Any Clio 182 owners/ex-owners? [NLC]

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:24 pm

I seem to recall there are at least a couple of Clio sport owners or previous owners on here... I went to look at a Clio 182 today, was impressed with the car but the one thing that concerned me was a very heavy clutch. While I could live with this, my girlfriend found it a bit on the heavy side. Does anyone know if this is simply a characteristic of the car?

Would be interested to hear any owners tales also...

Thanks,
Jamie

mikeyb13 · Post by **mikeyb13** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:45 pm

I had a 172 from brand new. I had a few electrical problems and found the dealers an absolute joke. Apart from that I loved it. I kept mines for 3 years which is a record for me. I believe the gearboxes are a weak point as well as engine mounts. Cant say I ever noticed the clutch was heavy.

Doc883 · Post by **Doc883** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:05 pm

Digital wrote:I seem to recall there are at least a couple of Clio sport owners or previous owners on here... I went to look at a Clio 182 today, was impressed with the car but the one thing that concerned me was a very heavy clutch. While I could live with this, my girlfriend found it a bit on the heavy side. Does anyone know if this is simply a characteristic of the car?
Would be interested to hear any owners tales also... Thanks, Jamie

Search out a Clio 182 Trophy as that was the best of the breed. Only came in Capsicum Red and had Sachs dampers. Most seem to be 2005 on 55 plates and sit around the £6-7k mark. For all questions 182 related I'd recommend you register @ http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/community/login/ and ask there plus they have a dealer and private for sales section

I have had 2 Renaultsport Meganes and a Clio 197 and had no problems, great cars.

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:09 pm

Thanks for the advice

Trophy is outside my budget, much though I would love one!

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:35 pm

My friend has one and over winter it was in and out of the garage with a new problem every week.

ended up needing the whole wiring loom replaced as well as sensors and other bits and bobs.

its a good laugh to drive tho!

Mikie711 · Post by **Mikie711** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:22 pm

We have one of the very last 172's. Registered so late in fact it appears as a 182 on the V5. The clutch isn't unduly heavy and my wife has never complained about it. Looked at the cup cars but they have most of the creature comforts stripped out of them, this is fine if you plan on doing trackdays etc but as a run around I would prefer to have aircon, glass etc.
Been really reliable little car and great fun to drive.

Edit. Couple of things to check are the belt change, when last done. Engine mounts have a habit of going soft, you can tell by blipping the throttle. If they are knackered you will hear the exhaust clonk of the bulkhead. Check the cam carrier to cylinder head for oil leaks, usually at the back of the engine. Not a major deal if it's a small weep, most seem to, but some are worse than others. They are hard on suspension bushes and ball joints on older cars.

g1zmo26 · Post by **g1zmo26** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:54 pm

Go for it! Like mike I had one of the last 172,s great car had it for 3 years got it brand new so anything that went wrong got fixed under warranty. Xenon relay went and rear shocks are a weak spot. Engine mounts also Fuel mate is not bad 30 mpg with a heavy right foot! Must be black so it looks like a 1.2 dynamic for upsetting 320 drivers

Stuart.

philthy · Post by **philthy** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 3:41 am

I had a 172 tuned to 230bhp with throttle bodies, great little car. Parts were cheap cause it's French but was lucky to see 25mpg

woza · Post by **woza** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:14 am

I had a 182 and loved every minute of it.

Didn't have any problems with it either. I don't remember the clutch being too heavy. Great fun little cars I'll own another one some day!

haggis catcher · Post by **haggis catcher** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:28 am

I have a Clio for a wnter car, and find the clutch heavy also. Perhaps because its cable operated.?

Gibbo78 · Post by **Gibbo78** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:49 am

Had the Clio 172 (02) from new for 4 years - again a record for me, and I keep finding myself looking at the ads for them...... they really are such fun. Bro had a 172 cup and for the road, we both thought the standard 172 was a better package. Rear shocks and wheel bearings are a week spot (not there is much weight back there) but apart from that, little else went wrong. Clutch was not heavy, but not super town car light either. Never hung around in mine and was getting combined cycle of 32mpg. Only thing which was an option on the later ones was different seats, the standard ones are not all that. Standard ones in the 197 onwards much better.

Dammit going to have to look at the classifieds again after typing this.....!

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:09 pm

Lots of helpful advice above, thanks all

Now just need to find a nice one!

The one I went to look at yesterday looked great in black, and had both the Cup packs - think this will be the spec I will be looking for. It drove really well and felt like it could be a lot of fun. Even the interior was better than I was expecting - the interior on my friend's old 172 Cup seemed a bit on the basic side (cheap seats!). Its service history was a bit on the sparse side though, nothing stamped since 2007

mikeyb13 · Post by **mikeyb13** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:29 pm

Digital wrote:Its service history was a bit on the sparse side though, nothing stamped since 2007

Missing its expensive cambelt change then?

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 3:08 pm

I had a 172 from new. Mine had a heavy clutch. It was great fun to drive, but hideously unreliable.

One of my pals has had a 172 and now a 182; the 172 had a few problems, but probably no more than most secondhand cars. He's had the 182 for a few weeks and already had a few problems, although they have largely been down to the previous owner's lack of care.

Buy carefully!

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:07 pm

Watch out for the thumbgrips on the steering wheels too

Scottish Elises