2003 Renault Clio 172 Cup from UK and Ireland - Comments

Totally agree, I turbo'd my Integra Type R with forged pistons, new injectors, front mount intercooler and all the extra pipe work, used a t3/t4 turbo capable of running 500bhp, oil catch tank, uprated head gasket, screamer pipe and b.o.v, and all the work done by a mechanic friend of mine. The whole lot including labour cost me about £3000; that included just about everything. Had it running on 5.6psi and rolling roaded running 300bhp. That's just over 100bhp for 3 grand in the widely acclaimed best handling front wheel drive car ever by EVO magazine. So £4000 for 40bhp is very steep.

Jackson Racing do a bolt on supercharger kit for the type R that can be fitted in 6 hours by a competent mechanic, and add 60bhps, all for about £1000.

Not even the cup weighs under a ton, they are still a lot heavier than what hot hatches used to be.

Just a pointer, I keep reading a 0-60 quote of 7.1 for the 172 Sport. Yes true, but the 172 Cup is 6.5 seconds. I've timed my Stock 2002 172 Cup and can vouch for that time!

Also, £4000 for a 40bhp gain!!??, you have been ripped off big time mate! K-Tec Racing do a Turbo conversion kit for the 172/182 for £6104 inc vat (only an extra 2k) which they claim produces 260-300bhp (an extra 128bhp) depending on the boost setup and they say brings the car down to the 4-5 second bracket for 0-60.

Lol the 172/182 is the new civic vti of this website, with over exaggerated comments left all over the place.

I test drove a Civic Type-R and a Clio 182. In my opinion you have to be under thirty to drive either of them, they're both over hyped cos young people without a hope of insuring anything quicker make up a large percentage of drivers, and exaggerate their performance (this debate being a prime example!).

I bought an Elise 111S in the end; the Civic and Clio are forgettable by comparison. I don't have a clue about the figures, but it's faster than both, plus its rear wheel drive. Having heard all the hype, both hatches were a bit of a let down.

Will all of you please read Evo magazine, or at least go on their website and find a test of the Clio and the Civic. They basically are a dead heat it; just depends on the choice of the person.

I drive my mate's Clio 182 Cup sometimes, I bet once some of the Civic Type R boys had driven one fast round corners, they would like it as well.

I used to have a Civic Type R and currently have a Impreza, but due to it being a pain to park at work and getting unwanted attention everywhere I go, I'm thinking of getting a small cheaper hot hatch and very possibly going to take a look at a 172 Cup.

As for the debate of Clios killing Civics and vice versa, it won t happen with standard cars on the road as the cars perform so similarly there is little between them, and even on Top Gear/5th Gear etc they were within 10ths of a second apart, so it's just down to what you prefer and what you've got to spend really!

The 172 sport is quoted by Renault at 7.1sec to 0-62mph. Not 0-60mph in 7.1sec.

0-60 in the standard 172 is 6.8sec.

Go for a 182.

Why go for a 182 when it's basically identical to the phase 2 172 apart from the twin exit exhausts. I currently own a 182 and had a 172 before, performance wise there is nothing in it.

To the person that commented on "18th Aug 2009, 09:18"

100% Totally agree with you. Could not have put it better myself!