Questions from potential owner...

[T7PHY]

As some of you will know, I am in the market for a Trophy. However, I first have to sell my TT which is happening, albeit slowly!

Anyway, here are a few questions to get me started:

1. Will the Trophy run adequately on regular fuel i.e. 95 RON?

2. Would you recommend using 97+ RON? If so, which one? How much difference is there to 95 RON? Can you feel it/notice it in the mpg?

3. How much is a service and how often?

4. How much are the tyres?

5. Should I go for as late a number as possible out of the 501 made?

6. Do the alloys flake or have any known issues?

7. Is the driving position improved by the Recaros (I have driven a black 182 before and the position wasn't brilliant with the regular seats).

8. Is an after-market exhaust required to help the car breathe more easily and sound better? What kind of bhp gains can be had, if any?

9. Is a panel filter a must or is the standard one fine?

10. Are the headlights any good?

11. What is the Trophy's insurance group and who is recognised as a specialist Trophy insurer?

12. Is the Trophy spoiler different to the 182 Cup Pack spoiler? If so, in what way?

13. Do the Sachs dampers require any maintenance/upkeep? I presume they will cost a fortune in the event of replacement.

14. Is the Trophy 182 bhp or 182 ps?

15. Would I regret buying a 182 with Cup Packs instead? Is a Trophy that much better?

More to follow as I read up I expect!

Thanks for all your help. I hope to be amongst you in a Trophy before the end of September! 8)

 

[fazedesign]

I'll answer what I can......

1. Will the Trophy run adequately on regular fuel i.e. 95 RON?
[b[Yes[/b]

2. Would you recommend using 97+ RON? If so, which one? How much difference is there to 95 RON? Can you feel it/notice it in the mpg?
Yes, seems to run a lot smoother - Renault recommend 98RON

3. How much is a service and how often?
12k miles - £230 or so from main dealer (£130-40ish from specialist)

4. How much are the tyres?
I paid £190 for a pair, fitting & disposal at my local Protyre

5. Should I go for as late a number as possible out of the 501 made?
I don't think it makes much difference apart from the 05/55 plate

6. Do the alloys flake or have any known issues?
No problems with mine so far - speedline are a quality make

7. Is the driving position improved by the Recaros (I have driven a black 182 before and the position wasn't brilliant with the regular seats).

8. Is an after-market exhaust required to help the car breathe more easily and sound better? What kind of bhp gains can be had, if any?

9. Is a panel filter a must or is the standard one fine?

10. Are the headlights any good?
Adequate at least! I think they can be improved with better bulbs

11. What is the Trophy's insurance group and who is recognised as a specialist Trophy insurer?
17D - I'm insured through privelege, but I've heard greenlight are competitive

12. Is the Trophy spoiler different to the 182 Cup Pack spoiler? If so, in what way?
The Trophy has the Clio V6 spoiler which reduces boot opening slightly

13. Do the Sachs dampers require any maintenance/upkeep? I presume they will cost a fortune in the event of replacement.

14. Is the Trophy 182 bhp or 182 ps?
182ps - approx 180 bhp - you wouldn't tell the difference anyway.....

15. Would I regret buying a 182 with Cup Packs instead? Is a Trophy that much better?
Evo Car Of The Year 2005 - 1st Ford GT, 2nd F430, 3rd Clio Trophy, 4th Gallardo Se - say no more...

More to follow as I read up I expect!

Thanks for all your help. I hope to be amongst you in a Trophy before the end of September! 8)

[[/b]

 

[FunkyMunky]

To answer some of your questions........

1 & 2 - i've only ever run my car on Super Unleaded, either Optimax or BP Ultimate but it is a subject which has had much discussion over on cliosport. For the cleaning agents in it though I tend to stick to Optimax or V Power as it is now known.

3 - service is due every 12000 miles, but a few people on here tend to opt for an oil changed every 6000. Prices vary greatly from £120 at a specialist (Rentech for example) up to £240+ at a Renault dealer.

4 - there's a post in the group buy section with exact costs of tyres and where is cheapest :wink:

6 - The only issue i know with the alloys is that the Speedline lettering peels off!

7 - I've driven a 172 and a 182 and find the Trophy Recaro's to improve the seating position, you feel like you're sitting in the car not perched on it if you know what i mean!

8 & 9 - i'll leave for those who've changed their's to comment, although i'm probably going to replace my exhaust at some point soon. Heatshield already rattles on the standard exhaust

10 - although not Xenons I think the headlights are sufficient - if not you can upgrade the bulbs (a search will get you the best idea on what to use :wink: )

11 - Trophy is a group 17

12 - The Trophy spolier is the same as that on the V6. Therefore the boot has shorter struts and doesn't up as high - you're bound to knock your head a few times thinking the boot is open higher than it is!

13 - I'll leave for those more in the know than me to comment!

14 - 182ps, 180bhp ish

15 - Drive both and see what you reckon. There have been a few posts on cliosport where people have suggested getting a Cup packed 182 and fitting coilovers to create a similar handling car and save a few quid at the same time. I personally bought a Trophy amongst other reasons for the exclusivity of having one and in 5 months have never stopped having fun and smiling

 

[Nik]

1. Will the Trophy run adequately on regular fuel i.e. 95 RON?

Yeah, they can run fine on 95 RON petrol, although Renault do recommend 98 RON.

2. Would you recommend using 97+ RON? If so, which one? How much difference is there to 95 RON? Can you feel it/notice it in the mpg?

Its an often discussed issue wether it makes much difference or not. I personally always run Super (97) or Optimax in mine as I find the car idles quite roughly on 95. On optimax the car definitely feels smoother and quieter. I also tend to get marginally better MPG with optimax. Wouldn't stop me from using 95 if i had to on the odd occasion though.

3. How much is a service and how often?

Minor services at a dealer tend to range from £175 - £300 depending on where you go. There are several good specialists around who are considerably cheaper though and many owners use them. I paid £130 for the 12kservice for example)

4. How much are the tyres?

The Michelin PE2's are available for around £75 mail order, or nearer £100 fitted at a local tyre place.

5. Should I go for as late a number as possible out of the 501 made?

Number doesn't really matter in my opinion (although Lee may disagree ) All the cars were manufactured in a very small period (2 or 3 months with a month off in the middle for factory holiday if i remember correctly) The cars are available on 05, 55 and i think a few 06 plates though as early deliveries came just at the end of 05, most are 55's and i'm sure a few people who had paid deposits and were waiting to sell their other car ended up taking delivery on early 06 plates.

6. Do the alloys flake or have any known issues?

Not aware of any issues with the alloys, they have an excellent finish.

7. Is the driving position improved by the Recaros (I have driven a black 182 before and the position wasn't brilliant with the regular seats).

Yeah, the seats are mounted slightly lowere which gives you a quite a bit more head room. Also the recaro seats are more adjustable so the driving position can be tailored better. The back of the seat leans much more upright for example which i prefer as it allows you to have a more comfortable reach to the wheel without having to move the seat forward and compromise leg comfort.

8. Is an after-market exhaust required to help the car breathe more easily and sound better? What kind of bhp gains can be had, if any?

Not required, but many owners have got reasonable gains from after market exhaust systems. For me its more about the more sporty exhaust note that the few extra BHP, but they do free things up a bit, particularly with a decat.

9. Is a panel filter a must or is the standard one fine?

To be honest the standard air box and filter setup is very good and i've yet to see anyone get proven gains of more than a horse or two from induction mods. Changing to a foam panel filter is popular though (ITG) and will pay for itself through not needing changing at service time

10. Are the headlights any good?

I find them perfectly fine. The xenons in the full fat 172 & 182 are nice, but i wouldn't say i've missed them from my old 172. Uprated bulbs can make quite an improvement if you want to fit some though.

11. What is the Trophy's insurance group and who is recognised as a specialist Trophy insurer?

Insurance Group 17

12. Is the Trophy spoiler different to the 182 Cup Pack spoiler? If so, in what way?

Yes, the Trophy spoiler is the same as fitted to the Clio V6. It is a bit larger, and has the clear brake light lens rather than the red lens on the 182 Cup Pack.

13. Do the Sachs dampers require any maintenance/upkeep? I presume they will cost a fortune in the event of replacement.

Good question!

14. Is the Trophy 182 bhp or 182 ps?

182 ps, so 179 and a bit bhp i think.

15. Would I regret buying a 182 with Cup Packs instead? Is a Trophy that much better?

Yes! and Yes! To be honest the are all very similar, but the extras on the Trophy, and that bit of exclusivity are definitely worth the premium you will pay for one over a 182. The dampers do make a difference and the seats are also a must have. The seats alone would cost £1350 or so to add aftermarket.

 

[Steve]

As some of you will know, I am in the market for a Trophy. However, I first have to sell my TT which is happening, albeit slowly!

Anyway, here are a few questions to get me started:

1. Will the Trophy run adequately on regular fuel i.e. 95 RON?

2. Would you recommend using 97+ RON? If so, which one? How much difference is there to 95 RON? Can you feel it/notice it in the mpg?

3. How much is a service and how often?

4. How much are the tyres?

5. Should I go for as late a number as possible out of the 501 made?

6. Do the alloys flake or have any known issues?

7. Is the driving position improved by the Recaros (I have driven a black 182 before and the position wasn't brilliant with the regular seats).

8. Is an after-market exhaust required to help the car breathe more easily and sound better? What kind of bhp gains can be had, if any?

9. Is a panel filter a must or is the standard one fine?

10. Are the headlights any good?

11. What is the Trophy's insurance group and who is recognised as a specialist Trophy insurer?

12. Is the Trophy spoiler different to the 182 Cup Pack spoiler? If so, in what way?

13. Do the Sachs dampers require any maintenance/upkeep? I presume they will cost a fortune in the event of replacement.

14. Is the Trophy 182 bhp or 182 ps?

15. Would I regret buying a 182 with Cup Packs instead? Is a Trophy that much better?

More to follow as I read up I expect!

Thanks for all your help. I hope to be amongst you in a Trophy before the end of September! 8)

1. Yes
2. Yes, some, yes
3. £120-£240, Annually/12K miles
4. £80-£100 each
5. Yes
6. No
7. Yes
8. Yes, 5-10bhp
9. No, yes
10. Yes
11. 17D, no-one
12. Yes, bigger
13. No, yes
14. 182bhp*
15. No, yes

*shmall asked: Are Renaultsoprt cars power measured in PS or BHP?
I hear different things from different sites so could you clear up for me as to whether the power figures quoted on 182, 225, 255 are PS or BHP? Simon.

Allen Collen responds: Depending on which releases you read we tend to quote values to meet both criteria. But the terms 182, 225 and 255 all refer to HP.

 

[T7PHY]

Awesome stuff guys, thank you very much.

Re exhausts, I have seen one that costs £1k for the 182 - what's that all about? Surely, a nice K-tec would do?

Also, if you get a service from a specialist and not a dealer, does your warranty remain completely in tact? I would think it should?

Are the PE2's widely acknowledged as the best tyre to use on the Trophy? No point in bothering with anything else?

And can you fit golf clubs in the back with the seats up or do they need to go down?

Finally (for now!), the reason I asked about the Sachs dampers and maintenance is because I read that they have an oil-filled reservoir which I thought may need changing/replenishing.

Great forum, thanks again.

 

[milfordkong]

15. Would I regret buying a 182 with Cup Packs instead? Is a Trophy that much better?

More to follow as I read up I expect!

Only owned mine for a short period so am also interested in the answers to a few of your questions, however I can answer YES to this.

I owned an Arctic Cupped 182 FF and whilst it was a really great car, the trophy to me just feels so much more special! Perhaps it's the exclusivity, but to me the whole package is just better (although I did get a luggage net off ebay as I missed it) the recaros are a big improvement on the standard seats, the handling is noticeably and considerably better IMO, the speedlines are much nicer wheels and I personally think it looks awesome.

All imo and possibly influenced by the fact it's the most expensive car i've ever bought so I really want to love it.... I do love it though

So for me.. definitly worth stretching to

 

[drexel]

i dont see why the number should make a difference :? just makes it a little younger, unless you want an 06 plate

 

[g40steve]

I got mine today, after a month of searching, one finally fell into my hands.
I had 3 to veiw but bought the first one i drove........................
Well worth the wait & now i can understand what all the fuss is about.
OK, so i don't get all the toys but by christ does it drive well.
A 45 min drive home took nearly 2hrs as i visited all my favorite roads on the way home.
I then spent an hour or so reading the supplied EVO mags & yes i can say, they are not wrong.

 

[drexel]

^^ another happy customer

 

[MikeS]

As a Trophy's a potential replacement for my E46 M3 that's a useful read, answers nearly allmy questions anyway 8)

I'd be interested if anyone knows the answer or could find out about the maintenance of the dampers question. Friend of mine has recently bought a VXR 220 fitted with the optional Ohlins remote reservoir dampers (shinyandy, some may have seen him on an abbeville trackday) and one of the rear dampers failed 3 weeks ago at circa 24k miles.

After a *lot* of hassle vauxhall have agreed to replace both rears under warranty (£900 each, ouch!) but it transpires that these dampers are meant to be rebuilt every 12k as part of the annul service (I think), however no vauxhall garages know this as it was just information on the pdi sheet when they were first sent out to dealerships, nor do they have the facility to do so, they need sending off. Costs are iro £500 per set, plus removal/refitting/re-geo.

Now, if I bought a Trophy I'd be doing at least 15k a year in it, so a damper rebuild every year would become a tad tiresome :lol:

Other than that, the Trophy looks to be a suitable fun daily driver, I'll have to try and get a test drive of one. Once the M3's gone early next year I'll be hunting one down.

Cheers

Mike

 

[Steve]

In short, it's bollocks. Trophy owners on here have clocked up over 30,000 miles now and no need of damper refurbishment. How exactly would much more expensive, better quality, harder-wearing dampers need servicing more frequently than the stock items? I have no doubt that they will cost a pretty penny if they do go bang, but I think this is unlikely.

I think as performance cars go, you can't do much better financially than a Trophy, cheap to buy, low depreciation, cheap to service and 33 mpg if you're commuting. Most of the parts are standard Clio or 182 parts so are cheap to replace too. A true performance bargain and better than a shed load of cars 10 times the price, in driving enjoyment and performance terms. My 205 GTI was great fun and cost nothing to buy but was costing me more to keep on the road. A decision I have never regretted and enjoyed immensely!

Happy Trophy Hunting.

Give Steve at www.allvehicles.co.uk a try, he's the number one Trophy dealer in the country, only gets good ones and is a top bloke, sold me mine! Plug over.

 

[oliie]

MikeS - a couple of people on here have come from an e46 m3 and I have personally come from (two) e46 330ci's. No regrets from either ex-e46 owners bar a few missing luxuries (stereo, rain sensing wipers come to mind). I've recently been offered a chance to change to a new 335ci but have turned it down citing an inability to go around my favourite bend at physics defying speeds.

Re. dampers: A trophy on here has 32k miles without any issues. I have 22k without issues (and feeling just as tight as it was when new). I had Bilstein PSS9's on the 330ci which did not require any rebuilds whatsoever. Thus believe Ohlins are 'special' and more race spec than road spec (vs. the Sachs which were designed for a road car, not a race car).

Also don't believe any formal information exists on Sachs rebuilds but may be wrong.

Hope you get to drive a Trophy soon. You'll fall in love.

Cheers
O.

 

[MikeS]

Stonking. (tup) I wasn't knocking the dampers, just wondering if seeing as how they're from a similar 'background' to the ohlins (ie motorsport based) that maybe after a certain mileage there's a rebuild requirement. If not, then that's great.

Ollie, yep I can see the loss of a few creature comforts being a problem in the short term but ultimately it's not a huge issue. I can't use the M3 on track for fear of killing the (very expensive) brakes in no time at all or heaven forbid the engine going pop. Having said that, I've done mega miles in the M3 so I can't complain, however I've recently cut my yearly mileage considerably so a downsize to a smaller car is possible. As I'll be selling my VX220 as well next year I want a fun daily driver that I can track when the need arises without it costing the earth (been there done that), so far the Clio seems to tick most of the right boxes. I'll grab a go in one soon, see of it ticks the last box of me actually liking it.

 

[fazedesign]

In short, it's bollocks. Trophy owners on here have clocked up over 30,000 miles now and no need of damper refurbishment. How exactly would much more expensive, better quality, harder-wearing dampers need servicing more frequently than the stock items?

I think it's a bit hasty to say this - yes the Sachs on the Trophy are an expensive damper but that shouldn't necessarily mean it follows that they are harder wearing as the Ohlins equipped VX220 shows.

We simply do not know the life of the dampers yet - no-one appears to have driven them for long enough to reach this point so hopefully life will be comparable to a 182 item. I would typically expect a more advanced damper to require more attention that standard ones but this is likely to take the form of rebuild rather than replacement.

 

[OliS]

:shock: That's harsh news about your mate with the VXR!

Blind faith is where I'm at. I'm trusting that Renault have not fooked up and forgotten that our dampers require regular servicing, and I have faith that the dampers will last as long as the std 182 dampers. I thnk the Ohlins dampers on the VXR are the same items that Lotus fit to the extreme Elise/Exige's and they are seriously high spec units, much more track orientated than the Trophy's dampers.

When they were sorting my alignment, Aurok certainly gave me the impression that the Trophy dampers were more road than track biased...but as I was leaving thay also chipped in to make sure that I go back to them when I need them rebuilt!

It's very reasuring to see that some of the higher mileage Trophy's like oliie's and Dave G's have had not damper realated issues, I just hope I'm as lucky!

It would be great if we could dispell 'dampergate' with some hard facts, but I think the truth is that none of us really know for sure. An interesting point is that I've never seen anyone quote a price for a Trophy front damper, I guess this is because no-ones needed a replacement yet...

 

[MikeS]

When they were sorting my alignment, Aurok certainly gave me the impression that the Trophy dampers were more road than track biased...but as I was leaving thay also chipped in to make sure that I go back to them when I need them rebuilt!

Yep, better to rebuild than replace I'd say in the case of the Sachs, certainly from a £££ perspective and probably a time perspective as well. Andy's VXR has been off the road for 3-4 weeks already and the replacement dampers aren't due for another 3 weeks as Vauxhall don't carry a stock of them (they only made 65 VXR's and not all had Ohlins anyway). I know of at least 1 other VXR that's suffered the same problem since Andy's so I think Vauxhall had better order a few in for spares :roll:

 

[T7PHY]

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm nearly there...