Going from a more powerful car to a Trophy?

Hi guys,

Long time member here but very few posts as I have only ever came close to buying a Trophy many years ago (seeing todays prices makes me wish I had!).

My question is has anyone gone from a more powerful car to a Trophy? If so did you regret it?

I currently run a Golf Mk7 R running stage 2, around 400hp. I have spent a fair bit getting the car to this stage and being a manual has an uprated clutch which when I occasionally drive it in traffic can be wearing.

The 182 and in particular the Trophy itch has never left me and I have been looking closely at trading the Golf, pocketing some cash and buying a Trophy/182.

This is my only car, although I have access to others so how do they fair as a day to day car?

Lastly I have been looking at the Trophy for sale on Blakedown (no 459?) that was stolen recovered many years ago. Read up on here and many are put of despite this not being logged against the car. Is there any reason I should shy away from it?

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions.

Marty

A few owners including me have run more powerful cars along side the Trophy - Porsche's, M3's. M5's.. To be fair my e38 M3 was hoot, but I always craved the weekend jaunt in the Trophy when I had the M5.

It's not the acceleration that brings a smile to face, it's the feeling of every corner and the 5k balance on the revs when exiting that does.

Ive gone from more powerful cars to a trophy. Just found my last few fun cars too fast to really enjoy on the road if that makes sense. The trophy is a lot more fun to drive as you have to work it much harder. If your main use is twisty country lanes there’s not much that can do it better, the dampers are incredible at speed over bumps. Power on straights etc not so great & you would notice a big difference compared to your golf.

However..... I wouldn’t use my trophy as a daily. The ride is hard & it’s a lot less comfy than a golf. Maybe a ff 182 could be a better fit as a daily. Cheaper entry price too.

Pretty much what @Cue said... I have the more capable car in terms of the Porsche GT4 but it doesn't dilute the fun I get from driving the Clio Trophy. Leagues apart in terms of performance and ability, and only a fraction behind in terms of outright fun and smiles.

I don't find the Trophy too harsh for daily use but I appreciate some might. It can feel quite jarring and crashy at lower speeds and, as @JJ55 says, the dampers work better with speed. Try before you buy if you can!

Do you know if #459 still has the Sachs dampers, the Recaro Trendlines, the V6 spoiler and the Trophy Turinis? The reason I ask is that I'm trying to maintain my own Trophy register (minimal data set to avoid data privacy issues!)

I had my Trophy alongside an e39 M5 (epic car) for about 2 years.

I do miss not having a genuinely quick (rather than nippy) car but it's not the end of the world.

Having both was definitely the ideal scenario.

SharkyUK said:

Pretty much what @Cue said... I have the more capable car in terms of the Porsche GT4 but it doesn't dilute the fun I get from driving the Clio Trophy. Leagues apart in terms of performance and ability, and only a fraction behind in terms of outright fun and smiles.

I don't find the Trophy too harsh for daily use but I appreciate some might. It can feel quite jarring and crashy at lower speeds and, as @JJ55 says, the dampers work better with speed. Try before you buy if you can!

Do you know if #459 still has the Sachs dampers, the Recaro Trendlines, the V6 spoiler and the Trophy Turinis? The reason I ask is that I'm trying to maintain my own Trophy register (minimal data set to avoid data privacy issues!)

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Now that's a garage!

As far as I know 459 is absolutely mint. Sachs just serviced and looking at the pics everything is correct and present. Just seems to be a real stigma about it which is putting me off.

I am used to a stiff car, the Golf has koni adjustable dampers with h&r springs so isn't full Golf comfy!

Just worried I miss the power. With 4wd and 400hp+ it's potent!

I just have a real hankering for one of these and it would mean clearing my feet with cash too. Also it would hopefully look after me residuals wise although I would love a car I just never want to get rid of and keep.



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Patrick Bateman said:

I had my Trophy alongside an e39 M5 (epic car) for about 2 years.

I do miss not having a genuinely quick (rather than nippy) car but it's not the end of the world.

Having both was definitely the ideal scenario.

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E39 is another bucket list car. Still think it's the best shape saloon.

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marty77 said:

E39 is another bucket list car. Still think it's the best shape saloon.

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It was always my 'realistic' dream car.

I got it at just the right time, I'd have missed the boat if I was to try and get one now.

I don’t own a Trophy but have a slightly modified 182. I ran this car alongside my 575bhp Impreza for 4.5 years.
Stupidly I sold the Clio to a friend and replaced it with what I thought at the time was an upgrade to a Mini GP1.
I hated the GP and regretted the sale of the Clio almost right away.
Since then the Impreza has gone and I own a Porsche Cayman R. Earlier this year I basically bullied my mate into selling me back the little 182.
So whilst not a Trophy, and having owned something with over 3x the power and 4WD capability, the Clio offers a level of genuine fun that can be extracted at semi sensible speeds.
Yes the Impreza was monstrously quick and would regularly destroy some even more powerful kit, it was a wide eyed and gritted teeth drive.
The Cayman is scalpel sharp and a lovely place to be, but again, the Clio offers a drive that is just so much fun. These cars aren’t fast, but can be driven fast and will keep some fat more powerful kit honest.
I’ve genuinely dropped a mate in a LP640 murcielago in country lanes in my Clio to the point he lost sight of the little 182. Not for one second am I saying a Clio is quicker than a Lambo, but it’s performance can be extracted in almost every situation. Whereby the big fast stuff is often so limited in its accessibility.
The focus of these cars is sheer fun and as I and many others have found, power isn’t always equal to the amount of fun had.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

frayz said:

I don’t own a Trophy but have a slightly modified 182. I ran this car alongside my 575bhp Impreza for 4.5 years.
Stupidly I sold the Clio to a friend and replaced it with what I thought at the time was an upgrade to a Mini GP1.
I hated the GP and regretted the sale of the Clio almost right away.
Since then the Impreza has gone and I own a Porsche Cayman R. Earlier this year I basically bullied my mate into selling me back the little 182.
So whilst not a Trophy, and having owned something with over 3x the power and 4WD capability, the Clio offers a level of genuine fun that can be extracted at semi sensible speeds.
Yes the Impreza was monstrously quick and would regularly destroy some even more powerful kit, it was a wide eyed and gritted teeth drive.
The Cayman is scalpel sharp and a lovely place to be, but again, the Clio offers a drive that is just so much fun. These cars aren’t fast, but can be driven fast and will keep some fat more powerful kit honest.
I’ve genuinely dropped a mate in a LP640 murcielago in country lanes in my Clio to the point he lost sight of the little 182. Not for one second am I saying a Clio is quicker than a Lambo, but it’s performance can be extracted in almost every situation. Whereby the big fast stuff is often so limited in its accessibility.
The focus of these cars is sheer fun and as I and many others have found, power isn’t always equal to the amount of fun had.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

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Thanks for the replies guys. frayz I completely agree with you on the usable performance front, hence one of the reasons I'm thinking of a switch.

The amount of chances I get to extract all the performance of the golf is limited, I like the idea of a car that makes any b road fun at less speed.

That Porsche is stunning. My favourite colour for the Cayman R.

Looks like the Trophy is reserved but i am now also entertaining the idea of a cheaper 182 to track and have fun with a more comfortable daily to not worry bout potholes anymore!!

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I am selling my Trophy if anyone’s interested. No 10.

Nash said:

I am selling my Trophy if anyone’s interested. No 10.

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What are the details, Nash?

I wouldn't worry about Stigma surrounding it, I own the most hated LY 182 on the earth and its a hell of a car (despite what you read on the internet) as long as everything is present and correct and the paperwork is there to back it up.

if the moneys right then why not.
you will notice a power difference without a doubt unless you go down the turbo route and I have never drove a Trophy but my 182 is so capable in the corners and so much fun to drive so I have no doubt the Trophy will put a smile on your face

out of interest I was looking a Golf R and S3s few months ago and I found the R almost felt slow when compared to the S3, I mean that purely in the way it delivers its power as I am very aware how fast the R is, but also from a money point of view S3s were so much cheaper to get into to It made me wonder why anyone bought the Golf R

antowens said:

I wouldn't worry about Stigma surrounding it, I own the most hated LY 182 on the earth and its a hell of a car (despite what you read on the internet) as long as everything is present and correct and the paperwork is there to back it up.

if the moneys right then why not.
you will notice a power difference without a doubt unless you go down the turbo route View attachment 26215and I have never drove a Trophy but my 182 is so capable in the corners and so much fun to drive so I have no doubt the Trophy will put a smile on your face

out of interest I was looking a Golf R and S3s few months ago and I found the R almost felt slow when compared to the S3, I mean that purely in the way it delivers its power as I am very aware how fast the R is, but also from a money point of view S3s were so much cheaper to get into to It made me wonder why anyone bought the Golf R

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Yeah I have seen a few videos now where standard S3 seems to have the legs on an R which is strange considering its the same running gear so not sure if the Audi puts out a little more than they are admitting. My Dad used to have an S3 saloon so I drove them back to back extensively.

For me the way the R feels when driving was much better, steering feels more direct and the chassis more nimble. Felt more a driver's car whereas the S3 felt point and squirt. Looks wise I also far prefer the Golf however interior the Audi has it licked, it's a lovely place to sit.

My dad kept it 6 months then traded for an Golf R estate and much prefers the drive.

Once you start tuning they are rapid in all weather. Feels like a mini GTR with the dsg box. Manual is a bit more raw with the upgraded clutch.

Hope this helps [emoji106]

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I’ve got a Mk 7 Golf R and a Trophy and my twin brother had an S4 and a Trophy

The Golf R is definitely fastest on the road, the S4 is the best mile muncher and the Trophy is the best drive for sheer enjoyment

Not sure I could drive a Trophy every day though after spending so much time in modern cars

Has an S4 not had - f*cking autocorrect

Stuflac said:

What are the details, Nash?

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Hi send me your contact details and I’ll call you to discuss. Cheers Nash

marty77 said:

Yeah I have seen a few videos now where standard S3 seems to have the legs on an R which is strange considering its the same running gear so not sure if the Audi puts out a little more than they are admitting. My Dad used to have an S3 saloon so I drove them back to back extensively.

For me the way the R feels when driving was much better, steering feels more direct and the chassis more nimble. Felt more a driver's car whereas the S3 felt point and squirt. Looks wise I also far prefer the Golf however interior the Audi has it licked, it's a lovely place to sit.

My dad kept it 6 months then traded for an Golf R estate and much prefers the drive.

Once you start tuning they are rapid in all weather. Feels like a mini GTR with the dsg box. Manual is a bit more raw with the upgraded clutch.

Hope this helps [emoji106]

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Read the original Evo review of the Trophy - when it was pitted against an M6. The M6 couldn't keep with it on the twisties... Not much can this side of an an exige or caterham in the right hands.

The media for the most part have peddled this bollox that BHP is everything, it's torque and grip that make for a good drivers car. BHP is for top speed hunters, great if you travel in Germany, but in the UK it's not useable - it's why I didn't replace my last large engined car - I get 40mpg, can thrown virtually anything in the back that doesn't call for a van in 99% of other cars, and have fun doing it.. Plus it'll be worth more at the end of the day, compared to most other depreciating cars.

Go for it, look after it and you'll have fun.

Cue said:

Read the original Evo review of the Trophy - when it was pitted against an M6. The M6 couldn't keep with it on the twisties... Not much can this side of an an exige or caterham in the right hands.

The media for the most part have peddled this bollox that BHP is everything, it's torque and grip that make for a good drivers car. BHP is for top speed hunters, great if you travel in Germany, but in the UK it's not useable - it's why I didn't replace my last large engined car - I get 40mpg, can thrown virtually anything in the back that doesn't call for a van in 99% of other cars, and have fun doing it.. Plus it'll be worth more at the end of the day, compared to most other depreciating cars.

Go for it, look after it and you'll have fun.

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Exactly this. I'm finding less and less situations that i can fully exploit the Golf safely.

I think I will go down the daily beater and fun Clio route.

Now on the lookout for a tidy tropy or 182! Keep my eye on the usual places. If you know of any give me a shout.

Cheers

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I did the opposite.. went trophy to manual R both non daily. trophy is just so much more raw compared to a much more modern car. had a Z4M in between. Totally beyond my skill level to deploy anywhere on a back road. Unlike the trophy and the golf.

the axe came when I really wanted to take the 3 of us out at the weekend and on holidays which I would never do in the trophy. The Z4M was utter theatre . Looks , engine but a total chore to drive. So it rarely did. As an rarely used ornament would have it back in a second. As a useable car.. I didn’t have pockets or space to justify it.

As the R is still in warrranty it’s standard but head keeps wondering about boost.. then I remind myself It’s already fast enough and being over 40 I don’t care about street light drags or vmax 2am motorway runs anymore.

The golf for me returns good mpg if wanted, keeps her happy. Keeps my fucked back comfy. 4 doors to get little on in now has a roof rack. It’s a totally usable as a daily, and I can see why R/gti/S3 have sold in the truck loads.

it’s a useable daily Which I can occasionally point at a B road and grin.
For me and my comfy vs back road % use it’s perfect.

if all I wanted to do was backroad 1 up.. I’d still have trophy or something older.

If All I wanted was to polish and blip the throttle.. the Z4M


As far as speed I doubt there are many who can genuinely hit a back road in a trophy, max and shift out of 3rd without being out their depth.

Good luck with your hunting.

The issue for me with the blakedown car is your paying Higher end budget.. no suggestion there’s anything wrong with the car itself but line it up next to another in the future. And anyone checking history, like yourself is going to possibly think twice. Plus if it turns out it does have a police marker. Can you really be bothered with random stops even if your behaving yourself.