Mk2 ph2 Clio Sport vs E46 328/330 Ci

[WEHGuy]

Hi guys,

should I sell my 4th gen 2.2 Vtec Prelude and buy a mk2 ph2 Clio Sport or sell my E39 535 and buy a E46 328/330 Ci?

My Prelude has been nothing but trouble (not all it's own fault though). Although I do love driving it and it has taught me so much about driving, thanks to its great feedback. My 535 is great, extremely comfortable car with a decent amount of power. Although 245bhp for 17 mpg isn't good enough for me.

I would really like a E46 M3 but, I'm going to wait a 6 months until I'm 25 so, the insurance goes from about £2000 to under £800.

What do people think? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[daveco]

Test drive them. The 330 is far better than the 328, in fact the 328 is on par with the 325 for performance. Fuel economy is very good; 30+ is achievable around town in the E46.

If I was you I would test drive an M3 and a 330 and see if the extra character/power of the M3 is worth waiting for.

[Dino D]

If you can afford to run it the wait and get an M3. I went from 5th gen Prelude to a e46 330i Sport and loved the 330 but it was a bit 'soft' - it was a great engine but very linear delivery with no top-end kick like a Honda, the gearshift was not so great and without the LSD it was quite hard to slide and unpredictable when it did - it could also that I was just not good enough of a driver. Not saying it is not a good car but after being in some M cars the differences are clear - the M car is much more focused. A 330 on paper may look like a junior M car but in my opinion it is very far off.

I needed a daily driver for big miles thought so the M3 was off the cards but perhaps you can have a 2 car solution - the Honda for daily use (it must be worth very little now...) and the M3 for weekends and track days..

Edited by Dino D on Thursday 23 September 14:18

[Risotto]

I'd say sell the Prelude and get a Clio - selling a 5 series to get a 3 series isn't really worth the effort IMO as they're not different enough.

If you did decide to get an E46, I'd say go for the 330 simply because there are more around to choose from - the 328 was only made for a year or two. Assuming you want a manual, your choice of 328s would be pretty limited.

Selling the Prelude for a Clio would be a more worthwhile swap because you'd be getting a newer, lighter, better equipped car (assuming you go for a full fat Clio) with decent mpg. Admittedly it will be front wheel drive but a very good front driver.

There are a couple of known issues to look out for on the Clio - melted steering wheel & thumb grips, poor quality Renault exhaust, thumping noise under hard acceleration (new engine mounts will sort this and it's an easy DIY job), airbag wiring niggles, etc.

Then again the E46 is hardly problem-free either...

Edited by Risotto on Thursday 23 September 14:29

[WEHGuy]

Dino D said:

If you can afford to run it the wait and get an M3. I went from 5th gen Prelude to a e46 330i Sport and loved the 330 but it was a bit 'soft' - it was a great engine but very linear delivery with top end kick like a Honda, the gearshift was not so great and without the LSD it was quite hard to slide and unpredictable when it did - it could also that I was just not good enough of a driver. Not saying it is not a good car but after being in some M cars the differences are clear - the M car is much more focused. A 330 on paper may look like a junior M car but in my opinion it is very far off.

I needed a daily driver for big miles thought so the M3 was off the cards but perhaps you can have a 2 car solution - the Honda for daily use (it must be worth very little now...) and the M3 for weekends and track days..

Yes I do want to keep at least 2 cars. One for fun and one that I don't have to get out of after only an hour but, is still relatively fun to be in. The Prelude is too uncomfortable for long distances.

I would love the M3 but, I'm not prepared to spend £2k on insurance. When I turn 25 a F430 or Gallardo would only be in the region of £1600 so, £2k for a M3 seems mad for the sake of 6 months.

[WEHGuy]

bump

[rich85uk]

sell the e39 and prelude and get the e46 330ci AND a clio sport if you need 2 cars, e46 as a daily runner and strip/fast road setup the clio sport. i own a 330ci so im abit biased there but a mate had a clio 172 cup and that was a hoot on the b roads.

however if it was me i would be abit different, ok it would just be one car but it would be worth it when it isnt far off e39 m5 pace

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1932888.htm

[john_p]

WEHGuy said:

I would love the M3 but, I'm not prepared to spend £2k on insurance. When I turn 25 a F430 or Gallardo would only be in the region of £1600 so, £2k for a M3 seems mad for the sake of 6 months.

If you are considering a F430 in 6 months then you might as well wait for that, I think it will be far better than any 330, 328, M3 .. keep the Prelude as well

[rb5230]

john_p said:

WEHGuy said:

I would love the M3 but, I'm not prepared to spend £2k on insurance. When I turn 25 a F430 or Gallardo would only be in the region of £1600 so, £2k for a M3 seems mad for the sake of 6 months.

If you are considering a F430 in 6 months then you might as well wait for that, I think it will be far better than any 330, 328, M3 .. keep the Prelude as well

somehow i dont think he is looking at getting an f430, he probably just got a couple of insurance quotes, otherwise i doubt £2k insurance would be a limiting factor of getting an m3

[WEHGuy]

rb5230 said:

john_p said:

WEHGuy said:

I would love the M3 but, I'm not prepared to spend £2k on insurance. When I turn 25 a F430 or Gallardo would only be in the region of £1600 so, £2k for a M3 seems mad for the sake of 6 months.

If you are considering a F430 in 6 months then you might as well wait for that, I think it will be far better than any 330, 328, M3 .. keep the Prelude as well

somehow i dont think he is looking at getting an f430, he probably just got a couple of insurance quotes, otherwise i doubt £2k insurance would be a limiting factor of getting an m3

I wish I was getting a F430, one day hopefully. I was merely pointing out that in less than 6 months a Gallardo or F430 would be cheaper to insure than a M3 is now and I'm not prepared to waste £1200 on insurance.

[996 sps]

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

[WEHGuy]

996 sps said:

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

Will a 330 be fine for a daily driver coming from a 535 though?

[rb5230]

WEHGuy said:

996 sps said:

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

Will a 330 be fine for a daily driver coming from a 535 though?

boring

[Risotto]

WEHGuy said:

996 sps said:

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

Will a 330 be fine for a daily driver coming from a 535 though?

I really can't see the point. You'd just be swapping one well-built, heavy German saloon for a slightly different, well-built, heavy, German saloon from the same manufacturer.

Edited by Risotto on Friday 24th September 11:28

[WEHGuy]

Risotto said:

WEHGuy said:

996 sps said:

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

Will a 330 be fine for a daily driver coming from a 535 though?

I really can't see the point. You'd just be swapping one well-built, heavy German saloon for a slightly different, well-built, heavy, German saloon from the same manufacturer.

Edited by Risotto on Friday 24th September 11:28

I get bored easily with cars and tend to change often. I have had these 2 the longest out of all my cars. 535 for 6 months and the Prelude for 10 months. If people don't recommend the 330, what other car do you suggest that is RWD, relatively comfortable, relatively good to drive, decent mpg vs power, decent looking(IMHO) and relatively cheap?

[300bhp/ton]

WEHGuy said:

Hi guys,

should I sell my 4th gen 2.2 Vtec Prelude and buy a mk2 ph2 Clio Sport or sell my E39 535 and buy a E46 328/330 Ci?

My Prelude has been nothing but trouble (not all it's own fault though). Although I do love driving it and it has taught me so much about driving, thanks to its great feedback. My 535 is great, extremely comfortable car with a decent amount of power. Although 245bhp for 17 mpg isn't good enough for me.

I would really like a E46 M3 but, I'm going to wait a 6 months until I'm 25 so, the insurance goes from about £2000 to under £800.

What do people think? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

V8 powered TVR?

Seriously if you don't need the seats. The noise will be worth it and it'll hold its money well enough to sell it on.

[300bhp/ton]

WEHGuy said:

Risotto said:

WEHGuy said:

996 sps said:

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

Will a 330 be fine for a daily driver coming from a 535 though?

I really can't see the point. You'd just be swapping one well-built, heavy German saloon for a slightly different, well-built, heavy, German saloon from the same manufacturer.

Edited by Risotto on Friday 24th September 11:28

I get bored easily with cars and tend to change often. I have had these 2 the longest out of all my cars. 535 for 6 months and the Prelude for 10 months. If people don't recommend the 330, what other car do you suggest that is RWD, relatively comfortable, relatively good to drive, decent mpg vs power, decent looking(IMHO) and relatively cheap?

If 6 months is struggle to own a car because you are bored - the answer logically is very simply.

You keep buying the wrong cars!

[WEHGuy]

300bhp/ton said:

WEHGuy said:

Risotto said:

WEHGuy said:

996 sps said:

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

Will a 330 be fine for a daily driver coming from a 535 though?

I really can't see the point. You'd just be swapping one well-built, heavy German saloon for a slightly different, well-built, heavy, German saloon from the same manufacturer.

Edited by Risotto on Friday 24th September 11:28

I get bored easily with cars and tend to change often. I have had these 2 the longest out of all my cars. 535 for 6 months and the Prelude for 10 months. If people don't recommend the 330, what other car do you suggest that is RWD, relatively comfortable, relatively good to drive, decent mpg vs power, decent looking(IMHO) and relatively cheap?

If 6 months is struggle to own a car because you are bored - the answer logically is very simply.

You keep buying the wrong cars!

No, what the problem is, is that I decided I waned my own place as soon as I was 16 so, I couldn't really afford to drive until I was 21. I feel that I missed out on yeas of drivng so, the past few years since I passed my test I having been buying and driving loads of different cars to see what I like. I think BMWs tick the most boxes for someone on a budget. When I'm 25 and insurance isn't a killer I will most definitely buy something special and possibly keep it a bit longer but, then again I'm a sucker for finding a good deal in classifieds.

[996 sps]

If you cant get or find a car to get your fix buy a bike and get a run around. Have an M5 and 325 and they d both go before the bike. Just my opinion.

[300bhp/ton]

WEHGuy said:

300bhp/ton said:

WEHGuy said:

Risotto said:

WEHGuy said:

996 sps said:

I didn t like the Clio Sport or 330 Coupe I had, brakes faded didn t handle that great and 182 was very revy but fun all the same. I ended up getting rid of the 182 for a bike and thankfully kept the bike when I brought the 330.

Will a 330 be fine for a daily driver coming from a 535 though?

I really can't see the point. You'd just be swapping one well-built, heavy German saloon for a slightly different, well-built, heavy, German saloon from the same manufacturer.

Edited by Risotto on Friday 24th September 11:28

I get bored easily with cars and tend to change often. I have had these 2 the longest out of all my cars. 535 for 6 months and the Prelude for 10 months. If people don't recommend the 330, what other car do you suggest that is RWD, relatively comfortable, relatively good to drive, decent mpg vs power, decent looking(IMHO) and relatively cheap?

If 6 months is struggle to own a car because you are bored - the answer logically is very simply.

You keep buying the wrong cars!

No, what the problem is, is that I decided I waned my own place as soon as I was 16 so, I couldn't really afford to drive until I was 21. I feel that I missed out on yeas of drivng so, the past few years since I passed my test I having been buying and driving loads of different cars to see what I like. I think BMWs tick the most boxes for someone on a budget. When I'm 25 and insurance isn't a killer I will most definitely buy something special and possibly keep it a bit longer but, then again I'm a sucker for finding a good deal in classifieds.