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.