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daveknott5
Original Poster
595 posts
88 months
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Am I mad? I'm sort of bored with my 135i. Its very fast, comfortable, loaded with creature comforts (heated seats, nav, ipod, xenons etc) - but 90% of the time I get out of it impressed with its performance, but not wired.
I want to get out of the car after a spirited drive buzzing with adrenalin. I want a car that gets better and better the harder I push it, not one that works well up to 8/10ths then disappoints.
I'm after a car that's fun on both road and track, won’t cost me the earth to run, has a revvy, aggressive sounding engine, returns decent combined fuel economy on a 80% motorway, 20% town commute (ideally 30mpg +), is well built, reliable and has ipod connectivity and a decent stereo? Oh, and it doesn’t have to be a 4-seater....
Am I mad to consider a Clio 200? Would a Megane 250/265 be a better all round proposition?
Ultimately, I'm after something that delivers real "fun", not necessarily the fastest in a straight line.........
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The Don of Croy
978 posts
28 months
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Have you done the Elise/VX220 thing?
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crocodile tears
755 posts
15 months
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lol sounds like you want it to do everything.
whats the budget though?
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David87
2,383 posts
81 months
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Yep, I'd be looking at an Elise. The Clio 200 is great, but falls flat with some of your requirements: fuel economy is not great considering the performance and whether it is well-built or not is open to debate.
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Hoygo
657 posts
30 months
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The Clio 200 cup is that sort of car you are looking for,good luck.
But after the 135i it would not feel that fast to you or that well build,so a 2nd hand Megane 250 cup is the best of both worlds,definitely try one.
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oj121
1,462 posts
41 months
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Id take the Megane if I was looking out of the two.
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Jamie VTS
563 posts
16 months
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PH Cliche I know but what about an MX5 or an S2000?
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Torquey
1,039 posts
97 months
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If you can some how get a test drive of an elise or Vx220 on some B roads i think your mind will be made up.
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300bhp/ton
26,483 posts
59 months
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crocodile tears said: lol sounds like you want it to do everything. +1 completely wired, yet comfy with Ipod connectivity, oh and good on fuel too and will never break. I fail to see you really being to attain all of these. Some of these, sure, but not all.
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daveknott5
Original Poster
595 posts
88 months
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Elise is a good shout, but I do have a concern re: everyday liveability i.e., it's ability to not leak in a rain shower, not deafen me on the motorway every day etc. Also, the latest 1.6 S3 sounds like it might just feel a bit too slow to be exciting.....
S2000 - yep that's definitely an option. MX5 - great chassis, but the engine is it's downfall for me. It's just not exciting sounding enough for me.....
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carreauchompeur
10,571 posts
73 months
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Rather than (massive assumption) lose a huge amount in depreciation and then stand to lose another chunk on something new, why not buy an old 182 or similar, run it for a while and see if it really beats the 135 on handling, excitement and similar? The grass is not always greener and you may regret a snap change!
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The Don of Croy
978 posts
28 months
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Porkie
2,249 posts
110 months
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as it doesnt have to be a 4 seater... forget the Clio and get proper sportscar like Boxster or Lotus Elise or Exige IMHO
I am a massive Clio fan by the way and own one... but there are plenty of time on your life where you will need a 4+ seater car... if you dont at the moment get a 2 seater sports car and ENJOY.
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LuS1fer
28,468 posts
114 months
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I find fast hatches extremely flingable and that is where I find fun, not in sliding the ars* end round corners but rather using the car like a knife to cut through corners at speed with ultimate precision. Many fast GT style cars are all very well but don't offer the grin factor as you need to eb going fast to get the thrill and then the risk is rather more fatal. Whenever I'm punting hire cars abroad, I always want for a Clio Cup or Civic Type R style car that I can fling about with not so gay abandon.
I've never driven a Clio RenaultSport but did have a duller petrol Clio as a hire car which was fairly solid but a bit "grown-up" and refined if I'm honest and it didn't leave me wanting for more. Might be worth trying a 182 if a 200 doesn't give the adrenalin rush. My favourite car for this was a 150hp Renault 5 GT Turbo which was obviously a lot lighter. However, as a bridge between that and the BMW the Clio seems to offer a lot though it might be worth looking at a Megane as you tend to get more for your money.
I have driven both Elise and VX220 Turbo and they are too raw and tinny for my sensibilities and I can't be arsed fighting to get into a car or having to fall out of one. Overall, i wasn't even that impressed by the Elise though the VXT went like stink but I prfer a higher position where I can see. A poor VXT driver stuck behind my Mustang has no chance of seeing anything but the rear bumper and the same applies with many modern high cars.
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300bhp/ton
26,483 posts
59 months
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daveknott5 said: Am I mad? I'm sort of bored with my 135i. Its very fast, comfortable, loaded with creature comforts (heated seats, nav, ipod, xenons etc) - but 90% of the time I get out of it impressed with its performance, but not wired.
I want to get out of the car after a spirited drive buzzing with adrenalin. I want a car that gets better and better the harder I push it, not one that works well up to 8/10ths then disappoints.
I'm after a car that's fun on both road and track, won’t cost me the earth to run, has a revvy, aggressive sounding engine, returns decent combined fuel economy on a 80% motorway, 20% town commute (ideally 30mpg +), is well built, reliable and has ipod connectivity and a decent stereo? Oh, and it doesn’t have to be a 4-seater....
Am I mad to consider a Clio 200? Would a Megane 250/265 be a better all round proposition?
Ultimately, I'm after something that delivers real "fun", not necessarily the fastest in a straight line......... I think the Clio looks fab in the grey colour they are offering now. And I'm sure it's a hoot of a FWD hatch. However I suspect and predict that you'd end up being just as bored and unsatisfied with it after a short while. And the reason is it's just too modern with too high a grip levels. And when you are driving quick it's just a normal hatchback. To get more thrills you probably need something more raw, more unruly. And maybe with less grip, but chances are this will have an affect on comfort and refinement or on mpg. iPod and a decent stereo could be fitted to any car, so does it need to be factory fitted? A feather weight sports car might be a good bet too (Elise/Brabus/MX).
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J4CKO
7,326 posts
69 months
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No, you are mental, it will feel cheap, slow, noisy, hard and flimsy after the BMW. I drove the 182 after a Saab and it felt flat, the driving position was crap and I didnt see what the fuss is about, these are cars that are for the way up the ladder. Ok they get consistent handling accolades and they are brisk, I am guessing the owner of a 300 plus bhp straight six twin turbo wont find it that brisk and it wont handle much better than the BMW, it is still a FWD shopping hatch dspite punching above its weight.
I reckon you would go through the sale, get excited and initially enjoy and then start mssing the BMW and wonder what you have done.
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iphonedyou
2,504 posts
26 months
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You're mental.
I've said it before, but I took one for a drive whilst owning an Integra DC5, and it really, really lacked grunt. It was still fun, but not even in DC5 league, let alone 135 league. While I've no issue with the Clio interior, it feels fairly cheap. Relative to the 135, it'll feel bargain basement cheap.
It's a step down in every possible way.
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StottyZr
4,069 posts
32 months
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Go test drive one. As mentioned above I think it could well be a case of grass is always greener. If your bored of your 135i modify it, FMIC, exhaust and remap will see 400hp+  and it will sound great.
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zabba
239 posts
84 months
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I drove my first Renaultsport at the weekend, a Clio 200 with cup pack and recaro seats. I thought it was absolutely fantastic. Not far off my old Exige in terms of steering feel and handling, it put a massive smile on my face, certainly great value for money.
However, as someone else mentioned, get a 2 seater if you don't need 4 seats.
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daveknott5
Original Poster
595 posts
88 months
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iphonedyou said: You're mental.
I've said it before, but I took one for a drive whilst owning an Integra DC5, and it really, really lacked grunt. It was still fun, but not even in DC5 league, let alone 135 league. While I've no issue with the Clio interior, it feels fairly cheap. Relative to the 135, it'll feel bargain basement cheap.
It's a step down in every possible way. Hmmm, I suspect you're right! I know its wrong to even contemplate the switch! Still, there is a certain appeal in having something that provides quite a raw drive, handles well on track - yet doesn't cost big bucks to keep in tyres/brakes etc., GT86 seemed like it'd be a great, until the reviews of its "lawnmower engine" started coming out after the initial hype. Megane 265 Cup looks attractive too........
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