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Phase 1 vs Phase 2



  Clio 1.4 16v (52 plate)
I'm looking into buying a 172, is there any or many differences between the two performance / handeling wise. Its just that there are a few cheap phase 1 around at the mo.
Any info would be much appriciated (not sure how to spell it lol)
 
  172 - 249bhp @ the wheels
Ph1 has horrible interior, Ph2 has horrible interior, but not as horrible as the Ph1. You'll barely notice any difference in performance, so it boils down to which you like the look of and if DBW bothers you.
 
  Clio 172 RS2
No difference... just looks and cosmetics.

Phase 1 or Phase 2 - Phase 2 ofcourse.
(Phase 1 has gearbox troubles, syncromesh in some gears, always go for the newer car.)
 
  172 - 249bhp @ the wheels
(Phase 1 has gearbox troubles, syncromesh in some gears, always go for the newer car.)

110k+ with no notches and running 200bhp+ since it was on 36k... so I'd disagree personally ;)

The gearbox's die because people fit short shifters to them, flat shift, never change the oil and generally dont have a clue.
 

Poopensharten

ClioSport Club Member
  Golf R
Always go for the newer car?

So if a 2004 Phase 2 has 120k on it with little service history it would make a better buy over a Ph1 with 50k on it with a full service history and fully stamped booked would make a better buy...?

Bit of a sweeping statement
 

Martin_172

ClioSport Club Member
ive just recently swapped my ph2 172 for a ph1 172, now where do i start...

interior - ok so its not pretty looking inside however i still like it and after a day you dont mind that everything is grey, it still rattles just as much as a ph2.

exterior - what an mean looking little car with its big wide front bumper and little 15" wheels, the ph2 is a bit nicer to look at with its xenon headlights and smooth lines, but the ph1 does look more mean, however i find the pannel gaps on the ph1 to be a bit worse and mine has no signs of repairs so as far as im aware thats the way it is.

engine - my ph2 was modified running nearly 190bhp so its not really fair to compair them however id say my ph1 feels not far off just as fast it actually feels better under 5k, it returns banging mpg when you try to be good too. ive never had a cable throttle car but im getting used to it and starting to prefer it now.
 
  Listerine & Poledo
P2 styling is more contemporary, if that matters to you? Works better as a sleeper as most people cant tell one apart from a 1.2 Campus.

p2 you can have cruise & climate n stuff too, which is nice.
 
I went out looking to buy a PH2, but came home with a PH1... buy on condition, that's what I did and not only did I get a better condition car but it was a grand cheaper than any of the PH2's in almost as good condition.
 
Personally i prefer the PH1 over the PH2.

I drove a PH2 before buying my PH1 and it felt quick but i wasnt overly bowled over by it, the steering wheel was very big which i didnt like and the seats didnt seem as nice as the blue leather & alancantra in the PH1.

I then drove a PH1, granted the dash isnt as nice in the PH1 but i prefer the seats and the little things that the PH2 didnt have (Renaultsport logo on the dials, coloured stripes on the Renaultsport logo on the seats).

When reving i found the PH1 felt quicker and had a more raw reving that the PH2 did. I also found the clutch to be heavier than the PH2 but in saying that, i found it to be more precise when finding the biting point. Also found the gears more precise on the PH1 than the PH2.

So for me the w**k looking dash didnt really bother me and i chose the PH1. Also its much nicer looking on the outside, when compared with a standard clio, you def can tell the PH1 is a RS which i like lol.

But as said you'd be better driving both to know yourself which is the better fit for you.
 
  Clio 1.4 16v (52 plate)
cheers guys, gonna keep a look out for them so i can test drive all though the value for money of the phase 1 is winning over a bit, but i do perfer the looked of the phase 2
 
  320d
I've not driven a PH2. Its something I plan on doing though to see the difference. I went for the PH1 because I prefare the looks, it has cheaper tax, cheaper tyres, I like the old school factor it has and also because it doesn't look like a dynamique from distances over 10M.

PH2's on speedline turini's or 2118's and a few other mods do look spot on though.

I doubt there is any difference in reliability between the two, obviously PH1's are older but if well maintained should be no difference. PH2's break just as often as PH1's tbh judging by threads on here.

PH1's will all be due there second belt changes soon, where as you may have a few years before PH2's need the changes.
 
  Titanium 182
I owned a 182 and now one a ph1 and I prefered the ph2 to drive most of the time but when "in the mood" for a fast drive the ph1 is maybe a little bit more fun, the throttle feels better being a dbw.
 
  Golf Mk3 Gti 8v
PH2 for me, I personally like the better look of it externally, and the displays internally
 
  PH1 V6
Ph1 dash looks W*NK

Steering Wheel is Manky

But other than the above two..... i LOVE IT! super quick, responsive, they are so few around compared to the Ph2 which i like.

and you get 0.z F1's :)

Go drive both... end of the days its french and will fall apart so dont let talk of a Ph2 being more reliable blah blah blah ITS FRENCH! lol
 

Poopensharten

ClioSport Club Member
  Golf R
Ph1 dash looks W*NK

Steering Wheel is Manky

But other than the above two..... i LOVE IT! super quick, responsive, they are so few around compared to the Ph2 which i like.

and you get 0.z F1's :)

Go drive both... end of the days its french and will fall apart so dont let talk of a Ph2 being more reliable blah blah blah ITS FRENCH! lol

FLOL, all steering wheels on every 172/182 have wear and tear marks.

Not a reason to not buy one
 
  VaVa
Ph2 for me. I personally really dislike the looks of the ph1. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder ;)

The ph1 is supposed to have better throttle response (although both ph2 172 and 172 Cup were always praised for their throttle response) but the ph2 isn't bad. You just have to adjust to it.

I wouldn't say the ph1 is necessarily quicker either. I've certainly seen no 1/4 mile times to suggest that's the case.

Most ph1's are looking a bit tired and a bit dated now tbh. Both great cars, maybe the ph1 egdes the driving side of things by a gnats knacker, being a bit lighter and having cable throttle but, imho, the difference is small enough to say just buy the newest, best condition car you can afford.
 

PaulyA610

ClioSport Club Member
  Venturi,GTT van,
I love my ph 1 and it has battered every ph2 I have ever come up against, it has been super reliable and is used on the track alot!! All this on 126k miles on the clock. I doubt there is much in it really but there are deffo good 172's and bad ones so try a few.
 
  Ph1
Ph1 looks like its a Sport Clio with its exclusive to the model front bumper and OZ's

Ph2's just look like a bogo 1.2 all be it a bit wider. Even the wheels look nearly the same as the 1.2's.

Ph2 dash is as exciting as bread
 

R-Sport.

ClioSport Club Member
  Mint 1*2's for sale-
FLOL. Still the same record eh Andyman?

I would buy a PH1, change the steering wheel to something a little more stylish & buy a PH2 rear bumper as i think thats the only rear poor cosmetic bit on the Ph1-

They drive awsome when run in & tuned correctly-

S
 

Noj

  Jaguar S-Type Sport
I purchased a phase 1- 3 weeks ago and love it more each day. Had no problems yet..... The interior is a bit of a marmite thing you either love it or hate it. I really like the simplicity just wish it rattled less but what do you expect from a 9ish year old car?
 


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