RS Clio 200 vs Z4 3.0si Coupé

[keo]

MattHall91 said:

keo said:

The red 200 has sold, i rang up after it.

So you're in the market too obviously?...

Yeah think i have narrowed a 200 down as my next car, i used to have a Trophy and loved it. I test drove a 200 last week and liked it, felt very similar to my Trophy. I only had a quick 10/15 minute test drive though

[Rs2oo]

Pebbles167 said:

I don't mean to sit on the fence, but drive both and see what appeals to you.

I'd imagine the Z4 to be a fair bit quicker than the Clio in most situations

Yes, straight line and away from traffic lights. Round twisty bits and on a short track without too many straights Clio will whip the Z4. I've owned both, driven them both hard on road and track. On track the Clio amazes you, the Z4 just too soft.

[MattHall91]

Rs2oo said:

Pebbles167 said:

I don't mean to sit on the fence, but drive both and see what appeals to you.

I'd imagine the Z4 to be a fair bit quicker than the Clio in most situations

Yes, straight line and away from traffic lights. Round twisty bits and on a short track without too many straights Clio will whip the Z4. I've owned both, driven them both hard on road and track. On track the Clio amazes you, the Z4 just too soft.

For someone who isn't buying the car to focus on track days, this isn't something I've worried about at all.

[MattHall91]

keo said:

MattHall91 said:

keo said:

The red 200 has sold, i rang up after it.

So you're in the market too obviously?...

Yeah think i have narrowed a 200 down as my next car, i used to have a Trophy and loved it. I test drove a 200 last week and liked it, felt very similar to my Trophy. I only had a quick 10/15 minute test drive though

What else did you rule out along the way then if you don't mind me asking?

[vexed]

Get the one you can put the roof down on!

[MattHall91]

Neither then, unfortunately! Been in a few rag tops and they've never done anything for me.

[nickfrog]

You could get a (sort of) mix of both with a 130i ?

[clowesy]

I had a Clio 197 a few years ago, I now have a Z4M coupe, so not identical but close enough to give you an opinion.

With the Clio you need to understand that the things that make it so brilliant on a weekend blast are what can make it frustrating to live with day to day so you need to be fairly committed to run one as a daily. You'll get murdered at the traffic light GP, need to down change for every overtake, return relatively terrible MPG and live with rock hard ride at low speeds. It's worth it though for the look of disbelief on the face of anyone who tries to stick with you on a twisty road. I'd go Clio over 3.0 Z4 if you like to drive.

[MattHall91]

Thanks Clowsey that's good advice.

How's the Z4M then?

[clowesy]

MattHall91 said:

Thanks Clowsey that's good advice.

How's the Z4M then?

It's an awesome car, the best I've owned. I doubt you'd be disappointed if you went for the Z4. I am however still a huge fan of the Renaultsport range, I owned a Megane R26 straight after the Clio, and the thing that I love about them is just how incredibly well set up and focused they are. Aside from perhaps a nice exhaust and remap there is nothing worth while to do other than enjoy driving them. In this respect they're completely unique in their class and price range. The Z4M for me is slightly less focused than the Clio was, so I'd guess the 3.0 significantly less so. So if you do want a real drivers car I'd go Clio.

[stuckmojo]

The Z4 is a beautiful car, those lines are fantastic. And the straight six is a peach of an engine.

The clio is a washing machine with a quick engine. Fun, fast but it's a bloody clio.

[Debaser]

BMW

[danp]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

How about it's steering and ride?! Far bigger flaws in my experience.

Edited by danp on Saturday 31st January 07:55

[nickfrog]

I would have thought the long travel brake pedal was the best bit about it compared the usual on/off switch over servoed brakes that have poor modulation, particularly on track.

[dave123456]

danp said:

How about it's steering and ride?! Far bigger flaws in my experience.

Edited by danp on Saturday 31st January 07:55

steering ain't great admittedly but the ride is predominantly down to the tyres and easy to sort.

I have a z4 coupe and considered a clio as a work hack...ended up with a seat leon cupra instead, figured it has 4 doors and has a bit of potential if the mood took me.

[MattHall91]

Does anyone know if the price of a Z cope has gone up in recent months?

I seem to remember seeing several for under 9k with sub-60k miles on. Now some are on for over 10k with 80k+?

[CharlieGee]

MattHall91 said:

Does anyone know if the price of a Z cope has gone up in recent months?

I seem to remember seeing several for under 9k with sub-60k miles on. Now some are on for over 10k with 80k+?

I don't think so. I've had a close eye on the market for over two years now and I'd put my target price for something in black, grey, blue or silver (the colours that don't seem to demand a premium) with under 60k around £9-9.5k. That would have been £11k two years ago and £10k this time last year. There are more cars available now in the £7xxx range than ever before but none of those have under 90k miles. A decent looking one has come on Autotrader this week with 42k at £8250. It has the comedy wood interior but is the best value one I've seen.

[nickfrog]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well that's me confused (doesn't take much). I find that over servoed and short travel seem to go together, Audi style.

For a road car, I prefer a 986/987 long (long travel compared to an Audi style travel) but progressive pedal feel that does indeed give you plenty of scope for modulation but will need more leg effort of course.

[keo]

MattHall91 said:

keo said:

MattHall91 said:

keo said:

The red 200 has sold, i rang up after it.

So you're in the market too obviously?...

Yeah think i have narrowed a 200 down as my next car, i used to have a Trophy and loved it. I test drove a 200 last week and liked it, felt very similar to my Trophy. I only had a quick 10/15 minute test drive though

What else did you rule out along the way then if you don't mind me asking?

All sorts mate, wish i could make my mind up!

Keep the Volvo, keep saving and get an Elise/ Caterham. I like the Z4MC as well, dont think i could justify it as a second car though.

But not sure if two cars is right for me now. So the other idea is get a bit of an all rounder, bearing in mind i would like to do a few track days a year and lots of country lane driving fun. So Boxster S 986, 996 911 but i thibk these would be a little expensive to run and maybe a bit clinical, not so fun. DC5 Integra but the price of them for an old car kind of puts me off. Thats why i got draw towards a Clio 200. Get one 4/5 years old with low miles shouldnt cost a fortune to run and would give me some fun.

[nickfrog]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I really don't want to argue with you as I really don't appreciate stuff like "Think you probably need to get back in an Audi". I don't think it's necessary.

It is possible that we are talking across purposes here. I really enjoy fine brake modulation and I find that precise modulation requires some travel (not dead travel btw). Almost zero travel would make modulation very tricky. I have tracked a 986 and a 987 countless times and I know exactly how well they modulate through their relatively long travel (none of which was dead). By relatively long I compare it to a typical Audi pedal that will have less travel (but most of it dead) and will be like a an/off switch when you have gone through the dead travel. I find it awful as modulation is tricky so why would I want to go back to that ?