172 Phase 1 vs Cup

[MrMacgregor]

This maybe opening an age old can of worms BUT Im currently debating what to spend my modest budget of £2.5k on, and the list of necessary feature are:
1. A Renaultsport Clio...

I'm mainly put off by my last experience with a Clio mkII which was nothing but trouble - and my delight at switching to a 1.6 II facelift which was much more reliable, fun and didn't fall apart so easily.

So I guess my question is, what is the general opinion about a phase 1 vs a 172 cup? Bearing in mind, picking up a phase 1 for under budget and spending money getting it up to scratch is a very attractive option...!

Pic related, it's a fiiiiine example I actually found on here of a phase 1

 

[The Russian.]

Ph1 if your aren't fussed about throwing money at it to bring it back up to date.

 

[Mr R.]

I wouldn't say that mate, buy a good ph1 and you will be fine.
Id say its down to which one you prefer, looks wise they are miles apart and id also say the Ph1 is rawer.

I fancy a cup but I dont think I could part with my ph1.
Im trying to convince my wife she needs a cup.

 

[The Russian.]

I wouldn't say that mate, buy a good ph1 and you will be fine.
Id say its down to which one you prefer, looks wise they are miles apart and id also say the Ph1 is rawer.

I fancy a cup but I dont think I could part with my ph1.
Im trying to convince my wife she needs a cup.

Most are 12-13 yrs old so most parts If not looked after properly will more than likely be perished and worn.

Look at me and you mate, ours are near enough immaculate and we still throw £££'s at it.

To me I prefer a ph1, don't see much interest myself in a cup tbh.

 

[Mr R.]

You have a point, I love my ph1 but id like to drive a cup to see what all the fuss us about.

For me a ph2 wether it be a cup or not looks just like anyother ph2.
A Ph1 172 looks epic.

 

[MrMacgregor]

Agreed, they are savage looking cars from the outside - but the interior really leaves a lot to be desired.

Maybe I'm just being fussy but seeing as you spend most of the time INSIDE the car it's kinda important!

Brainwave; is it possible to fit the dash and centre console from a cup....?

 

[Jonff]

I've owned 2 172 Cups and a Ph-1. The Ph-1 was the best of the three and that's coming from someone who was very anti-Ph-1 at 1st lol.

I couldn't put my finger on what it was exactly that made the Ph-1 better but it just seemed to do everything better than the two Cups did in a driving sense.

 

[.GAZ.]

I've owned 2 172 Cups and a Ph-1. The Ph-1 was the best of the three and that's coming from someone who was very anti-Ph-1 at 1st lol.

I couldn't put my finger on what it was exactly that made the Ph-1 better but it just seemed to do everything better than the two Cups did in a driving sense.

THIS.

I've had 3 Cups, 5 Ph1's and a Ph2. IMO, the Ph1 is more driver focused.

 

[Filippo]

The front of a ph-1 is glorious. The rear is a real let down. They are also pretty grim inside. Cups come in possibly be best colour going. I think I'd have to go for that. Or what about an absolutely mint non-cup? They always get overlooked. Loved mine to bits and the interior is great for a cheap car.

 

[MrMacgregor]

This is exactly what I've heard - the ph1 just has something special about it that you can't put your finger on.

The trouble is that finding one that hasn't been 'chav-ified' by now is difficult. They all have glitzy wheels and 'crazy loud exhausts'.

The second a stock ph1 comes up then I'm seriously interested - failing that a modest 172 cup will do me MORE than fine!!

And about the 2.0 non cup edition, I know what you're saying, but I'm a real sucker for that cup bodykit and the little extra touches... =/

 

[Chris Lewis]

Every car since the williams has got more refined and less driver focused.

You start with no-abs, no air bags, hydraulic PAS, manual mirrors and a cassette player and end up with electronic driver aids, electric steering, R-link and funny GTR noises.

I know which end i want to be on when i'm up a welsh mountain road.

Phase 1 for me. Even over a trophy.

 

[dmallett]

PH1 everytime, with a ph2 interior lol.

 

[MrMacgregor]

Hearing big praise for the phase 1 and there's no smoke without fire... Unless you've remapped a DCi

 

[MrMacgregor]

Dmallet can you actually fit the ph2 interior into a ph1? If so then I think a project just opened up... XD

 

[Jonff]

Dmallet can you actually fit the ph2 interior into a ph1? If so then I think a project just opened up... XD

There's a guide in the guide section for doing that IIRC.

 

[Chris Lewis]

To be honest if you just change the steering wheel it makes it look much better

 

[Chris Lewis]

ow do you know which phase 1s had the alloy bonnet and shift light?

 

[dmallett]

Yes you can, with relative ease!
Theres a guide on here which is very good

I did it in my first ph1 and will be doing it again in the ph1 ive just got lol

 

[Filippo]

This is exactly what I've heard - the ph1 just has something special about it that you can't put your finger on.

The trouble is that finding one that hasn't been 'chav-ified' by now is difficult. They all have glitzy wheels and 'crazy loud exhausts'.

The second a stock ph1 comes up then I'm seriously interested - failing that a modest 172 cup will do me MORE than fine!!

And about the 2.0 non cup edition, I know what you're saying, but I'm a real sucker for that cup bodykit and the little extra touches... =/

If you got a non-Cup for around £1700 (which I sold my near minter for including 4 Turinis & standards wheels) and maybe lowered it a bit, I really think you have the best of both worlds. The speed difference between Cup & non-Cup is negligible. And the interior is certainly in the standard cars favours. And flame red is f**king great.

 

[MrMacgregor]

No idea, as far as I was aware there was only the one model before the facelift?

 

[MrMacgregor]

If you got a non-Cup for around £1700 (which I sold my near minter for including 4 Turinis & standards wheels) and maybe lowered it a bit, I really think you have the best of both worlds. The speed difference between Cup & non-Cup is negligible. And the interior is certainly in the standard cars favours. And flame red is f**king great.

That's not a half bad idea tbh. If they are that much cheaper for not being the cup edition it's a possibility. Basically I have the amount of my student loan (as I'm on a paid placement year, the loan is my car fund!) so roughly £2.5k to spend on the right car.

However reading about the ph1 to ph2 the general idea is that they're just more fun to drive...

 

[dmallett]

IMO there's no real difference driving a either, and I've had a ph1 and ph2 both setup virtually identical.

I prefer the way a ph1 looks, it's a bit more special in my eyes.

 

[MrMacgregor]

Quite fancy having a go at fitting a ph2 dash tbh, reading one of the guides it looks like it's not too different. Don't get me wrong, it bet it'll be a pig - these things ways are but nothing good ever came easy.

Thanks for peeps helping me out with this decision. - pretty new member of CS and this is my first forum so cheers for all being sound

 

[green]

I've had all three, in standard form the trophy wins. The ph1 is a better car than the cup as the ph2 wasn't an improvement over the ph1 that's why they had to make it. (even more of a can of worms)
Who looks at the interior when driving anyway

 

[peanuthead]

Not driven a ph1, but have had a non cup 172 and now a cup. My cup pulls stronger than my old 172 and feels better to drive. But what you'll notice is everyone has there own favourite so best go drive both and see which you like.

 

[Clio_Scott92]

after reading all the positives about phase 1s i am so gunna keep mine. trouble is i need a decent gearbox seems so hard to come by these days.

 

[Wick]

PH1 tbqh.

 

[Scotty-boi]

after reading all the positives about phase 1s i am so gunna keep mine. trouble is i need a decent gearbox seems so hard to come by these days.

They aren't great are they. I'm slowly eating away at mine. Refurbed box went on in November! It whines and crunches in to 3rd when pushing hard