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Clio 172 cup or 182...will it work?



Will16V

Will16V

  Clio 172 Cup, Eunos
OK, so after years away from the Clio scene, I've found myself looking again at possibly buying a 172 Cup or a 182. The prices seem quite low at the moment and there are some nice examples out there. I've always wanted a 172 Cup to be fair.

I owned a '95 Ph2 1.8 16v Clio many moons ago, and was scarred by that relationship. It always wanted something, and I swore I'd never buy French again. But, I see reports saying that the 172 Cup is a good car, and possibly the 182?

I drive a Mk1 Eunos Roadster and will be keeping that for the weekends and what not, but the question is, can I rely on a 172 Cup or maybe a 182 to use to get me to work and back without constantly breaking down? I'll be getting rid of my current uninspiring daily, a Focus (!) But that has given me zero problems other than two rear wheel bearings in the past 4 years.

I currently drive at least 200 miles per week on the motorway. I've been looking at German diesels but to be honest, reliability there appears to be an issue, for my price range.

So, if i chose wisely, check that the belts have been done along with the dephaser and a good history, am I making a wise move? Very hesitant from past experience with the valver :(

I am a car guy so will obviously look after it, service it regularly etc.

Any comments welcome :)
 
G

Goodj

  Listerine & Poledo
I ran a 172 (non cup, Ph.2) as a daily for 5 years.
Other than the alternator bracket falling (leaving me dead by the M4)
A dead battery
a failing exhaust
CV / driveshaft

No issues really. 40mpg on a run, 30 in town. It wont be as wafty as the focus and, for a daily mile-eater, that might be important to you.

If your price rane is where I think it is, try a VW Bora TDi Highline. Diesel mileage, they take 200,000 miles without issue and that particular model comes with nearly all the good toys.
 
Will16V

Will16V

  Clio 172 Cup, Eunos
Thanks for replying. To be honest, comfort isn't a big priority, I'll take an inspiring drive any day over comfort and toys.

The Focus has an Eibach/Bilstein set up, which is not really too bad, compared to the Roadster which is on coilover's. I'm keen to see what other Cup owners have found with their experiences of the car being used as a daily/shopping trolley etc.

As long as it starts and drives when I need it to, I'd be happy with that. What are the gearboxes like on these cars BTW?
 
jamesycc

jamesycc

I use my cup as a daily. 14 miles each way 3 or 4 times a week. Makes driving to work fun, especially at 5am when the roads are nice and quiet. As with any car irrelevant of brand you get good ones and bad ones. At least a Clio is fairly cheap to fix compared to most brands. Should be able to.find a decent cup for £1300-£2000 depending on mods etc..
 
Will16V

Will16V

  Clio 172 Cup, Eunos
I have seen one, but its miles away from me. It looks like it been really well looked after, but requires new top mounts. Is that a pretty straight forward job?
 
G

Goodj

  Listerine & Poledo
Will16V said:
Thanks for replying. To be honest, comfort isn't a big priority, I'll take an inspiring drive any day over comfort and toys.

The Focus has an Eibach/Bilstein set up, which is not really too bad, compared to the Roadster which is on coilover's. I'm keen to see what other Cup owners have found with their experiences of the car being used as a daily/shopping trolley etc.

As long as it starts and drives when I need it to, I'd be happy with that. What are the gearboxes like on these cars BTW?
Click to expand...
Clio gearboxes are made of frayed string and plastic. And the shift itself feels like stirring a bag of rocks, 3 miles away.

Compared to an MX5 that is.

In fairness, my '5 is my daily. YOu think you're going to need 170hp to get to work and back? Fair enough, get a clio.
Otherwise, just get an MX5 with a hardtop, a set of "winter" wheels and aircon. Sorted for days
 
Will16V

Will16V

  Clio 172 Cup, Eunos
Agreed, the MX5 gear change is like a reloading a precision rifle. I remember the valver gearbox being like treacle, before it shat itself and wiped out a 1st, 3rd and 5th. I'm not sure if i could put up with an MX5 for a daily though.

I don't think I need 170hp to get to work, I just like the car and have always wanted a Cup. I don't really want to go down the diesel saloon route.
The Clio seems a bit more practical, but I can't help envisage monthly or bi-monthly bills of £400 here, £287 there, £600 somewhere else, you know?
 
A

ADS_V6

ClioSport Club Member
  Seat Leon
go for it get one,i drive a cup daily and its like driving a 80s hatch more raw and bumpy etc,the normal 172 and 182 are nicer inside and a bit more comfortable
 
dablyz

dablyz

  Clio 172 Cup
+1 on the cup, I drive one as a daily too. Never get tired of driving it, great fun to sling round the back roads to work!
If you're after a 'precision rifle' gear change, I can recommend the PMS Precision Linkage set, its transformed the feel of mine - love it
 
G

Goodj

  Listerine & Poledo
Will16V said:
Agreed, the MX5 gear change is like a reloading a precision rifle. I remember the valver gearbox being like treacle, before it shat itself and wiped out a 1st, 3rd and 5th. I'm not sure if i could put up with an MX5 for a daily though.

I don't think I need 170hp to get to work, I just like the car and have always wanted a Cup. I don't really want to go down the diesel saloon route.
The Clio seems a bit more practical, but I can't help envisage monthly or bi-monthly bills of £400 here, £287 there, £600 somewhere else, you know?
Click to expand...
it's a 10+ year old car, so yep, it's possible.
NO more or less so than with another MX5 though :wink: and the bills will be bigger on a Clio is something does pop

dablyz said:
If you're after a 'precision rifle' gear change, I can recommend the PMS Precision Linkage set, its transformed the feel of mine - love it
Click to expand...
Bless ya.
Yes, it's an improvement, but it's still nowhere near what OP and I are used to in the world of "good gearboxes"
 
Cub.

Cub.

ClioSport Moderator
Goodj said:
Bless ya.
Yes, it's an improvement, but it's still nowhere near what OP and I are used to in the world of "good gearboxes"
Click to expand...

What utter b****cks. Have you driven a clio with a PMS shifter? Have you fallen off a chair and banged your head recently, because you seem to be spouting some bizarre stuff of late.

Every car has it's foibles, and I can list just as many problems (rust anyone?) with a MX5 as a clio.

The long and short of it OP, is do your research and buy on condition. Be it a clio or a MX5. If you want 4 seats, and some warmth in the winter coupled to great fun then get the Cup. Perfectly suited as a daily hatchback IMO. If you want wind in the hair, rwd fun with some annoying practicality issues get an MX5.

There are some good threads on here regards what to look for when buying a Cup or any 1*2, so use the search function as much as possible.

As with any car of this age, they can be a money pit, if you don't do your research and then take your time buying.

Me, I'd get the clio.
 
coverman

coverman

  Cio 172 Cup,Porsche
For daily driving, can you live without air conditioning? Oh and lets hope you will survive without side airbags and ABS.
 
Will16V

Will16V

  Clio 172 Cup, Eunos
coverman said:
For daily driving, can you live without air conditioning? Oh and lets hope you will survive without side airbags and ABS.
Click to expand...

Yes, I can survive without aircon, I only use it about 5 days a year in the Focus. Side airbags and ABS, my MX5 doesn't have those so yes, I can live without those too (unless i get T-Boned by a range Rover or whatever). It's a drivers car after all isn't it?

The car I'm looking at appears to have been well looked after with a stack of bills and receipts, MOT'd until August 2016. There are a few marks on the paintwork here and there, its not a complete minter, but its probably the best of what I've seen so far.

Its on 85k at the moment, with cambelt and water pump done at 63k. No evidence of dephaser being done though.
Dephaser seems ok, no noise, but after speaking with a Renault specialist, they don't go after a certain period, they appear to last if the car has been cared for, regular oil changes and services etc, which this one appears to have had.

Based on condition and history, it appears to be good, the car is standard, no mods. The wheels may need refurbing at some point though.
 
Last edited:
iacabu

iacabu

I had a 1.8 eunos before my cup, although only had it a couple of months. I didn't really enjoy it as a daily. The Cup is great but it has cost me around £700+ on gearbox, clutch and injector in the 5 months I've had it.
 
G

Goodj

  Listerine & Poledo
iacabu said:
Well before that my daily was a Fiesta RS Turbo, which I did enjoy, it was more the size and lack of guts that I didn't like about the eunos
Click to expand...
You had actually seen the car before you'd bought it, yes?
If so, what did you expect!? :D
Totally understandable though....maybe less so about the "no guts". Everyone gets 200hp for free these days and use all of 3000 revs to get to it, mind the old RS must have had V-Tec levels of boost lag
 
TheEvilGiraffe

TheEvilGiraffe

South East - Essex
ClioSport Area Rep
If I were to buy one as a daily, I'd get a 182. Climate, decent lights and cruise. Job done.

Will you notice the benefit of no ABS / cloth seats and a weight-saving of a morning-dump driving up the Motorway every day ? No. Will you on a track !? No, I don't think so personally.

If it's really too refined for you, leave the A/C off and take the back seats out. 😂


PS: @Goodj .. are you alright ? You really need to drive mine .. your views are very out-dated and tainted, you miserable old basrtard :expressionless:
 
A

ADS_V6

ClioSport Club Member
  Seat Leon
where are you im caerphilly, im more than happy if u wanted to pick us up for a look at it
 
Will16V

Will16V

  Clio 172 Cup, Eunos
ADS1982 said:
where are you im caerphilly, im more than happy if u wanted to pick us up for a look at it
Click to expand...
I'm in Halifax, West Yorks buddy, but this appears the only decent car I've found so far. I'm willing to travel though, but it will be a long day 😧

I've spoken to the seller and he seems pretty fair & upfront, so this is looking at the moment as the likely candidate. But that journey arghhh!! Its going to be an 8hr round trip.
Cheers for the offer, if I need any help, i might just give you a shout if that's ok?
 
A

ADS_V6

ClioSport Club Member
  Seat Leon
yes fine with me mate,im about an hour from that area its west wales not far,nice countryside area,if i was you pay 12 pounds now and get full membership on here and send me a message if you need a help al
 
Marc.

Marc.

ClioSport Club Member
I hate my Clio with a vengeance, but to be fair, other than punctures (well, a buckled wheel) and an injector / lambda fault, my car hasn't been too bad. I did snap the Aux belt but I can't blame the car for that.

I did a 100-mile round trip every day for 7 months in mine, and it was absolutely fine. Sure, it wasn't a Rolls Royce, but I didn't complain. Much.
 
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