Renault Clio Sport 172 - are these OK?

[Jon]

Yo.

 

For the past 3 years, Mrs_Jon has been using her 205 1.9 GTi to commute to work 5 days a week - about 300km all in all. It's provided sterling service but is starting to look a little worse for wear and she'd like a change. Problem is, how exactly do you replace such an 'icon', especially in a land that favours automatics and saloons, etc?

 

Her wants are for a more modern version of what she's already got, as she likes the size, acceleration, fuel economy and non-ubiquity of the little Pug. On top of that, she'd also like something that has power steering and all the paint and lacquer on it that it left the factory with. For various reasons (some quite obvious), we've ruled out contenders such as a late 306 GTi6/S16, 206 GTi, Golf GTi (mk4 - need I say more...), Fabia VRs, A3 S4 and Beetle (!!!!). So, currently it's a MINI Cooper S or a Clio 172. The Cooper S is far more popular over here compared to the 172 but it's a small market in NZ, so it's a bit like saying that Gary Glitter is more popular than Saville. Civic Type R's attract high Honda tax - that's an actual thing over here.

 

The Cooper is staying in her mind as the car for her, since she considers it stylish - at least from the outside. However, it's badly let down by the Fisher Price interior, like needlessly massive door handles, central speedo and its general gaudiness and tiny boot. For some reason, she's also particularly offended by the rear seats, especially the fabric covered ones.

 

After biding our time, a low kilometers, 1 owner Clio 172 has turned up for sale and sounds to be very well kept and generally cherished by an enthusiastic owner. It's also a phase 2, so in her eyes a prettier car. I'm sorting out a time to view but would like to go in with my eyes fully open. So far, I've read that the cam belt change is considered a specialist job but that's about it. These don't seem to be plagued with the issues that affect diesel Renaults but we'd be investing far more cash in to the 205 replacement than we ever have before (We've only spent more than £1000 once on a car), so useful advice would be very much appreciated.

 

 

[Ghosty]

Expect questionable build quality/cheap feeling interiour, as typical of early 2000s French cars. Don't know what they go like, though. 

 

They aren't up in the 170bhp stakes, but you haven't mentioned the 106GTi/Saxo VTS, or its replacement C2 VTS - considered any of those?

Or a Corolla T-Sport?

[Jon]

Corolla T-Sport doesn't exist over here, as far as I'm aware. If it does, expect major Toyota Tax. 106/Saxos are even thinner on the ground and C2s were never sold here, either. And on the front of build quality, consider than she dailies a 24 year old French car on stiffened suspension, that's previously had its dash vandalised by incompetent joyriders. At the best of times, durability was akin to a Kinder Egg, so anything is an improvement! 

[Jim Bell]

306 Gti6?

[the judge]

Has she driven a Fabia Vrs before discounting one? They are very good....

[DVee8]

Here is a Parker's guide

 

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-reviews/renault/clio/renaultsport-2001/

 

Coil packs can fail,build quality is iffy with cheap plastics,wayward electrics.

The handling is like driving a roller skate,Fun car for little money if you get a well cared for car.

[EssDeeWon]

306 Gti6?

 

I was thinking about one of these recently, they seem to have all vanished, or maybe they were never that popular in the first place.

[Luckythirteen]

320Touring's other half has one, he gave me a little rundown on costs, 'cos one is high up my to-do list.

Coilpacks (like just about any Renault, mine included) and engine mounts can be problematic. Looking on FCF etc, the cambelt and clutch can be pricey jobs you won't get away with. Other than that, they seem to be quite good to run.

I had a look at a dirt cheap one a couple of months ago: the side skirts falling off were a bad sign, and it went downhill from there! Walked away...

[320touring]

320Touring's other half has one, he gave me a little rundown on costs, 'cos one is high up my to-do list.

Coilpacks (like just about any Renault, mine included) and engine mounts can be problematic. Looking on FCF etc, the cambelt and clutch can be pricey jobs you won't get away with. Other than that, they seem to be quite good to run.

I had a look at a dirt cheap one a couple of months ago: the side skirts falling off were a bad sign, and it went downhill from there! Walked away...

I was just hunting for that pm. .

 

Latest thing to add is that it looks like it's shat it's thrust bearing, so clutch time.. another 450 ish.

 

But we'll worth it for the fun!

[Jim Bell]

I was thinking about one of these recently, they seem to have all vanished, or maybe they were never that popular in the first place.

 

They were going for buttons recently so A LOT of them got broken for engine swaps, brake upgrades etc for lesser cars.

 

Theyre still around though.

 

I nearly pulled the trigger on this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-PEUGEOT-306-GTI-6-RED-/281383398289?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4183c1eb91

 

But was easily distracted by something else.

[Parky]

Is parts supply going to be OK in NZ? It's not as if there are Renault agents / specialists in every town. But they are very quick for sure!

 

My only other niggle would be if it is a genuine NZ car or one that has been shipped over from the UK. I can't see the engine being too happy on Caltex 91 fuel if its a Euro model.

 

Certainly different from the usual Impreza/Evo/Civic that the hoons favour over there. And I can't think of a better tool for getting from Christchurch to Hanmer Springs in a hurry!

[Luckythirteen]

I was just hunting for that pm. .

 

Latest thing to add is that it looks like it's shat it's thrust bearing, so clutch time.. another 450 ish.

 

But we'll worth it for the fun!

Twas easy for me, my PM list is like the Gruinard phonebook.

£450 isn't too bad for a clutch, if it's the specialist you mentioned. How bad is DIY? Most engine/box jobs on those involve gibbon arms apparently.

[Jon]

Aye, sorry if I didn't make it apparent, but we live in NZ, in the north island, far enough away from the shitfight that is Auckland but near enough that it's somewhere to go to buy fancy European cars that the poseurs up there like to drive. Most, if not all Euro brands are seen as a cut above here and naturally, many are seen as complex to work on, etc. It's probably true but most of the Japanese imports leave me cold, especially when the majority are automatics. 

 

Barry Shitpeas - a 306 GTi 6 has been ruled out, for some reason or other I can't quite remember. I've a bit of a fight on my hands when showing her a photo ans there's signs of lacquer peel, etc. as her 205 suffers badly from this. Also, I'm struggling to find a 306 with a working heater and this type of stuff is a definite NO from her. She still talks wistfully of the heated seats in her SAAB 9000.

 

I'll take in to mind the clutch, cam belt and engine mounts, though the guy rang me today and mentioned that the engine mounts could be something to consider in the future. That said, it's a 2003 model with 54000km on the clock, a low figure I just didn't think existed on an 11 year old car over here, since Kiwis like to drive. Any yes Parky, it's NZ new and has a few modifications (ECU chip, uprated exhaust etc.) added to the spec since the day it left the dealership. Like some have mentioned, parts could well be an issue and being rurally based this isn't ideal - but then that's why we have 4 cars! If you plan ahead and maintain a stock of hard to find items, life becomes easier, though this could well become a bit of an issue on a more complex car like the 172, since we've yet to have owned a 21st century car.

 

In all honesty, I reckon a Fabia VRs would put a smile on her face but the looks do it no favours in Mrs_Jon's opinion. I'm actually fighting a battle, trying to keep the Clio in the game, simply so that she doesn't just settle for a MINI Cooper S, which wins on looks alone. In fact, if anyone's got some advice on them, that'd help too!

[Parky]

I didn't have a cooper S but a standard cooper.

 

The big issues with these are power steering pump failures which can end up with needing sections of new loom as well as the pas motors themselves. Quite common on the earlier cars. Gearboxes were an issue too but I think the S model gets the Getrag box which is tougher. The standard models used a Rover box which is absolutely fine if you give it fresh oil occasionally. Most don't because of the sealed for life lubricant they use, my definition is life, not the life of the component.

 

Other flaws are pulling to the left which means the car has to go on a jig for realignment, then it's usual trim rattles, minor electricals, nothing you wouldn't get on something else. Exhausts are crazily expensive and the Mini dealers charge outrageous amounts for the "special" oil they need. Savvy owners can run these at a reasonable cost but fools will be exploited shall we say.....

 

Great fun though and I think the earlier cars look good. Later ones were NOT improvements in my view.

[Hendry]

Owning a Clio myself (unfortunately not a 172/182/197) Ive spent a lot of time on the forums for them and the guys who run the 172/182s regularly mention something called "dephasers" ive no idea what they are but can say they seem to be a common failure/item needing replaced, Im also certain they talk about replacing them at the same time as the timing belt kit etc.

 

The interiors are actually quite a nice place to be, they are better put together than people give them credit for, and are also very well equipped if they are not the Cup version (which isn't too bad either tbh) and come with cruise control, digital climate control, xenon headlamps, half leather/alcantara seats, etc and better quality carpet and trim than the cooking models. As you probably know, the handling is their best quality, so much fun to drive.

[Luckythirteen]

The dephaser is part of the VVT system, and does go eventually. It's run on oil pressure, so keeping the oil good helps.

Does the 172 have VVT? Not sure now! 182 and on do have, I know that. There's a vid on YT of a 182 sounding like a diesel, with a broke dephaser.

 

[Rusty Pelican]

My stepdaughter has a 172 sport Clio bought from new , engine grenaded itself at 50,000 miles , new engine fitted and its been fine since , I had to fit a rear silencer on it a month or so back and the rear hanger bolts were seized solid and captive in a box section , lots of fun ( not ) , most of the underneath has a fair bit of rust on it now , its now done over 120,000 miles.

Conclusion fun to drive and quite rapid ,  build quality is  shite , bodywork made of cheese substitute , interior is good and comfortable .

Get one cheap enough thats not been ragged to hell ideally with a service history and have a bit of fun.

[dave21478]

The dephaser  pulley should be changed with the cambelt. Failure means a nasty rattle but not terminal to the engine. I hear that a special locking kit is required for the fitting, but have no idea if this is true or if it can be DIY'd with common sense and some ingenuity?

 

The 172 is quite basic, equipment-wise. Some options were available, but generally the toys only came on the 182 version, which has the digital climate control, cruise etc. The 182 has the fancy twin exhausts, but I hear that as far as driving goes, there is no real world difference power-wise. The 182 cup has different suspension which sharpens handling, different alloys and a boot spoiler. Its common to make a standard 182 look like a cup and also quite easy to tart a 172 up to look like a 182 so be sure of what you are getting.

 

Its a car on my "would quite like to own one day and have looked at a few" list, but the ones I have seen within budget have been dogs.