Clio 172 - daily driver and track day toy?

[Family Guy]

Hello all.

Looking at getting into track days this year and think the 172 may be the tool for the job. I have toyed with the idea of buying a cheap track toy but that means i'd have 3 cars and my wife's car. This would mean more money, and space.

So i've decided to chop in the daily drive (1.6 astra) and get a 172 as i think it would be a good compromise for one car to do two jobs. From what i've read the engines are pretty robust and a work colleague ran one for 3 years without problem. I realise that running costs will be greater due to greater wear and tear & servicing. However from what i have already read i think i'll benefit from improved MPG on the daily commute (the astra is rubbish).

So, comments and advice are welcome. Anything to look out for when buying (known issues) and the viability of running a dual purpose 172. Any good web sites (other than this one) for info.

Hopefully i'll be looking for a 53 ish plate with approx 50k miles for my budget (budget not set yet though).

Also, this i find a little confusing. How do you tell the difference between a standard 172 and a CUP. I've seen a few advertised as cup's but they look standard in the advert (standard 172 wheels etc). I guess that anything mentioned here also applies to the 182, if budget allows.

Thanks in advance,

FG

[John D.]

Have a look at my profile. Thats what a 172 Cup looks like Wheels, cup splitter and spoiler being the biggest give away. That and Mondial Blue colour (exclusive to 172 Cup), unless its one of the few silver ones. Blue or Silver only colours ever available.

Most came without AC (option on later models along with silver paint) - main thing that puts people off as a daily drive. Does'nt bother me. I use mine every day and occasionally on track.

Do a search for common problems/buying guide - theres a previous thread which I contributed too, covered pretty much everything.

[CooperS]

I think cliosport.net would be the best place to go.

Im not sure if the problem pages are still open to NON-clio sport members…..

Although you haven’t set a budget, what have you got in mind?

IMO 3.5k would get you an early ph2 172 pp/cup going up to 6.5k for a trophy 182.

They are depressingly cheap im afraid for such a good all round car. Which will see you comfortably to the track and out perform most things at the track (obviously within reason…)

As for problems, these little cars get a good running so wear and tear is to be expected tbh but nothing to worry (well not in my experiance) and its kept its self together long than the mini.

[Family Guy]

Thanks for the above. I haven't set a definitive budget yet as i rarely stick to them anyway

I'll almost definitely be going for a non-cup, simply as there seams to be more available but i'm not against the cup version as i'm not really bothered by the absence of toys.

I think i've already joined cliosport.net as i owned a clio 16v for about a month before realising it was a rotten heap that was more work than it was worth I'll have to check if my passwrd still exists and check the forum out.

Thanks

FG

[bones33]

I currently have a 172 52 plate as a daily driver and love it. The only reason I am selling it is because the misses and me are trying for babies and need something a bit bigger and cheaper.

To get a realy good 172 52 plater you will be looking at about 3-3.5k

[Pentoman]

Hope I'm not sticking my oar in but I did find an old Autocar handling day test feature the other day back when the 172 was brand new. If you remember back then before the cup/trophy variants came along, the 172 was not as universally praised as you might think. Anyway in the track portion of this test they were a bit disappointed with it and placed the Audi A2 1.4 (!!) ahead of it - yes that's in the track test, I think it was at brands hatch. I believe shortly after, Renault came along with the cup...

[CooperS]

Pentoman said:

Hope I'm not sticking my oar in but I did find an old Autocar handling day test feature the other day back when the 172 was brand new. If you remember back then before the cup/trophy variants came along, the 172 was not as universally praised as you might think. Anyway in the track portion of this test they were a bit disappointed with it and placed the Audi A2 1.4 (!!) ahead of it - yes that's in the track test, I think it was at brands hatch. I believe shortly after, Renault came along with the cup...

Hence why you'd want one with both cup packs.

[Family Guy]

CooperS said:

Pentoman said:

Hope I'm not sticking my oar in but I did find an old Autocar handling day test feature the other day back when the 172 was brand new. If you remember back then before the cup/trophy variants came along, the 172 was not as universally praised as you might think. Anyway in the track portion of this test they were a bit disappointed with it and placed the Audi A2 1.4 (!!) ahead of it - yes that's in the track test, I think it was at brands hatch. I believe shortly after, Renault came along with the cup...

Hence why you'd want one with both cup packs.

Just been reading the buyers guides on cliosport.net and i'm a little confused (it's been a long day). Can you get a standard clio 172 with cup suspension. I've seen a few ads on autotrader advertising the clio as a cup but they have standard wheels and are not the electric blue (not sure of correct colour name) colour, they are black or dark blue or red. OR is this simply the seller (car dealer) using the 'cup' name to aid the sell.

Sorry for the numpty question

[Sir_Dave]

They are using the cup name to add the sale. Models available are as follows:

Ph1 - 172 + 172 Exclusive
Ph2 - 172 (normal, 172 Cup (silver/blue)
Ph2 - 182 normal, cup packs were available, ie suspension/wheels/spoilers, these models are generally classed as 182 with both cup packs, then you have the 182 cup, which has the aforementioned cup packs, but did without leather, etc.
Ph2 - 182 trophy

For everyday + track usage, i bought a 172 cup (had a 182 with both cup packs previously). Did 25k in 11 months including 11 laps of the ring in one day, didnt miss a beat and was awesome on track/road alike - see my profile.

172 Cups generally see more power on the rolling road as well, various rumours around as to why they do, but they always do as proved at many a cliosport.net rolling road day.

There is also an article floating about somewhere where they compared the 172, 172 cup & V6. The 172 cup was quickest around the track ...

Edited by Sir_Dave on Thursday 5th February 10:50

[Family Guy]

Sir_Dave said:

They are using the cup name to add the sale. Models available are as follows:

Ph1 - 172 + 172 Exclusive
Ph2 - 172 (normal, 172 Cup (silver/blue)
Ph2 - 182 normal, cup packs were available, ie suspension/wheels/spoilers, these models are generally classed as 182 with both cup packs, then you have the 182 cup, which has the aforementioned cup packs, but did without leather, etc.
Ph2 - 182 trophy

For everyday + track usage, i bought a 172 cup (had a 182 with both cup packs previously). Did 25k in 11 months including 11 laps of the ring in one day, didnt miss a beat and was awesome on track/road alike - see my profile.

172 Cups generally see more power on the rolling road as well, various rumours around as to why they do, but they always do as proved at many a cliosport.net rolling road day.

There is also an article floating about somewhere where they compared the 172, 172 cup & V6. The 172 cup was quickest around the track ...

Edited by Sir_Dave on Thursday 5th February 10:50

Thanks for that, i thought they might be.

[bones33]

Yes I fell for that when I purchased mine shows what doing a little bit of research first can do.