Starting to regret getting a 172

[16vMK2 to 172Sport]

... over a 182 me thinks! :dapprove:

I brought a 2003/53 172 back in May with 36K miles on the clock from a main dealer. Im just starting to save up for some engine mods for my 172 (the usual £1K+ on ex. and inlet manifolds, cams, remap etc), and i used to have the opinion of - well i went for the cheaper to buy/insure 172, but soon i'll have it running more then 182 performance. Wasn't bothered about the fancy twin exit exhausts, and actualy grew fond to the stealth rear look. The other minor aesthetic differences didnt make any difference to me at the time.

And then today i go and read some post of how the changes from a 172 to 182 aren't just 10bhp, and that actually ALOT of changes were made to the chassis and suspension - track, wheel base, suspension stiffness, ARB stiffness, even castor angle etc etc. Reading all that really made me regret going to a main dealer with my £7K loan and simply not doing enough research into the 1*2. (However, if someone can vouch and say that these difference are hard to notice and the better drive is negligable, the feeling of regret may go away) If i had taken my loan money to a private seller, i could have easilly picked up an equivilant 182 and possibly even a newer one/lower milage one.

Basically, ive been thinking all morning, should i just go out and get a 182, before i spend all this cash on modding my 172?!? Then i thought, is it even a practical option considering i've only payed 6 months of my 5year term loan??? I really have no idea what options i have regarding this sort of thing, because up untill i brought my clio, all my cars have been <£1000 cash purchases - no finance, no loan, no nothing!!

I was just after some possible advise from those older drivers / people who've been in this situation before etc. Any help appreciated!!

Cheers

 

[DrR]

If i was you i'd keep the the 172 if it's reliable? Then spend £1k on track days.

 

[R20 CWH]

i would say keep your 172 as you will lose a fortune on it if you only got it in may and paid a main dealer for it.

Mods you will always lose money and if you spend 1k on the engine it will only add £300 in terms of value as a 2nd hand car.

the only thing to consider is that if you do dingy it then obviously you will reduce the interest payment you have to make on the rest of the loan of the car, which will probably be £1000 as youv hardly been in the loan long

 

[The Hoff]

Performance wise mate there is nothing in it, and indeed the 172 has better top end than the 182's because of the 4-1 manifold (which is principally behind the 10bhp gain).

My 1k would be on a good set of coilovers (H&R/Bilstein/FK Konigs) and some uprated front discs and pads (Brembo HC/Max + Pagids). Then start thinking about engine work.

Wouldn't worry though mate, on the road it doesn't translate to much difference although on a track it does help. Coilovers and decent setup will change that though.

 

[Kula197]

Having driven a number of 172's and owning a 182 (with Cup packs) for 9 months, I would say that for road driving the differences are not significant enough to warrant you changing mate. You 172 is low mileage for its age, if you look after it it is good for years and with a couple of mods it will be awesome on the track as well as the road.

Why throw away a load of money changing when you could spend that on your current car!?

 

[Sheila’s’ Wheels’]

Spend 1k on coilovers and some track day instruction imo.

 

[16vMK2 to 172Sport]

thanks for the quick responses guys, has made me feel a little better

the only thing to consider is that if you do dingy it then obviously you will reduce the interest payment you have to make on the rest of the loan of the car, which will probably be £1000 as youv hardly been in the loan long

Sorry, 'dingy'.... what do you mean by that?? :S

So the handling gains really aren't worth getting worked up about then? I'm begining to think holding on to the 172 for a few years would be better now, as its has indeed been 100% reliable so far (touch wood), and just continue with my mod plans as before

Performance wise mate there is nothing in it, and indeed the 172 has better top end than the 182's because of the 4-1 manifold (which is principally behind the 10bhp gain).

My 1k would be on a good set of coilovers (H&R/Bilstein/FK Konigs) and some uprated front discs and pads (Brembo HC/Max + Pagids). Then start thinking about engine work.

So are you saying the 4-2-1 182 manifold is behind it's 10bhp gain here? Or that the 4-1 172 mani is better? :S Because what i intended to do with my 172 is to fit:

182 4-2-1 manifold (brought but not fitted)
K-tec sports cat (enabling the 182 mani to fit with the stock 172 cat back system)
ITG filter (fitted)
Angleworks re-worked inlet manifold
Cams
Re-mat to suit

All together hopefully seeing me well past stock 182 performance. However, from what your saying, would it be better to re-adjust the above list with a standard 172 4-1 manifold and K-tec 172 sports cat??

RE: coilovers - after fitting coilies to a golf i had in the past, im really not keen on ever fitting another set to any daily driver i own... putting up with that ride quality on our crap public roads really put me off them tbh - but was great pushing them on a nice bendy road dont get me wrong! The reason why this whole thought started in my head was when reading the 182 chassis spec, its seemed as though Renault had significantly improved on HANDLING without comprimising the RIDE QUALITY to a great degree. The car rattles enough on standard suspension as it is!!! lol

 

[The Hoff]

The 4-2-1 manifold is responsible for the 10bhp peak power gain, and is a good manifold. However the 4-1 manifold on the 172 is good for top end torque, but not to say it's better because it isn't.

Your list looks fine, but why are uprated discs and pads for the front not listed? If you're going faster you need to stop quicker.

 

[16vMK2 to 172Sport]

Ok cool, back to plan A then.

Disks and pads aren't on the list as i was only listing engine mods... but your right, when my current disks/pads need replacing they will be for Brembo Max and probably Greenstuff pads. Dont see the point in 4 pots unless the car sees regular track abuse, which mine most certainly wont. (maybe a couple before i come to sell it )

 

[Rob Clark]

10 bhp is from exhaust manifold AND much better cat on the 182.
172 Vs 182 Manifold is not straight forward, more torque Vs more BHP ? Perhaps the clio is in need of more top end poke hence why 4-2-1 is better.
from mem FF182 is (almost) identical to 172FF the 182cup had wider track and stiffer suspension but was still heavier than 172 cup so read into that what you will.
172 cup would probably be faster round track due to weight, 182 should handle slightly better but be heavier, trophy better handling still and widely regarded as the best clio