Andrewj

Thinking about trading down to one of these, and have just driven the standard one.

Anyone got any views on how much better the 172 Cup is?

Thanks.

MattW

What's your criteria. "Better" is a personal opinion, the Cup is a stripped out version, so although performance is better, equipment level is slightly poorer.

zoog

Cup is more than a stripped out version. it has revised suspension and wider track, is significantly quicker and sharper handling, and it is a really adjustable handler on track. Unbelievable fuel economy too. It is also a Q car and surprises a lot of machinery on the road. Light weight gives supercar equalling brake performance. In the real world of UK roads there's little faster for getting about....(except in the wet blah blah blah....scooby...blah blah)

wilf

Agree with zoog. Having tested the 172 before getting the Cup I would say the cup is much sharper in the steering and handling department.

Its v nimble being so light and a bargain as well. Personally I've enjoyed mine VFM more than the 3 scoobs I had previously (P1 included).

Daz34

The Cup isn't any quicker than the ( better looking )172 mk1

Darren

met

had one for about 4 weeks, could not live with the fact that the build quality was a joke, the rattling, bits dropping off, th eflimsy bodywork, the no abs, the knocking steering, the clonking brake limiter, the difficulty starting from cold or hot, all in all its a lot of money c£10,000 for a hot hatch, buy a 205 gti for a while instead for £1000. saying all that though i took mine round bedford on a track day & it as a riiight fcucking scream mate. drive one & see, also take a look here http://forum.cliosport.net/

talizman

iTrader: (1)

My missus's daily runner is a Cup and after 4000 miles it feels like a decade old...

Having said that, it is truly rapid, and surprises a lot of expensive, exotic machinery!

The 172 VS Cup debate hang gone on forever it seems and it basically come sdown to whether aircon and ABS etc are more important to you than the rawness that the Cup offers. Not to mention the small matter of saving over 2 grand!

Better looking car IMO also.
Nicer wheels (branded Speedlines).
Nicer colour (Mondial Blue).
More aggressive stance.

The regular 172 can easily be mistaken for a Baccarra by those not in the know!

LEE P

Hi...there was a cup at oulton park yesterday...helll he was quick in that!!

ive been impressed with every cup ive seen on track....alot commented how quick it was, sounded nice too!

Lee

wilf

IMHO anyone who reckons the only difference between a cup and a std 172 is aircon and a few bits of trim hasnt driven both cars. The difference in handling/steering is v noticeable on the road as much as on the track. Hence why the Cup is so much quicker round any circuit than the std car. Try both yourself and see!

robby

I test drove a cup before i ought my 172.

on the road unless you're thrashing it to the limit you'll not notice much difference between the 2, maybe on a track it's a different story?
The cup felt very basic (metro like) compared to the 172, driving on B roads you could hear the stones being thrown underneath the car thanks to lack of sound deadening (to save weight), the wind noise on motorways was louder due to thinner glass (again to save weight) and the car felt twitchy

I looked at prices of the 2 and was shocked at the drops they both take - a 6 month old cup sells for £10k and a 6 month old 172 will fetch about £12k

Day to day driving the 172 is way more comfortable with more standard features which also help it to sell on over the cup
extras on 172 over cup are
Engine cover
More sound deadening
Thicker tinted glass
ABS
Climate control
Air con
Spare wheel (alloy)
CD changer
Leather/alacantra interior
Choice of paint colour
Xenon lights
Computer

there's probably other extras which i haven't noticed so for the extra performance is it worth it for an every day car (42.3mpg on way to NEC last week)

Rokerlad

Cup has the trip computer and comes in a choice of silver or the gorgeous Mondial blue

[Edited by Rokerlad - 11/23/2003 3:48:40 PM]

The Maive

Last few cups will be being sold now due to the impending 182 Sport. There will be no light wait version so that should ensure slower depreciation with there being very few out there than the 172 sport. Ive done a deal for a new cup with 2 grand off list and if I was to keep it a year and get 10 grand back I would be very happy.

Delivery early january and is a worthy replacement for my MY00Turbo. Cant wait.

P1Fanatic

If its anything like a standard clio then read all the gripes on here (and believe me there are many). Build quality and reliability is utterly shocking. Dealer service and support is beyond a joke. Wouldnt go near a Renault ever again after the clio.

Simon.

zoog

My Cup's not missed a beat. Only problems have been entirely self inflicted by my appalling driving and abuse of the car hitting kerbs and the like.

jonc

Andrewj,

If you are still interested I am selling my Clio 172.

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...hreadID=268170

£9000

gareth

I'm also trading down to a 172. Well, we've had it for a couple of years but I'm taking it over so my scooby can be replaced with an MPV for the missus and growing family...

I can't really comment on the Cup as I haven't driven one. I would imagine it's pretty focused for what it was designed for and I reckon it's good value. However, I've always wondered whether it was right to delete the ABS on a car that cheap and that fast.

I like the 172 as an all-rounder but even though it's responsive, the power soon tails off where my scooby would be just getting into its stride. Anyway, now it's mine I'm getting it down to Hillpower for a Group N ECU and induction kit

wilf

Omission of abs is not a problem - many of us who drove performance cars from the early 1990s and before are all still hear to tell the tale aren't we.

For all those that are worried are probably best off sticking to their cycle helmets and knee pads -its a dangerous world out there.

gareth

Thanks for the flames - I don't like Mondays either

I think the point I was making - in passing - is that the Cup is cheap enough to be affordable by inexperienced drivers but in keeping the price down eschews basic safety aids in favour of performance. As always it's the other road users that are the potential victims.

wilf

sorry gareth - I've had my cup of coffee now and am feeling better!

Gary VR6

Not sure if this will work - it's a 3.3mb 6 sec video clip of my cup's dashboard as I did the 30-70mph blast - not fantastic, but it does a reasonable job of capturing the acceleration & sound of a completely standard cup:

http://www.ashworthbrown.co.uk/users.../cup30-70a.avi

The Maive

I have a cd player I had in my scooby that I want to put in the Cup when it arrives but had a thought that the standard stereo will link to the centre display on the dashboard and therefore an after market stereo would remove that functionality. I didnt have the stereo on when I test drove hence asking the question now.

talizman

iTrader: (1)

Autoleads will sell you an adapter that allows use of the steering stalk controls and dash display with your new head unit for £50.

The Maive

Thanks for the info.

At £50 I think Ill keep the standard one and put the Panasonic in the wifes car or just sell it,

Can anyone comment on the stereo in the Cup. Im not a big ICE person but are the speakers up to a relatively good job, the ones in my MY00 were absolutely appaling as most of you will know.

Thanks again,

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I think any audio system is better than the scoobs

Not sure if its the same as the 172 sport but it sounds quite good for a standard system, and at least it has tweeters too! But obviously not a patch on a decent after market system and speakers.

[Edited by ALi-B - 11/25/2003 11:26:44 AM]

druddle

The standard speakers in my 172 (6 speaker system - wooooo) are absolute sh1te. Kate Moss has more low end.

jonm01

I just bought a CUP. The stereo doesn't sound all that great.

As for the build quality issue, EVO did 36k in theirs including trackdays and they had very few problems.