First time 182 buyer, Would i be able to tell the difference with cup suspension?

[Prologic]

Hi,

My search for a 182 FF for around £4.2k is coming to a end, I just cant find any for that budget.
Is there a big difference in handling or performance between the 182 with the cup suspension and the standard suspension? Is there any way i could get round it with buying after market suspension?
Il be honest i dont know much about buying any suspension for one because this would be my first 182.

 

[Austin-182]

I think you still need to pay at least 5k for a decent one.theyve come down in price so people just asume every "182" is worth the same.honestly wouldnt let mine go for anything less than 6k and even then i wouldnt really want to let it go

 

[charlesk]

Although the CUP packed cars as standard has got a better setup, it limits you options for aftermarket suspension drastically.
If you're thinking that you'd want to change the stock setup, then the std setup is easier to find bits for (shocks/coilovers) and in all honesty not that much worst as std (coming from a Cup owner).
So yes you can get a std 182 for £3.5k and stick a good suspension kit on for your budget (say Konis as an example)...

 

[word_easy]

Its not worth buying a non cup Clio only to try and retro fit the cup packs, it would cost too much so just isn't worth it.

People on here who have not got a cup packed Clio will tell you there is hardly any difference. I have owned both over the last 5 years so can comment on this. There is a difference in comfort between the two, the cup is very stiff and the non cup is softer. I liked the cup pack but driving to work along the same road everyday has its downsides. As for actual handling, the cup probably is better if you are capable of driving the car safely closer to its limits, which 99% of people can't do, unless they have a cliosport sticker.

They also look nicer as they sit slightly lower, have a bigger spoiler and anthrocite alloys which will set the car off in any colour.

As for the value of a 182, I think 6k is very optimistic. You can pick up a well looked after 182 for around 4k - 4.5k without any problems. I recently traded mine in, the trader had it up for 4.5k, and has since dropped it to 4k, so decent ones are about!

 

[Prologic]

Thanks for all the help guys, I worry alot when it comes to buying a car, I think the best thing to do it just save for another couple of months without a car saving on insurance and feul which would give me a budget of £5k by the end of june. I would be totally gutted after saving for 6 months to get one in my budget and it have something drastically wrong with it. I think saving and waiting for 2 months would be a better option i just need to hear it from someone else lol.

Thank you all again.

 

[word_easy]

Well buying a car for £500 more doesn't gaurantee that it wont suffer a major fault! I just had a quick look on Autotrader, there are stacks within your budget, I don't see what the problem is.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Save £5k, buy one for £3.5k that needs the major service/belts, etc. Then spend your 'surplus' getting all the work done properly by a reputable specialist.

Whats the point in spending out your full £5k, on a car that has had the belts, etc done, but by some random mechanic, for cash, in his shed.

Re: the suspension, if you plan to modify/change suspension, buy a non-cup packed 182 or 172, if you dont plan to modify, buy a cup packed one, or a Trophy.

Imho.

 

[Prologic]

Save £5k, buy one for £3.5k that needs the major service/belts, etc. Then spend your 'surplus' getting all the work done properly by a reputable specialist.

Whats the point in spending out your full £5k, on a car that has had the belts, etc done, but by some random mechanic, for cash, in his shed.

Re: the suspension, if you plan to modify/change suspension, buy a non-cup packed 182 or 172, if you dont plan to modify, buy a cup packed one, or a Trophy.

Imho.

That sounds like a plan. Thanks foir the advice.