Clio 200
Hi guys. Thought I'd knock up a little thread detailing the life of #456.
I don't have big plans for the car really, just wanted to make a timeline of things and give the car a bit of extra history.
I bought #456 in March last year from JohnnyE. I wasn't originally looking for a Trophy, but after a weekend filled with disappointment viewing other 182's, When I saw this up for sale and knew I had to have it!
The short drive home from Liverpool:
Few photos taken when back home:
#456 was on 85k at the time with belts done by Fred@BTM on 80k. It was also fitted with GT cams and remapped by RS Tuning giving 184bhp.
Johnny had fitted some brand new Sachs dampers front and rear at around 80k too, which was another massive plus side to buying this car.
Photo courtesy of JohhnyE
Summer 2014
I decided to add a few little touches to the interior first. First up were a set of Renault Sport mats from Adam at Renault Wolverhampton, followed by one of Snappy's retrimmed steering wheels. I debated for a while what design to go with on the steering wheel and despite seeing a few Trophy wheels ones on here, I didn't want to detract from the black/dark grey and silver theme the car originally came with.
Few photos taken while out on a drive up Moel Fammau:
Next up was my first ever mechanical issue. (I'd been warned several times before I'd bought the car to expect these often!)
An ABS fault, which was quickly diagnosed in work on the diagnostics machine as being the rear N/S sensor.
After a bit of messing round with Euro Car Parts who supplied me with the wrong part, I got to work swapping the sensor over.
While the hub was apart, I got some 15mm aluminium spacers made up in work and sourced some 20mm ones for the front.
February 2015
Finally time to put my private plate on the Clio. I'd had this on retention for the past 12 months and the renewal was up, so thought why not!
Next up was to tidy up the top bumper grille. This had been painted by a previous owner and was starting to look a little tired.
Unfortunately due to several broken clips, the grille had been glued to the bumper, preventing me from removing it from the car.
a bit of news paper and masking tape later, it was ready for paint. For a quick afternoon job, I'm pretty happy with the results.
March 2015
One thing that always bugged me about the Trophy was the basic cup rear seats. They just don't go with the Recaros at all. Short of an expensive retrim, the only other option are some non cup leather/alcantara ones. I opted for some 172 versions which I picked up from Pauleds, as I didn't think the white dots on the 182 versions would match as well.
Obviously the rear seat mounting bolt was playing tough, so I had to take advantage of my skills as a welder and weld a nut on top so I could remove it.
I'll have to get some fitted photos.
Well that's where the car is up to. It's nothing special, but I wanted to keep a record of the cars time during my ownership.
As for what the future holds. I'd like to get the map looked at sometime. It's very grumpy when it's started up sometimes. Something I'd expect on a cammed engine, but not just occasionally surely? It also has a tendency to really drop down through the revs to almost stalling point when slowing down from speed, especially when the steering wheel is turned at the same time. It also hates car park manoeuvres. Again though it picks it's moments. Can go weeks without a problem.
Secondly, I'd like to possibly get the paint on the front end freshened up. It's getting quite stone chipped now, which is a shame as the rest of the paint on the car is really good.
I don't have big plans for the car really, just wanted to make a timeline of things and give the car a bit of extra history.
I bought #456 in March last year from JohnnyE. I wasn't originally looking for a Trophy, but after a weekend filled with disappointment viewing other 182's, When I saw this up for sale and knew I had to have it!
The short drive home from Liverpool:
Few photos taken when back home:
#456 was on 85k at the time with belts done by Fred@BTM on 80k. It was also fitted with GT cams and remapped by RS Tuning giving 184bhp.
Johnny had fitted some brand new Sachs dampers front and rear at around 80k too, which was another massive plus side to buying this car.
Photo courtesy of JohhnyE
Summer 2014
I decided to add a few little touches to the interior first. First up were a set of Renault Sport mats from Adam at Renault Wolverhampton, followed by one of Snappy's retrimmed steering wheels. I debated for a while what design to go with on the steering wheel and despite seeing a few Trophy wheels ones on here, I didn't want to detract from the black/dark grey and silver theme the car originally came with.
Few photos taken while out on a drive up Moel Fammau:
Next up was my first ever mechanical issue. (I'd been warned several times before I'd bought the car to expect these often!)
An ABS fault, which was quickly diagnosed in work on the diagnostics machine as being the rear N/S sensor.
After a bit of messing round with Euro Car Parts who supplied me with the wrong part, I got to work swapping the sensor over.
While the hub was apart, I got some 15mm aluminium spacers made up in work and sourced some 20mm ones for the front.
February 2015
Finally time to put my private plate on the Clio. I'd had this on retention for the past 12 months and the renewal was up, so thought why not!
Next up was to tidy up the top bumper grille. This had been painted by a previous owner and was starting to look a little tired.
Unfortunately due to several broken clips, the grille had been glued to the bumper, preventing me from removing it from the car.
a bit of news paper and masking tape later, it was ready for paint. For a quick afternoon job, I'm pretty happy with the results.
March 2015
One thing that always bugged me about the Trophy was the basic cup rear seats. They just don't go with the Recaros at all. Short of an expensive retrim, the only other option are some non cup leather/alcantara ones. I opted for some 172 versions which I picked up from Pauleds, as I didn't think the white dots on the 182 versions would match as well.
Obviously the rear seat mounting bolt was playing tough, so I had to take advantage of my skills as a welder and weld a nut on top so I could remove it.
I'll have to get some fitted photos.
Well that's where the car is up to. It's nothing special, but I wanted to keep a record of the cars time during my ownership.
As for what the future holds. I'd like to get the map looked at sometime. It's very grumpy when it's started up sometimes. Something I'd expect on a cammed engine, but not just occasionally surely? It also has a tendency to really drop down through the revs to almost stalling point when slowing down from speed, especially when the steering wheel is turned at the same time. It also hates car park manoeuvres. Again though it picks it's moments. Can go weeks without a problem.
Secondly, I'd like to possibly get the paint on the front end freshened up. It's getting quite stone chipped now, which is a shame as the rest of the paint on the car is really good.
