Unimpressed by 182, what do you love about it?

[treeroy]

I have given a Clio 182 a test drive this weekend as I'm in the market for a cheap fun car.
It has so many good reviews and I see loads of 182s every track day I do so clearly they drive well.

But I wasn't very impressed - didn't feel very quick at all, even though the speedo needle was moving at a pace. I was revving it out to 7K and the engine felt a bit dull? I'm used to a turbo so i know it's different.
I couldn't get that much of a feel for the handling but the couple corners I did try to push hard on, the car did feel nimble.

But still it was a bit bland ? Which I wasn't expecting as I was looking forward to it.
Driving position is very high and feels odd.
Interior is gobsh1te (though i don't really care)
Steering wheel is horrendous and I would change it day 1.

I don't mean to rant.. but what is it you like so much about the 182? I've always liked the look of these and was a bit disappointed by driving one for real.
thanks

 

[R3k1355]

Who did the timing belt last? If it was done improperly then you can lose quite a significant amount of power.

Were you driving a 182 Cup or the normal 182?

 

[Bluebeard]

You need to go and get drive a few. Good ones are lovely to drive, bad ones are total guff.

 

[botfch]

Engines the best part if doesn’t make you drive like a complete knob then there’s something wrong with it.

 

[plenty]

If you’re used to turbos any NA will initially feel slow. Compared with modern stuff a 182 is not quick by any means.

These cars are all about the raw connection to the road. You have to punt it hard on a B road to “get” it.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Yeah they're not that fast in a straight line.
Did you test drive a cheap one?

 

[treeroy]

@R3k1355 it hadn't been done. the car was on 70,000 miles.

Unsure if it was a Cup or regular... it had the front bumper splitter/spoiler and the rear spoiler. and it had leather sport seats (recaros?)

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

@R3k1355 it hadn't been done. the car was on 70,000 miles.

Unsure if it was a Cup or regular... it had the front bumper splitter/spoiler and the rear spoiler. and it had leather sport seats (recaros?)

70k is irrelevant, as they should of all been done 2/3 times by now based on age. If it hasn't, then it really hasn't been looked after

Go try a decent one

 

[Greeny.]

The standard driving position is shite, the interior isn’t the best (it’s an old Renault after all) and the standard bus drivers steering wheel is awful. As stated above more modern cars will feel quicker, you really need to keep these above 5k to get anything from them, which on the average road drive isn’t the easiest unless you drive like an utter t**t everywhere, modern turbos will obviously feel quicker with the extra low down torque, however on track with a few mods it’s such a great and highly affordable car, the bang for buck is extremely good which is my main draw.

 

[R3k1355]

@R3k1355 it hadn't been done. the car was on 70,000 miles.

70k is irrelevant, as they should of all been done 2/3 times by now based on age.

15+ year old car thats never had a cambelt done? No way!

Unsure if it was a Cup or regular... it had the front bumper splitter/spoiler and the rear spoiler. and it had leather sport seats (recaros?)

Sounds like a normal 182. If you didn't like that interior then certainly don't look at a Cup, thats proper s**t 🙈

 

[DomP182]

Whack it through some twisties, if you still dont get it you're not going fast enough!

 

[VR46-G@Z]

I had an EP3 type r for a while and gave my 182 cap packed to my mum to use to basically 'trial' the EP3 as I didn't want to sell the 182 I've spent so much on... I didn't like the EP3 so I sold it, getting back into the Clio felt really odd at first... Odd/high driving position, much 'tinnier' than the EP3 but WAYYYY better steering feel and nimble feeling which is what I love! If you drive over a feather you can feel it through the steering wheel which is great! Also the Vtec is a great engine but I believe the 182 pulls just as strongly and has better gearing for a daily driver....

 

[treeroy]

70k is irrelevant, as they should of all been done 2/3 times by now based on age. If it hasn't, then it really hasn't been looked after

Go try a decent one

Oh really? The sales guy just said it has no service history but the belt needs doing.

That's only based on age then? Cause 3 times in 70k miles is a lot.


@R3k1355 I am reading the stickied buying guide on here and so the Cup refers to the Cup Pack which includes different suspension?
Is it a notable improvement over the standard car?

I think the one I drove was indeed a cup as it has the grey wheels this means it'a a cup right?
this is the car - https://www.hitchinmotorsalesltd.co...-16v-renaultsport-3dr-hitchin-202002187457386

 

[Landyman]

Cam belt change is on age/mileage

TBH it doesn’t sound like the Clio 182 is the car for you.
You thought the interior was sh*te and you didn’t like the performance.
There’s plenty of cheap fast cars to choose from, maybe something like a Golf GTi or even an early Porsche Boxster may be more up your street.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Oh really? The sales guy just said it has no service history but the belt needs doing.

That's only based on age then? Cause 3 times in 70k miles is a lot.


@R3k1355 I am reading the stickied buying guide on here and so the Cup refers to the Cup Pack which includes different suspension?
Is it a notable improvement over the standard car?

I think the one I drove was indeed a cup as it has the grey wheels this means it'a a cup right?
this is the car - https://www.hitchinmotorsalesltd.co...-16v-renaultsport-3dr-hitchin-202002187457386

It's not a cup. It's a Full Fat with both cup packs going off the pics in the advert.
1 cup pack option was front splitter and cup rear spoiler , although the one in the advert looks to have the Skoda Fabia front splitter. That's quite common now to have that because most cracked / broke so the Fabia splitter is a cheap alternative.
The 2nd cup pack option was anthracite wheels and slightly lower , stiffer suspension.
As landyman says . It doesn't sound like the 182 is for you. 182s are basically a 172 with a couple of differences / tweaks. So you're looking at a 20 year old design. They're still a quite capable car. But modern cars have developed with smaller engines, more power etc .........
I've been driving 1*2s for nigh on 20 years and it still puts a smile on my face when I feel like a spirited drive.
Yeah the seating position is quite high and the steering wheel feels like a Bus but you soon get used to it. The first time i drive one i thought wtf, i felt like I was driving a van I was so high up in the seat lol.

 

[White16valver]

The point of fast french hot hatches is that they aren't turbo-tastic point-and-squirt machines - they are all about low weight and good handling and carrying stupid speed into a corner, as well as 'being with you' when you do, so that you might have a hint of lift-off oversteer here, a nudge of understeer there, but all the time, it is totally communicative and you know what it's doing.

My old valver was like that bad best mate - egging you on until you might get into trouble, lol, but with you all the way.

I recall one drive where I was totally 'in the zone' and had to have a word with myself so I could stop driving like a t**t!

If you're used to a boost-from-2k VW with inert handling, a RenaultSport offering is a very different proposition.

 

[David172]

The cambelt job is £600+ so add that onto the asking price. If it's got no history I wouldn't bother though, go and drive another one (good example) and see if it feels better. If it doesn't, get something else

 

[Usr117063]

They are s**t stock, way over rated. It took me ages to get it to where It was decent and then a shody aftermarket part put me back 2 places and now it needs more work Its not going anywhere though because I know its got so much more in it and thats with race coilovers and a host of other mods.

 

[Krarl]

Best thing about a 182 is the constant fear that you're in something that will fold in half like a cheap prostitute if you hit anything bigger than a wheelie bin over 10mph

That and when people think "it's just a clio" and then you push them out of the way and flag them off on the way past too. See ya later

 

[plenty]

OP, looks like you’re in Herts. Recommend you look at this one being sold by a friend near Hertford:

Renault Clio 182 FF 2005 98k miles *great mechanical condition* | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Renault Clio 182 FF 2005 98k miles *great mechanical condition* at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

It’s been very well looked after and I’m sure Simon would be willing to let you have a go if you have temp insurance.

 

[frayz]

As said above.

A 172/182 is all about driving involvement, handling and feedback. They’re the last real example of a big NA engine in a tiny lightweight chassis.
Yes they have their flaws as mentioned above such as seating, position, steering wheel etc.
However these are easily rectified and will leave you with one of the most involving B road weapons available at any money.
Steering should be pin sharp, brake pedal should feel solid and direct.
These cars are 15 years old now so you’ll want to drive one with fresh bushes and cup dampers on good quality tyres.

They’re a cheap, French hot hatch and imo the ultimate expression of so since the 205.
I think if you’re looking for big torque and a nice interior then this isn’t the car for you.

Best of luck.

 

[JB21]

I thought the Clio had decent performance when I first bought mine. That was coming from a 300hp/300 ft-lb MPS 6. Seating position and steering wheel is terrible I agree but easily sorted. A induction kit and exhaust really does bring the car alive not in performance so much just the drama and sence of speed.

Go try another with the mods mentioned above and take it from there.

 

[treeroy]

Cam belt change is on age/mileage

TBH it doesn’t sound like the Clio 182 is the car for you.
You thought the interior was sh*te and you didn’t like the performance.
There’s plenty of cheap fast cars to choose from, maybe something like a Golf GTi or even an early Porsche Boxster may be more up your street.

It is not an issue, I don't mind what interior is like really as long as the car drives well. I just found the car a bit dull so did not help.
I am gonna look at a civic type R ep3 too and a turbo audi TT.

It's not a cup. It's a Full Fat with both cup packs going off the pics in the advert.
1 cup pack option was front splitter and cup rear spoiler , although the one in the advert looks to have the Skoda Fabia front splitter. That's quite common now to have that because most cracked / broke so the Fabia splitter is a cheap alternative.
The 2nd cup pack option was anthracite wheels and slightly lower , stiffer suspension.
As landyman says . It doesn't sound like the 182 is for you. 182s are basically a 172 with a couple of differences / tweaks. So you're looking at a 20 year old design. They're still a quite capable car. But modern cars have developed with smaller engines, more power etc .........
I've been driving 1*2s for nigh on 20 years and it still puts a smile on my face when I feel like a spirited drive.
Yeah the seating position is quite high and the steering wheel feels like a Bus but you soon get used to it. The first time i drive one i thought wtf, i felt like I was driving a van I was so high up in the seat lol.

Thanks, the "cup pack" and "182 Cup" being different is confusing me lol. Does it matter which you go for? They appear identical on the buying guide spec list.

The point of fast french hot hatches is that they aren't turbo-tastic point-and-squirt machines - they are all about low weight and good handling and carrying stupid speed into a corner, as well as 'being with you' when you do, so that you might have a hint of lift-off oversteer here, a nudge of understeer there, but all the time, it is totally communicative and you know what it's doing.

My old valver was like that bad best mate - egging you on until you might get into trouble, lol, but with you all the way.

I recall one drive where I was totally 'in the zone' and had to have a word with myself so I could stop driving like a t**t!

If you're used to a boost-from-2k VW with inert handling, a RenaultSport offering is a very different proposition.

Thanks for the reply, I know the engine is nothing like a modern turbo and I am really trying to temper my expectations. But it just felt slow the same as the MR2 I tried last week, which genuinely is a slow car unlike the clio.

I currently have a Fiesta ST which pulls from 2K all the way to 6K, it's about 50bhp power and 130Nm torque stronger than the clio and also has a very engaging drive. I know the clio is good because people track them so much. I just didn't fall for anything about it. Though it can be hard to do that on a short test drive I suppose.

OP, looks like you’re in Herts. Recommend you look at this one being sold by a friend near Hertford:

Renault Clio 182 FF 2005 98k miles *great mechanical condition* | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Renault Clio 182 FF 2005 98k miles *great mechanical condition* at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

It’s been very well looked after and I’m sure Simon would be willing to let you have a go if you have temp insurance.

Thanks for sharing that, I will have a look.

 

[McGherkin]

They're the most fun you can have for £3k.

Spend more, get more. Try a Megane R26.

 

[plenty]

TBH if a TT is in your consideration set, then a 182 may not be a good fit. A TT and 182 are about as polar opposite as you can get.

Coming from a Fiesta ST (a very good steer in its own right) a 182 will initially feel slow, rattly and old. You won't beat anyone off the lights, you won't turn anyone's heads and there are no soft-touch plastics to keep you happy. but these cars are people who don't care about that stuff but do care about the sensations, the lightness, the rawness, and the purity of the drive.

 

[Landyman]

I loved my Clio 182, and that was after owning a Porsche 928 S4, Ferrari Mondial t and Lotus Elise S2 in that order.
None of these had a turbo, the Lotus needed wringing out to get the best from it but the Porsche was a 5.0 litre V8 so wasn’t lacking.
My main issue with the Clio, was that it was 15 years old and had done 100,000 miles in the hands of over a dozen owners.
So while it drove great and looked good it needed constant expenditure.
Plus l am a bit of a perfectionist with cars so that didn’t help either.
I currently don’t actually have a car, just a motorcycle and a Land Rover Defender.

 

[JB21]

Which MR2 did you try the Roadster? CTR is a good shout but there are so many dogs it untrue. Ive just helped a mate buy one and the amount that have been clocked, abused or just rusted away is crazy. They all seem to be in the midlands as well which after this recent experience i'll never look at car from there again, lol.

A golf GTI MK5 would make a good track car, plenty of tuning mods available, lots of weight can be removed and the chassis is decent. Ive recently tracked a Octavia VRS which has GTI underpinnings and it really did punch well above its weight.

 

[Kev@KAM]

I have given a Clio 182 a test drive this weekend as I'm in the market for a cheap fun car.
It has so many good reviews and I see loads of 182s every track day I do so clearly they drive well.

But I wasn't very impressed - didn't feel very quick at all, even though the speedo needle was moving at a pace. I was revving it out to 7K and the engine felt a bit dull? I'm used to a turbo so i know it's different.
I couldn't get that much of a feel for the handling but the couple corners I did try to push hard on, the car did feel nimble.

But still it was a bit bland ? Which I wasn't expecting as I was looking forward to it.
Driving position is very high and feels odd.
Interior is gobsh1te (though i don't really care)
Steering wheel is horrendous and I would change it day 1.

I don't mean to rant.. but what is it you like so much about the 182? I've always liked the look of these and was a bit disappointed by driving one for real.
thanks

You know what. Its all valid points.
The engine is torquey but lacks character due to the VVT. Its a very linear power delivery and I've always found it a little difficult to adjust to.
The car will shift along at a great pace though without you getting a thrill from the engine coming on cam. You then have to shift focus to precision and directness of the chassis as you work it hard in the fun bends.

You have to remember that this is from an era when hot hatches were small and cheap so more plastic interior and somewhat based off the cheaper car.

The seats can be lowered easily for a better driving position.
There are a few nice interior mods that people do - carbon dash parts etc.
I'm pretty tempted to get my dash and door cards all done in Alcantara with some nice sporty red stitching.

The basic suspension will always benefit from a refresh to sharpen it as dampers soften with age. There are rear ARB's available to enhance the characteristics and dial out the natural understeer.


It was never a perfect car out the factory but with a few mods can feel far more special.

if you need some partshave a browse on my site
Www.kamracing.co.uk

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

I think even now I'd struggle to find a 182 anything but charming. Horses for courses though!

 

[DomP182]

They are s**t stock, way over rated. It took me ages to get it to where It was decent and then a shody aftermarket part put me back 2 places and now it needs more work Its not going anywhere though because I know its got so much more in it and thats with race coilovers and a host of other mods.

Not sure I agree with this, a well set up 1*2 on fresh cup shocks (I dont see that as a mod, more a parts bin swap) is great as it is, set of Grams springs and as a daily blaster your done. Cheap and cheerful!

 

[treeroy]

TBH if a TT is in your consideration set, then a 182 may not be a good fit. A TT and 182 are about as polar opposite as you can get.

Coming from a Fiesta ST (a very good steer in its own right) a 182 will initially feel slow, rattly and old. You won't beat anyone off the lights, you won't turn anyone's heads and there are no soft-touch plastics to keep you happy. but these cars are people who don't care about that stuff but do care about the sensations, the lightness, the rawness, and the purity of the drive.

I am considering all sorts of things. The most important thing is how engaging it is to drive but there are lots of other factors. But i would also like it to feel a little.. exciting? Special? - The 182 just felt like driving a beaten up old shopping trolley.
I see audi TTs at track days so they can't be that bad. I had never really considered a TT but I was at Donington recently and there was a TT which was just flying round. So as they are in budget I will check one out - and it is on the same level as power as my current car.

I'm not *specifically* looking for a lightweight sharp hot hatch. If a BMW e46 328ci wasnt so expensive to run I would be very tempted towards that. and that is pretty different from a clio.

@JB21 - this clio I drove, it did have an induction kit and a loud Scorpion exhaust. I had a look over the induction kit and pretty sure it was damaged though... this plastic tubing was cracked wide open. It did make a good noise for sure.

And yes ,I drove the Roadster. It was a nice car, I'm sure i could live with it, just felt slow and it was very twitchy/unstable thanks to ditchfinder chinese tyres, so hard to get a feel for the handling.

I have the same concerns about CTR, they seem like awesome cars but they seem a little riskier. Though objectively it's a honda civic, it can't be that badly broken...

Golf GTI is out of my price range but thanks for the idea. And I don't fancy a mk3/4
I am aiming to spend around £2,000 fyi.
I think Octavia vrs is cheap enough - I know it based on Golf GTI but unsure how similar they actually are? I kind of expect the VRS to be a bit wallowy and big and loose and not much of a driver's car.

 

[JB21]

- this clio I drove, it did have an induction kit and a loud Scorpion exhaust. I had a look over the induction kit and pretty sure it was damaged though... this plastic tubing was cracked wide open. It did make a good noise for sure.

And yes ,I drove the Roadster. It was a nice car, I'm sure i could live with it, just felt slow and it was very twitchy/unstable thanks to ditchfinder chinese tyres, so hard to get a feel for the handling.

I have the same concerns about CTR, they seem like awesome cars but they seem a little riskier. Though objectively it's a honda civic, it can't be that badly broken...

Golf GTI is out of my price range but thanks for the idea. And I don't fancy a mk3/4
I am aiming to spend around £2,000 fyi.
I think Octavia vrs is cheap enough - I know it based on Golf GTI but unsure how similar they actually are? I kind of expect the VRS to be a bit wallowy and big and loose and not much of a driver's car.

Octavia is pretty much the same car. It has extended rear chassis rails for the extra space and obviously the interior and body shape but the chassis, running gear, engine, gearbox is exactly the same. Have a look through my YouTube channel for how they go on track, there's even a vid in there of me keeping pace with a 240hp track spec ep3. Mine had basic track mods like Remap, Bilstein b12 suspension, RARB, brakes and tyres etc...

MRS-2ZZ

www.youtube.com

 

[plenty]

Trackdays aren't a measure of how special or fun a car is, imo. A Lotus Elise is one of the very best driving experiences you can get, but you don't see that many on track and when you do they're usually being overtaken by hot hatches.

A stock TT will go around a track or B-road quicker than any stock 1x2, but it will deliver a very different experience doing so. Bear in mind running costs for any VAG product will likely be higher than Renault or Honda.

Drive a fettled 1x2 on a country road and if it still doesn't click then move on. The foibles are obvious from the get go; the pleasures aren't immediately accessible.

 

[cat171]

Lolz at one being that old & still on the original cambelt. FML!!
Mmmm crispy!!

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Not sure I agree with this, a well set up 1*2 on fresh cup shocks (I dont see that as a mod, more a parts bin swap) is great as it is, set of Grams springs and as a daily blaster your done. Cheap and cheerful!

Agreed. The 1*2 was really well regarded in all forms. A rough one will feel crap, but a well-kept one is still a really great car. Obviously new stuff is faster and objectively better, but the 1*2 is probably the best hot hatch of its era in my view.

I am considering all sorts of things. The most important thing is how engaging it is to drive but there are lots of other factors. But i would also like it to feel a little.. exciting? Special? - The 182 just felt like driving a beaten up old shopping trolley.
I see audi TTs at track days so they can't be that bad. I had never really considered a TT but I was at Donington recently and there was a TT which was just flying round. So as they are in budget I will check one out - and it is on the same level as power as my current car.

I'm not *specifically* looking for a lightweight sharp hot hatch. If a BMW e46 328ci wasnt so expensive to run I would be very tempted towards that. and that is pretty different from a clio.

@JB21 - this clio I drove, it did have an induction kit and a loud Scorpion exhaust. I had a look over the induction kit and pretty sure it was damaged though... this plastic tubing was cracked wide open. It did make a good noise for sure.

And yes ,I drove the Roadster. It was a nice car, I'm sure i could live with it, just felt slow and it was very twitchy/unstable thanks to ditchfinder chinese tyres, so hard to get a feel for the handling.

I have the same concerns about CTR, they seem like awesome cars but they seem a little riskier. Though objectively it's a honda civic, it can't be that badly broken...

Golf GTI is out of my price range but thanks for the idea. And I don't fancy a mk3/4
I am aiming to spend around £2,000 fyi.
I think Octavia vrs is cheap enough - I know it based on Golf GTI but unsure how similar they actually are? I kind of expect the VRS to be a bit wallowy and big and loose and not much of a driver's car.

I've not driven a TT, but they didn't get great reviews in terms of feel and feedback, so that might leave you wanting.

The Clio certainly has flaws (driving position mainly) but they can be rectified easily enough. For the money, it's probably the most engaging car you will find. It's a tough budget really, as cars from that era weren't all that good.

The Ford Puma is another brilliant car in terms of feel/feedback. The chassis is fantastic, and the steering feel is probably better than the Clio in my view. The problem is, it's just a bit slow with the standard 1.7 engine. The Focus ST170 also scores very well on driver engagement but, again, not the quickest.

I think, if I was you, I'd maybe try another couple of Clios and see what you think. Maybe you just drove a bad one. I must say though, with mine, while I did like it when I first got it, I wasn't head over heels for it. But, the more I drove it, the more I loved it.

 

[McGherkin]

Meh, TTs... I get the gist, a lot of people race the 1.8 ones down here because they just sneak into a lower class (130bhp 2wd MX5 vs 300+bhp AWD TTs!), but everybody does say that they're point and squirt, a bit heavy and whilst fast aren't mega exciting to drive.

However, Lawro had one and his was a fecking riot. But then it should be given how much he spent on it.

 

[treeroy]

Octavia is pretty much the same car. It has extended rear chassis rails for the extra space and obviously the interior and body shape but the chassis, running gear, engine, gearbox is exactly the same. Have a look through my YouTube channel for how they go on track, there's even a vid in there of me keeping pace with a 240hp track spec ep3. Mine had basic track mods like Remap, Bilstein b12 suspension, RARB, brakes and tyres etc...

MRS-2ZZ

www.youtube.com

Thanks. Had a look at some of the videos - I will look further into the octavia. Though it's still a bit big for my liking.
Your MR2 looks fantastic. Wish Toyota had sold them with that engine... though they wouldnt be a £1500 car now if that was the case

Trackdays aren't a measure of how special or fun a car is, imo. A Lotus Elise is one of the very best driving experiences you can get, but you don't see that many on track and when you do they're usually being overtaken by hot hatches.

A stock TT will go around a track or B-road quicker than any stock 1x2, but it will deliver a very different experience doing so. Bear in mind running costs for any VAG product will likely be higher than Renault or Honda.

Drive a fettled 1x2 on a country road and if it still doesn't click then move on. The foibles are obvious from the get go; the pleasures aren't immediately accessible.

I will try to drive another. The test drive route wasn't great, just round a town then one straight 60mph road, that was it.
I'm not sure how cheap/expensive running costs would be on a TT but at least you dont have to pay £600 for a belt (i dont think!)

@massivewangers your last sentence is exactly the thing.. I do not need to fall in love with the car upon trying it as I'm sure it would grow on me and clearly, 90% of 182 owners love their cars to bits so it must be doing something right.
Puma are all very rusty I do believe, and being an ex-MX-5 owner, rust is my #1 red flag against buying a car.


I would like to say... I am not particularly drawn to the TT. The clio 182 was/is my "preferred" car prior to trying any of the cars - due to its simple, lightweight, nimble recipe.

 

[frayz]

My toy car is a Cayman R which is probably one of the best road chassis of any type and at any price that I’ve driven.

However I still fought like crazy to try and get my old original 182 back. Yeah I could have something much nicer to drive every day, but for me it’s still the most enjoyable hot hatch out there.

Old French box and I absolutely love it. 😅

 

[David172]

The test drive route wasn't great, just round a town then one straight 60mph road, that was it.

Says it all really!

 

[plenty]

As an alternative suggestion OP, a Celica T-Sport/190/VVTL-i is within your budget and is likely to be cheaper to run than the equivalent Honda, Audi or Renault.