2005 Renaultsport Clio 182 Cup

Highlights

• Two-litre 16V engine
• Time-warp interior
• Excellent handling
• Extensive service history
• A textbook hot hatch

Overview

Many a dark winter’s evening can be spent in the pub discussing — or arguing about — the best era for hot hatches. Everyone has their preference, with each decade gaining its stalwart defenders and harsh critics in almost equal measure. And now that the mid-noughties were twenty years ago, we can look back on them while wearing a wistful, nostalgic expression.

Perhaps this really was the sweet spot. Mechanical reliability had reached a more than acceptable level, small engines were now capable of putting out performance only previously achievable by enormous displacements. And most cars had stopped dissolving as soon as you whispered the word ‘salt’.

And into these sunlit uplands of motoring Nirvana stepped the Renaultsport version of the Clio, first as a 172, then as the 182 Cup we see here. It features a fabulous 16-valve, two-litre engine, and in this lightweight little hatchback that means it’s got plenty of oomph per kilo. Its low weight helps the handling, which is further developed by having a slightly wider track than the standard model.

The example seen here features a remarkably well preserved interior, which hasn’t been modified at all. The Inferno Orange paint is an excellent choice, although it has picked up a few stonechips. An enormous stack of paperwork accompanies the car, including many original owner’s documents, as well as plenty of invoices covering a reassuring amount of servicing. It has clearly been well looked after and enjoyed.

History and documentation

• Registered 23 Mar 2005
• Stamped service book with services as follows: Oct 2006 @ 2,317 miles, Sep 2007 @ 15,330 miles, Sep 2010 @ 22,084 miles, Jun 2011 @ 30,193 miles, Oct 2012 @ 41,468 miles, Aug 2013 @ 53,607 miles, Jan 2014 @ 66,312 miles, Jul 2015 @ 79,080 miles, Mar 2017 @ 91,067 miles, Mar 2018 @ 98,728 miles, Mar 2019 @ 106,127 miles, Mar 2020 @ 109,873 miles, Mar 2022 @ 114,173 miles, Mar 2023 @ 115,813 miles
• The service stamps are mostly from Renault garages, and Renault specialists
• Original document pack
• Extensive collection of invoices for parts and servicing
• Two keys
• Current MOT expires 28 Mar 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• Only three former keepers
• HPI clear
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• The interior remains very original and in excellent condition throughout
• Cloth seat fabric shows very little wear for its age and mileage
• Even the driver’s seat bolsters look remarkably well preserved
• Manually adjustable seats
• Carpets very clean and tidy, with rubber footwell mats
• Door cards free from scuffs and scratches
• Multi-function steering wheel, with leather trim and contrasting red stitching
• Cruise control/speed limiter
• Aluminium pedals
• Air conditioning repaired and re-gassed in Mar 2022, but no longer functions
• Well-stocked dashboard
• Instruments bold and clear
• Stereo/CD player
• Headrest screens for rear passengers
• The rear seats show very little sign of use
• Headlining clean and tidy
• Carpeted boot to the rear
• Rear parcel shelf complete and in good condition
• Jack and towing eye stowed in original tool pouch

Exterior

• Finished in a fabulous shade of Inferno Orange
• The bonnet has previously been repainted and the colour has now faded very slightly
• There are some stonechips to be found, as expected for a car of this mileage, especially around the bonnet, wing mirrors, and front bumper
• Body panels look to be in good condition, with the vendor informing us that they are not aware of any major bodywork damage
• One small patch of corrosion reported
• There is an invoice on file for repairing a dent and touching up the paint
• A few scratches and scuffs throughout
• Small area of slightly cracked paint on the nearside rear wheelarch
• 16-inch, eight-spoke alloy wheels in very good condition
• There is a scuff on the offside rear wheel
• Pirelli PZero Nero tyres said to be in excellent condition
• Chrome ‘2.0 16V’ and ‘Cup’ badges on the doors
• Headlights clear and bright
• Heated rear windscreen
• Plastic trim and rubber seals look good
• The underside of the car looks generally very clean, with a little surface corrosion
• Chromed exhaust tips

Mechanical

• 1,998 cc four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC engine
• Produces 180 bhp and 148 lb ft
• Top speed 138 mph, 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds
• Five-speed manual transmission
• Front-wheel drive
• Cup chassis
• Engine bay clean and tidy
• On the underside, there is a little surface corrosion on some of the suspension components
• The rear half of the exhaust system has been replaced
• In Mar 2023 the car received a service including an oil change, oil flush, fuel treatment, as well as a new pollen filter
• In Mar 2022 the air conditioning system was repaired
• In October 2021 the rear brakes received new callipers, discs, and pads
• The rear shock absorbers were replaced in Oct 2019, along with the cambelt, water pump, dephaser pulley, and auxiliary belt
• In January 2019 the gearbox oil was drained and replaced, and the clutch was replaced
• The cambelt was previously changed in Jun 2011 and Feb 2014
• The seller informs us that he car always starts on the button and idles steadily at around 1000 rpm
• The only MOT advisories are for the exhaust being loud, slight seepage from a power steering hose, and some corrosion on the coil springs
• No warning lights reported
• We’re told that the suspension springs were changed by the previous owner, and that they are believed to be Cooks springs
• Scorpion exhaust parts said to have been fitted by a previous owner
• The car’s light weight and excellent handling make it a joy to drive

Summary

This Clio is much more than your standard twenty-year-old hot hatchback. It benefits from excellent performance, enhanced performance thanks to the Cup chassis, low weight and a well-appointed interior. And the large stack of paperwork shows you just how well it has been kept over the years.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Ealing, West London.