Sorry Clio 182 question

[coopers]

Hi guys need a bit of help

I need a slightly more practical runner for a number of reasons, mainly being space!

My other car isn’t exactly the best thing for carrying bikes etc nor is it a good shopping car etc when you have a girlfriend like mine ….

I also want to do a few basic track days in a car which I can learn in without the fear of trashing a much more expensive car…. (but this whole track thing isn’t the main drive behind the purchase)

So I’ve seen a lovely MY05 Clio 182, its a racing blue colour which I love and is fairly low miles (17k) full service history and for sell at a dealer (not Renault) for 10k….

It’s got a few extras, or I believe they are? (Climate control, cruise control, electric/heated mirrors etc)

Anyway need some advice

1) is this a good buy at 10k…… (I’ve been told by a mate its mint and would be stupid to pass it up)

2)To track it would I need to really be getting the Cup version suspension or being a newbie at this the 182 will suffice?

3)Do I need to fill up with 98 RON, I’ve heard that the 182 seem to pink if not filled up with this stuff? (which Is worrying)

4)Also as its going to be a run around will I need to be aware of anything that will wear out quicker than any other normal car?

5)How can I lower the seat? Looking at other peoples threads its seem little I can do unless I go to aftermarket route and get those Recaro CS seats but this would be £1300 which seems a lot to get the seat lowered by 30 – 50 mm?

Also is there anything thing I should consider before purchase?

Anyway I’m hoping its going to be a hoot like my old S just without the problems…..

Cheers guys and heres hoping I’ll be on here a bit more

[leadfootlydon]

coopers said:

2)To track it would I need to really be getting the Cup version suspension or being a newbie at this the 182 will suffice?

I took my bog standard 306 GLX round Brands Hatch, mixing it with Porsches and BMWs. It is not what you've got, its how you use it.

TBH, the 306 handled really well, the only really hairy bit being Surtees/McLaren. You take it more or less straight, but the car still tilts over almost on two wheels.

I should imagine that any newish sporty hatchback is trackable, especially a Clio.

[Baldylocks]

Cruise, climate and mirrors are standard on all 182's IRRC

Not too up on 182 prices but £10k sounds expensive even for low milage. I'd shop around.

Cup suspension is a must IMO, defo if your tracking it. You don't have to buy a 182 Cup to get Cup suspension and/or spoilers - both were options ('Cup packs') on normal 182.

I run my 172 on Shell V Power and BP Ultimate - manual recommends 97Ron. Some say it makes no difference, some say the higher price of super unleaded is offset by better mpg. Bit of a can of worms tbh!

172/182's are fairly economical to run. Not very hard on the brakes or tyres, servicing fairly cheap. Drive it gently can return 40mpg.

Recaros are'nt the only aftermarket seat out there! Are the nicest probably. Cobra buckets are a popular 'budget' option. (Some 182's come with factory Recaro recliners as an option)

[coopers]

Cheers for the info does everyone else think 10 k is alot

Its so nice, but i dont want to rush into it...

[trickywoo]

coopers said:

Cheers for the info does everyone else think 10 k is alot

To put that in perspective you can get a new R26 for £15k.

[coopers]

trickywoo said:

coopers said:

Cheers for the info does everyone else think 10 k is alot

To put that in perspective you can get a new R26 for £15k.

Yep thats what i thought, some silly prices around for 182's considering that the 197 is now hitting the second hand market..

i got it in the end for 9k, which for a clean motor, easy of purchase, low miles, right colour etc i dont consider to be too bad.... I know i could of got a better deal else where if i had looked harder but felt that this one was right for me.

[Patrick1964]

9k sounds right to me - as long as it has both Cup packs (suspension/ wheels and spoliers) and was serviced at 12K. I'm picking up my Dec 04 182 full fat with both Cup packs tomorrow, I paid a bit less than you but not by much, and the "year" newer your car is puts it in about the right place.By the way the Recaro option only lowered the seat by 10mm. Now get out there and enjoy it !

[pbirkett]

Baldylocks said:

Cup suspension is a must IMO, defo if your tracking it. You don't have to buy a 182 Cup to get Cup suspension and/or spoilers - both were options ('Cup packs') on normal 182.

Are you sure?

I've read several times on clio forums that there is hardly any difference (basically, 3mm lower springs, very slightly firmer as a result, and anthracite wheels).

The non cup packed version still handles very well.

But I guess I'd still reccommend to get the Cup pack one since it seems to be so hyped up by literally everyone so I guess residuals will be stronger.... unless that is you can find a non cup packed model for a lot less. I bet it wouldn't take much to make a non cup one handle better than a cup pack model, probably just a set of Eibach springs TBH.

Edited by pbirkett on Tuesday 27th February 16:13

[tybo]

I'd say £8500 tops

[Patrick1964]

Cup suspension pack is different wheels, tyres, springs, dampers and hubs, so quite a bit different. Track is wider, different camber settings too, as far as I know. Agreed £8500 may buy one if the seller is desperate or the car has 35K miles on, but £9K is about right if the car is low mleage and near mint.

[pbirkett]

Patrick1964 said:

Cup suspension pack is different wheels, tyres, springs, dampers and hubs, so quite a bit different. Track is wider, different camber settings too, as far as I know. Agreed £8500 may buy one if the seller is desperate or the car has 35K miles on, but £9K is about right if the car is low mleage and near mint.

No it isn't.

The none cup car uses the same wheels. The only difference is, the cup pack cars have an anthracite finish. The wheels are the same weight, design, and size. In fact, the same wheels, just the finish is different.

The tyres are the same. The non cup ones use Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2, same as the Cup.

Springs are different, yes. 3mm lower.

The dampers, possibly different. The cup ones always seem to burst and leak, and leave their owners to find that out by leaving them in ditches by the side of the road. Ultimately though, I don't really know if they are different or not. All the ones with failed dampers that I've seen had the Cup pack though.

Hubs?

Wider track? No, I think you'll find all 182's benefited from the wider track first implemented in the 172 Cup model.

I don't mean to be deliberately argumentative here, but I keep seeing the same old crap regurgitated about this every time "Cup packs" are mentioned, when in reality, there is bugger all difference.

Most clio enthusiasts agree that both set-ups can be improved upon easily.

[coopers]

This is going to sound stupid, but no one (dealers) told me that i had any 'cup' packs, but my car does come with those darker alloys and has that velvety material on the seats (cant spell it) so should i head off to the dealer to find out if mine has a cup pack fitted?

[Patrick1964]

Don't bother, if your car has anthracite wheels (and yes, they are the same as the non-cup but painted a different colour - the key word being "different" and alcantara / leather seats along with climate control and Xenon headlamps you have a "Full Fat" Clio with the suspension Cup pack. This is, of course, unless someone has swapped the wheels from the silver ones. If your car has small fron chin spoiler (or splitter, as they are more commonly known, then chances are you have the Cup spoiler pack too. On reflection the previous poster may well be correct about the tyres being the same, but according to the specialists I've spoken to when I considered buying a FF without the suspension upgrades the differences are small but do include hubs, dampers etc...at the end of the day if you are happy with the car the all's well.

[pbirkett]

The tyres are definitely the same... but to be fair, most of the things i've read about it say they change, but all the 182s I've seen have Michelin PE2 whether Cupped or not...

Personally if I saw a non cupped one for a grand less, you could stick some H&R Coilovers on and get them properly set up for the difference in price, and then it would handle as well as a Trophy, never mind a Cup.

[warren182]

Suspension is def different hubs etc, thats the reason why if you're getting coilover suspension the parts are completely different. Spoke to a few people about this, the 182 will take suspension designed for the standard 172, the 182 with cup packs won't fit the same suspension. Check with yozzasport/ktec etc.

[Baldylocks]

pbirkett said:

Baldylocks said:

Cup suspension is a must IMO, defo if your tracking it. You don't have to buy a 182 Cup to get Cup suspension and/or spoilers - both were options ('Cup packs') on normal 182.

Are you sure?

Yes I'm sure.

The Cup suspension pack did not cost that much as an option and does improve the handling (with a subtle drop in ride height too) - sounds like a no-brainer to me. I agree there is not a massive difference, but why go without if theres plenty of 182's with Cup suspension for sale?

Also IMO the anthrite wheels look far better, and the Cup styling pack (splitter, rear spoiler) improves looks also.

Yes you could fit aftermarket springs but they will affect insurance, whilst Cup suspension pack does'nt as far as I'm aware. Depends partly if you want a standard car or intend to modify

Edited by Baldylocks on Wednesday 28th February 10:42

[pbirkett]

Furry muff, although I seem to remember reading on the clio forum that the insurance companies actually class the cup pack as a modification. Which just goes to prove (if it's true) that they are greedy, money grabbing s.

[Tripps]

pbirkett said:

Furry muff, although I seem to remember reading on the clio forum that the insurance companies actually class the cup pack as a modification. Which just goes to prove (if it's true) that they are greedy, money grabbing s.

But if its standard factory fit, then surely there is no need to declare it...?

I don't declare the raising tailgate and other factpry options on my wife's people carrier for instance, they make the car that bit more expensive to fix/replace if the worst happens, but the car was purchases (and can be proved to be) in that state, so should be covered. As far as I can see the same goes for those factory performance mods.

[tybo]

The Cup Pack was only a £200 option anyway...i think.

So it can't add that much to the value, come resale

[Tripps]

tybo said:

The Cup Pack was only a £200 option anyway...i think.

So it can't add that much to the value, come resale

I guess the feeling/paranoia/chinese whisper is based around the fact that the 172 Cup was more difficult to insure than the 172, due to the lack of ABS.

As you say, a £200 suspension tweak isn't going to have that much of a real-world effect on premiums.