2000 Renault Clio Sport 172 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Folks, a question if I may... and without any laughter to!!

Forget about the likes of the Type R, the WRX etc etc blah di blahhh... I pose this one for a little thought, the 106 GTI, whats better, as in what would win? I would say the 172 but I have a mate who owns a 106 and he tells me that nothing can compete - Muppet!

So does anyone know? I would tell you myself, but I haven't got my 172 yet. :o (

Granted the 106 is a bit of an animal and I've seen it smoke plenty of cars including keeping up with a WRX at 100+mph, but what do you think?

After reading all of your comments I can't wait until I get the car, and if its as good as everyone says which I'm pretty sure it will be, I'll be a happy camper!!!

An amazing machine!

Roads are meant for driving to destinations, the top speed on any uk road is 70mph, you don't have races going on like a track event, and even more funny is that the VAST majority of peolpe with their porsches and BMW's wouldn't know how to really drive fast on a track, a skilled driver in a slower car would kill a novice in the fastest car.

I agree with the people that are saying that racing in the ways that are being stated above should be kept to race tracks and I feel that the 172 is one of the best hot hatches available.

I have just bought a 2001 x plate 172 with only 8600 miles in BLUE (try finding them in anything other than silver...!) for £10500 from my local Renault dealer with a FREE 12k service, years road tax and a full tank of petrol.

I have driven ALL the 172's competition from the Civic Type-R to the MG ZR 160 to the Seat Leon Cupra.

I am aware that the Civic is faster than the 172 but I didn't feel that the handling was quite as good as the 172 & the road noise in the R was horrid...!

I previously owned a 1994 Clio RSi 1.8 and I believe that Renault really know how to make hot hatches. I actually had a little bit of a play against a friend in his Astra Sport 1.8 16v with lowering kit and strut braces down a twisty mile long hill and I won!!! He couldn't keep up and my car is standard as well (we weren't doing anything stupid either).

I can't really see how you can compare a 172 to an M3 or an Impreza either, as they are totally different cars altogether. The M3 being an exec supercar and the Impreza a proper road going rally car.

Each of the cars will have advantages over each other somewhere or another, but they can't really be compared in the ways stated above, but I'm sure that the 172 could surprise some people/cars with its performance & handling.

Does anybody agree with me?

I have just got my clio 172 cup last Thursday and it is amazing. I haven't really put my foot down because I'm running it in, but I can tell how fast it is even low down in the revs. Inside the car the noise of the exhaust is great - the only problem is that you want to hear it all the time. There is also a noise which comes from the passenger foot-well area of the air being sucked in to the engine. The ride is actually not as harsh as I thought it would be and the interior noise between 70 - 80 is easily drowned out by the stereo and not really irritating over a period of time. The back seat is rubbish, but who cares cos I'm not sitting in it (I wonder if people will suffer neck injuries in the back due to no headrests!!!).

I don't really mind not having the leather and air con - most people (including myself) buy the car for the performance anyway.

I am aware of the lack of ABS which will probably make me leave bigger gaps to the car in front. This will maybe become a problem for people who use there brakes while cornering if they are used to a car with ABS. The lack of traction control may be a problem in the wet - Does the standard 172 have traction control? and if not how do people find it?

How long do the front tyres last on the 172's?

Can't wait till it is run in!!!

Just become the proud owner of a new 172 Cup last week.

Like the previous comment, I am too running it in.

It was the unique look that capped it for me. The performance of the Cup is second to none in its class and it has already gained great respect from various sources. Having read all of the all of the above, I have to agree that even though the Cup canny do 155mph, it would still whoop a M3 (any model, any age) on a back road! (Autocar has already made ref. to this M3 war whilst the Cup was giving it large to the new Cooper S.

And I am also looking forward to going head to head with my old man who has an Integra Type R, when its run in!!

Stevie Mac

Central Scotland.

Guys, I also recently purchased my clio cup at the beginning of the month, actually I was one of the first in the country to get it.

The car is fantastic to drive, but lets not get carried away, even on back roads the new M3 is far superior. Trust me I know I was in one last week it was amazing, I also had the pleasure of driving a Subaru sti prodrive, it is different class and would leave the cup for dead. The cup on the other hand is also amazing to drive, I have done around 900 miles since I got the car, and have started to floor it every now and then, the power from 4000rpm and up is wicked. You only know how good the car performs once you have done around 5000 miles or higher, but don't get carried away because you can easily loose it as the brakes are solid. I would like to race a current 172 sports and see if the cup would actually leave it as it is meant to be over half a second faster. I have test driven a clio sport and would have to say that the cup is far more responsive and smoother to drive, better handling and slightly quicker. My local dealer has told me that a couple of people have already had accidents so be very careful.

Enjoy the Clio Cup its worth the money.

By the way you should hear the engine... wooow.

About the 172 vs 106. The 106 isn't bad I raced one the other day. It was close behind until 80mph+ then I started gaining. A 206 GTI however seemed to do better.

I've had several Hot Hatches working my way through a Saxo VTS to a 106 GTI and have recently purchased a 172.

It is farcical to suggest any of these will leave a WRX or M3 behind, it is simply not going to happen.

I loved my VTS and 106 GTI having loads of fun throwing them around corners/roundabouts and catching out loads of sales reps etc... this is what Hot Hatches are all about, not straight line speed or 150 MPH, if you wanted £5k supercar performance in a straight line you'd buy a MR2 turbo.

The 172 is a great car against cost, but it's not streets ahead of a 106 GTI or VTS merely more modern, luxurious and a tad quicker.

The small difference between the cup and the standard 172 isn't going to make much of a difference as you'd lose it in a poor gear change, it's not all down to horses, but driver ability as well...

If someone compares against an M3 and tried to imply that a little car beats and someone puts them straight I hardly think it's fair to come back with the price of an M3. The fact remains that it's not a comparable car and that is what is being put straight.

Just been reading all your comments guys, I think I agree with the Impreza being quicker and substantially better hence the price and specifications, but I'm sure the 172 will give most cars a good run for the money, and not be anywhere near the likes of the saxo vtr (lol) /vts/106gti.

I'm thinking of purchasing the cup 172 from my local garage, at the moment I own a puma 1.7 which looks good, but doesn't really kick it for me in the performance categories. Can anyone reassure me (172 cup owners), that a the clio cup would keep me happy and satisfied. As for what I've seen ad wise things are looking good.

Any comments much appreciated.

If you were to buy the Clio Cup you would be very happy, I know a lot of you think that why thrash cars etc etc, I own a clio cup, and recently had a race with an Audi S3. As soon as the lights turned from red to green we both went, I stayed ahead of him by a cars length all the way to 100mph, he could not over take me, so you can have a rough idea on how quick the cup is. An Audi S3 does 0-60 in around 6.6seconds, but has a higher top speed than the Cup. You can't help racing against cars like that, they look at you give you a big smile and give you that look (lets go mate) so it has to be done.

My cousin has driven my clio cup, he owns a Subaru Wrx 2.0L Turbo new shape and thinks that the subaru is slightly quicker to 60mph, but feels that the Cup has more mid range power, and according to most magazines, Autocar, Evo etc the cup is quicker to 100mph than the subaru. I know a lot of you think what are you talking about, just read one of the magazines.

You will enjoy it, it is also lovely to drive without thrashing it.

You will not be dissapointed with the Clio cup. I've had mine for about 6 weeks and it is brilliant fun. You just can't help, but put your foot down all the time - It sounds amazing.

Don't think the front tyres will last very long though.

Think the "bigboys" are just annoyed that they have spent loads on a car and they are being matched and some beaten by a much cheaper car - face it - these new hot hatches are good and very capable cars.

Agree with some above comments though, having a performance car isn't just about 0-60 times, its about the way the car drives on the road in real day to day situations and to personal taste - think people need to be a bit more sensible and look a little deeper.

My Cup has covered around 3500 miles now and I had the pleasure of going game on with a Civic Type R. The R was slightly modified with a stainless and a filter.

We were both the same through 2nd, I pulled up alongside through 3rd, both the same through to 120mph, but then the R edged back in front after that. By 135mph, he was almost 2 cars ahead. The meet was done fairly, side by, and slightly up hill then flat. (thank god for the green shift light, I couldn't hear a thing over the tune of the R!!)

It was a close drag even with the R being slightly modified. Power to weight ratio???

I would highly recommend the Clio Cup to anyone thinking about owning one. It takes a bit of getting used to, especially the brakes, but it a huge hoot to drive once you get the hang of it!! (if only we had better weather up here in Scotland!)

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. I pick up my new clio cup on the 2nd January and can't wait after reading all the reports. However. My best friend owns a Type-R with a induction kit and back box and I won't be best pleased if his is faster than mine. Because of this I asked Renault in Solihul if they do a performance pack for the 172. There answer was no. However K-Tec Racing suggest fitting a Viper induction Kit and possibly an exhaust system or back box and would be pushing 190bhp. I went back to my dealer and asked them if this would be OK. They said no and that it would be likely that the head gasket would become suspect. This is where advice is needed. Would it be likely that I would suffer from reliability therefore lose warranty. + if not what can I do with out having hassle with warranty and gain that Type-r beating performance. + is the Viper all what it is made out to be for 250 hard earned pounds. Any advice would be brilliant as mechanical knowledge is not the best in the world. 1 last thing. I am a self confessed 205 fan and it has taken something special to make me go from a dimma turbo. is the cup the car to make me think different.

Thanks Jamie.