Clio 172's

[Chris_ZS]

Hello!

Been browsing a while now but have just come across more confusion for myself.

Can someone tell me what to look for when buying a 172? I am looking at getting a cup, is it just the small cup badges on the rear quaters that will let me know that they are one? Or can they have splitter/spoiler like the 182 FF, do any have both packs?

I've heard about Ph1 and Ph2 172's whats the difference there?

I'm just looking for a blue one, with the suspension cup pack and i've seen the belts being done recently with the pulley are a must, any other little bits?

I'm sure you get these threads all the time so sorry! I've got most things just need to know the last couple.

 

[MartinR]

http://www.cliosport.net/content/guides/Renault Sport Clio Guide.pdf

 

[pastieman]

172 cups will have no air con, no abs or esp, no xeon lights also s**t seats but nice wheels and a better spolier

182 has gay twin egg sauce and this is where you look for the cup packs.. So won't matter to you if your buying a 172 cup

Ph1 has the round head lights ph2 has the face lifted front head lights more pointy lol and different rear lights !!

Not much really out of the ordinary to go wrong with the 1*2... Just make sure there is good history with the car with evidence that the timing belt and aux belt have been done!!! And just buy on condition

 

[Chris_ZS]

Ah, thanks! Think I seen that before as well just forgot about it :quiet:

Definately should have put half leathers in the cup. First mod I think lol

So apart from the belts and the usual I guess there isn't much to look out for?

 

[mark smith87]

Also the cup will have a basic bench rear seat and no rear head rests to save weight. The non cup ph1 has half leather upholstery and basic Aircon. Look for service history and belt changes. Also check the disc brakes are in good condition on the back as they are a full rear hub change if it needs rear discs.

 

[Chris_ZS]

Ooh didn't know that about the rear discs. Awesome thanks for that!

 

[Cookson]

Also check the disc brakes are in good condition on the back as they are a full rear hub change if it needs rear discs.

Errrmm...... no they arent

 

[Jay.S]

I have a Cup up for sale at the minute.

Rear discs & pads are a cheap and easy fix your looking around £100 for the parts.

 

[richd]

Ooh didn't know that about the rear discs. Awesome thanks for that!

im sure its just a bearing that need to be pressed into the disc, not a hub change?

 

[Jay.S]

You can buy discs with bearings already pressed in, Cups dont have a Abs ring in. Then its just a case of the 2 caliper bolts out zip tie it up out the way and then the 30mm hub nut off and the disc is free to come off.

Then new disc on torqued up to 175nm, caliper back on, pads in, wheel on job done.

 

[Budgie]

As above. Rear discs aren't anything to worry about.

172's get better with more miles. Fact.

 

[Nexus Icon]

As above. Rear discs aren't anything to worry about.

172's get better with more miles. Fact.

Especially the squeaks and rattles. They seem to get more rhythmic.

 

[Goodj]

Ph.2 172

All the car anyone actually ever needs, unless Mansell, in which case Cup is a must have, for hero claims.

 

[plymcl172]

As above really but why OP are you only after the cup ?

a normal 172 will fit the bill, xenons, auto wipers/lights, half leather seats, air con, abs, climate control etc.... what more do you want ?

 

[Chris_ZS]

Cup suspension! Dunno, just sounds good in my head, will handle better than the standard surely? I want one I can use day-to-day but will still be great on track when I occasionally standard and without loads of money thrown at it.

 

[plymcl172]

You won't notice that on the road no

next you will be telling me the 172 cup is faster than a 172 :S

 

[Goodj]

OK.

The cup owners will swear that they can feel every inch of the tarmac as if they're paid to race. Non-cup owners will support the fact that they have the goodies.

Ultimately, unless you are an actual driving god, you will not notice the difference, especially if just doing the daily grind from a-to-b. As for track daying, if you've not been before then tuition will be the best 'mod' you can get, and it transfers between all the cars you drive.

 

[Chris_ZS]

Pssssht. I'm just going by what i've been told i'm a Fiesta man not a clio.

I've been told the 172 cup is as fast if not quicker than the 182 FF. I would assume due to all the goodies that are taken out the cup should be lighter than the standard 172?

I've done track days and been shown how to drive Just fancy a car I don't have to spend a fortune on making the handling better that has good power out the box and I like small cars. So a 172 Cup seemed to fit the bill but if the cup suspension doesn't do much for them then I guess i'll go on the hunt for both. But I do want a blue one with turini's lol

 

[Goodj]

If you want, you can get the 182 with Cup Packs, it's got the suspension already and you have an interior that's slightly less pauper

 

[Chris_ZS]

Yeah but its comes at a cost Bit out of my budget.

 

[Goodj]

phase 1 172?
(the older looking one)

or just get the best 172 you can and keep it well maintained

 

[Chris_ZS]

So the difference between a ph1 172, and a 172 cup is literally a bit of looks and the stripped out ness? The cup suspension doesn't really give it that much edge?

I don't mind too much I just fancied an out the factory track toy I could drive around in for a year or so that was a small car with a lot of power and good handling (hence why I thought the cup packs would help) .

 

[Goodj]

lol.

ph.1 are lighter than ph.2
then the cup came out with it's OMG!!!!!!!1 suspension and was a smidgen lighter than a ph.1 but with all the creature comforts removed.

No ABS in a road car? No thanks. No Air-con in a daily? Pft, yeah right.

Seriously, you're just gonna have to try a few out and see what you think. the 0.01g extra cornering of a cup may not be so tempting when you actually sit in one over a bumpy road, or in heat

 

[plymcl172]

Yeah but its comes at a cost Bit out of my budget.

you want a 172 cup which is more than a 172 ??? :S

 

[Chris_ZS]

I have no air con in the ZS, doesn't phase me lol

I have coilovers on the ZS, doesn't phase me either lol

I was on about the 182 being out of budget, the 172's I am looking at now and yeah some are coming up a good 1k cheaper, so if they suspension isn't really all that i'll take the comforts although they don't come with turini's which sucks.

 

[Goodj]

You can always buy Turinis, or 2118s, or OZs or whatever later

 

[Chris_ZS]

Yeah they cost mega bucks though IIRC but I know what you mean.

Also don't come in the blue I wanted and I am soooo bored of silver with my current car. Would probably end up wrapping it like I have done now lol

Hmmmmm I think it'll be a case of what comes up when at the right price in the right condition, but thanks, certainly have opened my eyes up a bit as like I say I don't know a great deal about these cars! Gives me a lot more to choose from

 

[Goodj]

Cliosport.

Your 1-stop shop for all your Clio owning/buying needs.

 

[plymcl172]

so why the cup then?

whats so good about the cup ?

we have told you about the suspension lots of times, the 1*2 handles good from factory. Hardly going to handle 'bad' is it...

if you are so worried by suspension then put collies on it! simple!

 

[Chris_ZS]

Well thats why I asked! Also why I wont just look at the cup I'll go for whatevers in the best condition and right price

Coilovers don't instantly make the car handle better especially if it had good handling out the factory! Would take £££ on getting it set up right.

You guys will know better than me so if you say the difference between the cup and a normal 172 is minimal I will just look at both. Thhhhhaaaanks

 

[plymcl172]

well we are here to help even if we sound sarky most of the time

yeah you have the right idea, never know a 182 with high miles may pop up and you would be silly to turn that down!

it depends what you want from a car ?

if you like the raw feel get the cup

if not get a normal 1*2

 

[Chris_ZS]

I'm after something with like <80k really, and just something powerful with good handling that I can use on track now and again and not have to worry about modding it to high hell to get power and handling out of it lol

I'm would like the raw feel but I think I could happily live with the standard. All depends on my budget at the time really. Time to get rid of my car and start test driving.

 

[plymcl172]

the Clio 1*2 is perfect for track days

I have had friends in 300bhp evo's etc. and they say a Clio on a track is much more fun

enjoy your search

 

[Chris_ZS]

Sounds perfect to me, i'm a small car man as much as i'd love something like an evo they are too much moneys in every way!

 

[mitch1503]

lol.
No ABS in a road car? No thanks. No Air-con in a daily? Pft, yeah right.

carn't say iv EVER found having no ABS an issue not even in winter with the snow etc

 

[mantis946]

carn't say iv EVER found having no ABS an issue not even in winter with the snow etc

I'm sure we have a thread dedicated to "Cup Culling Season" Every time the white stuff rears it's head lol

In all honesty you won't notice a difference, Between the PH2 I've drove and the PH1 with no aircon and cup suspension the difference is negligible - My PH1 feels a little more raw at best but it's probably more of a placebo effect.

However the cheaper belt changes without aircon is nice.

 

[Chris_ZS]

Don't plan on getting the belts changed in my ownership if it can be helped ! lol

 

[Rhauri]

Don't plan on getting the belts changed in my ownership if it can be helped ! lol

Don't rule it out as an option though... as a great car could crop up and all it needs is belts.

I just bought my Flame 172 which is a non-cup phase 2 car (see this thread) and its a fantastic car in fantastic condition. The only thing it needed was belts, but that was hugely reflected in the price and as a result left plenty in my budget to get the belts done by Diamond Motors, which includes both belt kits, a dephaser pully and an oil and filter change.

That means I'll have LOADS of life in the engine from the word go; not having a belt change due in a year or two looming over my head knowing how much it cost, and if I want to sell it just before the belts are due - it'll take longer to sell and for a lot less money. I have also instantly increased the saleability and value of the car by getting the work done by a well renowned and reputable specialist on this forum - what's more, he's come out at the cheapest so I'm more than happy.

I personally wanted a car that needed its belts doing, so I knew that they were done right by a garage of my choice, and not going by the word of the seller with the old, "my mate works for a garage so did it as a cash job for me, so thats why I havn't got any receipts". Even when sellers can produce receipts for parts, you don't know the work has been done to the correct standard (cambelt jobs are a very specialist job on this car due to the floating cams, just do a search and you'll realise how important it is to get them done correctly). Hell, after reading this forum, I didn't even want a car that had its belts done at North West Performance for fear of the many bad write ups (I know there are plenty of positive stories too, but didn't wanna take my chances).

So, don't write off a car that needs its belts doing as long as it is priced accordingly and everything else stacks up (condition & other service history).

It would also be worth while joining the forum if you are truly serious and committed to getting a 172. It opens up a wealth of information that was invaluable for me when I bought my car.

I reckon you're looking at similar 172's with a similar budget as I was just a couple of weeks ago, so if you need owt else feel free to ask.

 

[Chris_ZS]

Is there anywhere near Bournemouth that does it specialist though? I know my friends garage has the tools to do it but I don't particularly trust them lol

I think my budget is going to be 2k tbh. so it would have to crop up at a pretty low price to be able to afford belts on top but I do see what you mean as it would be piece of mind having it done myself, I wouldn't mind that but I just wouldn't want to have to do it half way through ownership or whatever.

All the help so far has been great I will join up but I feel its one of those things where i'll do it when I buy the car as otherwise i'd spend a fortune on forum memberships lol I think I have the basics to try and buy a decent conditioned one!

 

[Rhauri]

Yeah that's fair enough pal, as long as you feel you've got enough ammo behind you.

And that was exactly my budget too, and I've bought a car with damn decent mileage, full service history up to its current due service, amazing condition in an out with change left to do the belts

So it is doable, you've just got to be on the ball in the marketplace and be prepared to travel a bit. I got mine and it was about 80 miles away from me.

I'd be tempted to pop a new thread up asking if anyone know of a specialist in the Bournemouth area, or at least nearby.

I'm actually driving 110 miles to Diamond Motors, but even factoring in return cost of fuel - its still miles cheaper (not to mention better) than my nearest specialist!