Models · Renault
Renaultsport Clio 172 / 182 buying guide
The Clio 2 Renaultsport, launched in 2000 as the 172 and updated to the 182 in 2004, with a high-revving 2.0 16-valve engine. Cup and Trophy versions added lighter, more focused specifications. Its checks are well known, and most can be done at the viewing.
The versions
- 2.0 16-valve four-cylinder: 172hp in the 172, 182hp in the 182
- 172 Phase 1 from 2000; Phase 2 from 2001 with shorter gear ratios and ESP
- 172 Cup from 2002, without ABS, air conditioning, side airbags or stereo to save weight; 182 Cup kept air conditioning
- 182 Trophy: limited edition with Sachs dampers, suspension lowered 10mm and Speedline Turini wheels
What to check on a Clio 172 / 182
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Cambelt, dephaser pulley and auxiliary belt
What to look for: Look in the history for the last cambelt change, with the date and mileage, and check the invoice also lists the tensioners and the dephaser pulley. Look for auxiliary belt changes too. At idle, listen for a rattle or clatter from the cambelt end of the engine, and on the drive note any loss of power.
Why it matters: The cambelt and tensioners are due every 72,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first, and the dephaser pulley should be changed at the same time, or it can come loose and rattle. The auxiliary belt has its own shorter interval of three years or 36,000 miles. A belt change done on time with all the parts is a sign of a car that's been looked after.
Knocking from the gearbox mounts
What to look for: With the bonnet open, have someone blip the throttle and watch whether the engine rocks on its mounts. On the drive, pull away briskly in first and second gear and lift off sharply, listening for a knock or clunk from the front. Check the clutch bites cleanly and doesn't slip in a higher gear.
Why it matters: Gearbox mounts are a common failure, usually first noticed as knocking in first and second gear or during gearchanges. New standard mounts are a quick fix, and race-spec mounts last longer. Clutches last around 30,000 miles of hard use, or about 60,000 if driven considerately.
Steering noise, the rack and the auxiliary belt
What to look for: With the engine running, turn the steering from lock to lock and listen for whining or groaning. On the drive, feel for vague or imprecise steering. Look at the auxiliary belt for cracks or fraying.
Why it matters: Noisy steering is a known trait on the 172, because its return pipe is smaller than the 182's, and the larger pipe is an easy upgrade. A failed rack is more often caused by a worn auxiliary belt than by the rack itself. Worn rack bushes take the sharpness out of the steering, and replacing them restores it.
Also in the full guide
- Gearbox noise and third gear
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Clio 172 / 182
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
Renaultsport Clio 197 / 200 · Renaultsport Clio 200 / 220 Trophy
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Renault.