£2k- which Renaultsport?
Discussion
In the new year we may be looking for a runaround for my wife as our Amarok can be a bit too big for her nipping to the shop.
The budget will probably be £2k- give or take.
I’m taking this opportunity to get a hot hatch- specifically a Renaultsport. I’ve had a few over the years and the 172 Clio was a favourite of ours when we sold it 10 years ago- so we fancy something similar. As it’s the spare/runaround it’s going to be a bit of a non essential car which means it can’t be a money pit!
Basically I’ve narrowed it down to these:
Clio 172 cup- always wanted one but maybe too old/thrashed/good one out of budget?
Clio 182- £2k should buy a decent one?
Twingo 133- bit newer so hopefully more reliable?
Megane 225- would love a r26 but they are way out of budget but what about a 225 cup- money pit or good value?
I know these are 10+ year old so they won’t be at their best but out of these which would you buy? Are the clios too old to be reliable? Is a Megane a non starter?
My head says buy a Twingo as they are newer but my heart wants a Clio cup!
I’ve had quite a few Renaults in the past so I know to expect trim to rattle and occasionally fall off!!
What do you guys think?
The budget will probably be £2k- give or take.
I’m taking this opportunity to get a hot hatch- specifically a Renaultsport. I’ve had a few over the years and the 172 Clio was a favourite of ours when we sold it 10 years ago- so we fancy something similar. As it’s the spare/runaround it’s going to be a bit of a non essential car which means it can’t be a money pit!
Basically I’ve narrowed it down to these:
Clio 172 cup- always wanted one but maybe too old/thrashed/good one out of budget?
Clio 182- £2k should buy a decent one?
Twingo 133- bit newer so hopefully more reliable?
Megane 225- would love a r26 but they are way out of budget but what about a 225 cup- money pit or good value?
I know these are 10+ year old so they won’t be at their best but out of these which would you buy? Are the clios too old to be reliable? Is a Megane a non starter?
My head says buy a Twingo as they are newer but my heart wants a Clio cup!
I’ve had quite a few Renaults in the past so I know to expect trim to rattle and occasionally fall off!!
What do you guys think?
Edited by Mdm83 on Monday 16th December 16:17
Personally I'd buy a 172 non-cup or 182. The auto wipers/lights/cruise/AC will make for a much more useful daily car than a stripped-back cup.
The Megane and the Twingo wouldn't get a look-in at that budget - the Megane would have to be an early/ruined one, and why would you bother with the Twingo when the Clio is faster for the same money?
The Megane and the Twingo wouldn't get a look-in at that budget - the Megane would have to be an early/ruined one, and why would you bother with the Twingo when the Clio is faster for the same money?
If your heart says Clio Cup then get one of those. Or get the nicest 172 you can find. I just got mine back on the road after 18 months of using a barge. It’s great fun and if it was in better condition I’d keep be looking to keep it.
It’s been reliable but obviously you have to keep up with the expensive cam and aux belts. The issues I’ve had with mine in 20k are age related issues such as battery, ignition lead rubbing through, rear light earth faults and a drivers side driveshaft. All easily sorted and I did the belts myself using the proper tools which was a t
t of a job!
It’s been reliable but obviously you have to keep up with the expensive cam and aux belts. The issues I’ve had with mine in 20k are age related issues such as battery, ignition lead rubbing through, rear light earth faults and a drivers side driveshaft. All easily sorted and I did the belts myself using the proper tools which was a t
t of a job! egor110 said:
Mdm83 said:
Thanks
Are older Megane 225’s not worth it?
I think Megane have a lot more electrical niggles compared to the clio ,Are older Megane 225’s not worth it?
Unless you need more space get a clio .
ZX10R NIN said:
This for me! There’s something about a nice clean 172, especially in silver! I had a phase 2 225 cup and it was a totally amazing car for the three years I owned it from new. Infinitely better than the civic type-r it replaced. Said this before, but there is a particular hump on a b-road close to my house that in the two years I owned that civic, it couldn't cope with it at the end of my time with it...the damping wasn't tight as it once was hence the car wobbled up the road. The 225 cup was still as tight to drive a the day I got it - loved it.
The only electrical issue I had (repeatedly) was that the internal lights on the instruments sometimes wouldn't come on.....annoying at night!!
The only electrical issue I had (repeatedly) was that the internal lights on the instruments sometimes wouldn't come on.....annoying at night!!
I spent a long time looking into things before I bought my 182
I absolutely love it, almost too much so to start tracking it in the new year, which was the plan!
In any case the conclusion I came to was that you need about 3k to end up ensuring a decent 182. Some of the issues that go wrong are hard to avoid and unpredictable (e.g. gearbox melting) and the cambelts can be expensive to do but are crucial to keep an eye on.
For this reason I tried to buy cheap and then kept a pot for issues.
I ended up paying about 1600 for the car and then another 1200 to give it a service, fix some electrical issues, sort the exhaust, change the Aux belt etc and various other bits and now feel like I have a very tidy car (famous last words).
I looked at a mint RB 182 initially that was about 3k to start with, had been very well looked after etc, but I am really glad I decided to buy cheaper and fix known issues.
I think generally they are cheap cars to run and parts are generally inexpensive but in a worst case scenario it could suddenly ask you for £1k+ to fix an issue like a gearbox so if you are trying to avoid a money pit I'd be tempted to fix a cheaper car as opposed to buying a "tidy" more expensive example and hoping nothing goes wrong
I absolutely love it, almost too much so to start tracking it in the new year, which was the plan!
In any case the conclusion I came to was that you need about 3k to end up ensuring a decent 182. Some of the issues that go wrong are hard to avoid and unpredictable (e.g. gearbox melting) and the cambelts can be expensive to do but are crucial to keep an eye on.
For this reason I tried to buy cheap and then kept a pot for issues.
I ended up paying about 1600 for the car and then another 1200 to give it a service, fix some electrical issues, sort the exhaust, change the Aux belt etc and various other bits and now feel like I have a very tidy car (famous last words).
I looked at a mint RB 182 initially that was about 3k to start with, had been very well looked after etc, but I am really glad I decided to buy cheaper and fix known issues.
I think generally they are cheap cars to run and parts are generally inexpensive but in a worst case scenario it could suddenly ask you for £1k+ to fix an issue like a gearbox so if you are trying to avoid a money pit I'd be tempted to fix a cheaper car as opposed to buying a "tidy" more expensive example and hoping nothing goes wrong
I wouldn't touch a Megane in that price range personally – I had a mint R26 but only kept it for three months as it didn't excite me. A 172/182 on the other hand... Had the same with the 200 that I bought this year and only kept for three months too; low and behold I'm looking for a 172/182 again. Next one will be my fourth!
This 182 looks like an honest example, just a bit over your budget if you can stretch it: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Parts and spares for them are generally dirt cheap and they're the most reliable cars I've owned. Only thing to note is to check the cambelt AND dephaser have been changed by a reputable specialist. Some people skimp on the latter but I'd only buy one that has proof it has been changed, or budget on getting it done which'll be £500-800 depending on where you live.
This 182 looks like an honest example, just a bit over your budget if you can stretch it: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Parts and spares for them are generally dirt cheap and they're the most reliable cars I've owned. Only thing to note is to check the cambelt AND dephaser have been changed by a reputable specialist. Some people skimp on the latter but I'd only buy one that has proof it has been changed, or budget on getting it done which'll be £500-800 depending on where you live.
Edited by BenLowden on Monday 23 December 15:03
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