2004 Renault Clio Renault Sport 182 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Can't decide between a seat cupra pd 160tdi or the clio 182?? My mate owns a seat cupra tdi and I have to say its rapid! How would the clio compare?

I think maybe the 182 is a bit quicker, but you would have to rev the bollocks off it to make it even a close race, and rev it a bit more to win. The 160 would have effortless pace with all that torque.

Also wasn't the RS Focus quicker than a WRX Scooby round their track? Quite an impressive feat considering the scooby is what it is.

I like the RS Focus, although judging by that diff, it might be a bit harsh day to day?

A VXR has 240bhp, where did you get 300 from, I was talking about stock vs stock, a 182 would smoke it around the twisties.

On a race track maybe, where you can push both cars to the limit. But on public highways you are not going to be pushing the car to the limit, too many things could happen. Where as you can push the VXR to the limit on a good straight.

These roads are used by a local motor club for time trials, and trust me, the quickest car they ever put across them had 180 bhp.

A little tip for you - handling cannot be measured with a stopwatch.

I have been contemplating getting a Clio 182 for some time now, and being a 106 GTi owner, I was hoping it would have the same characteristics as so to carry on the torch. After reading these comments, I am more enthusiastic about getting one as all of the owners seem to love them!

I love hatches, and used to own a Saxo VTR as well, which is also a sorted 'old school' warm hatch, and my 106 certainly puts a smile on my face. But I want to step up now to a hotter engine, and I can't wait to try a 182 out! The only hiccup I've had along the way with my searching for one has been the insurance, :( Being 20 it has been quite steep as you can imagine. However I picked up a quote the other day for approx £1200! So Clio 182 here we come, wish me luck peoples! :)

Good for you mate, I've got a phase 1 172 and they are truly brilliant cars in there own right, as long as you can put up with one or two rattles the rest of the car is solid (having a 106 your probably used to this anyway).

And they certainly can give supposedly 'better' cars a run for there money.

And the cornering must almost if not better the 106 gti/vts cars.

I won't sell mine for this very reason as its light and really quick.

All I'm going to say is if you are going to buy one, look out for leaky sunroofs unless they've sorted it out now.

Whats the remark above with Vauxhall and Lotus?

Lotus have a tuning house that manufacturers use to develop their models - hence the Carlton.

Ford used them.

Vauxhall used them back in the 70's, used the Elise recently.

Chrysler used them.

Proton (!) used them.

This is just bragginh rights in the pub talk, totally pointless.

I've got a 172, and to be honest, as long as it puts a grin on my face when I use it, it's irrelevant what the 0-60 time is of anything else. Unless you're on a track racing, though judging some of the posts on here, Sainsburys car park would be a better place...

I've just 'down-sized' from a VW Golf R32 MK IV to a Clio 182 with both Cup Packs & I can honestly say that the Clio is much more fun & confidence inspiring on B Roads than the Golf. Where my R32 would roll & scare the living daylights out of me the Clio just makes me smile & want to do it all again!

The steering on the R32 was so numb it was only after driving the Clio 182 that I realised just what I had been missing.

The Golf had a really heavy clutch too, with an awful sticky gear change (particularly 1st to 2nd) & the gearing was far too short- you could only get 55mph in 2nd for example before the rev limiter kicked in to ruin the fun & you had to change up again with that crappy box.

The Clio's gearbox on the other hand has a much easier change & lighter clutch making it easier to drive around town plus you can get 60+ out of 2nd!

Having owned the R32 for a year I also think the Clio 182 (albeit with a couple of mods) will actually get to 60 quicker than the Golf and would lose all but the bravest R32 driver on a back road.

So in summary: The Clio 182, half the bills & double the fun!