Clio 172

indiemike

indiemike

ZoomZoom
Joined
May 6, 2009
Messages
388
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
North Wales
Hi some of u might have seen my car is up 4 sale. Not what I want but after moving house and the current price of petrol it's costing a fortune to run. I've been offered 2k and a Clio 172 02reg with 70k on clock.

Has any1 had experance with them? Are the quick, how do they handle, miles per gallon?

Any info that u many have would be great thanks

cheers mike
 
personaly wouldnt touch anything french...... the 172 wont be anywhere near ur s3 on the straight but should kill you on the twisties and maybe make some ground back....... on an 02 plate the plastics holding the plastic wheels on are likely to have faded :)
 
test drive it and see. they arnt built too badly, they do crash well, my brother has had a couple and they have been very reliable, far more reliable than a lot of the cars in the threads on here.

thrashy, revvy, proper power delivery and chuckable.
 
Yea know what you mean about french lol

Just wanted something half quick for the moment and with 2K in my back pocket i could get my finances sorted out a bit

I know what eva car i go to now it wont make me anywhere as happy as my S3 does but its a case of needs must at the moment

Does anyone know of any Leon Tdi Fr knocking around that might do a swap??
 
Stick it in a garage and forget about it, don't sell it. Buy a £500 1.1 fiesta for driving about in. Simples.
 
Mr.G said:
Stick it in a garage and forget about it, don't sell it. Buy a £500 1.1 fiesta for driving about in. Simples.
Click to expand...

With loan i got out on it, insurance and petrol its costing £600 a month

My wages are alright but i just cant afford it keep it. Ive been putting it off for months now but im at the point where it need to go. Id rather just sell it and buy a ****** 1.1 fiesta for now than struggle with money all the time

Really want someone on here to buy it so i could keep an eye on it and i know someone off here would take good care of it
 
I had a Clio 182 there great on the twistys not to bad in a straight line but you need to rev the life out of it
coming from a s3 to a clio sport you ain't going to be happy you will lose all comfort and toys.
Also running costs ain't that much in it so I would personally say don't do it!
 
I had a 182 from brand new and out of the box it is a better handling car than the S3. I put in a much quicker lap round the ring than I did in the S3 (sig pics).

The Clio was fun to drive and I didn't have any issues with the car but it was brand new. I know the guy who bought it off me had a few issues with the steering rack then the power steering pump but apart from that it was a good car.

I dont think you'll be disapointed with the clio but it wont be as fast or as solid.
 
The 172 was just a option at the moment.

I want a Leon or Ibiza TDI FR if i can find 1
 
The best advice is to just go and test drive a few cars and see what you like. You can run into reliability issues with anything of that age so dont just avoid the Clio because its French. Renault have built up a good reputation over the last 10 years with their cars, they're not the rusty dangerous tin boxes they used to be.
 
Westle said:
I had a 182 from brand new and out of the box it is a better handling car than the S3. I put in a much quicker lap round the ring than I did in the S3 (sig pics).

The Clio was fun to drive and I didn't have any issues with the car but it was brand new. I know the guy who bought it off me had a few issues with the steering rack then the power steering pump but apart from that it was a good car.

I dont think you'll be disapointed with the clio but it wont be as fast or as solid.
Click to expand...

How did you find the MPG?
 
Clio will do 34mpg at that millage make sure the cambelt has been changed its not a cheap job on the clio hence why a lot get sold at that millage.
 
never tried a 172 but considered a 182 before the S3 and wasn`t impressed tbh I prefered my 1989 crx felt about the same if not a little slower than the crx.

A lad at work has just got one of the newest clio sports and that looks and feals nice imo
 
Clio 172. Epic handling, will out do a lot of more expensive cars and will out do pretty much anything with cheap mods.

However, that comes at a price. If it's 2k, expect 2ks worth of rattles, faults and bad build quality. Mine had three engine wiring looms within the first 9 months of my ownership from new. Loads of new parts.

Better off getting something like an old Polo GTI. While not as quick, at least it won't cost you to keep it running.
 
JD09 said:
Clio 172. Epic handling, will out do a lot of more expensive cars and will out do pretty much anything with cheap mods.

However, that comes at a price. If it's 2k, expect 2ks worth of rattles, faults and bad build quality. Mine had three engine wiring looms within the first 9 months of my ownership from new. Loads of new parts.

Better off getting something like an old Polo GTI. While not as quick, at least it won't cost you to keep it running.
Click to expand...

Im not going to say the build quality is great but there not all as bad as you make out, I know of 2 clio 172 owners that never had any major issues and 3 182 owners (one of the 3 is sat on my drive way) which have never had any issues but with a car like the 172 i'd want to know how its been treated or it could cost you a lot.
 
ok fair enough if the french are getting more reliable...... thing is though they are stil using the cheapst plastics for their cars in massive amounts.... this is one of the reasons they drop like lead weights regards depreciation, the build costs are sooo minimal and i would be hard pressed to find a car with as bigger margin placed across them from new bcos of this fact. That then makes the longevity of them less so...... not saying they are bad cars but they are put together with nails and glue when compared with most other brands (not necesarily just Audi)
 
Mine was spared no expense. Had I kept it on it would have cost me more than I want to think about. Any car that has to have three engine wiring looms in the first 9 months of ownership is not a well made car!

But my God they handle. No weight, very decent engine and a fantastic chassis.
 
1animal1 said:
ok fair enough if the french are getting more reliable...... thing is though they are stil using the cheapst plastics for their cars in massive amounts.... this is one of the reasons they drop like lead weights regards depreciation, the build costs are sooo minimal and i would be hard pressed to find a car with as bigger margin placed across them from new bcos of this fact. That then makes the longevity of them less so...... not saying they are bad cars but they are put together with nails and glue when compared with most other brands (not necesarily just Audi)
Click to expand...

The new clio 200 and megane 250 are ment to be very well made, they had a megane coupe 250 track day on piston heads were they invited members to come and try them out, they were all impressed with the new build quality and materials being used.
 
mk1chopper said:
The new clio 200 and megane 250 are ment to be very well made, they had a megane coupe 250 track day on piston heads were they invited members to come and try them out, they were all impressed with the new build quality and materials being used.
Click to expand...

Second that one. A friend recently detailed a new Meg 250 in Oyster Grey. Said the build quality was almost German!
 
I'm getting 27.5Mpg circa around town in my S3. So not much difference if the 172 is around 30mpg. Can't you keep the S3? Seems such a shame to sell up when you have such a nice car. You will always compare the 172/FR to the S3 and won't be happy.

I know I wouldn't. Have debated selling mine many many times but have decided firmly not to. Must be something you can do?

G
 
How about a Fabia vRS. Get it mapped and its got a decent amount of poke. Good mpg too. Obviously not quite the nimble car round the bends that the clio is.
 
I had a test drive of a 172 before I bought my S3, but although I enjoyed the drive it wasn't enough to convince me to part with my money. At the end of the day I think I was ready for something bigger.

The interior felt poorer quality than the Mk1 RSi I was driving at the time and was badly scratch round the plastics on the door handles.

The car I looked at was in a car supermarket, and the salesman proved he knew nothing about cars while on the test drive. I nailed it away from the lights on a wet dual carriageway to see how much the car would torque steer, and when I commented on this the sales guy said the guys in the workshop could sort it.

And in a straiht line at least, a mapped S3 will outrun it
 
Its gotta be a 182 cup if your gonna get one, its a lot lighter and uprated suspention. Failing that i'll swap my A3 T for an S3 to save you some petrol lol
 
mk1chopper said:
The new clio 200 and megane 250 are ment to be very well made, they had a megane coupe 250 track day on piston heads were they invited members to come and try them out, they were all impressed with the new build quality and materials being used.
Click to expand...

understand what your saying, but its the longevity of the components that will make the difference.....sit in a megane and you cannot compare it to the likes of an Audi or BMW of the same generation, there is a clear difference be it in big clunky buttons or weirdly designed handbrakes - that is why a Renault will always fair along with Fords (which I wouldnt put against just yet).... they have tried their hands at prestige and failed miserably, even royally....granted the new stock of performance cars look really good and no doubt will handle/stop/go like all past Renaults BUT and this is a big BUT, it is a Renault and has a hell of a long way to go before it gets the status that you chaps are talking about which will be reflective in the depreciation which i would bet is still gonna drop massively regardless
 
Bignick said:
Its gotta be a 182 cup if your gonna get one, its a lot lighter and uprated suspention. Failing that i'll swap my A3 T for an S3 to save you some petrol lol
Click to expand...

Cup packs would be better, couldn't live without my "xenons blazing yo". Or climate. Or leather.

Having said that, the only Renault I would currently buy is the old 182 Trophy. Great colour, Recaros and only 500 made, meaning rare vs depreciation.
 
172 Cup is a good motor. 172s aren't great and the 182 is a massive let down IMO.

Also cam belts changes are VERY expensive.

I'd avoid.
 
Welly said:
172 Cup is a good motor. 172s aren't great and the 182 is a massive let down IMO.

Also cam belts changes are VERY expensive.

I'd avoid.
Click to expand...

Not much more than an Audi specialist doing a 1.8T chap. Circa 400 quid. Mine was 350 while doing a few other bits. I still think they look superb;

IMG_4403.jpg
 
182 sport with cup pack, xenons (which are very very good) digital climate control, cruise control, auto headlamps, half leather, electric windows and mirrors all standard.
 
Matt82 said:
agreed. williams, id probably kill for one
Click to expand...

Some nice cheap (£2000 - 2,500) ones on Pistonheads. Killing optional.

Is the 2.0l engine in the Williams related to the old Renault 21 Turbo 2.0l? I.e; can you stick a turbo on a Williams:jump:?
 
Last edited:
killing doesnt hurt anyone, i dont see why not.

luffly cars though but you dont often see them in nice nick now
 
It was the 1.8 16v unit found in the clio 16v and renault 19 16v i think but tuned by the renault sport division, williams had nothing to do with it as it was attually built for rally but they used williams as a marketing tool due to the F1 link (a bit like the F1 additions with newer models) , I think prima/cituning did a turbo conversion.
 
Mr.G said:
I'm getting 27.5Mpg circa around town in my S3. So not much difference if the 172 is around 30mpg. Can't you keep the S3? Seems such a shame to sell up when you have such a nice car. You will always compare the 172/FR to the S3 and won't be happy.

I know I wouldn't. Have debated selling mine many many times but have decided firmly not to. Must be something you can do?

G
Click to expand...

I really wish I could keep the s3 but with a overall cost of over £600 a month... That's a loan, petrol, insurance I can't do it. Paying for my house now on top of this which is killing me. Could sleep in the car lol
 
I think Mike, whichever way you look at it, swoping cars is always going to be a money losing experience, there's no way round it unless you are lucky. Is the owner of the 172 getting a better deal out of this or do you think it's a fair trade/deal? 172s are great little car, especially for driving daily, I'd class them as cheap to run performance hatchback, generally low maintenance apart from the cambelt. Is the tight fit interior really all that when you are trying to save yourself money?!

You was always going to get a biased response in an Audi orientated forum, but if you think the deal is a fair one, and it helps you onto bigger things later in life, then go for it, you won't be disappointed with the car. Yes, the 172 with cup chassis is a better car and the 182 is probably even better still, but the normal 172 isn't a slouch, and that's the one you are asking about.

Goodluck whichever way you go mate.
 
Anyway you can reduce your fuel costs and keep the car i.e. public transport, car share? Or change your loan to a longer term lower monthly payment, this may cost more in the long run but you'll keep the car and plus as people have said a new car may cost you more in the long run due to unknown history.

Bit off topic but some further info on the williams clio engine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F7R
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
S3 v clio 172 - Review
Replies
39
Views
11K
emery1990
E
T
clio or s3
Replies
40
Views
3K
S3 HODGE
S3 HODGE
peteA3tdi
fun with a v6 clio
Replies
4
Views
799
MingBluS3
M
Spec
Would you swap this 172 for this A3..?
Replies
18
Views
2K
Spec
Spec
1animal1
  • Locked
new R32 and new clio 197 sandwich
Replies
471
Views
27K
Ess_Three
Ess_Three
Top
Back