A spruce up - 172 Cup
Discussion
Got the Cup cleaned and emptied my boot of general rubbish on Sunday. Found post in there that was 4 years old! Not to mention clothes, shoes and other stuff I had forgotten I even owned.
Gave it an Autoglym wax when I got home and a general once over including tyre pressures etc.
Amazing how a car can feel so fast after a good clean! Ended up spending the whole afternoon blasting around on odd jobs and loved every minute of it.
I am back in love with it.
Gave it an Autoglym wax when I got home and a general once over including tyre pressures etc.
Amazing how a car can feel so fast after a good clean! Ended up spending the whole afternoon blasting around on odd jobs and loved every minute of it.
I am back in love with it.
,just most of them are not in standard form but are turned in trackday cars or chaved up.Thanks guys.
Have owned for 50,000 fun miles now. About 5 years.
It's nowhere near as tidy as it could be; the wheels a little tatty from town driving and there are a few dings in doors etc but in a way I quite like it like that. She is not perfect, but the engine is going better than ever and just seems to get better with age.
In time I may have the odd bit of work done like a wheel refurb and the car park dings, but as long as it keeps going as well as it is now I just don't see the point.
Oh, and it's not modded at all. There are a couple of local 172's and the odd Cup near me and they have all been dropped but I like my cars as they left the factory. How there were meant to be!
The previous owner painted the calipers red for some reason but other than that it's as natural as they come.
Have owned for 50,000 fun miles now. About 5 years.
It's nowhere near as tidy as it could be; the wheels a little tatty from town driving and there are a few dings in doors etc but in a way I quite like it like that. She is not perfect, but the engine is going better than ever and just seems to get better with age.
In time I may have the odd bit of work done like a wheel refurb and the car park dings, but as long as it keeps going as well as it is now I just don't see the point.
Oh, and it's not modded at all. There are a couple of local 172's and the odd Cup near me and they have all been dropped but I like my cars as they left the factory. How there were meant to be!
The previous owner painted the calipers red for some reason but other than that it's as natural as they come.
I have covered 50k miles in it myself. It had 17k miled on it when I collected it.
To be honest, there has been no major problems. People ridicule French cars because they do have a moody reputation for being light weight when it comes to build quality and reliability but to be honest, mine has been solid.
There are very common issues to deal with like engine mounts needing replacement, exhaust mounts rotting and needing attention, the odd creak and squeak here and there, but as long as the oil is kept at the right level and the car is serviced properly you should have no issues. I had the cambelt done at 56k miles by a specialist which is a must but no other massive maintenece needed. The steering wheel thumb grips are known to perish which is aesthetically annoying so I may replace the wheel in time.
They can be prone to the odd electrical gremlin, in my case the airbag and service light being permanently illuminated. However, on cleaning the car out on the weekend I found that there was a load of rubbish stuffed under the seat that was snagging one of the airbag wires (these hang under each seat). Since removing the debris the light hasn't come on once!
The engine gets stronger with age. It's a gem.
I am 6'3" tall so you will fit no problems! The driving position is on the high side unfortunately butI think you could get round that by modifying the rails that the seats run on or putting in a bucket seat but I have got used to it now and it doesn't really bother me.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these cars. Bear in mind the 172 Cup was built to Group N spec for homologation it tells you that you are driving something that has been made to go the way it does with it being lightened with no spare wheel, thinner glass etc. Anyone who knows their stuff recognise it to be a great little car so forget the badge snobs who would take something else, the 172 is a true little weapon.
Jimbo
To be honest, there has been no major problems. People ridicule French cars because they do have a moody reputation for being light weight when it comes to build quality and reliability but to be honest, mine has been solid.
There are very common issues to deal with like engine mounts needing replacement, exhaust mounts rotting and needing attention, the odd creak and squeak here and there, but as long as the oil is kept at the right level and the car is serviced properly you should have no issues. I had the cambelt done at 56k miles by a specialist which is a must but no other massive maintenece needed. The steering wheel thumb grips are known to perish which is aesthetically annoying so I may replace the wheel in time.
They can be prone to the odd electrical gremlin, in my case the airbag and service light being permanently illuminated. However, on cleaning the car out on the weekend I found that there was a load of rubbish stuffed under the seat that was snagging one of the airbag wires (these hang under each seat). Since removing the debris the light hasn't come on once!
The engine gets stronger with age. It's a gem.
I am 6'3" tall so you will fit no problems! The driving position is on the high side unfortunately butI think you could get round that by modifying the rails that the seats run on or putting in a bucket seat but I have got used to it now and it doesn't really bother me.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these cars. Bear in mind the 172 Cup was built to Group N spec for homologation it tells you that you are driving something that has been made to go the way it does with it being lightened with no spare wheel, thinner glass etc. Anyone who knows their stuff recognise it to be a great little car so forget the badge snobs who would take something else, the 172 is a true little weapon.
Jimbo
Lack of ABS has NEVER been an issue to me. I had an original phase 2 172 a few years before the Cup and I always found the ABS a little intrusive.
I have never had a lock up and their is always great feel through the pedal.
People say they can be a little hairy in the wet but I don't agree. If you are driving like a tit and having to put your bodyweight on the brake pedal before each corner then you will have problems but you can drive these cars nice and smoothly when 'making progress' and not have any issues.
Harry Metcalf at Evo magazine has a Clio Trophy in his garage (the last version 182, special dampers etc) amongst his Zonda, Countach and other various supercars which should tell you how good these cars are.
I always focus on how much performance you get for your Pound and I don't think there is a rival to this in the Hot Hatch arena. This one is sold below but £2300 for one with this mileage on is daylight robbery for the car you are getting!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4004628.htm
Go find one chap!! :-)
I have never had a lock up and their is always great feel through the pedal.
People say they can be a little hairy in the wet but I don't agree. If you are driving like a tit and having to put your bodyweight on the brake pedal before each corner then you will have problems but you can drive these cars nice and smoothly when 'making progress' and not have any issues.
Harry Metcalf at Evo magazine has a Clio Trophy in his garage (the last version 182, special dampers etc) amongst his Zonda, Countach and other various supercars which should tell you how good these cars are.
I always focus on how much performance you get for your Pound and I don't think there is a rival to this in the Hot Hatch arena. This one is sold below but £2300 for one with this mileage on is daylight robbery for the car you are getting!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4004628.htm
Go find one chap!! :-)
Blimey, that was a great deal. Just what I'd be looking for.
Sadly, most round here are dealers with cars of very little history and as I was going to sling it on a 0% card, that rules out private sales. I suspect I will have to budget in things needing doing and try and drive the price down.
Sadly, most round here are dealers with cars of very little history and as I was going to sling it on a 0% card, that rules out private sales. I suspect I will have to budget in things needing doing and try and drive the price down.
Looks great OP, I need to give mine a good autoglyming when it drys up.
I have had a Cup for a year and lack of ABS has never been an issue. The wheels have never locked under braking apart from on snow and the standard brakes are fairly strong and feelsome.
Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread but if you are looking at any Clio 2 RS's have a look to see if the rear damper are weeping fluid, also rear brake calipers can seize. Not trying to put you off though as I love mine and a good one is a definate bargin.
LuS1fer said:
I notice thay you can buy carbon fibre thumb grips on ebay - they're something like £88 for the two grips and a band for the lower spoke but possibly easier than fitting a new wheel.
I'm 5'6" so would easily fit. Would you say the lack of ABS on the Cup is a plus or minus?
I think the steering wheels are something like £350 new from Renault.I'm 5'6" so would easily fit. Would you say the lack of ABS on the Cup is a plus or minus?
I have had a Cup for a year and lack of ABS has never been an issue. The wheels have never locked under braking apart from on snow and the standard brakes are fairly strong and feelsome.
Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread but if you are looking at any Clio 2 RS's have a look to see if the rear damper are weeping fluid, also rear brake calipers can seize. Not trying to put you off though as I love mine and a good one is a definate bargin.
Edited by xu5 on Wednesday 27th June 13:30
jimbo2728 said:
I am 6'3" tall so you will fit no problems! The driving position is on the high side unfortunately butI think you could get round that by modifying the rails that the seats run on or putting in a bucket seat but I have got used to it now and it doesn't really bother me.
You can remove the spacers under the rails as well. Off the top of my head...- Locate the plastic covers underneath the car, the ones in the middle are slightly obscured by the exhaust heat shield.
- Undo the nuts and be careful not to lose the nut.
- Rock the seat backward and then using a screwdriver prise the black plastic & metal spacer.
- Rock the seat forward and then do the same for the back
- Make sure you don't dislodge the airbag sensor again
- Put a couple of washers in place of the spacer (or your seat will be difficult to slide back and forth). Maybe consider sticking the washers together and then to the floor just so they don't move around (I used a small amount of mastick)
- Put the nuts back on the underside and replace the covers.
MagicalTrevor said:
jimbo2728 said:
I am 6'3" tall so you will fit no problems! The driving position is on the high side unfortunately butI think you could get round that by modifying the rails that the seats run on or putting in a bucket seat but I have got used to it now and it doesn't really bother me.
You can remove the spacers under the rails as well. Off the top of my head...- Locate the plastic covers underneath the car, the ones in the middle are slightly obscured by the exhaust heat shield.
- Undo the nuts and be careful not to lose the nut.
- Rock the seat backward and then using a screwdriver prise the black plastic & metal spacer.
- Rock the seat forward and then do the same for the back
- Make sure you don't dislodge the airbag sensor again
- Put a couple of washers in place of the spacer (or your seat will be difficult to slide back and forth). Maybe consider sticking the washers together and then to the floor just so they don't move around (I used a small amount of mastick)
- Put the nuts back on the underside and replace the covers.
Looks awesome OP, will be buying one soon enough, hopefully by the end of July if all is smooth. Can't wait!
Viewed my first one last weekend and the owner had just had it cleaned. They look a lot better in the flesh, I was very impressed.
Patiently waiting for the right car to come along now.
Viewed my first one last weekend and the owner had just had it cleaned. They look a lot better in the flesh, I was very impressed.
Patiently waiting for the right car to come along now.
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