Tim-Grove

Zoog,

How much did you get it for in the end if you don’t mind me asking, get anything off??

Tim.


[Edited by Tim-Grove - 4/1/2003 11:25:22 PM]

zoog

Seriously considering one of these now. Love hot hatches and yearn for the 205gti experience again.

Dealers' quoted price is £12995. Importers? Better deals?

Is it tolerable on occasional long journeys?
Any owners can give advice It would be much appreciated.

thanks
Adrian

Dark Blue Mark

172 has ABS, they are looking quite cheap 2nd hand. Crap seating position apparently.

MB

zoog

I actually don't like ABS, i feel it detracts from ultimate control of braking into a corner, something hot hatches excell at usually, also, on very slippey or uneven roads it always cuts in too much and dangeroulsly lenthens stopping distances in my experience, hence the Cup is my choice.

I wouldntt mind the A/C though must admit.

Dream Weaver

Was a passenger in Dales's Clip Cup on yesterdays Dales Run 5

Very impressed, great handling, fast, and we could easily keep up with the Scoobs on the run, even more so than I thought was capable.

Nice cars

The_Gza

I'm very happy with my Cup so far - I've had it 3 months and nearly 5k miles. Did have a couple of quality control niggles at first, but the car keeps getting better Very quick wee beastie. The brakes are great as well - very confidence inspiring. Most people who have tracked the Cup find that the standard brakes are up to the job - not something you often find.

You should be able to get a bit off the list price, but it depends on the dealer. I've not seen any available through Importers yet - AFAIK they are actually badged differently in Europe, which might be the reason.

Long journeys are not a problem - I've done London-Scotland in mine, along with several jaunts round the Highlands Running costs are another plus point - I've seen over 37mpg on trips up North, and it'll average mid-low 30's in day to day usage. Servicing is every 12k, and I've found a source of cheap tyres - £45 for Toyo Proxes T1-S

Feel free to drop me an email on: the.gza@nospam.virgin.net (delete the nospam. bit) if you'd like any specific info

Cheers


Chris

bluenose172

iTrader: (2)

Zoog,

If your going to buy it without a trade-in don't buy it for less then £1000 pounds off list price. With a trade-in I would expect 600-700 off list price.

Straight line pace is not all that quicker than the normal 172. My brother has one, and eeks out a car length from 2nd - 3rd. But the real difference can be felt while cornering. The Cup has so so much more front end grip and a better turn in. I was amazed at how much better it was!!

zoog

Thanks guys, very helpful. I would be doing a trade in.

Some trips from London to Scotland are what I will be doing in order to savour the Highland roads again. hope to possibly come up at Easter if i get it in time.



[Edited by zoog - 3/31/2003 4:12:35 PM]

S111ONF

Have a look on cliosport.net - there seem quite a few bargain 2nd hand ones on there

Simon

robby

I looked at buying 1 a couple of months ago, tooka test drive and was very impressed with the drive. There were some niggles though for a car to be used daily such as exterior noise due to thin glass fitted to save weight? cheap seats to mention 2. In the end i bought a 172 sport which isn't so much differant but is a lot better equiped. I got a pre reg cup offered at £12k and got a year old 172 for £11500.
The different features the 172 has over the cup are
xenon lights, abs, 3 point rear seat belts, leather/ alacantra interior, spare wheel, thicker glass, tinted windscreen, headlight wash, auto lights, auto windscreen wipers, cd changer, climate air con, split folding rear seat, engine cover

for day to day it seemed to be the more sensible choice and has a higher resale value. On cliosport.net cups are going for £10k for a car 3-4 months old

Jonto

Interesting !

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

One thing I did notice when in one was that the steering wheel (unless I'm mistaken) isn't adjustable and its in a poor position, set more like a bus rather than a sports car. Just IMO

Drive before you buy!

dogmaul

its adjustable for height, i actually quite like the driving position actually it seems to suit me

zoog

Test drove one at the dealers tonight and ordered one, it was just how i hoped it would be, light, nippy, chuckable, no nonsense, long-way-home car. He reckons I ll be in it by the end of the week, hope so.

can't wait.

thanks for the advice guys!

The_Gza

Excellent

si325i

nice car. but as for the ABS i know what your on about, yes there is a but, i think over all it's better 75% or more (maybe) most of the time.

Gary VR6

Buy it Zoog. Got mine 3 weeks ago. Saw it by accident. Never driven a clio before ever. Spent previous month test driving more than 10 imprezas. 10 mins in the clio and I had to have it. Bought it there and then. Most fun you can have on four wheels. Well chuffed. Check out cliosport.net, too.

bluenose172

iTrader: (2)

Good choice zoog, as Gary said get your self over to Cliosport.net, there's more discounts than you can shake a stick at along with organised meets and track days!

Note:- Just to let you know that Renault, yes Renault, are organising a track day for owners of the 172/Cup/V6 at Bedford Aerodrome in May and July. You may even have a chance to drive the new Clio V6 255 as they're calling it!

Book it here - Renault Track Day

[Edited by bluenose172 - 4/2/2003 12:29:22 AM]

zoog

Guy's

I paid £12000, seems that is fairly standard. i ll certainly be doing track days, time to brush the dust off the old Arai!

Rokerlad

Great choice of car mate! Had mine for 2 months now and am well chuffed with it!

scott8629

Yeah Cups are the way forward.
Fast and cheap to run, its all I need.

Renault or (r-sport) have brought out a replacement ECU which raises the redline to 8k RPM! People say it makes the car better but no one has had it on a RR afaik. It costs 280GBP fitted, does not invalidate your warranty. More mods planned.

Good choice!

Scott

zoog

The sales guy denied there were any mods such as ECU's out. But they are notorioulsy poor at knowing about such stuff. May consider it once properley run in.

Delivery now put back till April 14-17th.

Signed up to go to the Bedford trackday, Friday 27/6

I ve been in a Merc E300 turbodiesel for the last 12 months after selling my integrale, and boy do i need to do some hooligan driving again!!

Rokerlad

The Reanaultsport ECU upgrade is reputed to take the CUP to 180+bhp. A couple of lads on Clio Sport have them in their Cups, so the wise thing to do is wait a couple of months and see what they think. Early reports are very favourable.

dogmaul

it gives 5% power and torque but does not take into account for any other mods so really its just as restrictive as the original ecu imho

Blitz_Boy

I was going to get a Cup as I knocked a very good deal with my dealer but until I test drove a normal 172 I found the seating position a little too uncomfortable, poor gearstick and pedal position. I would have to stretch my left arm a bit to change gears.
Rear room wasnt that great either infact its smaller than my Micra but a apart from that if packs a punch everytime you give it some stick. I ended up with a Civic Type R which Im really proud of now.

bumcrack

is there loads of wheel spin when you boot it round the bends?

robby

i know when i test drove a cup it was a lot more twitchy than my 172 when gunning it down the back lanes

Dales

They do feel nervous at first, especially compared to an Impreza under both brakes and acceleration. Not so much wheelspin as weaving / torque steer.

You do get used to it, and for me its all about the car feeling a lot more alive than the (relatively) inert Impreza.

Turn in / steering response is also far superior.

Downsides are very choppy ride and complete lack of wet weather ability (in my hands anyway!)

Dales

zoog

I noticed the torque steer on my test drive, very apparent on the few 2nd gear hard accelerations I did. I hope it won't be too intrusive.

God knows what its like on the focus RS!

I imagine the wet handling is like a 205 1.9 was - ie skittish and requiring Schumacher levels of skill to go very quickly! Span my 1.9 several times on wet and oily roundabouts.

What I am looking forward to when the car arrives is getting back to "stop-on-a-sixpence" braking, which you just don't get on heavier cars, however much you beef up ther brakes. I reckon breaking performance is undersung as a necessary attribute in a good car.

Tim-Grove

I love the torque steer in a 172 it makes the car feel like hot hatches should feel, like a hooligan!!! Nice smooth progressive power delivery is all well and good but it can get boring after a while the 172 keeps you on your toes and make for a more involved and exciting drive.