2002 Renault Clio 172 Cup 2.0

Summary:

Currently you can't buy a faster hatch back

Faults:

At 3500 miles the engine mount worked loose, Renault dealership yet to repair this fault 6 weeks on.

Service light constantly comes on.

In general the build quality is poor in comparison to my Vauxhall Corsa (2000 model). Like other Clio owners have said, when driving this car there are squeaks and rattles.

You don't expect this on new cars that cost 13 grand.

General Comments:

All faults aside, the car is amazing to drive and will keep up with most cars on the road. A guy in a Civic Type R challenged me to a race the other day, believe what you want, but the Cup was quicker up to 130mph. Dyno test has confirmed that my Clio is producing over 180hp in standard form. This car is how I pick it up from Renault. Oh by the way it handles like a go-kart, great fun on the right road! One last comment, the brakes are powerful, but very dangerous with no ABS. Not a good move when you consider that most people will never race it round a track. For the sake of few hundred pounds it should have been standard like the normal 172.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 13th April, 2003

10th Jun 2005, 09:53

Lack of ABS is dangerous? I suggest you go on a driver training day such as the one run at Lotus Cars where you will be taught to brake correctly without ABS. A true driver prefers full control. Maybe there should be traction control and a pair of slippers in the next version.

2002 Renault Clio Sport 172

Summary:

A high performance supermini with the refinement of a lot more expensive car

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

I have got a Renault Sport 172, not the Cup.

And notice about the comments comparing the Cup and the Sport, about the difference regarding 0-60 etc; we are talking here of hundredth's of a second here, nothing else?? The Cup has got stuff ripped out to make it lighter, and not even a spare wheel!! Regarding the difference, I would prefer the creature comforts than the couple of hundredth's of acceleration.

The end of the the day, it's what you prefer, but at the same time, they are identical in a lot of ways...

The Sport is fine car, handling everything. The Cup hasn't got ABS, which to me is a death trap!! I know which one I would rather be in on a wet twisty road...

Sounds to me reading, the Cup articles, problems with the interior well. Let's be honest, I thought the Citroen Saxo's interior was awful; the Cup is just as bad, no refinement at all, unlike the original Sport...

Regarding performance against similar cars in its class (not M3's!!!), such as the 106 GTi, the 206 and Saxo... the Sport, including the Cup, knocks them for six. The others are not even in the same class. The build quality for example in the Saxo is awful; it's a tin can, hardly any safety features whatsoever, and regarding 0-60, I am sorry, they would be left standing, and are talking crap!! The Saxo is 120bhp, the 206 is roughly or a bit more, but the Sport has 172bhp. The engine in the Sport is far more advanced in its engineering, so people in their Saxo's, shut up and grow up...

The only reason you have got such cars, is cos they're cheap, well cheap, and not in the same class, just like the Vauxhall Nova!! I rest my case...

The Renault Sport/Cup in its class is streets ahead of them, except the Type R... I hope the next generation Sport will hit the 200BHP, which I am sure the guys at Renault Sport are working on as I speak!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th April, 2003

29th Jul 2003, 10:11

You really need to drive the cup and the 172 before trying to make comparisons. Yes, on paper they seem fairly equally matched performance wise, with one being cheaper and minus all the toys. But out on the road, the difference is amazing. The cup actually feels the more quality car, due to it's taughtness and added responsiveness. The reduction in weight, and revised chassis and suspension has done more than just shave off a few hundreds of a second, it's transformed the car into a superb drivers car. Sod the leather and toys, I like to 'DRIVE' a car, and would prefer to hear the engine noise than have a stereo to distract me from my blatting!

If you've got enough money to go for a 172, then pick a used Type R, as it has the quality. If you want raw old school hot hatch, you can't beat the Cup.

I have had my cup for 5 Months and 12,000 miles, and can report that it keeps up with and shames a lot of more expensive machinery, Focus RS up to 100 mph, no problem. The X Type jag 3.0 rep mobiles, see ya!

The only issues I have had are quality related, namely rattling dashboard (i'll forgive it that), and rattling windows when in the fully open position.

Did you know that if you pull out the pipe leading to the bottom of the airbox, and just aim it at the hole, but leaving a gap of a couple of inches, it gives you the same roar and performance gains as an induction kit. Because the hole is underneath the filter, dirt etc can't get in, and due to the battery sheilding engine heat it makes it and ideal place for cold air to get in. I have also put in a cold air feed directly to the front grille. It helps avoid warranty issues as well that would arise if you drilled the airbox or put in an induction kit. Try it!.

25th Sep 2003, 03:36

I have seen in magazines a 200BHP upgrade kit for the 172/cup then the civic type-R can be seeing what the rear end of a clio looks like, I you get what I mean. My dad owns a 172 sport and the car its self feels safe even in the wet, what I recommended to him was an upgrade of tyres (TOYO proxes) to get even more grip in those tricky situations.

12th Jul 2004, 09:12

I thought the Clio cup had some new special Michelin tires on as this is in the price of the upgrade to a cup specification so why choose toyos over these?