2005 Renault CLIO 182 Trophy

First registered on the 14th of July 2005 and showing just two former keepers, we are delighted to be able to offer this well-serviced, ultra-useable RenaultSport Clio 182 Trophy.

Number 73 of 500 built, it has been in the care of the vendor for the past 18 months. He bought it from a Clio Trophy enthusiast – this had been his third – via Cliotrophy.co.uk. Still completely original, it even includes the original exhaust and steering wheel plus the Reg Vardy sticker and key ring that were handed over when it was first purchased.

Only for sale because he has just welcomed his third child into the family, its guide has been set at a level that acknowledges there is still a little work to do before it realises its full potential. And it is offered at No Reserve.

The Capsicum Red coachwork is in great shape. Still sporting tight and even shutlines and good panel alignment, its overall presentation is reassuring – and when you’ve got the reputation the Clio 172/182 has for being stuffed in a ditch by over-ambitious youngsters, reassuring is good.

The paintwork is very good and the ‘Trophy’ decals on the rear of the sills are in good shape, as are the ‘2.0 16V’ badges on the front of the door trims. These things matter, which is why we’re pleased to see they’ve been so carefully conserved.

The 11-spoke Turini alloy wheels are in good shape too, being free of kerbing, scuffs and other damage. They’re fitted with matching Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres too, all of which look to have plenty of tread left.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

And what a view you get from the rear! Those lovely little machine-gun exhaust pipes might be subtle but they tell those in the know that they’re in the presence of greatness.

Work to do is minor; if it were ours we’d be tempted to get a new set of wheelnuts to replace the rusted originals but other than sorting out a few minor rust spots (e.g where the bonnet meets driver’s side headlamp) we could live with the stonechips and minor marks on the paintwork; this isn’t a concours queen, leaving you free to just get in and drive it as the folk at RenaultSport intended.

The Recaro seats, which are finished in leather and Alcantara, are infinitely superior to the ones fitted to the rest of the Clio RenaultSport range. Deeply dished and figure-hugging, they finally give the driver and passenger the lateral support they always deserved.

These are in great shape too, being firm and supportive and free of rips, tears and other damage. Only very gently patinated, the rear seats are even better being practically unmarked and still remarkably fresh bar some light bobbling to the fabric. It’s the same for the door cards, headlining and carpets, all of which are very good.

The RenaultSport steering wheel is present and correct, as is the plaque showing the car’s build number 73/500 on the base of the driver’s seat, the ‘RenaultSport Clio 182’ sticker inside the driver’s door jamb, and the RenaultSport sill protectors.

The rest of the interior is pretty much standard Clio, which means it’s simple, unadorned and more robust than you might think. So, it’s all shrugged off the years and the miles with impressive aplomb, showing only minimal wear and the sort of minor scuffs and scratches that you’d expect of a fifteen-year-old car.

The boot is clean, well-carpeted and home to the tool kit. Lifting the mat shows only solid, well-painted metal and no corrosion.

Problems? None that we can see other than a few light stains to the base of the driver’s seat, the air-con is not currently blowing cold.

The Clio’s servicing regimen, as per the service history booklet, the invoices available, and the owner’s notes, is as follows:

27.09.2006 and 11,485 miles – Reg Vardy Renault, Edinburgh

15.12.2008 and 35,721 miles – Evans Halshaw, Edinburgh

26.05.2010 and 49,336 miles – service plus spark plugs and brake discs and pads by Manor Garage

30.06.2011 and 59,592 miles – service by Manor Garage

21.06.2013 and 78,522 miles – service by Manor Garage

30.06.2014 and 83,054 miles – service by Manor Garage

02.11.2016 and 98,131 miles – service by Manor Garage

August 2017 - front Sachs dampers rebuilt and powdercoated by Corner Force

30.08.2018 – oil service and a new alternator, air-conditioning re-gas, ABS sensor plus underseal by Prince Bishops Garage

03.05.2019 – service plus a new cambelt, alternator, dephaser pulley, waterpump and fresh coolant by Rentech

2019 - new rear OE Sachs dampers (which the vendor tells us are now impossible to get hold of now…) plus new discs and pads, and front and rear upper suspension mounts. Also, a new heater panel and alternator were sourced and fitted

2019 - head gasket resealed using OEM sealant by Rentech

17.03.2020 and 103,337 miles – service including an engine and fuel system flush plus a new pollen filter by Rentech

We’ve driven the Clio and can report that it feels like a car with fewer miles on the clock than the odometer says. Still fresh and taut, it drives very well indeed and feels like a car that’s been enjoyed rather than abused.

If we’re nit-picking then the engine bay is workmanlike rather than pretty and given how attractive the rest of the car is we can see that the new owner might want to spruce it up a little.

Also, the last MOT tester picked up the beginnings of some corrosion on the underside. We’ve tried to photograph the affected areas but it is important to note that this is the first time this issue has been raised. Also, the tester has noted that it isn’t far enough gone to affect the car’s rigidity so it should be possible to catch it before it causes a problem.

The Clio’s MOT certificate expires in March 2021. It also comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, book pack and the grey storage wallet plus two keys. The owner also has a selection of car magazines that have featured the Clio 182 over the years, and he will include these in the sale.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained and modified to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment. 

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

However, if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

The RenaultSport Clio 182 Trophy is the stuff of urban legends. Offering peerless handling and enough performance to be interesting without descending into downright lethal, they never really moved into banger territory so there should be plenty of well-maintained examples to choose from.

Sadly, like the Clio 172 that came before, many have been thrashed and crashed, leading to a surprising deficit of good ones, something that limited run of just 500 cars does nothing to alleviate.

Not that they’re hideously expensive – yet. With a guide price of somewhere between £6,000 and £12,000, we think this one would make a fine buy for someone looking for a car they can actually drive and enjoy, rather than polish and show.

Plus, with a following wind and a modicum of care, you probably won’t lose money in the long-term either, making this a very cost-effective way of owning one of the very best hot-hatchbacks of the 21st century.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.