2003 Renault Clio Cup 172 Sport from UK and Ireland - Comments

Cut my finger on the seatbelt feeder (if that's a fault!!)

The 172 Cup Sport is the next best thing to the V6 Clio. I've beaten Civic Type-R's, Focus RS' (in a straight line) and easily beaten by Subaru W R X's, (RS Turbo, GT Turbo's are a breeze!)

First time I drove the car I laughed the whole time as it's so quick, (it was in the wet too!)

I have to say it gets a bit bumpy with 4 people in the car, but on the motorway it comes into it's own.

Very reliable, 220 miles to the tank. 156mph top speed and I reckon it does more!

No mechanical problems - not a sign of a blown head gasket either!

156 mph? What, off a cliff?

Don't get me wrong, great car, I own one myself (although not the cup). However, you are exaggerating the performance somewhat unless you've had yours seriously ticked up.

I own a cup. bought it 2 months ago great fun makes me laugh. having ridden fireblades its not the same, but for the money what a car. 138 mph is what the book states. warren.

I think you have definately exaggerated the performance! Did you say you beat a Focus RS in a straight line? Don't think so!! unless the RS driver was asleep.

What is the fastest anyone has had out of the cup.

There is no information I can find anywhere that says the 172 is faster in any way than a WRX, its not man enough for the job. and also the focus RS was a victim of yours apparently. listen it's a clio 172 not a jet car. Its in a class bang in the middle between the WRX/RS and the citroen saxo VTS. Along with the Focus 170, 206 GTI 180, MG ZS 180 ect.

Why you making all this up? What do you think the 172 stands for? The Focus RS has 212 and is very responsive and has a lot of torque. I don't like Japanese cars, but WRXs are much faster than your Clio. RS Turbos with a few mods will also see off your car (as they only have 132bhp to start with).

Some of the newer WRX's are not that quick actually. They are quick 0-60 but suffer large transmission losses due to 4WD, and are quite heavy. I think some of them are, what, 210 bhp or so? In a heavy car with high transmission loss, then I think its possible a clio could reel in one of the later shape models.

I own a 182, and have had a couple of run ins with WRX's, and to be honest theres not a lot in it usually. One bloke with a frog eyed Impreza was struggling to keep up on the straights. He caught up a bit in the corners though.

I've also had a race with a Focus RS, and while the Clios will not beat it, its surprisingly close up to 100 mph. After that though the RS will be much faster than the Clio.

Remember though Clios are B-road blasters, designed for twisty roads. They are not designed as high speed autobahn munchers. They are too noisy, fragile and lack the aerodynamics and gearing required for this type of job. For what its worth, they will illuminate the gear change light in top at around an indicated 145 mph or just over, this is about a genuine 140. At these speeds, the clios honestly do not feel that safe to me, very light at the front end, and high speed braking from a ton can be very scary, unsettling the back end as the front end attacks the tarmac, never mind adding another 40 mph to that!!!

Really, if you want a car for top speeds, why buy a car with the aerodynamics of a brick that's geared only to do 140? Put it on a B-road which is where it belongs, and enjoy its 0-100 performance, that's where it excels. If all you wanna do is go fast, just buy a chipped Octavia vRS (don't laugh, even a standard 178 bhp Octy can do 146 mph genuine) and be done with it.

Well actually the later WRX's are 225 BHP, the bug eyed ones are 215 BHP, and the latest ones are 230. While you are right in saying they suffer transmission losses like all 4WD cars, so do FWD cars, but not as much. And impreza's start off with a lot more than clio 172's. And they are not that heavy for a 4 door saloon, they have lightweight panels. I think the WRX will get to 100 MPH faster (@ 15.7 seconds) than a clio 172, which is at least 17 seconds I think.

What is it with Clio 172/182 drivers? I heard one in the pub last night telling his mate how he beat "one of dem new Aston DB9's" off the lights.

The Clio is a cheap hot hatch, and yes it's a damn good one. A sports car though, and fast in the overall scheme of performance cars, it is not.

It will also not get close to a well driven Focus RS, on twisties or straights. I have seen this demonstrated on many occasions. The turbo engine in the Focus just completely out-muscles it, and the Focus chassis outclasses it.

! strange...

I dont known, whats wrong, but I own 172 and I cant say, that its slow car... I've bought it just a couple months ago and can't say a lot, but I gave my Clio to my friends for a test drive. Both of them are professional rally drivers(1st races Saxo VTS and PRODRIVE STI, 2nd - EVO and VAZ2112 kitcar). They told me, that this is great: in handling, accel, braking and ect.

About Civic Type R: Sorry guys, but do you really think that to beat Civic is so big problem? :) My friend beats Integras(they have 20hp more) esealy(1\4 mile) on his Nissan Pulsar with SR20VE.

European WRX is not a question too: long gears, just 215hp (vs. JDM 280hp) and ect.

I raced some realy fast cars such as GC8 Impreza WRX STI type RA fully tuned by Prova(about 350whp), GC8 Impreza WRX STI type RA fully tuned by Altuning(2.5l Garret GT30 and ect. about 480hp), R32 Skyline GT-R tuned - about 700hp... YES! they very fast... extremly fast I would say. Last 2 cars blown McLaren Mersedes SLR on 1\4 mile... but they are expensive... they are very complicative in handling... in other words - they dont give a joy... You cant drive it every day and ect.

We tried to compare it with new Focus RS... Yes, maybe Focus faster on straights than Clio, but the Qustion is corners! :)

A couple words about 197: read the in EVO magazine test of 197 and new Cooper S... Cooper is better... As for me, Renault should correct aerodinamic of Clio, but leave engine with big H*m numbers as it is in 172\182... but what they've done? Honda-like engine? with high power in hi-ends revving? what for?!

Your talking about skylines integra's scoobies, EVO's all tuned racing each other, what are you saying about the clio? Because it wouldn't beat any of these cars standard or not, if the clio was tuned yes probably, depending on level of tuning.

Mate, I have a 172 cup and 156mph, it's not gonna happen, I have had mine bouncing off the red line in 5th going 141mph. That's all it's gonna do!!

The fact is Clio 172 maybe not be quicker than a Subaru WRX on acceleration (0-60), but it will definately beat them off the roundabouts, rolling start is where its at.

Goto www.scoobynet.co.uk and see how many WRX owners say that clio 172/182 and civc type R's are faster than their cars.

A WRX is not as quick these days!! you lot are dreaming if you say the WRX is quick!

Sorry you're wrong, I've done it in a WRX, off the roundabouts and 0-60. Yes the 172 is quick, but able to beat a WRX? No. The figures will tell you the same whether it's 0-60, 30-70, 60-80, 80-100 whatever. Hot hatches are better than they used to be, but you need something like an Astra VXR/Megane 225/Leon 225 ot maybe a Civic Type R. If it's an STI or WRX PPP, forget it unless it's tuned or you have an EVO.