Clio 200 cup v ITR DC2

[aspen]

Anyone owned both of these?

I currently have a 98 UK DC2, which I love but I'm thinking about changing it for a clio 200 cup.

I haven't driven the the clio yet, I have a test drive booked for next week though. I've read lots of reviews which rave about it and I'm sure it will be fun to drive but how does it compare to the DC2?

I'm in the fortunate position of not needing a car, I walk to work and only use the car for evenings and weekends. Therefore I don't need comfort, I can put up with stiff suspension and noise for road trips if the car is fun to drive.

I like the idea of a new car and Renault are offering excellent deals. I'm tempted but undecided!

What do you think?

[Dave^]

Bearing in mind you'll be doing very little mileage, you'll lose a fortune in depretiation on a car you'll never use...

From a financial point of view, you're better getting a 182 Trophy... Which will hold it's value better than a brand new 200, it may even appretiate if you keep the mileage off...

[rallycross]

Not driven the latest clio but have heard its less nimble / less fun than 182/172.

I've had previous versions including a nice 3 yr old 182 cup which was no where near as good as my Integra DC2 which I had at the same time as the Clio - so could compare them back to back / day to day.

Clio will always feel like a hot hatch, and you always feel like you are sitting on it rather than in it.

Integra is in a different class being one of the best handling coupe's ever built, it does not feel like a hot hatch as its lower and its abilities are just that much higher - but you have to drive on to know what I mean.

[Lawsome]

Having had experience of both, i'd stick with the DC2. The 200 is very good but a complete unnecessary expense when you have a DC2. A very expensive 'side-step'.

Both great cars and it's your choice. However, personally i wouldn't bother

[aspen]

Dave^ said:

Bearing in mind you'll be doing very little mileage, you'll lose a fortune in depretiation on a car you'll never use...

From a financial point of view, you're better getting a 182 Trophy... Which will hold it's value better than a brand new 200, it may even appretiate if you keep the mileage off...

This is true but calculating the amount of money I've spent on maintaining my DC2 and taking depreciation into account as well as the deals Renault are offering, a new car is potentially cheaper overall than my DC2. I imagine that even a 182 trophy will need a fair amount of maintenance to keep in top condition.

I'll probably do around 8,000 miles a year. I understand that I will lose money on the 200 but I'm not looking at it as an investment. I'm comfortable spending a few hundred pounds a month on a hobby that I really enjoy. I just don;t know if I'll regret selling the DC2 for a clio...

[aspen]

Lawsome said:

Having had experience of both, i'd stick with the DC2. The 200 is very good but a complete unnecessary expense when you have a DC2. A very expensive 'side-step'.

Both great cars and it's your choice. However, personally i wouldn't bother

Thats the thing though, I'm chucking on average, £300 a month on my integra, I can drive a brand new car for the same amount. So I appreciate that its a lot of money long term but I feel its value for money if its fun to drive and doesn't to be in the garage all the time (not that my DC2 is bad but its 12 years old and has needed a fair amount of TLC).

I'm concerned that the clio just isn't going to be in the same league as the DC2 though. I'll have to see what I think after the test drive...

[aspen]

rallycross said:

Not driven the latest clio but have heard its less nimble / less fun than 182/172.

I've had previous versions including a nice 3 yr old 182 cup which was no where near as good as my Integra DC2 which I had at the same time as the Clio - so could compare them back to back / day to day.

Clio will always feel like a hot hatch, and you always feel like you are sitting on it rather than in it.

Integra is in a different class being one of the best handling coupe's ever built, it does not feel like a hot hatch as its lower and its abilities are just that much higher - but you have to drive on to know what I mean.

I do feel like the driving position in the clio is a bit higher than the integra but without actually driving it I can't really say how I feel about that yet. Is the integra going to be that much better in the handling stakes? Its basically a 14 year old design now, surely things have moved on a little? I've driven a 172 cup and I prefer the integras handling but I didn't feel there was that much in it.

Maybe I should take advantage of the fact I don't need a car and buy something completely impractical!

[Marf]

aspen said:

Thats the thing though, I'm chucking on average, £300 a month on my integra

300 a month to run a Honda? What are you spending it on if you don't mind my asking?

[Defcon5]

What about a DC5?

[300bhp/ton]

aspen said:

Anyone owned both of these?

I currently have a 98 UK DC2, which I love but I'm thinking about changing it for a clio 200 cup.

I haven't driven the the clio yet, I have a test drive booked for next week though. I've read lots of reviews which rave about it and I'm sure it will be fun to drive but how does it compare to the DC2?

I'm in the fortunate position of not needing a car, I walk to work and only use the car for evenings and weekends. Therefore I don't need comfort, I can put up with stiff suspension and noise for road trips if the car is fun to drive.

I like the idea of a new car and Renault are offering excellent deals. I'm tempted but undecided!

What do you think?

I suspect the Clio will feel newer and more modern than the DC2, so at first it will seem WOW! However I also suspect it will feel slightly more muted and a remote driving experience as that is the trend with most newer cars.

I also don't suspect that it'll feel any faster.

If you must have newer, then so be it.

But to be in a position were you don't need a car, have money and will only use the car for fun and pleasure. I'm staggered that you are looking at the Clio. Surely a Lotus, Caterham, TVR, Corvette or something else more fun and interesting should be on the cards.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the Clio is a fine performer and car. But it's a practical everyday car with a does of performance, not the other way round.

[aspen]

Marf said:

aspen said:

Thats the thing though, I'm chucking on average, £300 a month on my integra

300 a month to run a Honda? What are you spending it on if you don't mind my asking?

Over the two years of ownership:

timing belt
tyres & alignment
drop link
hub assembly
replacement bootlid
cleaned up rear bumper
cleaned up front bumper (these two were obv not mechanical but still necessary)
new clutch
new exhaust manifold
lambda sensor
backbox
one major service and one standard service

All work done at an excellent local indy with good labour rates. It had full Honda Service History when I bought it and was fine at the time but things need replacing on a car of this age. Not all of the work was entirely necessary but I want the car to be in the best condition as possible as its more fun to drive that way. All the parts are either OEM or OEM copies (where the OEM parts are crazy expensive).

[aspen]

Defcon5 said:

What about a DC5?

I plan on test driving one. Are they as raw as the DC2?

[Marf]

I guess that's not really too bad in the scheme of things, I've probably spent similar on my MR2 in two years of ownership, like you I like everything to be in tip top shape mechanically.

[aspen]

300bhp/ton said:

I suspect the Clio will feel newer and more modern than the DC2, so at first it will seem WOW! However I also suspect it will feel slightly more muted and a remote driving experience as that is the trend with most newer cars.

I also don't suspect that it'll feel any faster.

If you must have newer, then so be it.

But to be in a position were you don't need a car, have money and will only use the car for fun and pleasure. I'm staggered that you are looking at the Clio. Surely a Lotus, Caterham, TVR, Corvette or something else more fun and interesting should be on the cards.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the Clio is a fine performer and car. But it's a practical everyday car with a does of performance, not the other way round.

I've thought about going impractical and properly fast. However, the car is parked on the street in a busy area of Glasgow for now so I don't fancy leaving something a little more exotic out there (the replacement bootlid on my DC2 was after someone either kicked the old one or drove into it). Also with all these cars the running costs are likely to be higher and I'm not sure I can justify spending so much on an unnecessary toy. So they may well have stopped depreciating but they will require a fair amount of expenditure to keep in top condition. I'm thinking Clio for 3 years then a TVR Tuscan/T350 might be a decent compromise. As I'll be able to save up some cash for it and also move somewhere with secure parking. Plus I only have the capital in my DC2 so not much unless I save for a while. I'd like a little practicality as I like being able to stick my mountain bike in the back of the integra. Even spending £300 on a car each month for three years then just handing it back seems like a decent deal.

Reading back over my posts it looks like I have made my mind up and I'm trying to convince myself a new car is the best option This probably stems from my DC2 being stuck in the garage for 12 days getting various things done to it. Times like this make a new car more attractive.

Maybe I should just go for a car club membership...

http://www.cccedinburgh.co.uk/

[aspen]

Thanks for all the replies by the way, I need to think about all the options before I make any decisions. I was expecting to be put off by my visit to the Renault dealer but the deals were much cheaper than I was expecting and its meant my mind has started to wander.

[Risotto]

Another vote for the DC5; great cars - quickish, stupidly reliable, sensibly equipped but still fairly light, good fun and pretty rare. Certainly worth a look I'd say. The only downside is the steep insurance and embarrassing spoiler...

[choading]

Dave^ said:

Bearing in mind you'll be doing very little mileage, you'll lose a fortune in depretiation on a car you'll never use...

From a financial point of view, you're better getting a 182 Trophy... Which will hold it's value better than a brand new 200, it may even appretiate if you keep the mileage off...

He obviously likes the car....

Why don't you tell him to buy a 1993 Micra and save the rest?

[TheRoadWarrior]

I've heard the DC5 is less raw than the DC2.. that said I have been in a DC5 and it was certainly an event.

I'm in a similar position to yourself, currently running an older Jap car.. except i've decided to take the plunge and order a Clio 200 cup.. should arrive in around 7weeks, can't wait!

I was very impressed on the test drive, the thing really handles and is fast enough. Make sure you spec the Recaros!

[aspen]

Would definitely go for recaros, albi blue and maybe Bluetooth. Nothing else though.

[Carfiend]

aspen said:

Defcon5 said:

What about a DC5?

I plan on test driving one. Are they as raw as the DC2?

Not as raw but still raw compared to most other cars.