3K Clio Queries, 3 Different Models

[Ricardos]

After seeing the MK1 Clio 16v on eBay last night it got me thinking. If you had 3K to spend (based on what the Valver is up for) what would you buy?

MK1 Clio 16V
Phase One Clio 172
Renaultsport Clio 182

Based on them all needing some kind of work but in fairly good condition, base the 182 on say a Racing Blue colour. I'm not saying rot boxes but something you can get in and drive. Looking at the photos of the Valver it seems in half decent nick obviously without being up close to it.

Just interested in people opinions, choices and reasons 😊

 

[David Stuart]

To daily drive it would have to be the 182.

Valver would be a nice as a modern classic to take to car shows and on Sunday drives.


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[massiveCoRbyn]

To daily drive it would have to be the 182.

Valver would be a nice as a modern classic to take to car shows and on Sunday drives.


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This.

 

[mossyv6]

I would love another valver but the fear of rust puts me off

I would go for a 182 as parts are easier to get hold of and less rust.

Rust is evil evil evil expensive stuff!!!

 

[R-Sport.]

3k > 182.

You can still find a half decent 182 for £3k - 80k miles arctic blue or black which with a but of luck still drives relatively decent.

 

[jameswrx]

182 out of those for me.

I think the mk2 172 is the value sweetspot though. £3k there should get you a minter.

I’m not a mk1 clio fan at all though but get the appeal. I had a ph1 clio V6 and I’m not really one to usually moan about interiors but the ph1 steering wheel and dash just looked nasty to me. I don’t even mind cheap interiors, love a R5 GTT for some reason but the ph1 clio just doesn’t do it for me. Hate the front lights too.

 

[Iain C]

182 tho the Valver would be very tempting. Depends on the rust really.

 

[Martin_172]

172, no squint exhaust to worry about 😂

 

[White16valver]

I’m not a mk1 clio fan at all though but get the appeal. I had a ph1 clio V6 and I’m not really one to usually moan about interiors but the ph1 steering wheel and dash just looked nasty to me. I don’t even mind cheap interiors, love a R5 GTT for some reason but the ph1 clio just doesn’t do it for me. Hate the front lights too.

Wuuuuuuuuut


Mk1 every time for me - those arches! The wheels at each corner! The handling!

A 172 could be a 1.2 with a plastic bumper kit, but there's no mistaking a Valver/Williams

The Mk1s like to be daily driven, it keeps them running better IME, so I think I'd drown it in rustproofing and then enjoy some slidey fun over winter

 

[jameswrx]

Sorry, I meant a mk1 172 not a valver.

Valver is a terrible idea. One we had 15 years ago was rotten. I actually like the valver interior compared to a ph1 172

 

[LukeSi]

I'd go out and buy the nicest 172 cup I could.

 

[Martin.]

182 for me without any hesitation.

If I couldn't find a nice 172 cup that is.

 

[Bankrupt_drunk]

I wouldn't get too hung up on 172 vs 182. Just get the best condition one you can. They're all at an age where various suspension components will need to have been refreshed so look for one that's had some money spent, above and beyond the usual servicing and belt changes. Rust is becoming more of an issue too. One that's had a gearbox health check would be nice.

 

[plenty]

I've never driven a valver. What's the performance like compared to a 182? My 182 offers about the minimum level of performance I need in a car...don't think I could go much lower.

 

[White16valver]

I've never driven a valver. What's the performance like compared to a 182? My 182 offers about the minimum level of performance I need in a car...don't think I could go much lower.

Needs the tits revved off it and not that fast compared to modern stuff... but the point is that you can carry ridiculous speed because the chassis is totally on your side and the limits are clearly communicated / can be worked around. The higher sidewall tyres mean it's more compliant over bumps as well, so you flow better down a good but bumpy B-road, instead of having something with rock-hard suspension bouncing you out of your seat.

I recall going round the outside of a 911 on a wet roundabout, which was amusing

Could drive it in the wet like it was dry when on the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D2 tyres!


I'd have on again for sure - it's a lot more fun ragging it to keep up with something faster than it is to have something fast you constantly have to drive at half-power if you want to keep your licence / not end up in a hedge.

 

[jameswrx]

I recall going round the outside of a 911 on a wet roundabout, which was amusing

From the 911 driver perspective... Is the other side of this one of those PistonHeads threads?

“I was driving to work in my porsche, it’s wet, terrible conditions. Then I’m just about to move to my exit lane when some lunatic...”

 

[White16valver]

From the 911 driver perspective... Is the other side of this one of those PistonHeads threads?

“I was driving to work in my porsche, it’s wet, terrible conditions. Then I’m just about to move to my exit lane when some lunatic...”

It was on the roundabouts on the way in to a shopping centre - he wasted me as soon as we got to the straight bit afterwards lol

 

[Martin_172]

Needs the tits revved off it and not that fast compared to modern stuff... but the point is that you can carry ridiculous speed because the chassis is totally on your side and the limits are clearly communicated / can be worked around. The higher sidewall tyres mean it's more compliant over bumps as well, so you flow better down a good but bumpy B-road, instead of having something with rock-hard suspension bouncing you out of your seat.

I recall going round the outside of a 911 on a wet roundabout, which was amusing

Could drive it in the wet like it was dry when on the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D2 tyres!


I'd have on again for sure - it's a lot more fun ragging it to keep up with something faster than it is to have something fast you constantly have to drive at half-power if you want to keep your licence / not end up in a hedge.

Thats what i found amusing with the Twingo 133, it just felt like a modern valver to me!

 

[Coops Mk1]

Owning all 3 currently, phase 1 172, and I'm a mk1 guy at heart but no matter what you buy currently it'll need rust repairs at 3k

 

[Martin_172]

Owning all 3 currently, phase 1 172, and I'm a mk1 guy at heart but no matter what you buy currently it'll need rust repairs at 3k

i take it RS cars are rusting a lot worse than the non RS cars then? is it mud and damp sitting behind the side skirts?

 

[Coops Mk1]

i take it RS cars are rusting a lot worse than the non RS cars then? is it mud and damp sitting behind the side skirts?

Can't answer that with any authority i'm afraid as no experience of non rs mk2's

 

[Martin_172]

Can't answer that with any authority i'm afraid as no experience of non rs mk2's

must be, all my mk2s have never had any rust, including the current van which is 19yrs old with 150k odd on the shell

 

[Coops Mk1]

must be, all my mk2s have never had any rust, including the current van which is 19yrs old with 150k odd on the shell

I think it's also slightly random, my 156k 19 year old phase 1 is rot free, but the 216k 16 year old 182 is suffering

 

[frayz]

must be, all my mk2s have never had any rust, including the current van which is 19yrs old with 150k odd on the shell

I think alot of grit gets caought between teh steel panels and the bodykits on teh RS models. This grit abrades paintwork and rot sets in.

 

[Big Toe]

I think alot of grit gets caought between teh steel panels and the bodykits on teh RS models. This grit abrades paintwork and rot sets in.

The side skirts seem to cause a lot of the issues as the rot generally starts at the bottom of the rear quarter.

For rot on the rear arches this could be down to cars being lowered and/or bigger wheels that have either rubbed the paint or at the least brought loose stones a lot closer to the body

 

[frayz]

The side skirts seem to cause a lot of the issues as the rot generally starts at the bottom of the rear quarter.

For rot on the rear arches this could be down to cars being lowered and/or bigger wheels that have either rubbed the paint or at the least brought loose stones a lot closer to the body

On the rear arches it’s stone impacts thrown by the front tyre at the leading ashes of the arch. Then at the tops where it meets the rear bumper from grit abrasion.

 

[David Stuart]

On the rear arches it’s stone impacts thrown by the front tyre at the leading ashes of the arch. Then at the tops where it meets the rear bumper from grit abrasion.

Might be some of that. But I’ve got A LOT of experience with rust. And it’s usually down to two things.

1) water / mud traps. Side skirts, sills and rear arches are bad for this on most cars.

2) poor protection. Cheap cars with thin paint and underbody protection.

The clios aren’t bad for rust. But every car will rust given long enough with some mud sitting in the arches and a slight crack in the paint.

Here is a picture of my mini as way of my “rust resume” [emoji23]

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