2005 Renault Sport Clio 182 Trophy

The included V5 document shows that this particular Clio 182 Trophy has had a total of eight previous owners, but it’s the last of those Lee Hudson who’s undertaken a comprehensive series of works to bring the car up to what he himself describes as ‘OEM+’.

“I had a Trophy 182 about seven years ago and just loved the car. I’ve owned a lot of cars since then – including a 205 GTI, Honda Integra DC5 and MK5 Golf R32 – but in February of last year fond memories saw me buy another Trophy,” explains Lee.

“I tested a few and without doubt this example, number 119 of 500, drove the best. It had a decent history and had been to Mark Fish Motorsport (well-known on the Renault scene) for a load of work including cam belt, injectors and other bits.”

To say Lee is a perfectionist would be an understatement; his enthusiasm for the car is clear, as is the extreme level of detail he has gone to in ensuring that this is most probably one of the most sorted examples out there. “I probably don’t want to put an exact figure on what I’ve spent. All the invoices are in the car’s history file but it’s around the £10,000 mark.”

You could write a book about the upgrades, OEM equipment and refurbished items that the Trophy has received and indeed our preview listed them in all their glory. We’ll list the big-ticket items here and deal with the minutia in the remaining sections of this listing, below.

Main works include:

• Gearbox rebuild with all new synchros (by Mark Mayfield, aka NorthLoopCup on Cliosport.net)

• New clutch and lightened flywheel

• Front suspension rebuild including brand new Sachs dampers and Eibach Trophy front springs (neither are no longer available but purchased via a group buy on the Clio Trophy forum), Renault wishbones, bolts, inner track rods, Renault track rod ends and Powerflex bushes

• New PMS Cat-back exhaust system with Zircotec Performance white coated Renault 182 exhaust manifold

• ITG Maxogen Carbon Cold Air Intake System with new ITG Air Filter

• MS Custom Engineering powder-coated, ported and gas-flowed intake manifold and throttle body and cambelt and injector covers

• Engine dyno tuned by EFI Tuning to 182bhp and 162.7lb ft torque

• Brakes: Front, Pagid Blue RS-42 pads and Brembo HC (High Carbon) Discs, Remy Calipers with refurbished carriers in matching OEM colour, Hel Braided Hoses; Rear, Pagid OEM spec pads, Renault Rear Discs incl wheel bearings, Pagid o/s rear caliper, Juratek n/s rear caliper, Renault rear spacers and nuts, Hel extended braided hoses (replaces all the flexible rubber hoses) and LPR master cylinder

• New front and rear windscreens

“I’ve had it for a year now and covered around 10,000 miles. It drives really, really well after all the work and is truly intoxicating down a country lane, but if I’m honest I’m in my Forties now and it’s a little red hot hatch that I drive to work… I feel I need something a bit, dare I say it, bigger and more mature.”

There he’s said it and, given all the work Lee’s carried out, it must smart a bit. However his impending move upmarket is an opportunity for someone else to snap up this comprehensively fettled Trophy 182.

The car’s odometer currently reads 102,900 miles.

This generation Clio’s lines still look super sharp and modern; it’s a pleasing, snake-hipped looking car from the time before things got a touch more bulbous on the Clio front.

Lee’s had a recent (January 2021) paint correction carried out to remove swirl marks, stone chips and “bring it back to its best” and as you can see from our video and pictures below, that has had the desired effect as it presents superbly. The paint has a terrific deep lustre and complements the still excellent panel fit. “The only detractors are a very few small marks to the wheels that have been touched up and door handles that have faded slightly, as they all do on this model.”

There was a tiny crack on the front bumper, which happened when he had the new front splitter fitted, but this had a smart repair at the same time as the paint detailing so that the car looked its best for sale (as with all other work, the invoice is in the history file). The front windscreen had some chips and on the rear one of the heating elements had expires, so he had both replaced courtesy of Autoglass.

The RenaultSport alloy wheels remain in excellent condition and are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 XL 205/45/16 tyres. “The fronts were fitted in July 2020 and have 6mm tread remaining, while the rears are a touch older and have 3-4mm. I also added McGuard Ultra High Security locking wheel nuts.”

It’s a similar story inside the car where Lee has taken a critical eye to the car. Where something hasn’t been up to the high standards of his critical eye, it has either been replaced or refurbished.

“The previous owner had the steering wheel refurbished, while I’ve added a new Momo Air leather gearknob and Renault leather gearstick gaiter. I’ve fitted brand new Trophy mats, which unlike the OEM ones actually fit properly. There are a few little marks on the back of the Recaro seats and a mark on the inner aspect of the driver’s outer bolster, but you have to look closely to see it. I’ve treated the leather there as well as all the seats, so it hasn’t progressed during my ownership.”

Again, we think Lee’s being hyper critical here. That’s no bad thing though, and because of that this the cabin presents as that of a low mileage car. A look at our pictures in the photographic gallery below, will confirm this.

“It handles great,” says Lee. “The geometry is set up for fast road use and turn-in is superb; the new Sachs front dampers were a bit of a find. The suspension is slightly firmer as I’ve polybushed it (and added Vibratechnics gearbox rubber mount plus powerflex dogbone bushes and powerflex engine mount insert) but it’s a lot more alert with less drivetrain movement. The acceleration is much improved and makes it huge fun to drive. The lightweight Pure Motorsport exhaust is a cracking bit of kit; it’s not anti-social at all, but just adds a bit of flavour with the odd pop on the overrun.

“It’s the area under the power curve that’s been improved; in standard form there’s not a lot up to 5000rpm, but with the remap there’s a lot more power lower down. It’s smoother and with the slightly raised rev limit you’re a lot less likely to get stuck between the gears. After all the work I’d carried out it was dyno-mapped by highly regarded Renaultsport professional tuner, Chris @ EFI 

The gearchange has also been improved thanks to a combination of a Renault short gear linkage, bush and circlip, a Yanoo stiff shift kit 3.0 and brass linkage bushes. “It was a little bit loose before, but now it’s a lot more positive. The 3.0 version of the stiff Yanoo shifter, allows adjustment of shift stiffness to suit personal preference. 

We’ve had the car at Abingdon for a short while now and can confirm that it is one seriously hard little charger. Lee’s taken the basic formula and brought a soupcon more intensity to matters. It feels like a taut and finely-honed up-rated example.

Under the bonnet it looks superb. Lee’s had everything powder coated and the RenaultSport inlet manifold finished in Trophy Red – and why not? While a quick look underneath shows a smattering of road dirt, but it all looks to be in good health with no obvious signs of corrosion.

The Trophy’s history file includes all the original owner’s manuals and the service book. The latter has a well stamped history, showing the care and attention that it’s received during the duration of its life.

You’ll also find all invoices for the mammoth amount of work that Lee’s had completed over the last 12 months. We won’t list them all (it’s worth flicking through, though) as we’ve already stated that they total in the region of £10k. Please be advised that an invoice for the renewed brake master cylinder and fluid reservoir, rear speed sensors and new thermostat has been added since the auction started, and can be found at the bottom of the document gallery.

However we will take the opportunity to build on the major works already mentioned so that buyers can see just exactly what else has been replaced or upgraded. In Lee’s words that includes:

“Febi Top Mounts Powerflex bump stops and damper gaitors, Renault bonnet latch. Powerflex inner and outer ARB bushes with Renault bolts and brackets, Powerflex steering rack bushes, Powerflex camber bolts, PMS rear camber and toe shims with PMS Fitting Kit (new rear axle nuts and bolts). It’s been freshly 4-wheel aligned for fast road" 

“Engine: 2 x engine services with Millers Nanodrive CFS NT+ 5w40. Renault Oil Filter, sump plug and washer. Renault spark plugs, Magnecore 8.5mm HT leads, Valeo ignition coil, Varta Silver 012 battery, Delco Remy alternator. Renault Aux belt kit, Renault water pump, Renault thermostat and gasket, Renault coolant temp sensor, Febi coolant expansion tank and cap, Renault Type D coolant, Renault upper engine mount and bolts with Powerflex insert (yellow, road), Febi 4th Engine Mount. MS Custom Engineering Powdercoated Cambelt and Injector Covers. Renault Centre Exhaust Mount (the improved red one), Renault intake and exhaust manifold gaskets, Renault Cat to Manifold fitting kit (Mark Fish Motorsport), cambelt kit, pulleys incl Dephaser, Camshaft oil seal and bolt kit, 4 Injectors, (Cat-Mod). Gearbox run in with Redline MTL, then changed to Castrol Syntrans then recent change to Renault gearbox plug and washer. Flywheel Bolts GKN, o/s Driveshaft VGC, Renault MPM fully synthetic n/s Driveshaft, Fahren front wheel bearings, Vibratechnics Gearbox Mount (road), Powerflex Dogbone Mount Bushes (purple, road).

“Exterior: VGC Renault Xenon headlights, Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades, front rear wiper arm and Bosch Blade Heko wind deflectors, Fabia front splitter stubby Aerial Trophy sill decals, Renault front arch liners

“Interior: Renault Intermittent Wiper Stalk. Magnetti Morelli boot dampers"

Pretty comprehensive, we’re sure you’ll agree.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to an excellent standard.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

“The next owner will be getting a properly sorted example,” says Lee. “There are other cheaper cars out there but you’d likely have to spend money on them to get them up to scratch and serious money to match this example"

His phenomenal attention to detail has certainly ensured that. With brakes, suspension and the gearbox all rebuilt and the addition of some particularly tasty upgrades in the engine, exhaust and tuning departments this is a true enthusiast’s car and it’s certainly one to buy on condition rather than mileage.

It also comes with a fair old number of spare and original parts. As such we think this example of Renault’s highly desirable Noughties hot hatch will sell for somewhere between £9000 and £12,000, and that’s surely a bargain once you’ve factored in Lee’s circa £10k outlay over the last 12 months.

If you want a moderately upgraded 182 Trophy that’s properly sorted, fresh out of the box and ready to use then this is your car. It’s got fast road car and an occasional track weapon written all over it – just as Renault always intended, but perhaps even better.

Inspection is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, 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’.