Clio 172 / 182 or Civic R or Cooper S Circa £2k

[V8RX7]

As a fun, reliable, second car around £2k which is the better option ?

[andy118run]

As always in these circumstances, I would be buying based on condition/service history/MOT history.

From my browsing of the ads I would say that at this price point (and you probably know this anyway) -

Clio - probably be your best chance of getting a half decent car.

Mini - there are a few 2k cars and you may get lucky.

Civic - will be a high miles, possibly pretty ropey car at this price point.

[culpz]

For 2k, it'd have the be the Clio. You'll have much more choice of something decent. Truth be told, i'd go for the 172/182 regardless.

[Integroo]

Agree with above, any Type R at that price is likely to be pretty ropey.

[V8RX7]

In fairness the circa £2k budget reflects the amount of use it will get and that I won't be spending £5k but I could easily increase it to £3k.

There seem to be plenty of Civics around £2500 with sub 120k mileage and plenty of service history.

I like the idea of the Clio power delivery with the Civic build quality I'm told the Minis drive very well but I admit I'm least comfortable with it's looks / image but with a pulley swap and a few mods 220bhp is hard to ignore.

My concern with the Clio is its reliability I have enough "project" cars already

[greggy50]

If its a weekend car I just picked up a 3.0 Manual Z4 for £2,650 and personally would prefer it to a 172/182 which I have owned previously.

[V8RX7]

greggy50 said:

If its a weekend car I just picked up a 3.0 Manual Z4 for £2,650 and personally would prefer it to a 172/182 which I have owned previously.

I already have many 2 seaters - I need a back up car that will carry 4 people - a fun hatchback is what I'm looking for.

[avenger286]

There has been a few Twingo 133 at around 2k recently. Fun and 4 seats and probably newer than others mentioned.

[tomelliott1988]

It would be the Clio for me I think - a friend recently picked up a 182 for sub-2k and it's a brilliant little thing in great condition. We tried to find a EP3 Civic for around the same money and were pretty disappointed - slim pickings and all looked to have been treated pretty poorly. Seems that 4k is the sweet-spot for one of those at the moment.

A couple of other slightly left-field choices around this ballpark - Celica, Mk3 MR-2, Hyundai Coupe, Octavia VRS.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Clio will be your best shout.

[V8RX7]

Fairly unanimous then.

I'll start viewing Clios

[anonymous-user]

I think the R53 mini is very undervalued at the moment, find one with the optional diff, do the pulleys and you’d need a very good 1*2 Clio indeed to match it.

[Steve91]

I still think the Civic at that price point would be a gamble. I was in your position not long ago and the Mini and Clio were top of my list.

[DickP]

V8RX7 said:

My concern with the Clio is its reliability I have enough "project" cars already

I don't think it's any worse than any other car you would be otherwise looking at in this price range. Any car around the £2k to £5k figure is going to need maintenance and parts replacing to keep it in good order!

I've done over 25k in my Clio 182 since buying it in Nov 2016, and it hasn't actually broken as such rather just maintenance from parts wearing out.

[egor110]

V8RX7 said:

greggy50 said:

If its a weekend car I just picked up a 3.0 Manual Z4 for £2,650 and personally would prefer it to a 172/182 which I have owned previously.

I already have many 2 seaters - I need a back up car that will carry 4 people - a fun hatchback is what I'm looking for.

In that case the civic has most room for back seat passengers

[Ahbefive]

The clio will be more fun but the civic likely to be more reliable and has a nicer engine and gearbox as well as being more spacious.

A friend sold a civic type-r last year for £1800. Mechanically it was spot on but had a few scuffs and dings.

[raceboy]

Ahbefive said:

A friend sold a civic type-r last year for £1800. Mechanically it was spot on but had a few scuffs and dings.

That sounds about like mine, and currently thinking of changing my trusty, but a bit battered EP3, but can't find anything that can fill it's chavtastic boots.
Was tempted with a Clio 197 but the Mrs isn't a fan, and now I've started looking at 2 seaters.

[KarlMac]

Do you vape? - civic type R

Do you cut hair? - Mini Cooper

Correct Answer = Clio.

Type Rs are starting to lose their 'low end drug dealer's image but there's no many tatty ones about. The tatty Renaultsports all seem to be dead

[Steve91]

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the MK6 Fiesta ST. Good all round and regarded as fairly reliable

[culpz]

Steve91 said:

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the MK6 Fiesta ST. Good all round and regarded as fairly reliable

Good cars to drive but, for the money, a Clio 172/182 is a much better car. The Fiesta will be a bit cheaper to run though.

For me, if i went for the ST, i think i'd feel a bit short-changed and wished i'd got the Clio.