Getting a wee bit tired of the golf now, been looking at 172 Cups on E Bay, they seem like good value and are supposed to be a real drivers car, i think they look spot on when lowered,and really like the blue "cup" colour!

Anybody had first hand experience?

Are they reliable? etc, any horror stories, cant be much worse than a golf for niggles?

Any views or advice people?

Andy.

I had a 172 cup few years back and loved it, although the alarm/immobiliser kept messing up, so went in a few times under warranty but it was a great little pocket rocket.

Sold it to buy the Scooby in the end

Cheeky Chappers:

I had a 172 cup few years back and loved it, although the alarm/immobiliser kept messing up, so went in a few times under warranty but it was a great little pocket rocket.

Sold it to buy the Scooby in the end

Oh christ, the Golf is far heavier than the frog, mind you so am I now - it was a brand new W reg at the time

It was like a go-kart, looked nice, sounded nice, drove nice and was nice

Hang on a minute, just realised I'm talking you out of keeping your Golf.....the Renault was naff and I hated it

Cheeky Chappers:

Hang on a minute, just realised I'm talking you out of keeping your Golf.....the Renault was naff and I hated it

Rated as one of the "all time great drivers cars" by EVO magazine apparently!

 cant really comment to much as i have never drove a 172/182 but from what people say they are great cars for the money you pay for them

although build quality and realiability IMO are shocking on renaults from experience, and i would never ever buy another one

i think the case goes, you either get a good one and your lucky, or you get a bad one and are faced with never ending problems

bland:

 cant really comment to much as i have never drove a 172/182 but from what people say they are great cars for the money you pay for them

although build quality and realiability IMO are shocking on renaults from experience, and i would never ever buy another one

i think the case goes, you either get a good one and your lucky, or you get a bad one and are faced with never ending problems

 

cant seem to find any real horrors on the sport/ 172 cup versions, everybody seems to rate them.

 Cup and Sport are 2 very different cars mate. I had a sport 3 years ago and it was a nippy well-specced car. Only had it about 8 months and it was only 2 1/2 years old, but never gave me any grief. Only real issue was with torque-steer even when not really caning it. Recently test-drove a couple of cups as I was thinking of buying one and what a different car. Sounds and pulls a world better than sport, and is a real drivers car. As said previous bits are prone to falling off, and a lot of examples are cat d. Both sport and cup corner like they're on rails. Only thing missing from cup which should have been on is a.b.s. On forum they wish each other good luck from about november on and hope there aren't too many casualties. Out of the two I'd go for the cup, and get a sport interior from the bay.

My brother has a clio 182 and i hate it.

I think its a 2004 model.

The interior is absolutly shocking, There is cheap plastic EVERYWHERE.

You wouldnt think you were sitting in a car thats only a few years old.

I dont think they have a good build quality.

My car is 3 years older than the clio and the interior is a million times better, You know your sitting in a french car when your in the clio compared to a german car.

The only plus point i can think of is that they are nippy.

When i drove it a few weeks ago i thought MMMMMMM im sure they were meant to be quick.

Just my opinion tho 

 I'd take a CooperS over the clio, build quality is german and handeling is better, could be a little steep though but you get what you pay for.

I also rckon the 172 Cup is a car the owner likes to tear the shoot out of so watch what you buy.

And lastly they often come with a Burberry cap....

 Never owned 1 but I have worked on a few 172 and 182`s @ Renault, they are cheap and plasticy and feel no where near as solid as a Golf but they are fun to drive and reasonably reliable, go for it

 a mate of mine has a 182 and loves it says its one of the best motors hes had but i have to agree with bignorm i dont think they look as nice as the golf inside or out but thats just my opinion i suppose it all boils down to personal taste

always fancyed a clio cup but i really dont think i could be without that a kick in the a*s from the turbo when you floor it

ian

 yeah i know what you mean this is my 1st turbo car and i love it dont think i could do without it now

after owning my golf i will NEVER go to a car like a clio. they are just so cheap and nasty on the inside 

 yeah this is my 2nd golf 1st was a mk3 8valve gti and i was well impressed one of the best cars ive driven and im totally blown away with my mk4 brilliant cars to drive though i suspect u all know that already lol

My mate has a 182 trophy and with the exception of my car it will wipe the floor with any standard FWD car handling wise. Its nice and torquey low down (for a na petrol) but still flies at the top end as you would expect it to. Round a track you will be keeping low end 911s in you sight as well.

It really depends what you want the car for, if its just for hooning about and having fun in then a 182 cup/trophy will do the job perfectly. If its for luxury and comfort I would go for a German car (clios are renowned for their awful driving position.)

If you are looking at 172 cups you should also consider a 306 gti-6 or rallye as they are easily on a par handling and performance wise, but the 306 may be slightly more comfortable and a little roomier as well.

 I want a Clio...but I want to keep my Golf aswel!

The Clio would be good for me to go to and from work but I my Golf would be much better for motorway journeys and when carrying more than 2 people!

Satty

ABOO:

 Cup and Sport are 2 very different cars mate. I had a sport 3 years ago and it was a nippy well-specced car. Only had it about 8 months and it was only 2 1/2 years old, but never gave me any grief. Only real issue was with torque-steer even when not really caning it. Recently test-drove a couple of cups as I was thinking of buying one and what a different car. Sounds and pulls a world better than sport, and is a real drivers car. As said previous bits are prone to falling off, and a lot of examples are cat d. Both sport and cup corner like they're on rails. Only thing missing from cup which should have been on is a.b.s. On forum they wish each other good luck from about november on and hope there aren't too many casualties. Out of the two I'd go for the cup, and get a sport interior from the bay.

Cups dont have air con either and are a wee bit lighter.

They also come in silver which is pretty rare

www.cliosport.net and check the classifieds section.

For : Massive amount of fun to chuck about and drive. Superb handling and balance.

Against : Quite alot actually. Abysmal interiors, dubious build quality (pull the door shut and the door card flexes about an inch!..., prone to electrical issues as all modern Renaults seem to be, alot of them have already been thrashed to within an inch of their life, which some cars will take, but Clios don't seem to weather well. Lots of cars out there that have had body repairs and more also, and when it comes down to it, are they really that cheap for what you get?? The special models, cups and desirable cars with special paint still seem to fetch a big premium...

I also can't get on with the seats in them and find the driving position awkward and too high. Overly firm ride too, especially on the Cups.  

Definately a car to drive once and have an opinion on, rather than own yourself and risk problems for me, plenty would disagree and say it was worth it for such a well set up car that is amazing if you take it to ten tenths.

BTW, the 182 is a step forward on from the 172 IMO and worth the extra money.  

 Ask sprog he used to have a 172 i think that he modified slightly