Mk1 172 Questions

[CupraT]

Hi peeps.

Im seriously considering buying a MK1 172 when I sell the Ibiza and ive got some questions that I need answering..........apols if these have been done to death!

1. Are there any common problems/faults that I need to look out for?

2. Are they really as quick as people say?

3. Whats the tuneability of the 172 like, coming from a turbocharged car which is seriously easy to get extra ponies from, wondered what the conparisons would be like. Obviously it is a lot harder with an N/A to attach power gains, but what are the norm mods and gains?

4. Whats the top end like, speed wise.........dont suppose theyre overly stable at speed!?!

5. 1/4 mile times?

Any answers are much appreciated.

Cheers.

PS. No idea why my posts come out differently to everyone elses?!? ie, large black writing

 

[viceroy]

1.) They rattle. Some leak water through into the boot, Ive had mine now for about a year and a half and the onl things to break was the speedo unit in the gearbox (I drove it too hard), and Im going to replace my throttle cable today but I drive the car very hard with regular 1/4 mile days, trax days, autocross events and skidpan days

2.) They are really quite quick being very light. 0-60 in 6.8s, 0-100 in about 16 or 17s

3.) definately not as tunable as a turbo car but with filter, zorst, and chip youll pick up another 10hp and a load of midrange torque. After than you can go throttle bodies which are good for over 200hp

4.) about 135mph and very stable

5.) 15.1 standard

 

[Rich-D]

In answer to your questions...

1. The mk1 is generally more reliable than the mk2 for some reason?! Things to look out for are the 4k buzz from the exhaust, frayed throttle cables, no gas in air-con and general stuff you look for on any used car.



2. Yes, they are as quick as people say!



3. Obviously a n/a car will never be as tunable as a turbod motor, but there is still plenty of potential from the 172 lump. With an exhaust, de-cat, filter & chip youll have a very quick car and going for cams & headwork takes you beyond 200bhp!



4. Theyll crack 140mph as stadnard, and the mk1 has longer gearing than the others, so with more power theres potential for more speed!



5. Standard theyll run very low 15s and with a couple of breathing mods mid/high 14s are easily achievable. A little more work sees low 14s!



Anything else, just ask.

 

[BIGDAVE]

Im currentley on my second mk1 172,just like them better than mk2,

1,on the early mk1 they had a light weight bonnet which seems to get stone chipped more easily than others.

2,YES

3,As he said

4,last one i had got to 147mph on speedo,had my new one at 140 quite easy with more to go although i have modded this one.

5,as he said

 

[George16v]

Mine gets stoned chipped really easily too, madness eh!

From bumper if definately more aggressive though

 

[CupraT]

Thanks Guys.

What sort of mileage are you running at, seen quite a few Mk1 172s in the trader at around the 55-60k mark. Any known mechanical faults/failures at this sort of mileage?

 

[George16v]

Nope, Not that ive heard. Mine is running 27k at the mo. Bout it 3 months ago at 24k after owning a clio Cup for 6 months, But unfortunatelt that is no more, 172 mk1 is alot of fun though, and have modded it up with no worry of warranty probs hehe

 

[CupraT]

George, what have you done to yours then?

Quite a few Mk1s in the trader going for between £5500-£6000, worth a look?

 

[George16v]

mmm sound good value, Make sure the air vents are not sieced (crap spelling) Otherwise you get a cold draft on your right leg when you go over 50mph lol, mine does it, but renault have the new part and are fixing it when I can be bothered to drop it off at the garage.

Mine has a Taipan 2 IK and a scorpion System am trying to order a chip but am having trouble finding the one I want.

http://www.boltlightning.co.uk/lemanstrip/images/Carfront.jpg

 

[CupraT]

George

Looks the nuts mate, do like um.

Can you get a CAI for them, or is it just the usual cone straight onto MAF jobbie? Have you got a pic of your IK?

 

[George16v]

it looks like this

http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk/images/quikshift/taipan2.jpg

 

[CupraT]

Ahh, a closed canister jobbie. Improved the throttle response alot?

How much if you dont mind me asking?

 

[George16v]

Yeah a bit, was only £150 from a place called Road and Stage, But that was a year ago when it was a prototype.

 

[CupraT]

cool. thanks for the answers chaps