Clio Trophy vs MCS (200bhp) - the £6k challenge
Discussion
Right, after viewing a few cars over the weekend i've finally decided that i want an e46 M3 in 12 months time when £10k will buy me a nice one.
Essentially, compared to the MCS, TT, S3 & Clio, the 330ci Sport was by far the nicest/comfiest/bestest car to sit in/drive/look at, but it wasnt thrilling enough, so im going to bide my time & buy the e46 that i really want ... so im going to save for one.
As such, i need a car from June for 12 months, that will do over 30mpg & 25k without losing too much dollar in depreciation.
My excel spreadsheet, reading of Pistonheads/Evo magazine & previous experiences have narrowed it down to two cars for £6-7k:
Clio Trophy with Mark Fish suspension upgrade
MCS with coilovers & pulley, etc
I wont be modding further, i will be saving.
Discuss
Essentially, compared to the MCS, TT, S3 & Clio, the 330ci Sport was by far the nicest/comfiest/bestest car to sit in/drive/look at, but it wasnt thrilling enough, so im going to bide my time & buy the e46 that i really want ... so im going to save for one.
As such, i need a car from June for 12 months, that will do over 30mpg & 25k without losing too much dollar in depreciation.
My excel spreadsheet, reading of Pistonheads/Evo magazine & previous experiences have narrowed it down to two cars for £6-7k:
Clio Trophy with Mark Fish suspension upgrade
MCS with coilovers & pulley, etc
I wont be modding further, i will be saving.
Discuss
Edited by Sir_Dave on Tuesday 4th May 12:08
If it was me ...
i'd take the Mini.. I think it will hold its money a little better although depending on the drive i am not sure how close you'll get to 30mpg. My neighbour drives hers like a loon everywhere and is barely scraping 25mpg on the short (6mile) commute..
The clio would be a lot of fun in the bends but as an all round car, the Mini wins for me.
i'd take the Mini.. I think it will hold its money a little better although depending on the drive i am not sure how close you'll get to 30mpg. My neighbour drives hers like a loon everywhere and is barely scraping 25mpg on the short (6mile) commute..
The clio would be a lot of fun in the bends but as an all round car, the Mini wins for me.
doogz said:
What is the "Mark Fish Suspension Upgrade"?
I only ask, as i know someone that went on a 600 mile round trip, to have this guy fit a set of dampers and do his tracking, because he's a total Clio Fanboy and apparently no-one else is capable of wheel alignment on these cars as well as this man
Trophy is def. the pick of the Clio's, and it'll handle better i reckon (The only thing my 182 done better than our R56 MCS was handle) they will probably be around the same on fuel, averaging mid 30's, The MCS will probably be quicker in a straight line, and imo is nicer to sit in.
I didn't like my FF 182 too much, and i do love out Cooper turbo, but of the 2 you've mentioned, i'd have a hard time picking one over the other
Mark Fish is based just outside of Harlow, has prepped aa qide array of cars inc MCS, Clios, meganes etc.. very good guy and very knowledgable..I only ask, as i know someone that went on a 600 mile round trip, to have this guy fit a set of dampers and do his tracking, because he's a total Clio Fanboy and apparently no-one else is capable of wheel alignment on these cars as well as this man
Trophy is def. the pick of the Clio's, and it'll handle better i reckon (The only thing my 182 done better than our R56 MCS was handle) they will probably be around the same on fuel, averaging mid 30's, The MCS will probably be quicker in a straight line, and imo is nicer to sit in.
I didn't like my FF 182 too much, and i do love out Cooper turbo, but of the 2 you've mentioned, i'd have a hard time picking one over the other
Also - you manage to average mid 30s out of your MCS ?? can i ask how?
I think you will find the OP is looking at a Supercharged (not turbo) MCS as well..
Sir_Dave said:
Right, after viewing a few cars over the weekend i've finally decided that i want an e46 M3 in 12 months time when £10k will buy me a nice one.
Essentially, compared to the MCS, TT, S3 & Clio, the 330ci Sport was by far the nicest/comfiest/bestest car to sit in/drive/look at, but it wasnt thrilling enough, so im going to bide my time & buy the e46 that i really want ... so im going to save for one.
As such, i need a car from June for 12 months, that will do over 30mpg & 25k without losing too much dollar in depreciation.
My excel spreadsheet, reading of Pistonheads/Evo magazine & previous experiences have narrowed it down to two cars for £6-7k:
Clio Trophy with Mark Fish suspension upgrade
MCS with coilovers & pulley, etc
I wont be modding further, i will be saving.
Discuss
I'm quite a fan of the MINI, but why not save a bit more and buy something like a DC2 ITR. Probably more fun and involving than either the MINI or the Clio and will hold it's value better over the course of a year.Essentially, compared to the MCS, TT, S3 & Clio, the 330ci Sport was by far the nicest/comfiest/bestest car to sit in/drive/look at, but it wasnt thrilling enough, so im going to bide my time & buy the e46 that i really want ... so im going to save for one.
As such, i need a car from June for 12 months, that will do over 30mpg & 25k without losing too much dollar in depreciation.
My excel spreadsheet, reading of Pistonheads/Evo magazine & previous experiences have narrowed it down to two cars for £6-7k:
Clio Trophy with Mark Fish suspension upgrade
MCS with coilovers & pulley, etc
I wont be modding further, i will be saving.
Discuss
Edited by Sir_Dave on Tuesday 4th May 12:08
As a side note (and why not
) if you are after an M3 type of vehicle for less money, then there are 2 cheaper alternatives in the bigger coupe segment.-Toyota Supra TT MKIV
-Chevy Camaro z28/SS
Both can be had for £5-8k. Similar 2+2 ability of an M3, similar power and pace and weight.
Difficult one. I think I'd prefer the Mini day-to-day as they're more civilised inside, but the Trophy arguably has that little extra bit of desirability. If it's any consideration do bear in mind that even the boot space in the Clio looks capacious after the Mini. If you need to carry anything like a mountain bike (or I guess a push chair etc) the Clio may be better.
It probably doesn't take much more money to get yourself into a decent spec early Renaultsport Megane these days either.
It probably doesn't take much more money to get yourself into a decent spec early Renaultsport Megane these days either.
doogz said:
Thudd said:
MCS won't do 30MPG. I got 23MPG from my standard 54 plate on a fairly urban commute. I can't remember ever seeing better than high 20s.
Really? Obviously, ours is the R56, totally different engine, but ours averages 42mpg on mostly motorway with the odd fun road thrown in.Our local Mini dealer said the turbo car R56 is more economical and he gets an extra 5 or 6 mpg on the same sort of usage
Arun_D said:
As asked before, what is the 'Mark Fish Suspension Upgrade'
(I knoW who he is, but after more of a technical spec)
Revalved Koni rear shocks & -20mm custom lb springs to get the most out of the front Sachs/uprated rears. Supposed to make the handling even more precise & stop it looking like a tractor ...(I knoW who he is, but after more of a technical spec)
Re: the Supra/Camaro thing. Not really my kind of car tbh, certainly not to do 25-30k a year in lol. M3 does everything well, hence my desire for one. I used to have a Z3M so like the overall M proposition
Bootspace - thats something i definately need to check!! I have a mountain bike ...
doogz said:
Thudd said:
MCS won't do 30MPG. I got 23MPG from my standard 54 plate on a fairly urban commute. I can't remember ever seeing better than high 20s.
Really? Obviously, ours is the R56, totally different engine, but ours averages 42mpg on mostly motorway with the odd fun road thrown in.
Sir_Dave said:
Bootspace - thats something i definately need to check!! I have a mountain bike ...
The MINI is more restrictive in terms of space, but then it looks better than a Clio and isn't just another hatch.How would a bike rack stack up for you? That way you don't have to bother about trying to get a bike in at all.
doogz said:
Thudd said:
MCS won't do 30MPG. I got 23MPG from my standard 54 plate on a fairly urban commute. I can't remember ever seeing better than high 20s.
Really? Obviously, ours is the R56, totally different engine, but ours averages 42mpg on mostly motorway with the odd fun road thrown in.Having just done a 400 mile trip in a very nice Cooper S 2003 I had forgotten how awfull they are for motorway trips;
noisy
bouncy jiggly rattley ride
&
drinks far too much fuel if trying to keep up a decent pace.
Great fun on twisty roads and round town but a pain in the neck on the motorway.
And bigger wheels with runflats makes them even worse in terms of ride.
I've not had a Trophy but my 182 Cup was very pleasant on boring motorway trips and I'd expect a trophy to be better having the nice seats fitted.
Also, Trophy will be more economical on motorway, and should hold its value due to rarity and how well regarded it was when new.
For a motorway commute no way would I chose a MCS.
noisy
bouncy jiggly rattley ride
&
drinks far too much fuel if trying to keep up a decent pace.
Great fun on twisty roads and round town but a pain in the neck on the motorway.
And bigger wheels with runflats makes them even worse in terms of ride.
I've not had a Trophy but my 182 Cup was very pleasant on boring motorway trips and I'd expect a trophy to be better having the nice seats fitted.
Also, Trophy will be more economical on motorway, and should hold its value due to rarity and how well regarded it was when new.
For a motorway commute no way would I chose a MCS.
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