Renualt Clio 182 Trophy

There are hot hatches that were good in their day, and then there are the handful that have become benchmarks. The Clio 182 Trophy firmly belongs in the latter camp.

Even two decades later, evo describes it as an “all-time great hot hatch”, and it has repeatedly featured among the very best driver’s cars of its type. Just 500 UK cars were produced, all finished in Capsicum Red.

Based on the already brilliant 182 Cup, Renaultsport added its now-famous Sachs remote-reservoir dampers, revised suspension, lightweight 16-inch Speedline Turini wheels, lower Recaro Trendline seats and the Clio V6-style rear spoiler. Underneath sits the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre 16-valve engine producing 182bhp, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. At around 1,090kg, it doesn’t need huge power – it’s the steering, chassis balance and extraordinary body control that make these cars so special.

Our car has been in Ireland since nearly new and is one we know particularly well, having sold it twice previously and looked after it for approximately the last 30,000 miles. Around two years ago it underwent a substantial programme of maintenance with us. The underside was stripped extensively, suspension components removed and refreshed, components powder-coated, a new clutch fitted along with timing belt and water pump, braking system refreshed with new discs and pads, and sections of the exhaust renewed as required.

The steering wheel was also professionally retrimmed. It now shows a little over 130,000 miles, but this is one car where we’d genuinely tell you not to get hung up on the number. It has an abundance of service history and, more importantly, it drives superbly. It’s tight, responsive and wonderfully direct – exactly what a Trophy should be. The bodywork presents beautifully, while inside the original Recaro seats remain in very good condition.

The interior has escaped much of the sticky, worn switchgear these can suffer from, the air conditioning is lovely and cold, and it retains those all-important Trophy details, including its numbered plaque. These cars have a reputation for a reason. A well-sorted 182 Trophy is still one of the most entertaining front-wheel-drive cars you can put on a good road – light, naturally aspirated, manual and completely focused on the person sitting behind the wheel.

A very rare car in Ireland, a car we know extremely well, and a properly sorted Trophy ready to be enjoyed.