MX5 or Clio 172?

[callywally18]

Hello All,

Found myself an insurance company which will insure me on the following, so was looking for some advice on them.

Will only be spending around £1500 so not going to be a perfect model of each.

MX5 -

Probably be a MK1, maybe a MK2 1.6 or 1.8, so not the fastest thing, but i guess its all about the handling? And the facts its a convertible.
But what are they like on an everyday basis? And planning a roadtrip to the alps in january, am i going to want to kill myself half way there due to it?

Clio 172 -

Probably a high mileage (70000 plus) what they like once they are getting on in their lives? Faster than the mx5, and heard they themselves have great handling, but at the end of the day its 'just a clio'. Whereas the Mazda always has the attraction of being topless.

Anyone got any experience or opinions on these two?

Thanks

[kambites]

Go and drive both cars. I'd be surprised if there's any doubt in your mind once you have.

[JamesD1]

you'd really need to drive both and make your own mind up.

i'd personally have the clio because i have younger siblings that require carting about. if i was gonna get (another) 2 seater it'd be an mr2 because there cheaper and better than the mx5 imo

[feef]

With a Mk 2 or Mk2.5 MX5, look for rust on the front chassis members as well as the usual places (wheel arches and sills). The MK1 is probably more rust-resilient, but they are also older so perhaps not a huge difference in their comparable state now. MK2 is more refined and a little more comfortable but there's not that much in it.

The MK2.5 also opens up the option of the VVT engine which has a bit more poke than the standard 1.8

[J4CKO]

Get the best Mk1 MX5 1.6 you can find, nothign wrong with the Clio but you can do hatchbacks later, when you need the seats.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

J4CKO said:

Get the best Mk1 MX5 1.6 you can find, nothign wrong with the Clio but you can do hatchbacks later, when you need the seats.

This.
I had a 1.8 mk1 Mx5 and it was fantastic fun, the best car I've ever had for snow!;)
I've got kids now and need the seats so have a Renaultsport Clio.

They aren't 'just Clio' btw

[gd49]

MX5 is fine for everyday use as long as the roof doesn't leak, is ok on rust for the MOT and you can live with the smallish boot and only 2 seats. Other than rust they're pretty bulletproof. Mk2 is supposed to be more refined than Mk1, you still wouldn't want to do a lot of motorway work in it though.

I've only been a passenger in a 172 Cup but it is a completely different experience to an MX5. I agree with the other poster that you need to test drive both to decide what you want.

[Test driver]

Mx5 over a French stbox all day long.

[Mr Daytona]

Have only had experience of owning a mk1 MX-5, a 1.6, but if I had £1500 to spend on that or a Clio, it would be the Mazda everyday.

Ok, the Clio is quite a bit faster than even the 1.8 MX-5, but the joy of owning a drop top rwd more than makes up for the (relative) lack of speed, not withstanding that should you get caught speeding in the Clio, what will your premium be at next renewal ?

I'd personally go for the later mk2 version if I were you, purely because the earlier model is rising in value as it's status as a classic is becoming more recognised. Appreciate the Mazda may have issues with rot in the sills and wheel arches - but if you can get a car which gas been attended to, which is more likely to let you down at the side of the road ?

At the end of the day, the Clio is just (an admittedly brilliantly handling) small hatchback with reliability issues, whilst the MX5 is a beautifully balanced rwd coupe with the advantage that when the suns out (or just above freezing if your new to a convertible) you can go topless.

You won't regret it.

[hondansx]

Since when did the Clio have reliability issues? Is this an assumption on it simply being French?

As someone else said, if you can get away with a two seater, get it out of your system and put off being 'practical' until you have to. Just don't drive the Clio after the MX5, as it will be considerably quicker.

[NRS]

callywally18 said:

Hello All,

Found myself an insurance company which will insure me on the following, so was looking for some advice on them.

Will only be spending around £1500 so not going to be a perfect model of each.

MX5 -

Probably be a MK1, maybe a MK2 1.6 or 1.8, so not the fastest thing, but i guess its all about the handling? And the facts its a convertible.
But what are they like on an everyday basis? And planning a roadtrip to the alps in january, am i going to want to kill myself half way there due to it?

Can't comment on the Clio, but am on second MX-5. It's used as an everyday car and I did a roadtrip to the UK and back and it was no problem (something like 5000km in 1.5 weeks with a few days of no driving). So the Alps trip shouldn't be an issue. You also get the benefit of seeing the views better/ getting fresh air etc. The problem might be snow/ice on the passes. I use mine throughout winter (6 months here in Arctic Norway) but I have spiked tyres. The main problem is clearance as if the snow is too deep you'll have problems. It may be pretty tiring if you're not used to driving in snow in RWD and trying to cover long distances, so that is something to think about. But generally they've a very nice simple car.

[Poopipe]

I had both at the same time

The clio was better at everything except being a convertible

I loved both but while the mx5 was prettier and fun to fiddle around with the clio shat on it in terms of dynamics, outright speed, general driving fun and running costs. I had spent a a significant amount of money on sorting the mx5 chassis but it still wasnt anywhere near as precise or direct.

I used both as daily drivers. Both fine although id always take the clio on longer motorway trips for comfort's sake.

I found myself using the clio when I wanted to drive for driving's sake and the mx5 if I wanted to scoot about with the roof off and enjoy the scenery.


Id have another of either in a heartbeat - right now itd be the mx5 cos I have a megane cup as a daily anyway

Edited by Poopipe on Saturday 16th August 17:24

[Mr Daytona]

Hondansx - French cars are known to have reliability issues because people's experience of them is that they have reliability issues. Just the same as Italian cars.

From personal experience I've had a Fiat Coupe (blown engine), an Alfa 156 (new gearbox) and a Peugeot 309 (everything). I've also had various Mazdas, Volvos, Saabs etc where other than putting petrol in and having the fluids checked every year, they have been 100% reliable.

Am I saying that every French/Italian car is going to spontaneously explode ? Ofcourse not, but the likelihood of issues arising is that much greater than with other marques from Japan, Sweden etc.

[B.J.W]

[quote=Poopipe]I had both at the same time

The clio was better at everything except being a convertible

I loved both but while the mx5 was prettier and fun to fiddle around with the clio shat on it in terms of dynamics, outright speed, general driving fun and running costs. I had spent a a significant amount of money on sorting the mx5 chassis but it still wasnt anywhere near as precise or direct.

I used both as daily drivers. Both fine although id always take the clio on longer motorway trips for comfort's sake.

I found myself using the clio when I wanted to drive for driving's sake and the mx5 if I wanted to scoot about with the roof off and enjoy the scenery.


Id have another of either in a heartbeat - right now itd be the mx5 cos I have a megane cup as a daily anyway

Edited by Poopipe on Saturday 16th August 17:24

[/quote

This....

I've owned both - completely different ownership propositions, both will have issues at that price point though.

If you were to ask me which car I would choose now it'd be the MX5, but only because I've grown out of the Clio stage (and because I also have to admit that whilst it was a fair bit slower than the Cup, it was more fun to drive)

[B.J.W]

[quote=Poopipe]I had both at the same time

The clio was better at everything except being a convertible

I loved both but while the mx5 was prettier and fun to fiddle around with the clio shat on it in terms of dynamics, outright speed, general driving fun and running costs. I had spent a a significant amount of money on sorting the mx5 chassis but it still wasnt anywhere near as precise or direct.

I used both as daily drivers. Both fine although id always take the clio on longer motorway trips for comfort's sake.

I found myself using the clio when I wanted to drive for driving's sake and the mx5 if I wanted to scoot about with the roof off and enjoy the scenery.


Id have another of either in a heartbeat - right now itd be the mx5 cos I have a megane cup as a daily anyway

Edited by Poopipe on Saturday 16th August 17:24

[/quote

This....

I've owned both - completely different ownership propositions, both will have issues at that price point though.

If you were to ask me which car I would choose now it'd be the MX5, but only because I've grown out of the Clio stage (and because I also have to admit that whilst it was a fair bit slower than the Cup, it was more fun to drive)

[Baked_bean]

I went from a mk1 mx5 1.6 to a clio 182 ff.

The clio was much more chuckable, faster and it's alot more practical as a whole.

The mx5 had the attraction of top down driving, rwd and having a better driving position.

One other thing to note is that the mx5 is alot easier to work on if you are a home mechanic whereas the clio is a pig. Really its down to a drove as both are so different to each other.

[anonymous-user]

Pig to work on? Tell me about it. Just about to get myself a FF 182 and want to change the spark plugs when it arrives. Got to take the manifold off. WT-actual-F Renault?!

OP the best thing to do is drive both and see which you prefer. At the end of the day they're both supposed to be great, just in different ways. Which you prefer is entirely personal preference - there is no right/wrong choice here.

[feef]

charltjr said:

Pig to work on? Tell me about it. Just about to get myself a FF 182 and want to change the spark plugs when it arrives. Got to take the manifold off. WT-actual-F Renault?!

Why does that surprise you? Megane headlight bulb anyone?

[JQ]

I can't help with the comparison between Renault and Mazda, but having owned Mk1 and Mk2 MX5's I'd go for the Mk1. They're a bit more raw and whilst they do suffer rust, the rust in Mk2's is structural and more of an issue to resolve.

[anonymous-user]

feef said:

Why does that surprise you? Megane headlight bulb anyone?

It's my first Renault, I'm just not used to the insanity