Renault Clio II RS – The Time Is Now

Renault has been making spicy versions of cute little cars since before we were old enough to even know what a crankshaft was. Back when the Renault 5 Alpine hit the streets in ’76 the term ‘hot hatch’ hadn’t even entered into everyday automotive parlance but this hoonable supermini is widely considered by many to be the grand daddy of that now most superlative of groups. The French auto maker didn’t stop there either, going on to produce other such legendary contenders as the iconic 5 Turbo, the F1-inspired Clio Williams and the car in question as far as this particular feature is concerned: the Clio II RS.

We have to remember (something that’s becoming increasingly harder to do, sadly) that Renault used to make excellent cars. With a long and distinguished history of motorsport successes, including notable wins in Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship, Renault have proven that they know a thing or two about making cars go fast and when Alpine and Gordini – two legendary French tuning arms – joined forces to create Renault’s sporting division (aptly named Renault Sport), its rep as a go-faster factory was sealed.

The Renault Sport performance department produced numerous road-going hot hatchbacks over the years, but the first in a long line of quick Clios was the aforementioned Clio Williams, a limited edition model inspired by the Renault-powered Formula One team, Williams F1. With a 2.0-litre multipoint fuel injected four-cylinder engine producing almost 150bhp it was a popular little car for the thrill seekers among us and it was immediately ushered into the hot hatch hall of fame. So popular was it that not only were extra units put into production to meet demand but a further two iteration were built between 1993 and 1998, paving the way for future feisty Clios.

An Introduction to the Renault Clio II RS

As part of the second generation of Clio, released in ’98, Renault would continue its penchant for speed and power and produce the newly dubbed Renault Sport version concurrently with the base models. Known as the Clio 172 the name was derived from the power output of its 2.0-litre, 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine, complete with variable valve timing. That 172bhp allowed for a pretty respectable 0-60 time of six-and-a-half seconds, which, if you didn’t know, is none too shabby.

A second generation facelift model was then released in 2001 in line with updates to the standard Clio. The car received various exterior and interior tweaks as well as equipment and engine updates. The latter of which included a revised cylinder head and air box, along with an electrically controlled throttle as opposed to the first model’s cable operated unit. A year later Renault introduced the 172 Cup – a lightweight, stripped out version of the Clio II RS that was aimed squarely at the track day set. With its low curb weight, beefy engine and uprated suspension it was quite the weapon and it was lauded for its tight handling and more hardcore driving experience.

What followed in 2004 was yet another update. This time the name was changed to the Clio 182 and if you can’t figure out why by now then you need to have a word with yourself. The overall design of the car stayed pretty much the same as the 172 but with an extra 10 ponies, thanks mainly to a better flowing exhaust system, the 182 was a quicker proposition. The handling was also further improved due to lower, stiffer suspension made available with the optional Cup chassis pack.

The Clio II RS just kept getting better and better, until the 182 Cup version came along that is. Like the 172 Cup before it the car was stripped of most creature comforts and a lot of the interior was downgraded but despite a more race-focussed persuasion it remained a heavier car than its predecessor and is generally considered the worst of the bunch.

Renault would redeem itself, however, with the 182 Trophy – the last of the second gen Clio RS models. Widely regarded as one of the best front-wheel drive hot hatchbacks ever made Renault really were on a self-improvement drive with the Clio II RS. The Trophy featured Sachs dampers with remote reservoirs allowing for thicker, stiffer damping rods to be used. Combined with a further lowering of the car’s height and uprated front hubs, not to mention an actual improvement in the overall ride over the Cup cars, the Trophy was capable of keeping up with much quicker and more expensive fare through the twisties. Pure driving pleasure.

What Should I Look For?

Due to the inherent nature of these cars, and the market they were aimed at, a lot of them will have been thrashed to within an inch of their lives so check for tired engines, brakes and suspension as well as any accident damage or poorly bodged repairs. What you really want to be looking for is a low number of owners and a good record of servicing and maintenance. Par for the course with any used car but especially pertinent as far as the Clio II RS models are concerned.

Rust generally won’t be an issue on well looked after examples and try to steer clear of modified cars if you can. These were already great cars, they didn’t need Kev throwing half of Halford’s at them, although we will concede a full stainless exhaust system is a worthy upgrade. Engines are hardy but it’s imperative to check for cambelt replacements (every five years or 70K is the general consensus). Electrics can give problems but then these are French cars from the late ’90s/early 2000s so go figure. If the car has had a hard life then gearbox mounts and synchros can wear. Check the clutch too while you’re at it, if it slips or you can’t pull away in a higher gear then consider walking away.

What Are Prices Like?

We have seen a substantial increase in searches for the Clio 172 and 182 hot hatch models over the past few months and although the bargain basement prices we were seeing just a few years ago have all but disappeared there’s still a lot of cheaper examples out there. The Clio II RS models are becoming highly sought-after classics but rough cars of all iterations can be found for under a couple of grand. It’s best to steer clear of these though unless your sole goal is to get a couple of hot laps in before blowing up.

182s will command a slightly higher premium but despite that desirability it’s the Clio 172 that’s generating the most interest. Searches for the earlier model surged by 38 percent between August 2022 and 2023 here on Car & Classic, with a 20 percent increase in searches during the summer. Throughout the summer, search volumes for both models collectively rose by 20 percent, confirming that the time is now to buy before demand outstrips supply and prices skyrocket. Just look at Williams Clio prices – good examples are currently hovering around the £30,000 mark.

The rise in interest for the Clio may be indicative of a broader trend in the hot hatch market, and it’s surpassing its competitors, both on and off the track. Page views for the Clio 172 and 182 models are 62 percent higher than those for the Honda Civic Type R, Golf GTI, or Fiesta ST. Further confirming its market ascent, page views for the Clios are 42 percent higher than the site’s average and this is mirrored in the rise in price of decent examples with 172s and 182s commanding £5-10K and £7-15K respectively, depending on variant, so keep an eye on our Clio listings for potential garage contenders.

Why Should I Buy One?

As hot hatches have gotten bigger and heavier over time (as evidenced by the microcosmic production run of the Clio itself), the Clio 172/182 lies in that sweet spot of providing old school feel yet with enough modernity to be enjoyed properly and comfortably (even in Cup form). Cup cars are particularly coveted, pairing a lightweight chassis with enough power for a rewarding drive on the road or track. In fact, so many have been tracked or converted to race cars that survivor numbers of good, clean road cars are low, further increasing demand, and therefore price. These keen Clios remain bona fide driver’s cars so if you’re looking for an affordable, fun hot hatch that can provide endless thrills but still work as a day to day modern classic then the time is most definitely now to pick up a Renault Clio II RS.