What next after a Renault Clio RS200 - 20k budget

[Wagonwheel555]

Jiebo said:

Absolutely nuts that these things cost over £18k for a 5 year old example. Who in their right minds is paying that much?

Just shows how much used cars have gone up in the past 18 months really.

We bought a Mini Clubman Cooper S in 2018 brand new for £24k. Sold it back to Mini this year for £14250 (£1.5k above settlement) and they sold it within a week for £18k.

[tomsugden]

Have a drive of an Audi S1. Nice place to be, handles well, plenty quick enough, and 40mpg is achievable. Also very tunable if that's your thing, the guy that bought my old one has taken it to >500bhp!

[classicfred]

Insignia VXR

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12392853
Take it to Courtenay for a £395 remap
https://www.courtenaysport.co.uk/VXR-Tuning/Insign...

VXR8
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12408385
Sorry, forgot about the running costs of petrol

S3
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12123438

Megane 275 Trophy
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12426485

RS3
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11978122

M240i
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12234875

Sirocco R
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12360580

Bentley
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12050607

Cupra Estate
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12290015

RS5
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12420538

Astra GTC VXR
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12419336

335D
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12119355

435D
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12304249

Ford Capri
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12013841

[flying-banana]

How about an M135i rather than M140i...being a little cheaper, there would be some budget to visit somewhere like Birds for things like a Quaife LSD...

Also, if you don't want to go down the route of suspension mods, then make sure you look at one with adaptive suspension

...alternatively, Skoda Octavia vRS...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021101384...

[M.F.D]

James-gbg1e said:

Z4MCSL said:

Megane RS

Ive recently bought an RS275 Trophy and love it - its had some minor mods so is about 305hp and 355lbft - its great fun, really direct feel about the car, handling is great - more of an all rounder and hopefully shouldnt be too costly to look after


I got very close to an e92 m3 manual instead but in the end it just didnt actually seem as special as the Megane which is why I went for it largely.

That being said I imagine I will still end up owning an e92 m3 at some point

But, it's still a Renault, has panels made from Mr Kipling foil and you get a lifetime of rattles to hunt for.

Source: Owned a Clio 1.4, 172 MK2, 182 Trophy.

Absolute nonesnse. Usual "all french cars are sh*t" chat. The Mk3 Megane is actually a very well put together car. Owned 3 x 250 Cup's and never had an issue with interior rattles or such like.

Have you seen one that has been crashed? Very strong shell.

[Networkgeek]

classicfred said:

Insignia VXR

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12392853
Take it to Courtenay for a £395 remap
https://www.courtenaysport.co.uk/VXR-Tuning/Insign...

VXR8
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12408385
Sorry, forgot about the running costs of petrol

S3
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12123438

Megane 275 Trophy
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12426485

RS3
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11978122

M240i
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12234875

Sirocco R
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12360580

Bentley
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12050607

Cupra Estate
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12290015

RS5
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12420538

Astra GTC VXR
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12419336

335D
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12119355

435D
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12304249

Ford Capri
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12013841

I love the VXR8 suggestion. I drove one over 10 years ago (I believe it was a 5.7) and the soundtrack was fantastic. If only they came in an estate form, as this is looking like my preference at the moment.

So, based on the above, I've contacted a few dealers to view/test drive etc a Merc C63 AMG estate. The fuel economy is going to be horrendous, but I have yet to own a car that has a V8 and this might be the last chance before fuel/tax etc all become even more expensive.

I'll update this thread once I have a new car.

Thanks for all the suggestions peeps, you've been a great help

[James-gbg1e]

M.F.D said:

Absolute nonesnse. Usual "all french cars are sh*t" chat. The Mk3 Megane is actually a very well put together car. Owned 3 x 250 Cup's and never had an issue with interior rattles or such like.

Have you seen one that has been crashed? Very strong shell.

They must have improved drastically then since I walked away from that brand. The Clio's and the Megs (I was a Cliosport.net member for years) of the time were awful build, good cars for driving but far too much compromise as a refined daily.

Only time I'd ever recommend something like that is for stripping and tracking... Least with a helmet you can't hear the stbox rattle.

[M.F.D]

James-gbg1e said:

They must have improved drastically then since I walked away from that brand. The Clio's and the Megs (I was a Cliosport.net member for years) of the time were awful build, good cars for driving but far too much compromise as a refined daily.

Only time I'd ever recommend something like that is for stripping and tracking... Least with a helmet you can't hear the stbox rattle.

Yep, huge improvement over the Mk2 Meg, and obviously the 1*2 Clio's. My Megane's have been the most reliable things I've owned actually! For the money, they are epic all rounders.

[Koolkat969]

For that budget, my money will also be on a Mk3 Megane RS but on the more exclusive ones like a Cup-S or Trophy for that exclusivity and desirability.

Should hold their value better also for when you decide to sell on!

[nickfrog]

M.F.D said:

Yep, huge improvement over the Mk2 Meg, and obviously the 1*2 Clio's. My Megane's have been the most reliable things I've owned actually! For the money, they are epic all rounders.

I agree, I share a 12 year old Clio 200 with my son and I am gob smacked how well built/reliable it is. Including the box, which I knew should have been its weak point.

No rattles either.

[Johnnytheboy]

Golf R Estate a great counterpoint to a Clio.

It's everything the Clio isn't and vice versa.

I have an R Estate and my toy is a Focus RS (mk 2) which sort of 'clashes', so I'm selling the latter to get something smaller and nippier.

[Trophy Husband]

James-gbg1e said:

Z4MCSL said:

Megane RS

Ive recently bought an RS275 Trophy and love it - its had some minor mods so is about 305hp and 355lbft - its great fun, really direct feel about the car, handling is great - more of an all rounder and hopefully shouldnt be too costly to look after


I got very close to an e92 m3 manual instead but in the end it just didnt actually seem as special as the Megane which is why I went for it largely.

That being said I imagine I will still end up owning an e92 m3 at some point

But, it's still a Renault, has panels made from Mr Kipling foil and you get a lifetime of rattles to hunt for.

Source: Owned a Clio 1.4, 172 MK2, 182 Trophy.

That old chestnut!
Renault have been making the best hot hatches since Peugeot dropped the ball after the 205. Albeit not so good after they themselves dropped the ball with the 5 door Clio 200 without a manual option. However, the Megane kept the ball in the air and are, even now, superb.
I have found that cars with go kart suspension tend to develop rattles but who cares? Turn the music up!

[Throttlebody]

As already mentioned, Mk8 Fiesta ST.

Bombproof. Can remap to 250 Bhp. Cheap spares + running costs. Can get a 5 door if that’s important. Light and fun to drive. Plenty to choose from. Great road/track car.

Make the move away from Renault, have a change.

[popeyewhite]

Throttlebody said:

As already mentioned, Mk8 Fiesta ST.

Bombproof. Can remap to 250 Bhp. Cheap spares + running costs. Can get a 5 door if that’s important. Light and fun to drive. Plenty to choose from. Great road/track car.

Make the move away from Renault, have a change.

Generally more expensive than other hatchbacks to insure on account so many are nicked. supposed to be fun though. A remap alone won't give 250 surely? 220?

[Throttlebody]

popeyewhite said:

Throttlebody said:

As already mentioned, Mk8 Fiesta ST.

Bombproof. Can remap to 250 Bhp. Cheap spares + running costs. Can get a 5 door if that’s important. Light and fun to drive. Plenty to choose from. Great road/track car.

Make the move away from Renault, have a change.

Generally more expensive than other hatchbacks to insure on account so many are nicked. supposed to be fun though. A remap alone won't give 250 surely? 220?

Just an intake and remap on a Mk8 with 99 RON.

[popeyewhite]

Throttlebody said:

Just an intake and remap on a Mk8 with 99 RON.

200 to 250 bhp with induction and remap? Seems unlikely... . My guess is somewhere between 220-230 at the most for Stage 1.

[Throttlebody]

popeyewhite said:

Throttlebody said:

Just an intake and remap on a Mk8 with 99 RON.

200 to 250 bhp with induction and remap? Seems unlikely... . My guess is somewhere between 220-230 at the most for Stage 1.

Take a search on Google. No need to guess. The Mk8 ST is very tuneable.

[popeyewhite]

Throttlebody said:

Take a search on Google.

I did, first hit suggested a remap might hit 220 bhp. Let's not derail the thread eh?

[Throttlebody]

popeyewhite said:

Throttlebody said:

Take a search on Google.

I did, first hit suggested a remap might hit 220 bhp. Let's not derail the thread eh?

You need more Google hits. Try Pumaspeed for example. The 3 cyl engine responds well to a good remap and intake.

[HazzaT]

popeyewhite said:

I did, first hit suggested a remap might hit 220 bhp. Let's not derail the thread eh?

Revo, TRS, Laird, Pumaspeed (MaxD) and Collins all get in the 240-250 range with just software on 99ron. Mountune came in initially a little under at 220 but now offer 235.

I had Revo Stage 1 on mine and it was like a little missile, drove back to back with my current Golf R estate and it wasn't any slower (on the move obviously)