Is a Clio 1.5 DCI my best bet?
Discussion
So, I have between £1000 and £1500 for a car to get me around. I do 80 miles a day so I'd like the best MPG possible but at the same time something less than 10 years old and that will give me 50 000 more miles with little trouble.
I looked in the MPG Wiki and the little 206's and Clio's seem to come out ok so they're a good start. I'm not too fussed on either really but I do loke the shape of the Clio more. Is there anything better than these little cars then? I like the £30 road tax and the fact they're nice and small so insurance should be cheap. I'm not bothered about performance, as long as it can plod up and down the motorway at 70 I'm happy.
I have an Elise for the weekends, but for everything else I need a 2nd car.
Any other suggestions?
I looked in the MPG Wiki and the little 206's and Clio's seem to come out ok so they're a good start. I'm not too fussed on either really but I do loke the shape of the Clio more. Is there anything better than these little cars then? I like the £30 road tax and the fact they're nice and small so insurance should be cheap. I'm not bothered about performance, as long as it can plod up and down the motorway at 70 I'm happy.
I have an Elise for the weekends, but for everything else I need a 2nd car.
Any other suggestions?
In before the usual muppets start shouting "French car, bound to break etc..."
They're actual pretty good in this engine guise.
My brother owned one for about 2 years and it took a lot of punishment but never had anything go wrong with it. He bought it with about 60k miles on and put on another 25k without issue.
Surprisingly nippy too and brilliant on fuel. Reasonably chuckable around the twisties too.
They're actual pretty good in this engine guise.
My brother owned one for about 2 years and it took a lot of punishment but never had anything go wrong with it. He bought it with about 60k miles on and put on another 25k without issue.
Surprisingly nippy too and brilliant on fuel. Reasonably chuckable around the twisties too.
I've also noticed that Honda Civic 1.7 CDTI's are almost in the price range. Just not sure how long they last given they'll be around 120 000 miles at my budget. The road tax is more though I think (Band E) and similar MPG (Claimed) however it's a little more grown up image and interior which is nice.
My friend had a 172 Clio and the handling was amazing. The rest of the car wasn't too bad either, a few issues, but mostly mechanical and given how he drove it, I think it lasted pretty well.
My friend had a 172 Clio and the handling was amazing. The rest of the car wasn't too bad either, a few issues, but mostly mechanical and given how he drove it, I think it lasted pretty well.
My wife has a Clio 1.5 DCi, she gets up to 70mpg commuting but you wont get near that at 70mph on a motorway, expect 60mpg or below plus I'd say 70mph is about the limits for a relaxing drive in these.
The only other problem with this model and age is that they start having small but annoying and often expensive problems develop.
70K miles the alternator pulley will break up and if not caught early can cause a lot of other damage. Inlet to turbo pipe will need replacing, arb links break (no big job), they seem to go through track rod ends again no big job. Make sure the drive belt tensioner is replaced with the cam belt as these break up. If the horn packs up or works intermittently the ribbons, which means changing the steering column and switch surround will need changing at £120+, most of these are upgraded parts so common faults. Loose gear linkage is mainly down to the lower gear lever bushes (£5 to replace). There's a few other things that I can't remember as well but although this seems bad her car is around 115K now and served her well.
The only other problem with this model and age is that they start having small but annoying and often expensive problems develop.
70K miles the alternator pulley will break up and if not caught early can cause a lot of other damage. Inlet to turbo pipe will need replacing, arb links break (no big job), they seem to go through track rod ends again no big job. Make sure the drive belt tensioner is replaced with the cam belt as these break up. If the horn packs up or works intermittently the ribbons, which means changing the steering column and switch surround will need changing at £120+, most of these are upgraded parts so common faults. Loose gear linkage is mainly down to the lower gear lever bushes (£5 to replace). There's a few other things that I can't remember as well but although this seems bad her car is around 115K now and served her well.
My mrs who has no mechanical knowledge or sympathy whatsoever has took our 1.5Dci from 30k to nearly 130k with only routine servicing, its never failed us, in fact the engine has only had one replacement component and that was the EGR valve which failed soon after purchase, I think that failed because the previous owner didn't use the car very much.
Oh and we have never reset the average MPG, its showing 61mpg.
Oh and we have never reset the average MPG, its showing 61mpg.
GarryA said:
in fact the engine has only had one replacement component and that was the EGR valve which failed soon after purchase, I think that failed because the previous owner didn't use the car very much.
Had to replace mine as well as the Mrs drives around at 30mph all the time. Since then I make sure I get the car nice and hot and clear it every month or so. I reckon your lucky to have no other problems, how often do you change the cam belt?Posted elsewhere, dad had one new to 250,000 miles. Some electrical problems, still on original gearbox, engine and turbo.
Had two sets of driveshafts, engine mounts, 3 clutches, dampers springs. Ignore the 20,000 miles service intervals and stick to 10,000 or annually.
Buy one that's had regular services and usage.
Only just had the EGR valve go, it needs cleaning out regularly 20 min job videos on YouTube.
Sold it to a friends wife and it's still go strong. It was a 65bhp model.
Go for the 80bhp model, 100bhp had a few problems.
Had two sets of driveshafts, engine mounts, 3 clutches, dampers springs. Ignore the 20,000 miles service intervals and stick to 10,000 or annually.
Buy one that's had regular services and usage.
Only just had the EGR valve go, it needs cleaning out regularly 20 min job videos on YouTube.
Sold it to a friends wife and it's still go strong. It was a 65bhp model.
Go for the 80bhp model, 100bhp had a few problems.
jagracer said:
GarryA said:
in fact the engine has only had one replacement component and that was the EGR valve which failed soon after purchase, I think that failed because the previous owner didn't use the car very much.
Had to replace mine as well as the Mrs drives around at 30mph all the time. Since then I make sure I get the car nice and hot and clear it every month or so. I reckon your lucky to have no other problems, how often do you change the cam belt?My wife had one. Like a lot of small engine stuff, the mpg was actually worse on the motorway than local domestic. I used it for work a couple of times and got pretty poor mpg as I needed to work it so hard to keep up with normal L3 commuting speeds. Great mpg if you like going at 55mph everywhere I suppose.
Also check you find it a nice place to sit - I hated driving it on longer journeys and anything over about 45mins started giving me pins and needles in my left thigh and general numb bum feeling. Apart from being cheap, I can't really think of any other reason to commute in one.
Also check you find it a nice place to sit - I hated driving it on longer journeys and anything over about 45mins started giving me pins and needles in my left thigh and general numb bum feeling. Apart from being cheap, I can't really think of any other reason to commute in one.
Thanks for all the useful replies. I'm not too bothered about the comfort as my previous shed was a 1996 1.4 Polo and that was fine for me. It's a shame that the MPG becomes worse at motorway speeds as that's what 90% of my journey is. I have a while before I need the car though so I'm in no rush.
What alternatives would people recommend too?
What alternatives would people recommend too?
i bought one, cost me thick end of 7k in the end 
car was 800 ish, seemed alright bit of blue smoke. nothing i couldn't fix - new turbo. well apart from it wasnt the turbo, the scraper rings had stuck and she burnt at least 200ml of oil per 100 miles. good for the mpg though 65! not so good for the people behind or the wallet though (oil is more expensive than derv)!
long story cut short i cut my losses and traded it in for a new car for the mrs.
car was 800 ish, seemed alright bit of blue smoke. nothing i couldn't fix - new turbo. well apart from it wasnt the turbo, the scraper rings had stuck and she burnt at least 200ml of oil per 100 miles. good for the mpg though 65! not so good for the people behind or the wallet though (oil is more expensive than derv)!
long story cut short i cut my losses and traded it in for a new car for the mrs.
I'd stretch your budget and age restrictions just slightly and get something like a VW Bora or Golf with the lower state of tune 1.9 tdi engine.
Not a very popular recommendation on PH I grant you, because they are so boring and everywhere, but for what you are looking for IME they fit the bill perfectly.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3996146.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4043234.htm
Not a very popular recommendation on PH I grant you, because they are so boring and everywhere, but for what you are looking for IME they fit the bill perfectly.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3996146.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4043234.htm
ModMan said:
Thanks for all the useful replies. I'm not too bothered about the comfort as my previous shed was a 1996 1.4 Polo and that was fine for me. It's a shame that the MPG becomes worse at motorway speeds as that's what 90% of my journey is. I have a while before I need the car though so I'm in no rush.
What alternatives would people recommend too?
Speaking from a motor trade perspective, we've seen quite a few of these engines in that price bracket in meganes, scenics and clios. We've rarely seen a good one - turbos on their way out, engine management lights on, etc, etc.What alternatives would people recommend too?
Be very careful. At this price point people are generally getting rid because its giving trouble, or they know something you dont.
The wee 1400 HDI engine in the 206 seems ok, as does the original 1.9D engine .
jjones said:
i bought one, cost me thick end of 7k in the end
car was 800 ish, seemed alright bit of blue smoke. nothing i couldn't fix - new turbo. well apart from it wasnt the turbo, the scraper rings had stuck and she burnt at least 200ml of oil per 100 miles. good for the mpg though 65! not so good for the people behind or the wallet though (oil is more expensive than derv)!
long story cut short i cut my losses and traded it in for a new car for the mrs.
THATS the sort of scenario we're seeing.car was 800 ish, seemed alright bit of blue smoke. nothing i couldn't fix - new turbo. well apart from it wasnt the turbo, the scraper rings had stuck and she burnt at least 200ml of oil per 100 miles. good for the mpg though 65! not so good for the people behind or the wallet though (oil is more expensive than derv)!
long story cut short i cut my losses and traded it in for a new car for the mrs.
The wife has an 02 pug 206 1.4 HDi. Shes had it from new, done nearly 90,000 miles with it and its been super. I wasnt a fan of french motors but its changed me. Its never had any breakdowns, never failed an mot (once had an advisory bush) and never cost any money other than servicing, discs/pads and 1 exhaust. Servicing is cheap and as you say £30 to tax! Insurance is also reasonable. It drives nice (for a 1.4 derv) and is happy round town or on a motorway run. Ive never worked it out exactly but i reckon its averaging 50-60mpg.
All of a sudden it looks like the higher mileage Clio's don't look that good. Which is a shame really as I like them over the 206's. I'll have a look at some 206's though and see if they can handle the higher mileages any better. I'd have thought they could, my old Polo for example (1996 1.4) did 130k with no issues at all, it only died in the end as my brother in law borrowed it and didn't notice the temp gauge went up into the red and it siezed up. Turns out the coolant hose had split. Oh well.
The Bora/Golf route also looks good, but at my price range and even slightly over, the mileages seem to be really over 150 000. The Bora above, well the advert just puts me off for some reason and all others are a bit more expensive. The Golf is just too high mileage. But thanks for the suggestions.
The Bora/Golf route also looks good, but at my price range and even slightly over, the mileages seem to be really over 150 000. The Bora above, well the advert just puts me off for some reason and all others are a bit more expensive. The Golf is just too high mileage. But thanks for the suggestions.
sh!t car.
My mates was constantly going wrong and every step of the way. The poorly screwed together utterly French design seemed to deliberately confound and get in the way.
From dodgy electrics constantly popping bulbs (not the easiest things to change), to flimsy undercarriage, badly designed handbrake cable brackets and a general feeling of "what's going to go wrong next"
The last straw was failed injectors leaving him with a bill over a grand. He traded the car in for pennies against a seat leon. (not my choice)
Apart from being a piece of sh!t and if you discount repair bills, it got good mpg and was cheap to run. Easy to park in the city and whatnot.
My mates was constantly going wrong and every step of the way. The poorly screwed together utterly French design seemed to deliberately confound and get in the way.
From dodgy electrics constantly popping bulbs (not the easiest things to change), to flimsy undercarriage, badly designed handbrake cable brackets and a general feeling of "what's going to go wrong next"
The last straw was failed injectors leaving him with a bill over a grand. He traded the car in for pennies against a seat leon. (not my choice)
Apart from being a piece of sh!t and if you discount repair bills, it got good mpg and was cheap to run. Easy to park in the city and whatnot.
As much as they've got a bad rep for dodgy electrics, my 2003 307 HDI hasn't missed a beat in 17000 miles yet. I do a 110 mile round trip commute which is 90% motorway and if you stick at 60mph you can easily push 55-60mpg out of it. Cost me £1500 with 119k on it last year, and so far hasn't needed anything except 3 replacement bulbs and an oil change.
I'm doing 80 miles a day in a Pug 205 diesel. Bought for £500 with 110,000 miles on the clock and done 20,000 miles more in it so far.
I'll tell you why I made the choice:
No turbo to go wrong, as said it's not uncommon for cars from £500-£1500
No other electrics to go wrong. Not even electric windows or central locking (which seems to commonly break on the 306)
Looks nice, imho it is compared to the others. Your opinion may differ, although it would be wrong
Good handling and steering. It's no F1 car but even with 59bhp you can make good progress through the twisty bits
Parts are cheap. Service is easy. There's not even an engine management light to taunt you.
And here's the killer, 55-60mpg. This is real mpg, not what the brochure claims or what a trip computer tells you, this is between fillups measured over months. I've got a free app on my phone where you fill in the miles between fillups and the fuel that went in. 55mpg when thrashing it, 60mpg when taking it easy.
I stick to 60-65mph on motorways because they're a pain if you're going the same speed as everyone else. Go slower or much faster and you're fine, but if you're driving the same speed as everyone else you're caught up with the mouth breathers.
You can work out how much extra time the journey will take you at 60mph rather than 70 if you like, it's surprisingly little. And of course it's much easier to maintain an average of 60, to keep at 70 you'll need to be hitting 80 at times to make up for the mouth breathers we talked about earlier.
Also, if something goes wrong which is expensive I can throw the car away and only lose £300 on it, the tyres and stereo and scrap value will pull in £200 easily.
They tend to lean hard on their front suspension bushes so I replaced mine, it's not difficult or you can find a back street garage to do it cheap because no special tools or diagnostics are needed.
It's just a thing to get to work, I don't want to see huge depreciation but I'd like it to be interesting. Why pay more?
I'll tell you why I made the choice:
No turbo to go wrong, as said it's not uncommon for cars from £500-£1500
No other electrics to go wrong. Not even electric windows or central locking (which seems to commonly break on the 306)
Looks nice, imho it is compared to the others. Your opinion may differ, although it would be wrong
Good handling and steering. It's no F1 car but even with 59bhp you can make good progress through the twisty bits
Parts are cheap. Service is easy. There's not even an engine management light to taunt you.
And here's the killer, 55-60mpg. This is real mpg, not what the brochure claims or what a trip computer tells you, this is between fillups measured over months. I've got a free app on my phone where you fill in the miles between fillups and the fuel that went in. 55mpg when thrashing it, 60mpg when taking it easy.
I stick to 60-65mph on motorways because they're a pain if you're going the same speed as everyone else. Go slower or much faster and you're fine, but if you're driving the same speed as everyone else you're caught up with the mouth breathers.
You can work out how much extra time the journey will take you at 60mph rather than 70 if you like, it's surprisingly little. And of course it's much easier to maintain an average of 60, to keep at 70 you'll need to be hitting 80 at times to make up for the mouth breathers we talked about earlier.
Also, if something goes wrong which is expensive I can throw the car away and only lose £300 on it, the tyres and stereo and scrap value will pull in £200 easily.
They tend to lean hard on their front suspension bushes so I replaced mine, it's not difficult or you can find a back street garage to do it cheap because no special tools or diagnostics are needed.
It's just a thing to get to work, I don't want to see huge depreciation but I'd like it to be interesting. Why pay more?
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