Clio 197 or Panda 100hp? Urgent Decision!
Discussion
I could really do with some advice as this decision is driving me mad!
Just sold my '03 Cooper S and want to get a new car asap. I have been looking for ages and think I have locked it down to either the Renault Clio 197 or Fiat Panda 100hp. Both examples I am interested in are similar price, age and mileage. Details below.
Fiat Panda 100hp - 2007 (07) - 20,000 miles - 1 owner - Black - FSH - £4100
Clio 197 - 2006 (56) - 47,000 miles - 4 owners - Blue - Good but not full history. - £4800
What does everyone think? I hear some scary things about Clios such as gearbox issues, massive revs at motorway cruise speeds and poor low down engine performance. On the flip side, the Panda seems to get nothing by praise.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Just sold my '03 Cooper S and want to get a new car asap. I have been looking for ages and think I have locked it down to either the Renault Clio 197 or Fiat Panda 100hp. Both examples I am interested in are similar price, age and mileage. Details below.
Fiat Panda 100hp - 2007 (07) - 20,000 miles - 1 owner - Black - FSH - £4100
Clio 197 - 2006 (56) - 47,000 miles - 4 owners - Blue - Good but not full history. - £4800
What does everyone think? I hear some scary things about Clios such as gearbox issues, massive revs at motorway cruise speeds and poor low down engine performance. On the flip side, the Panda seems to get nothing by praise.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Ive got a 197 and got no complaints, but I dont do much motorway so cant comment on that. Low.down power is no issue! Its surprised alot.of.people thinking 'its only a Clio' only problem is cost of cambelt which is due every 5 years or 72k I think it is. Overall properly fun to drive and lets face it 197bhp or a panda with 100?
YEah this is one of my key issues. I can imagine a car that has had 4 previous owners in < 6 years with only 1 main dealer stamp could be a money pit.
roystinho said:
Even as a bit of a Renaultsport fanboy I'd go for the Panda. No FSH would make me wonder if its not been looked after as well as it should
You would have thought so wouldn't you but they all seem to be between 4000 and 5000k regardless of mileage. Some are around the 3600 mark but with 70-80k miles.
Bill said:
That has to be a lurking record...
Can't you find a Panda 100 with normal mileage? You're paying a premium for the one you've chosen and I'd have thought a Panda with 50k would be much cheaper.
Can't you find a Panda 100 with normal mileage? You're paying a premium for the one you've chosen and I'd have thought a Panda with 50k would be much cheaper.
nicolaip said:
I could really do with some advice as this decision is driving me mad!
Just sold my '03 Cooper S and want to get a new car asap. I have been looking for ages and think I have locked it down to either the Renault Clio 197 or Fiat Panda 100hp. Both examples I am interested in are similar price, age and mileage. Details below.
Fiat Panda 100hp - 2007 (07) - 20,000 miles - 1 owner - Black - FSH - £4100
Clio 197 - 2006 (56) - 47,000 miles - 4 owners - Blue - Good but not full history. - £4800
What does everyone think? I hear some scary things about Clios such as gearbox issues, massive revs at motorway cruise speeds and poor low down engine performance. On the flip side, the Panda seems to get nothing by praise.
Any advice would be appreciated!
I honestly don't see why the Panda gets the praise. TBH road testers who praise it:Just sold my '03 Cooper S and want to get a new car asap. I have been looking for ages and think I have locked it down to either the Renault Clio 197 or Fiat Panda 100hp. Both examples I am interested in are similar price, age and mileage. Details below.
Fiat Panda 100hp - 2007 (07) - 20,000 miles - 1 owner - Black - FSH - £4100
Clio 197 - 2006 (56) - 47,000 miles - 4 owners - Blue - Good but not full history. - £4800
What does everyone think? I hear some scary things about Clios such as gearbox issues, massive revs at motorway cruise speeds and poor low down engine performance. On the flip side, the Panda seems to get nothing by praise.
Any advice would be appreciated!
a) either don't live with it
b) have access to lots of fast interesting cars very regularly, so their own car matters not at all
I think for your average PH'er it'd just become a bit boring an dull once the new car feeling has passed. And it's not even fast to make up for it.
Braintax said:
They are so different, 100hp will feel like 100hp when you compare it with a Clio sport, to some people no matter how good the handling is they will not get over this.
But is the handling really that good? Does it have the same lifeless over assisted steering as the 500 does? It's also FWD and I can't really see anything great about it. Sure it's not a bad car, but really rather average and nothing special in the handling, looks or performance department.
nicolaip said:
YEah this is one of my key issues. I can imagine a car that has had 4 previous owners in < 6 years with only 1 main dealer stamp could be a money pit.
On the same token though, sometimes people but these then don't realise how much tyres, petrol, insurance etc can be. Don't let number of owners put you off, but if its not got a FSH, even from a non dealer that would worry me. And tbh, some of the best guys to take your Renaultsport to are the independent specialists, not the franchises or 'Renaultsport specialist' franchises roystinho said:
Even as a bit of a Renaultsport fanboy I'd go for the Panda. No FSH would make me wonder if its not been looked after as well as it should
Panda used is far far cheaper than equivalent 197 and the Panda is a far inferior car to the Clio.
Surprised you will find any 197 in your budget unless either no history ( ie clocked) or damaged repaired ( cat c or cat d).
Panda 100 is great value good fun but let down by rock hard ride that spoils the car day to day normal use. If you shop around you should find a Panda 100 newer and lower miles in your budget what part of UK are you in?
Surprised you will find any 197 in your budget unless either no history ( ie clocked) or damaged repaired ( cat c or cat d).
Panda 100 is great value good fun but let down by rock hard ride that spoils the car day to day normal use. If you shop around you should find a Panda 100 newer and lower miles in your budget what part of UK are you in?
300bhp/ton said:
I honestly don't see why the Panda gets the praise. TBH road testers who praise it:
a) either don't live with it
b) have access to lots of fast interesting cars very regularly, so their own car matters not at all
I think for your average PH'er it'd just become a bit boring an dull once the new car feeling has passed. And it's not even fast to make up for it.
That's a bit harsh on the little Panda, they are not meant to be "quick", and they are fun if you like pointy small cars. As per my Knees comment though i couldn't live with one as a fun little commuter its serves a purpose.a) either don't live with it
b) have access to lots of fast interesting cars very regularly, so their own car matters not at all
I think for your average PH'er it'd just become a bit boring an dull once the new car feeling has passed. And it's not even fast to make up for it.
Yeah thats a very good point. I would actually prefer specialist service history rather than Renault but this one has a lot of stamps from a mobile mechanic.
roystinho said:
On the same token though, sometimes people but these then don't realise how much tyres, petrol, insurance etc can be. Don't let number of owners put you off, but if its not got a FSH, even from a non dealer that would worry me. And tbh, some of the best guys to take your Renaultsport to are the independent specialists, not the franchises or 'Renaultsport specialist' franchises
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