Renaultsport Clio 200 or Peugeot 208 GTI - which one to buy?
Discussion
The short version - which should I buy?
RS Clio 200 full fat with cup pack - normally aspirated, good handling, needs to be driven hard to get the best out of it, maybe frustrating around town, basic and dated interior
or
Peugeot 208 GTI - turbo charged, nicer interior, good performance and economy but maybe a bit (or a lot??) less involving than the Clio
The longer version:
I am about to buy a second car (have a Golf GTI on contract hire that goes back in 6 weeks). This is a car almost exclusively for use by me - I have got a Discovery for family duties - so want something that is fun to drive. It will mainly be used for short journeys - some in town, some on better roads and the odd 50-100 mile motorway trip.
I have narrowed the choice down to an RS Clio 200 (not the current flappy paddle one, but the previous version) or a 208 GTI.
I have previously had a 208 GTI on contract hire - and I loved it way more than I was expecting. I have also had the current RS Clio - which I got shot of quite quickly due to the gearbox.
However, I have always loved the look of the previous RS Clio. I did test drive one - very briefly - a few years ago and was left a bit underwhelmed. I think this was a combination of factors - the test drive was fairly short and a lot of it in traffic, so not really what the Clio was designed for, and I was coming from a much more powerful car so it was inevitable that the Clio would seem a bit weak in comparison.
I still cannot stop looking at them though.
My dilemma is whether I should take the modern, safe option of the turbo charged 208 GTI (which I know I like) or scratch the Clio itch - my main concern is that I will find it too much like hard work for 95% of the time and will only appreciate it for 5% of the time when on the right roads. The 208 is very easy to live with but possibly lacks a bit of fun and does not look as good as the Clio. If I went for the Clio, it would be probably be on a 60 plate and I would aim to get the FF with cup pack. The 208 would be a 13/14 plate so newer and probably marginally lower mileage.
Has anyone else had both or can offer any real world experience? Budget is around the £8k mark and I am really not interested in anything other than these two cars as I have already looked at - and discounted - Golf R32, Alfa 147 GTA, Civic Type R, Suzuki Swift Sport, Golf GTI, Focus ST etc etc.
Any comments much appreciated
RS Clio 200 full fat with cup pack - normally aspirated, good handling, needs to be driven hard to get the best out of it, maybe frustrating around town, basic and dated interior
or
Peugeot 208 GTI - turbo charged, nicer interior, good performance and economy but maybe a bit (or a lot??) less involving than the Clio
The longer version:
I am about to buy a second car (have a Golf GTI on contract hire that goes back in 6 weeks). This is a car almost exclusively for use by me - I have got a Discovery for family duties - so want something that is fun to drive. It will mainly be used for short journeys - some in town, some on better roads and the odd 50-100 mile motorway trip.
I have narrowed the choice down to an RS Clio 200 (not the current flappy paddle one, but the previous version) or a 208 GTI.
I have previously had a 208 GTI on contract hire - and I loved it way more than I was expecting. I have also had the current RS Clio - which I got shot of quite quickly due to the gearbox.
However, I have always loved the look of the previous RS Clio. I did test drive one - very briefly - a few years ago and was left a bit underwhelmed. I think this was a combination of factors - the test drive was fairly short and a lot of it in traffic, so not really what the Clio was designed for, and I was coming from a much more powerful car so it was inevitable that the Clio would seem a bit weak in comparison.
I still cannot stop looking at them though.
My dilemma is whether I should take the modern, safe option of the turbo charged 208 GTI (which I know I like) or scratch the Clio itch - my main concern is that I will find it too much like hard work for 95% of the time and will only appreciate it for 5% of the time when on the right roads. The 208 is very easy to live with but possibly lacks a bit of fun and does not look as good as the Clio. If I went for the Clio, it would be probably be on a 60 plate and I would aim to get the FF with cup pack. The 208 would be a 13/14 plate so newer and probably marginally lower mileage.
Has anyone else had both or can offer any real world experience? Budget is around the £8k mark and I am really not interested in anything other than these two cars as I have already looked at - and discounted - Golf R32, Alfa 147 GTA, Civic Type R, Suzuki Swift Sport, Golf GTI, Focus ST etc etc.
Any comments much appreciated
Thanks for the replies
I think I will have to test drive the Clio again and then make a decision. My hesitation is that a short test drive is unlikely to really give me a good idea as to whether I would be happy living with the car day to day.
Without doubt, I prefer the look of the Clio.
The Peugeot would be one of the earlier GTIs - probably a 13/14 plate - so not the later Peugeot Sport version. As I said in the OP, I had one for 2 years so I know exactly what the car is like - and I really enjoyed it.
I think I just fancy something different and the Clio is a car that I have always liked - it is just getting my head round whether I could live with it day to day without getting frustrated. I know that on the right road it will be fantastic, it is all the other times when I am not on a nice B road that I need to consider
I think I will have to test drive the Clio again and then make a decision. My hesitation is that a short test drive is unlikely to really give me a good idea as to whether I would be happy living with the car day to day.
Without doubt, I prefer the look of the Clio.
The Peugeot would be one of the earlier GTIs - probably a 13/14 plate - so not the later Peugeot Sport version. As I said in the OP, I had one for 2 years so I know exactly what the car is like - and I really enjoyed it.
I think I just fancy something different and the Clio is a car that I have always liked - it is just getting my head round whether I could live with it day to day without getting frustrated. I know that on the right road it will be fantastic, it is all the other times when I am not on a nice B road that I need to consider
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