1.2 or 1.4? Advice wanted.

[Alex_225]

Ok guys, I'm looking to sell my 1993 Clio RT for something a little newer and having owned a 2001 Clio 1.2 and a 2003 Clio 172 I know another Clio is gonna be what I'm after.

Question is, should I go for a 1.2 or a 1.4? I've driven both they are both under £350 for insure too.

The 1.4 is a fairly nippy little motor but a valve went in my mums once within the first year and half so I'm wairy of reliability of these.

The 1.2 I had wasn't exactly quick but economical and drove well enough. The power wouldn't be a concern as it would be a daily driver anyway.

What would you recommend and why? Max budget is £3k.

 

[santoz]

Ok guys, I'm looking to sell my 1993 Clio RT for something a little newer and having owned a 2001 Clio 1.2 and a 2003 Clio 172 I know another Clio is gonna be what I'm after.

Question is, should I go for a 1.2 or a 1.4? I've driven both they are both under £350 for insure too.

The 1.4 is a fairly nippy little motor but a valve went in my mums once within the first year and half so I'm wairy of reliability of these.

The 1.2 I had wasn't exactly quick but economical and drove well enough. The power wouldn't be a concern as it would be a daily driver anyway.

What would you recommend and why? Max budget is £3k.

If you want ecomony, wat about the 1.5dci?
Hear they get 60mpg! Bit better than a 1.2 though it is a diesel......

 

[AlexS]

I hear where your coming from but my 1.2 did 45mpg and diesel is 10p more per litre, you do save on the road tax though.

 

[nozza89]

ive got a 1.2 and i love it, fuel economy is resonably good but i wouldnt say shockingly great. The engine is quite pokey for a little one 1.2 and can keep up with a 1.4 till higher speeds. have no real problems with the engine itself. the only problems i have had have been with the CV joint, the exhaust, which over the year and a half i have had the car i have had to replace each part seperatly, and the breaks. But don't let that put you off, its still a great car. Its a T-reg btw so made in 1999 and i brought it for well under 3K.

 

[Alex_225]

Cheers guys.

I'd love to get a DCI Clio but they hold their value and ideally I want one with under 40k on the clock. I know the engine on a DCI will be solid for a lot longer but its the wear and tear on the rest of the car.

Also I'm thinking that unless I do 15k a year in it a DCI won't really pay me back much with the saving on the MPG.

The only reason I'm really wairy of the 1.4s is because my mums 1.4 Alize had mechanical problems pretty early on. Wondered if this is a commong trait?