Just test drove a 182 ! * PHOTOS *

[Daipac]

56Kers BEWARE ! LARGE PICS BELOW !

OK, just went for a spin to Halford to get some wiper blades for the missus car. Had a look around and then thought we would go and have a look in the local Renault garage to see if they had the 182 in ! We got there and there it was ! A brand new Black/Gold 182 sitting on the forecourt with the Cup spoiler and suspension packs ! It looked good !

I went inside to see if there was someone there who could give me a brochure or some more info. Both salesmen were busy so I thought we would give it 15 mins and if nobody sees us then we are off ! 15 mins pass and we are just about to leave and a salesman comes in and asks if he can help. Great I thought, asked for any brochures and he said they had nothing ! OK I thought, lets see if I can book a test drive for later in the week and no sooner had I finished the sentence than the keys were thrown in my direction ! "Bring it back in 20 mins !" he said !

So, there I am with the keys to a brand new 182 in my hand to go for a test drive ON MY OWN ! Mmmmmmmmmmmmm ! The car had only been delivered yesterday and had just over 100 miles on the clock ! I was grinning like a Cheshire cat !



I wanted to get some photos for you lot on here so I decided to boot it home (about 10 mins away) and get my camera ! The 20 mins test drive took around 40 mins in the end as I was enjoying myself ALOT and the detour to go home and pick up my quipment !

Right enough of my drivel, here are the photos (56Kers BEWARE !) :

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01692.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01694.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01695.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01696.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01697.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01698.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01699.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01700.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01702.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01703.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01706.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01707.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01708.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01709.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01710.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01711.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01712.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01713.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01714.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01715.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01716.jpg

....and that is it !

As for the acutal drive then it felt goooooooooooooooooooooooooood ! I have never driven a Cup so I dont know if the suspension is different but compared to my 172 it was a lot more stable ! You point it and it goes where you want it to go ! It has seriously tempted me to get my car lowered now ! Can someone confirm that lowering the 172 with Eibachs will give as good a ride and stability as a Cup ?

As for the interior, personally I think it looks cheap ! The inserts in the dash are now a solid silver instead of carbon fibre look and it looks very cheap IMHO. Did not like that. The seats dont look bad in the flesh either. Nothing else has really changed from the 172 apart from the god awful silver seatbelts ! WHY RENAULT, WHY ?!?!?!?!

The exterior, I have come to the conclusion that the exhausts are not good IMHO ! They are too small and they stick out too far from the back spoiler to give it a wheelbarrow look to it ! And, the wheels in that colour do look very good on the dark car but they are just not nice wheels ! Also, the headlamp surrounds are definitely light grey ! Looks odd on a dark colour car.

BUT, saying all that, I had ALOT of fun in that car today ! It just felt right !

I even had an Audi driver trying to race me in his A4 1.9 TDI, they are not bad accelerating from around 50mph with that turbo to be fair ! He just would not get out of the way tho ! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !



In conclusion, I would NOT change my 172 for the 182 YET..... only because of the exterior changes. The actual ride and response is spot on ! Whoever is getting a 182 is going to be very very happy, especially if you like the exterior changes. Maybe if they launch that Yellow colour in the UK then I will be tempted in a year or so.

I enquired about a price for my 172 as I was interested, he said around £8800 (which is what I paid for it) but then he asked it is was an Import, I said yes and then he said "Oooo, you are looking at this figure then" as he points to the fair condition price of £7200 ! WTF ?!? He said he would phone around and get me an actual figure tomorrow but it doesnt matter as I am more than happy with my 172 !

Dai

PS Sorry for writing the essay ! I did it all in the name of Cliosport.net !

 

[telford_mike]

Nice one. The revised front end looks good IMO, not too sure about the exhausts but it was a pretty good effort from Renault I think. Those wheels would have to go if it was mine. Cracking car just the same though.

And yes Dai, the Eibachs will really improve your car.

 

[James20VT]

duno if its just me or light on the photos.... does the 182 seem too be a bit wider? it seems too curve out below the windows?

nice one dai

 

[Daipac]

Stay off the crack Jim !



The front bumper is the Cup version which is wider IIRC ? Maybe that is it ?

 

[Viv172]

"Can someone confirm that lowering the 172 with Eibachs will give as good a ride and stability as a Cup ?"

Yes it does!!! I have eibach springs on my 172 and I drove the 182 cup yesterday

That car looks so at home in your drive!!!

 

[Daipac]

Viv, so did the 172 with Eibachs feel as good as the 182 Cup ? HONESTLY ?

"That car looks so at home in your drive!!! "

Shhhhhhhhhh ! Dont say that, my 172 is sitting on the drive now, she may hear you ! LOL !

Spot the difference :

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01692.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dai.littlewood/Dsc01647.jpg

 

[ravo]

Really dont like the wheels, but i think the exhausts look quite decent. Still wouldnt have it in black though

 

[king.stromba]

Thats the same spec car i tested. Black gold with cup spoiler and suspension. I thought the exhausts looked good.

 

[Daipac]

I just think the exhausts are too small and stick out slightly too far from the rear bumper. All my personal opinion of course.

 

[Viv172]

Honestly, yes. The 182 is slightly less hard (over bumps) but just as firm if you know what I mean...eibachs make a noticeable difference to the handling of the 172.



Nice car, nice to have but if I got one now it would only be coz it was newer not coz it was better....they are just as fast tho even with only 500 miles on the clock and if the 172 is anything to go by, theyll get better with more miles.

 

[Viv172]

The exhaust was disappointing, all looks and no growl!!

 

[Daipac]

Eibachs it is then ! Gotta be done, may even do it before my track day in April now after that test drive. I dont want a hard ride tho that is the only thing.

The 182 was quick with just 100 miles on the clock, they will both get better with age !

 

[Viv172]

Quote: Originally posted by Daipac on 22 February 2004


Eibachs it is then ! Gotta be done, may even do it before my track day in April now after that test drive. I dont want a hard ride tho that is the only thing.

The 182 was quick with just 100 miles on the clock, they will both get better with age !

I dont find the ride too hard compared to other cars that Ive driven, harder than standard but still nice and comfortable around town, if you like the 182 then you wont be sorry!!

 

[welsh182]

Drove that there same car yesterday. When I asked I was told that it was by appointment only until I told him that I had one on order from there when he agreed to let me drive it there and then (but only for 10 mins) as he was expecting another customer, unfortunately the salesman then came with me and as the car had only 87 miles on it at the time he was wanted me to take my time. Even so I thought the car looked great and drove really well , albeit at low speed. Cant wait now.

A friend of mine is also a salesman there but he was off yesterday, will have to have another go of the demonstrator when he gets back.

 

[Daipac]

welsh182, where in Swansea you from mate ?

Were you not tempted to go for an import instead of buying from West End in Swansea ? You could have saved £1000s.

I was quite surprised he let me go out on my own but I did tell him I already had a 172 parked on the forecourt, maybe that helped.

 

[welsh182]

Dai

I am from Treboeth origionally but now living in Birchgrove, where are you?

I was not tempted to go for an import as I was given a great deal from the aforementioned mate who I have known since I was a kid. This was also the main reason for buying a renault at all. But I have now driven a 172, a cup and the 182 at west end and cant wait for the car to arrive. Been driving a freelander for the last three years which I got due to having 9 points at the time and needing to slow down.

 

[Daipac]

I am in Gorseinon mate. Not far at all. Will have to gimme a shout when you get the 182, be good to see that colour in the flesh too !

Fair enough, always good to have mates as car salesmen eh !?!? LOL ! Bet you cannot wait. I drove a Ford Ka before I got the 172 which is a lot worse than the Freelander but it will be a big difference going to the 182, you will get those 9 points back in no time, especially with all the speed cameras around now !

 

[greeper]

Dai - you need a shave ... Anyway excellent set of photos, not really that different to the normal 172 though they do look better when lowered.

I like the wheels more than the old 172 ones.

Exhaust exits should either be bigger or closer together.

Interior - the 172 looked too plastic and the 182 has not changed this probably due to the new Clio now being on the horizon.

 

[welsh182]

Cheers Dai, will do that!!

I lived in Garden village for about 5 years when I was a kid, went to Pontybrenin Primary until 1997 (when I was 7)

 

[Daipac]

Cheers greeper ! I will do that mate ! What can I say, the missus likes the rugged look ! LOL !



I like the interior of the Clio to be fair though.

Surprise Surprise welsh182 it is Cilla ere ! OH MY GOD ! I LIVE IN GARDEN VILLAGE NOW AND I ALSO WENT TO TO PONTYBRENIN PRIMARY SCHOOL TOO ! Was there until I was 11 which would be 1991. That is nuts ! What is your name ?

 

[welsh182]

I am Martin Davies, Dai, But I am a good 10 year older than you so I was gone fore you were born.

Used to live in Llys Aneurin at the top on the roundabout

Also, just noticed that I put 1997, meant 1977, if I was 7 in 1997 I would only just be 14 and not thinking about buying cars. Thick as sh*t me see!

 

[Daipac]

NO WAY !!!!!!!!!!!! I LIVE IN LLYS ANEIRIN NOW ! HALFWAY UP THE ROAD ! THIS IS SPOOKY ! I am quite scared now ! LOL !



You are 10 years old than me ? I see, what threw me was that you said you went to Pontybrenin till 1997 when you were 7 ? That should make you 14 now ! LOL ! Maybe you meant 1979 not 1997 which would make more sense ! LOL !

That is crazy tho !

 

[welsh182]

Going a bit off topic I know, but I think it was No17 I used to live in and was friendly with with Neil and Kerry Morgan. who lived a couple of doors down from me on the left hand side. I think their parents still live there, if I remember rightly their fathers name was Les. Do you know them??

 

[dailyd]

Maybe if they launch that Yellow colour in the UK then I will be tempted in a year or so.

How come you cant get it in the yellow (jaune sirus) ? its available as an option on renault.co.uk on the car configurator.

 

[welsh182]

Anyway totally freaked out now and got to get out of the house before the missus comes back with the baby or I will inherit a load of jobs. Will visit Llys Aneirin again once I get the car.

 

[greeper]

Quote: Originally posted by Daipac on 22 February 2004


NO WAY !!!!!!!!!!!! I LIVE IN LLYS ANEIRIN NOW ! HALFWAY UP THE ROAD ! THIS IS SPOOKY ! I am quite scared now ! LOL !



You are 10 years old than me ? I see, what threw me was that you said you went to Pontybrenin till 1997 when you were 7 ? That should make you 14 now ! LOL ! Maybe you meant 1979 not 1997 which would make more sense ! LOL !

That is crazy tho !

LOL... I thought you were so excited at the 182 test drive that you had forgotten to shave and collected it in your Pajamas

Not really spooky, common sence considering that I always believed everyone in Wales were related (runs and hides)

Anyway, to be honest your 172 and the 182 look equally as good, if I was to buy another Clio it would be a 182 but only just as by looks there are several things not quite right about it. But if the handling is as good as you and every magazine review says it is a true competitor to the CTR etc.

 

[Pete_br]

I see reno have gone back to Mitchelins again!!!!! Just wait for the recalls to start again

 

[JAY172]

are the 182 seatbelts silver daipac?

 

[Daipac]

greeper, you cheeky b**tard ! LOL ! I should have thought before I said that ! LOL !

As for being excited about the test drive, it was a spur of the moment thing, no time to forget to change out of my PJs ! LOL !

Pete, I noticed that had Michelins too.

JAY, the seatbelts are bright silver !

 

[dk]

Quote: Originally posted by JAY172 on 22 February 2004

are the 182 seatbelts silver daipac?

i thought about this and didnt like the sound of them and then when I got in my car tonight, I looked at mine to compare them (I currently have a megane coupe) and guess what, mine are bloody silver too, I havent noticed them before, they will look fine, you wont even notice them after the first time you get it!

 

[Daipac]

I think you are right there dave, I have to admit that I did not pay them any attention when I was driving. They just strike you as bright silver when you first see them, lets face it, it is a not going to stop you buying one ! LOL !

 

[Funkyjahooner]

Dai,

Fantasic pictures mate and your dedication is noted !!!

Loved the pics,i still have yet to see one in the flesh so i cant get enough of piccies at the min.Im still undecided on the alloys,im coming to the conclusion that they will look great against the black but not so good against the blues.

I quite like the exhausts as well but the seatbelts are gopping !!

Thanks once again

 

[Daipac]

Funky, cheers mate ! I aim to please ! LOL !

As for the wheels, I definitely think that they are the right colour but just the wrong wheels, simple as that. Think the colour of them will look good on all the colour 182s.

 

[Trail182]

Great effort Daipac, luckily Ive seen one in the flesh but Im still pleased to see any photos on here (especially gooduns like those!).

I actually went back to Renault Altrincham today to film a sneaky little 182 movie, but theyd moved the car from the staff carpark at the back to the front door. I started asking a guy some general questions about it and he was bit arsey with me, probably because I was in my scruffs and he must have thought I was a thief hehe (I hadnt had a shave either ). He showed no interest whatsoever in trying to sell me a 182 so I couldnt resist then telling him that Ive already ordered one anyway.

He probably thought I was just a lying tramp so Ill be sure to call in next month with the 182 .

 

[dk]

i hate it when salesmen are like that when you arent dressed up, i always go to car garages dressed in scruffs as its always a saturday and i dress up all week for work and i want to relax! I still have the same money, thats partly why i like dealing with lloyds tsb as they cant see me and just as long as i can pay for the car, they treat me well.

I always remember when I worked in sales at Comet and this guy walked in looking really scruffy like he hadnt washed for weeks and nobody wanted to serve him, so I approached him and he bought several thousand pounds worth of stuff and paid cash (had probably jsut robbed a bank!) and I made loads of commission, in sales you should not judge a book by its colour, because they nearly always have the money!