Clio 182 (Trophy?) or Megane 225?

Clio 182 (Trophy?) or Megane 225?

Author
Discussion

pbirkett

18,094 posts

273 months

Monday 31st March 2008
quotequote all
OK, I know its not french, but I have a 3rd suggestion. Something that for me, lies somewhere between a clio, and an elise, yet somehow a bit different again.

That car is the Integra Type-R DC2. Its actually bigger than the clio or elise. Its still FWD, but as an ex clio owner, the Integra is a more raw experience, and handles better IMO. Its pretty practical due to its size, but its still as light as a 182. I've been in an S1 Elise as a passenger, and overall i'd say the rawness of the ITR was somewhere in-between that of the 182 and Elise.

Better still though, it can still easily get over 30 MPG, mine returns only very slightly worse MPG than the clio did, but you get a bit more performance, but better still, an awesome high revving engine that sounds absolutely superb once on cam.

Just a thought. smile

D_I_A_B_L_O

346 posts

209 months

Monday 31st March 2008
quotequote all
Ill vouch for a DC2, an awesome car. Designed from the ground up to be a race car by Honda so very hardcore. Very much more so than the Civic if youve ever experienced one, and yeah, if you stay out of the VTEC area you get half decent mpg's.

Mike_C

Original Poster:

984 posts

223 months

Monday 31st March 2008
quotequote all
pbirkett said:
OK, I know its not french, but I have a 3rd suggestion. Something that for me, lies somewhere between a clio, and an elise, yet somehow a bit different again.

That car is the Integra Type-R DC2. Its actually bigger than the clio or elise. Its still FWD, but as an ex clio owner, the Integra is a more raw experience, and handles better IMO. Its pretty practical due to its size, but its still as light as a 182. I've been in an S1 Elise as a passenger, and overall i'd say the rawness of the ITR was somewhere in-between that of the 182 and Elise.

Better still though, it can still easily get over 30 MPG, mine returns only very slightly worse MPG than the clio did, but you get a bit more performance, but better still, an awesome high revving engine that sounds absolutely superb once on cam.

Just a thought. smile
I have considered a DC2 in the past and have again recently, but most of them now have 70k-80k on the clock, and being a true drivers car they have probably been fairly swift/fast miles too! Some have no doubt been looked after, but I bet a lot haven't - and the dash board is proper early 90's jap plastic!!

This all means that those low mileage, mint cars that I would be interested in are the thick end of £8k, which for a 10 year old car is too much for my liking I'm afraid!

The DC5's have also been considered, but they love a drink so I'd be better off with an S2000, which ultimately I'd prefer I think!

A good suggestion, but not for me at this time I'm afraid!

denty225

6 posts

204 months

Tuesday 1st April 2008
quotequote all
Don't discount the megane. I know some people only get 25mpg but thats using it for town driving. Doing 200 mile a week I guess you take some motorway, I do a bit more than that and I tend to rag it on the bypass and cruise on the M1, easliy averaging 30-32mpg every week, and thats running a RS Tuning remap! The build quality of the megane is much better than the earlier clio's aswell.

If you decide the VX 220 is too impractical be sure to give the megane a second look, I'm sure you will not regret it.

www.meganesport.net

Polarbert

17,923 posts

232 months

Tuesday 1st April 2008
quotequote all
Take a look at my profile. I'm 6 foot and the Recaros aren't that much better but they are damn nice to sit in.

To be honest the driving position has been fine for me. The recaros do help a little bit and its all the welcome.

artdealer

258 posts

214 months

Sunday 6th April 2008
quotequote all
I have had them all, including the same time for back to back comparisons and would go for the Clio 182 Trophy. Plenty of people have sold Trophys and 'upgraded' to an Elise, only to question the decision. The CT won't cost an arm or a leg, and if bought at the right price may not even cost you much to own. They are being written off at a alarming rate for a 500 run car - which means in a couple of years time they will be even more sought after. If you don't get your kicks from the CT (which I doubt!) then buy a fast Lotus, a minimum of a 111R or VX220 Turbo. Having recently got into RS Megane R26, I'd also recommend one of those, a better car over the 225 than you might imagine at first glance at the spec.

matt3001

1,991 posts

198 months

Monday 7th April 2008
quotequote all
keep the 320d and buy a 172 for the weekend!

Paul RN

1,168 posts

215 months

Tuesday 15th April 2008
quotequote all
boobles said:
SeanyD said:
I had a standard 182, and they're good little cars. Sure they rattle a bit, but performance made up for it, great cars.

ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
& ive gone from owning an Elise to now owning a 182 cup.
I've owned a Clio 172 and a Lotus Elise S1 Sport 160 and at the moment, I'm keeping my eye on the Clio 182 market. Nothing wrong with the Elise and as much as I loved the 6k service intervals on the Sport 160 (most are normally 9k) the group 20 insurance can be a real pain. To me if I had spare cash, I'd go back to a Lotus no problem what so ever. However I don't hence I'm looking towards the Clio 182 because of the fun I found with the 172. Cracking car, its just trying to find one thats not been chav'd up thats the problem.

boobles

15,241 posts

216 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
The Clio is a great little car & more than capable for every day use.

John D.

17,894 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
Paul RN said:
its just trying to find one thats not been chav'd up thats the problem.
Really? I see very few like that. I realise as prices come down this is going to happen, but I'm surprised it is causing you a problem.

boobles

15,241 posts

216 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
They seem to vary alot in prices! Ive seen some as low as 4k for a 2004 182 cup & others as high as 8.5k for basically same year & mileage.

John D.

17,894 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
£4k is an absolute steal (a bit too good to be true possibly).

boobles

15,241 posts

216 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
John D. said:
£4k is an absolute steal (a bit too good to be true possibly).
Does make you wonder if the cheaper ones are dog sh***....

matt3001

1,991 posts

198 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
With it being a Renault, it is always worth paying a bit extra to make sure you get a minter. Try to get a 182 cup if you can, it is rarer in the long term and may hold its value better.

CooperS

4,506 posts

220 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
matt3001 said:
With it being a Renault, it is always worth paying a bit extra to make sure you get a minter. Try to get a 182 cup if you can, it is rarer in the long term and may hold its value better.
Urmm tbh if your looking to hold the cars value get a trophy. I would say (and this is no way in disrespect to cup owners) if your cash is tight get a 172 cup. Very good car for the money and wont loose much.

I would always say a 182ff would be the best all round option for anyone and wont have any worse depreciation than a Cup of the same year and condition.

boobles

15,241 posts

216 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
Ive always said that the 172 is the poor mans 182. hehe

Only joking ofcourse.