Look forward to hearing your opinions

 

[Jonff]

I've got a long list of problems I've had with mine, common and not so common problems, some times I even hate it as I had it up for sale a couple of months ago but then there's the times I really do love the car. As for the lack of spare wheel issue, I just bought a cheap standard 172 Alloy and used that. That tyre weld/foam stuff is crap and wouldn't fancy haven't to rely on it if I got a puncture.

 

[.GAZ.]

Only problem i had with my cup was the gearbox giving up, i did drive it HARD tho!

 

[Gaz_]

Just bought my second, after having a 182/197 for the last three years. Love em tbh!

Had nothing major. The dephaser needs changing on mine, but is a lottery on any RS Clio tbh

 

[MarkCup]

Mine's been OK...up to 115k now from new. Apart from a niggly wiring issue when new it's been bang on.

Consumables can last ages, and the only major thing I've replaced has been the gearbox as a result of running out of talent in a big way on track.

Once this one finally becomes terminally ill (it's got ages left yet!), I'll go straight out and buy another one.

 

[Henry]

some people have had a relatively trouble-free time and others have had a fair bit of bother. there are threads touching on the common problems and there does seem to be an element of luck involved in buying one second hand. got to say that i'd probably not buy a Renault again

it's definitely an interesting car for the money but, to me, they are hyped up a bit. depends what you're looking for really. it's not at all imminent, but i'd probably only change it up for something with more modest levels of grip and relative power (more satisfying to drive) - older BMW, maybe something from the 'class' below (Panda, C2, Swift, etc)

 

[Gaz_]

? Why would you do that? The RS clios let you play with the bigger boys, with near 40mpg. Perfect B road chassis, what more could you want?

 

[realnumber 1]

? Why would you do that? The RS clios let you play with the bigger boys, with near 40mpg. Perfect B road chassis, what more could you want?

+1
They have a superb all round ability!

 

[Peperami]

I had two. One was a money pit, cost me loads but was huge fun at the time.

Second was minty minty, like a new car and nothing went wrong. Think id fallen out of love with them by then though.

 

[Henry]

it's just me; i know what i enjoy in a car and it's missing in a lot of modern stuff. most people trade up, but more-or-less everything of its type that's been built since is heavier, with more power, and a much more planted chassis (apparently. none of that interests me anyway). the Cup's as interesting as it is as it's really the last of the lightweight properly hot hatches

 

[Gaz85]

I bought mine in june, spent just short of £1k already getting it to the way i want it, thats with a cam and aux belt change and alloy refurb and some sportlines.

Worst problem so far cv boot clip snapping and new brake pads so nothing major!

Spare wheel get one although i havent yet even after i had a full blow out miles away from home on a meet and mates dad had to bring a spare up to get it home! reminds me i need to get one!

Great fun car, can easily get 42mpg even with a bit of fun in between! Loving it

 

[matt200vvc]

Very good fun cars. They all have little niggly problems no doubt but i'm learning to live with them.

Ive had mine since the end of august 09 and have replaced the cambelt (piece of mind) then replaced it again when the dephaser pulley was replaced, new back box, gearbox mounts, cts sensor, thermostat - it's been a costly affair....

Buy one, just make sure you get a good one though.

 

[jacko198]

How much are parts for them? For examlple, new gear box, cambelts etc etc?

 

[matt200vvc]

How much are parts for them? For examlple, new gear box, cambelts etc etc?

Cambelts, look to pay around £300 ish mark - DONT GO TO RENAULT.

Gearbox - dont know - havn't had to replace that yet.

Parts are just the same as your average car though nothing to expensive about them.

Don't know you age or driving history but another thing you may want to look at is insurance - this can be a bit steep sometimes.

I pay £960 with direct line, im 25, good postcode, 0 NCB and licence held for over 3 years - do have my partner on though whos 24 so that puts it up a bit.

 

[jacko198]

Ah ok, that helps.

I am expecting insurance to go up abit! I will be 21 with 3yrs ncb pass plus etc.

I pay about £600 a year tpft on my 1.6 corsa sport, so im happy for it to go up to £1k (i guess)

Sorry for the thread hijack!

 

[-J-]

Had mine coming up on 2 years... No major issues, Dephaser repalced when i had my belts done, Other than that touch wood been as good as gold!

 

[carl1976]

Well the one i'm getting is my brother in law's car and he's had it for 4 years now with no problems apart from the rear exhaust box snapping around the weld which joins it to the pipe which leads to the centre box.

It hasn't had the belts done as far as i know unless they were done before my brother in law bought it but this i doubt, he is looking into getting both done before i buy it though. I have a frenault specialist here in Essex i can use and the guy is an ex renault technician who got fed up working at renault and ripping people off! so that's where it'll be going for any future servicing etc. I've driven the car several times and it goes very well and to be honest it won't even cover 1000 miles between now and next april.
As it hardly gets used in the week. The spare wheel is an issue and i'd definitley buy a wheel to put in the boot as i have heard the tyre weld is a nightmare when it comes to taking the tyre from the rim to repair or replace it.

Can anyone tell me what the de-phaser is please??:approve:

 

[carl1976]

Insurance not a problem as i'm 33 and have about 15 years no claims and live in a low risk area luckily. think my brother in law pays a fortune and he is 29! about £700

 

[Henry]

the dephaser's one of the cam pulleys; they can wear and create a lot of noise; danger of them letting go and releasing the belt, with usual consequences

buying one from someone you know who's run it for a while counts for a lot


sorry about earlier prattle - over analysed; they're good if you just want a cheap, quick car

 

[realnumber 1]

Insurance not a problem as i'm 33 and have about 15 years no claims and live in a low risk area luckily. think my brother in law pays a fortune and he is 29! about £700

Should be cheap then. I live in one of the worst high risk towns and I'm 33 with years of no claims and pay £460 with protected no claims and full breakdown cover.

 

[p4cks]

I'm 26, and my insurance was £400. Still got my Cup, but not insured any more and am selling it

 

[WEmerson]

I had one for 2 years sold it about 2 years ago and brought a (old shape) Civic TypeR. I never had any problems with it but did keep it pretty much standard appart from an exhaust. I loved it and missed it for months even tho my Civic's really smart. I am on the look for a R26 now as got itchy feet again hence the look on here. Their great fun and people you leave at the lights are amazed at the speed of your wolf in sheeps clothing.. I'd have another one just as a track car if I could afford two cars.. DO IT

 

[carl1976]

How much does the De phaser pulley cost to replace, i take it it's best to get this done along side the Cam and Aux belt, would the water pump be a good idea to replace at the same time as the belts are off???

:approve:

 

[Ruskie]

I loved mine for first 6 months, then reality comes. Its horrid to drive long distances, horrible to drive in anything but bone dry conditions, mine produced some lift off oversteer out of a roundabout one morning and spat me out the wrong way after understeering and pushing out lovely for previous 3 roundabouts!! It eats brakes for fun. Its loud and uncomfortable. Its typical horrid french cheap build quality. Good points errrr....its fast on the right road and is good on fuel.

 

[Gaz_]

liked it then?

Sounds like you should own an Audi Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :sleepy:

 

[Ruskie]

liked it then?

Sounds like you should own an Audi Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :sleepy:

Jog on fanboy.

 

[Gaz_]

PMSL!!!!!

I'm off out in a minuite to see if my cup will throw me off a roundabout......

 

[Ollie82.]

Had mine since 2005. Its got its niggles, rattles, knocks et all but there isn't a Renaultsport that doesn't.

Main thing is its light, handles superbly and is pretty damn quick for the amount of money it costs.
When you strip away the bullsh*t that gets spouted in this place and actually concentrate on how it drives, not how fast it could go if you do X, Y and Z, then you find its a great drivers car.

Lightweight is the way forward after all.

 

[.Ben.]

Check the obvious (s/h, belts, etc.) I'd echo what Ollie ^^ said.

I've had mine since the end of June and since then it's been great. However, mine's had a full set of engine mounts, a new standard exhaust, rear exhaust mount and is in need of new strut-top bearings - they clunk when pulling away from standstill. But I knew about an engine mount and the exhaust when I bought it...

I also have recently had a problem with the crappy stock seats - they have NO lower back support.

 

[Brett]

I loved mine for first 6 months, then reality comes. Its horrid to drive long distances, horrible to drive in anything but bone dry conditions, mine produced some lift off oversteer out of a roundabout one morning and spat me out the wrong way after understeering and pushing out lovely for previous 3 roundabouts!! It eats brakes for fun. Its loud and uncomfortable. Its typical horrid french cheap build quality. Good points errrr....its fast on the right road and is good on fuel.

If your understeering your not driving properly.

Call me a fan boy if you will however all I will say is if its that bad sell up and get a MK4 Golf. Perfect car for you by that statement or maybe a Bently as your clearly too good to drive a 'horrid french' car.

FFS.

 

[CHUFFER]

They are noisy, awfull on long runs, they rattle, no mod cons plus mine has just cost me just short of a £1000.
But I love it, to me it gives you a feeling that no other hot hatch can do for the money.
If you like your no frills drivers cars that are practical u can't go wrong with a 172 cup
I would go as far to say its the best hot hatch I have ever owned and ive had my fair share.
mine is my second car but I use it 90% of the time (if that makes sense).

 

[carl1976]

I had a quote today to have the cambelt and aux belt's changed does £500 sound cheap at a renault specialist? This is without the aux belt tensioners and the de-phaser pulley this would cost more, but am waiting to find out how much!

Do you guys think this is cheap for a specialist or would a normal garage be able to do it cheaper??

Any thoughts please chaps:approve:

 

[Aluco]

I loved mine for first 6 months, then reality comes. Its horrid to drive long distances, horrible to drive in anything but bone dry conditions, mine produced some lift off oversteer out of a roundabout one morning and spat me out the wrong way after understeering and pushing out lovely for previous 3 roundabouts!! It eats brakes for fun. Its loud and uncomfortable. Its typical horrid french cheap build quality. Good points errrr....its fast on the right road and is good on fuel.

Sounds like your dampers and exhaust were shot tbh. Were you running ling long tyres ?

 

[jordan172]

I loved mine for first 6 months, then reality comes. Its horrid to drive long distances, horrible to drive in anything but bone dry conditions, mine produced some lift off oversteer out of a roundabout one morning and spat me out the wrong way after understeering and pushing out lovely for previous 3 roundabouts!! It eats brakes for fun. Its loud and uncomfortable. Its typical horrid french cheap build quality. Good points errrr....its fast on the right road and is good on fuel.

all the gear and no idea,

its a proper drivers car! as above a nice mk 3-4 golf 1.6

 

[RichCup]

I had a quote today to have the cambelt and aux belt's changed does £500 sound cheap at a renault specialist? This is without the aux belt tensioners and the de-phaser pulley this would cost more, but am waiting to find out how much!

Do you guys think this is cheap for a specialist or would a normal garage be able to do it cheaper??

Any thoughts please chaps:approve:

I just wrote something out but bloody IE lost it :dapprove:

£500 is far too much! Where abouts do you live mate? Someone may be able to point you in the direction of a more reasonably priced specialist. I had mine done at birchdown (http://www.birchdown.com/timing.html), as you can see the prices are much better than £500!

 

[carl1976]

I'm essex, i had a call back earlier and the garage said they had made a mistake with the quote, to do cambelt and aux belt is £446 to add the dephaser to this scenario it takes it up to £600!!


Does this sound better??

Anyone know of anymore specialists in the Essex area??:S

 

[RichCup]

Mark Fish will be local ish I think? Not sure what his prices are though.

 

[Ruskie]

If your understeering your not driving properly.

Call me a fan boy if you will however all I will say is if its that bad sell up and get a MK4 Golf. Perfect car for you by that statement or maybe a Bently as your clearly too good to drive a 'horrid french' car.

FFS.

Are you suggesting that the 172 Cup NEVER understeers? Wide, large, 3rd Gear roundabout slight film on smooth tarmac. Try it before commenting on something you have no idea about.

 

[gaz44]

Are you suggesting that the 172 Cup NEVER understeers? Wide, large, 3rd Gear roundabout slight film on smooth tarmac. Try it before commenting on something you have no idea about.

Are you suggesting most cars wouldn't understeer in this situation?

 

[peak19]

...can easily get 42mpg even with a bit of fun in between!

I wish...